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Businesses offering discounts to Tea Party members

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By John Nolan, Staff Writer Updated 1:55 PM Friday, August 13, 2010

DAYTON — About 30 local businesses are participating in a program to link conservative consumers with businesses owned by conservatives to help support the Tea Party.

Donald Hutchinson, a businessman and Tea Party supporter, calls his initiative the Tea Party Exchange Inc.

Tea Party supporters who obtain a TPX-Great American card — similar to a customer-loyalty card consumers can attach to key rings — and show it at a participating business can get a discount on the company’s services. The local merchant then gives 5 percent of the sale revenue to the local Tea party chapter to help fund rallies.

“It might attract some customers. It might drive some away,” said Herb Asher, an Ohio State University political science professor. “If I were a businessperson, the first thing I’d ask: Is this a winner or a loser for me?”

Hutchinson is co-founder and president of Essex HR and Associates, a Washington Twp. human resources consultant. He said he plans to speak at the national March on DC Tea Party rally Sept. 11 in Washington, D.C., and will promote the Tea Party Exchange concept to other chapters of the Tea Party, whose members advocate for reducing taxes and cutting spending and the size of government.

But businessman Greg McAfee, president and owner of McAfee Heating and Air Conditioning in Kettering, said his company is participating in the Tea Party Exchange, along with about a dozen other businesses.

McAfee said Thursday that since he started speaking at Tea Party rallies in April 2009, he received four negative letters from customers who said they would stop using his company because of his politics. But McAfee said he also has received about 75 positive letters and e-mails from conservative consumers, and that they have helped bring him an increase in new customers since then.

More: List of participating businesses

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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