Chief

So, it’s time.  It’s time to add myself to the mostly irrelevant natter that is flying about regarding STLTP and my husband, Bill—or as I like to call him Wil, Chief, and Defender of the Universe.  Some of you know me, most of you do not.  Some of you I’ve called friends and you have deeply affected my life and my family’s lives for better and for worse.  I am not a voice most of you have heard, words you have read, or even a face that you regularly see.  I am, truly, behind the scenes.  I have stood and will continue to stand by, and as sometimes the case, behind my husband.   I am not going to tell you things that I know nothing about, or to speculate, as many have, about what has happened behind the scenes—only a very few truly know what has happened.  I am going to tell you what I know.

I know that I am shocked at the shameful display of infighting and hypocrisy.  I am confused as to how people that I have called my friends can, at a moment’s notice, decide to pretend as if I don’t exist.  I’ve let you into my home, my life, and have called you friend and without warning I am a nonentity.  The end result is the establishment, political machine has fired up its work in discrediting the Tea Party, and those involved.  I was, and am broadsided by this.  This alone, speaks volumes about character.

I know that my husband has worked tirelessly for this organization, which he began.  So we are clear, the creation of the St. Louis Tea Party in Feb. 2009 was wholly due to him; it began with a blog post.  I know that he enlisted the help of many people and has called them friends and co-founders, and they are.  They agreed, after being contacted by him, to stand hand in hand on the banks of the Mississippi River on that fateful day.  The St. Louis Tea Party, the community, and my husband are forever in their debt. That being said, I find it disingenuous that Mrs. Loesch believes her meteoric rise has not been helped by the St. Louis Tea Party and all of us who have supported and stood behind her—but I digress.

I know that I am biased.  Bill Hennessy is my husband after all.  The man I chose to live my life with and help raise our children.  I love him, deeply.  I hurt for him and for us.

I know that Bill loves this country, loves God, loves his family, loves this organization and the people involved and has done what he believes is right.  I know that Bill is a flawed human being (aren’t we all), and because of that mistakes have been made; some choices may not have been for the best—but they came from the heart.  I know that Bill has not allowed the St. Louis Tea Party to be co-opted—and has fought against that—hence the schism.  I know that Ed Martin is Bill’s friend, and that Bill considers Ed a true Conservative.  I know that Bill has been upfront and honest about that, unlike some others who have chosen to attempt to impugn Bill’s integrity and loyalty to this very important movement.  I know that Bill has poured blood, sweat, and tears into this organization and the people involved—often at the expense of our family.  I do understand—although it has, at times, been hard.  It is difficult to work a full time job and work full time after hours to advance, secure, and support liberty and our Republic. 

I know that my husband is brilliant, passionate, impulsive, and flawed.  I know that he thinks deeply, loves deeply, feels deeply, and puts other’s first.  I live it every day.  I also know that he doesn’t have a bully pulpit to scream from and shed lies from and I thank God for that.  I know, we know, that righteousness and integrity wins in the end.

Finally, I know that I am not writer, but that these thoughts come from my heart.

Peace,

Angela Hennessy