Posted on 04/15/2009 10:06:42 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
Crowd denounces billions for bailouts and stimulus
Thousands of protesters gathered on the State House grounds on Tax Day to vent their frustration over government spending and to dangle tea bags in a tribute to colonial protests against British rule. The rally, one of a dozen organized around South Carolina, drew about 3,000 people. Hundreds of similar rallies were organized around the country this week.
“This is where I’m getting my strength,” U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint told the crowd, referencing frequently being outnumbered during debate in the U.S. Senate. “I’ve had about 100 people tell me, ‘Don’t stop fighting. ... We got your back.’”
Many attendees carried American flags, pumped their fists as they chanted “USA” and hoisted handmade signs high — signs that read: “Your fair share is not in my wallet,” “Don’t Tax Me Bro,” “Spread my work ethic, not my income” and “Crack is a stimulus too.” The recent $787 billion federal stimulus and bank bailout bills drew the most ire, but protesters also were challenging public schools, the Federal Reserve system and other government programs. Gov. Mark Sanford encouraged the crowd to keep fighting and said civilizations have failed because of unchecked spending. “So many of you all are patriots just as much as the patriots of long ago,” Sanford said.
The rally was a bit of a redemption for Sanford after weeks of criticism from lawmakers and newspaper editorial boards over his refusal to use $700 million in federal money to balance the state budget. Sanford — who has argued a silent majority supports him — has asked lawmakers to pay off an equal amount of debt before he will request the money. Wednesday’s rally was at least twice the size of a rally two weeks ago, organized by teachers and educators, urging the governor to accept the money.
Sanford drew the loudest applause, with organizer Britton Clark thanking him for his stance.
“Let them have it,” the crowd yelled of other states that could receive South Carolina’s share of the money.
“When did we get to the point where two wrongs make a right?” Clark asked in return.
While the event was officially nonpartisan, much of the crowd’s frustration was directed at President Barack Obama.
“I’ll keep my money, you keep the change,” read one sign, mocking Obama’s campaign slogan. Others expressed concern Obama might be leading the country toward socialism.
Attendees like Carolyn Walker, 43, of Lexington, wore a red, white and blue hat shaped like a star. She’d dug it out from her Fourth of July decorations.
“Our country has been great for 233 years. Why change it?” said Walker, who worries the federal government is displaying socialist tendencies through corporate bailouts and stimulus money sent to states. Nik Rodriguez, 32, of Elgin, stood in the back of the crowd, arms crossed, and listened to the speakers.
“I’m just getting tired of big government,” said Rodriguez, who had taken a few hours off work to attend. “We need to get back to the Constitution.” Democrats questioned whether the rallies were as spontaneous as claimed, noting lobbyist and political action groups were sponsoring some events in other states.
Obama won 53 percent of the vote in November’s election, or about 9.5 million more votes than Republican John McCain. Wednesday’s protesters, said S.C. Democratic Party chairwoman Carol Fowler, do not represent a larger sentiment among voters.
“They certainly are people who are the extreme right wing of the country,” Fowler said. “The majority of Americans do not want the same failed economic policies that we had under a failed Republican administration.”
But organizers hope they have tapped a growing movement. Clark has started a Web site, routthemout.com, to elect like-minded representatives. DeMint said the only way things will change is to organize similar rallies across the country. “Can we use this Tax Day as a rallying cry to change the way business is done?” Sanford asked.
The tea party went off with only a minor hitch, as a man, yelling his dissent, briefly disrupted the rally. The crowd quickly drowned him out with chants of “USA! USA!”
There were several thousands in Olympia, WA - right on the steps of the Legislative building.
The TEA parties are a solid start. But we, the people, have to follow up by having “Push Back Until” events later this year, early next year, and for as long as we have to: http://pushbackuntil.com.
It will not be easy, but how interested are we in saving our country from an irresponsible Congress? If we, the people, do nothing, our country is finished.
“Be in D.C. to Push Back Until!”
Ping
Too bad people were not this upset last fall during the Bush-Paulson Bail Out of the Banks and Wall Street.
Columbia ping.
>Too bad people were not this upset last fall during the Bush-Paulson Bail Out of the Banks and Wall Street.
Some of this can be traced to that. IIRC, the DC Switchboard was jam-packed with constituents calling in to say “don’t do it!” even as it was slam-passed.
Yes, the switchboards may have been jammed last fall, but the anger and energy was not quite there.
I was pissed then as bad as I am now.
Pissed that no matter what party controls the White House we will have Socialism forced upon us.
I’m pissed that we didn’t HANG the bunch of traitors in Congress that even suggested a course of action that violated the US Constitution not once, not twice, but at LEAST four times. (Actually EIGHT times by my count.)
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dv698tm_22dr6x3nfb
Hey...both parties are at fault - both want to spend us into bankruptcy. Not that it matters anymore - we seem to be lost to the new party system...
If you really want to change America, you have to begin to think third party - NO, there is no one that is currently available but who knows, maybe a Constitutional believer may arise... I really don’t believe it either, but am so disgusted with today’s party representatives that I have given up...and am looking to the past... Where are all those solid thinking conservatives...
The Dem Party is in full damage control mode.
>Hey...both parties are at fault
Fully agreed,I tried to indict ALL of Congress in that piece.
Guess you wasn't paying attention.....quite a few people we're pissed but you don't organize something like the tea parties overnight...
Yes, I was paying attention.
In fact, the Sunday evening when the document outlining the Nationalization of AIG was leaked I was on FR saying that it was a Socialist Grab by the President, Treasury Sec and Congress. I also spoke out against the powers granted to the Treasury Sec.
When I did that, some people slammed me for opposing Bush.
ROFLOLOLOL that is nothing like what we see now - GET OVER W - W is not the problem.
So? The overwhelming majority of FR was against it then too. You sound like someone on MSNBC.
The problem is that far too may conservatives supported the Bush Bail Out of Banks and Wall Street and for some reason only object to Socialism when it is forced upon you by a Democrat.
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South Carolina Ping