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[[Image:Tea Party Protest, Hartford, Connecticut, 15 April 2009 - 060.jpg|thumb|300px|A Tea Party protest in [[Hartford, Connecticut]], on April 15, 2009.]]
[[Image:Tea Party Protest, Hartford, Connecticut, 15 April 2009 - 060.jpg|thumb|300px|A Tea Party protest in [[Hartford, Connecticut]], on April 15, 2009.]]


The '''Tea Party protests''' are a series of nationally coordinated [[protests]] across the [[United States]] since 2009.<ref name="deseret">{{cite news|first=David |last=Servatius | url=http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705289328,00.html |title=Anti-tax-and-spend group throws "tea party" at Capitol|accessdate=June 16, 2009|date=March 6, 2009|publisher= [[Deseret News]]}}</ref><ref name="economist">{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13235069 |title=Anger management|date= 5 March 2009 |publisher=Economist|accessdate=16 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="sfexaminer">{{cite news|url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/Tea-parties-are-flash-crowds-Obama-should-fear-41547632.html |title=Tea parties are flash crowds Obama should fear|date=March 19, 2009|publisher=[[The San Francisco Examiner]]|first=Mark |last=Tapscott|accessdate=June 16, 2009}}</ref><ref name=thinkprogress>''Think Progress'', 09 April 2009, [http://thinkprogress.org/2009/04/09/lobbyists-planning-teaparties/ Spontaneous Uprising? Corporate Lobbyists Helping To Orchestrate Radical Anti-Obama Tea Party Protests]</ref> Participants say the events are part of a [[Tea Party movement]] opposing [[big government]],<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|first=Jeff |last=Seleny | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/politics/13protestweb.html |title=Thousands Rally in Capital to Protest Big Government|accessdate=Sept 28, 2009|date=September 12, 2009|publisher= New York Times}}</ref> [[Presidency of Barack Obama|President Barack Obama]],<ref name=france>{{cite news|date=April 15, 2009|publisher=[[Google News]] - [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iVPKNWGZDbu2Xzq4C14mhJqCdXwQ|title=Anti-Obama 'tea party' protests mark US tax day|accessdate=June 16, 2009}}</ref> the U.S. [[United States federal budget|federal budget]] and, more specifically, the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|stimulus package]], which the protesters argue are wasteful government spending and unnecessary government growth. They oppose the increase in the [[United States national debt|national debt]] as well.<ref name=peter>{{cite news|title=The Tea Party Revolution|url=http://spectator.org/archives/2009/04/15/the-tea-party-revolution|accessdate=June 18, 2009|publisher=[[The American Spectator]]|first= Peter |last=Ferrara|date=April 15, 2009}}</ref> The protesters also objected to possible future tax increases<ref name="sfexaminer"/>. Protests have been held on April 15, 2009 to coincide with the annual U.S. deadline for submitting tax returns, known as [[Tax Day]],<ref name=france/><ref name=rebel/> over the weekend of July 4, 2009 to coincide with [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]], and on September 12, 2009 to coincide with the anniversary of the [[September 11 attacks]].
The '''Tea Party protests''' are a series of [[protests]] that have been held across the [[United States]] since 2009.<ref name="deseret">{{cite news|first=David |last=Servatius | url=http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705289328,00.html |title=Anti-tax-and-spend group throws "tea party" at Capitol|accessdate=June 16, 2009|date=March 6, 2009|publisher= [[Deseret News]]}}</ref><ref name="economist">{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13235069 |title=Anger management|date= 5 March 2009 |publisher=Economist|accessdate=16 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="sfexaminer">{{cite news|url=http://twurl.cc/273v |title=Tea parties are flash crowds Obama should fear|date=March 19, 2009|publisher=[[The San Francisco Examiner]]|first=Mark |last=Tapscott|accessdate=June 16, 2009}}</ref><ref name=thinkprogress>''Think Progress'', 09 April 2009, [http://thinkprogress.org/2009/04/09/lobbyists-planning-teaparties/ Spontaneous Uprising? Corporate Lobbyists Helping To Orchestrate Radical Anti-Obama Tea Party Protests]</ref> Participants say the events are part of a [[Tea Party movement]] opposing [[big government]],<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|first=Jeff |last=Seleny | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/politics/13protestweb.html |title=Thousands Rally in Capital to Protest Big Government|accessdate=Sept 28, 2009|date=September 12, 2009|publisher= New York Times}}</ref> [[Presidency of Barack Obama|President Barack Obama]],<ref name=france>{{cite news|date=April 15, 2009|publisher=[[Google News]] - [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iVPKNWGZDbu2Xzq4C14mhJqCdXwQ|title=Anti-Obama 'tea party' protests mark US tax day|accessdate=June 16, 2009}}</ref> the U.S. [[United States federal budget|federal budget]] and, more specifically, the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|stimulus package]], which the protesters argue are wasteful government spending and unnecessary government growth. They oppose the increase in the [[United States national debt|national debt]] as well.<ref name=peter>{{cite news|title=The Tea Party Revolution|url=http://spectator.org/archives/2009/04/15/the-tea-party-revolution|accessdate=June 18, 2009|publisher=[[The American Spectator]]|first= Peter |last=Ferrara|date=April 15, 2009}}</ref> The protesters also objected to possible future tax increases<ref name="sfexaminer"/>. Protests have been held on April 15, 2009 to coincide with the annual U.S. deadline for submitting tax returns, known as [[Tax Day]],<ref name=france/><ref name=rebel/> over the weekend of July 4, 2009 to coincide with [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]], and on September 12, 2009 to coincide with the anniversary of the [[September 11 attacks]].


The name "Tea Party" is a reference to the [[Boston Tea Party]], and the protests have sought to evoke images, slogans, and themes from the [[American Revolution]].<ref name=rebel>{{cite news | first=Michael | last=Oneal | coauthors= Janet Hook | title=Anti-Obama rebellion poses risk for the GOP | date=2009-04-16 | url =http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-tax-day_thuapr16,0,2440162.story | work =[[Chicago Tribune]] | accessdate = 2009-04-21}}</ref><ref name="cbs">[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/04/opinion/main4843055.shtml A Growing "Tea Party" Movement?], Jonathan V. Last, [[Weekly Standard]], March 4,2009</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509445,00.html Taxpayers Strike Back With 'Tea Parties']. ''[[Special Report with Bret Baier]]''. Published March 16, 2009.</ref> The letters T, E, and A have been used by protesters to form the [[backronym]] "Taxed Enough Already."<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[The Politico]]|title=T.E.A. = Taxed Enough Already|author=Anne Schroeder Mullins|date=April 8, 2009|accessdate=June 17, 2009|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/0409/TEA__Taxed_Enough_Already.html}}</ref>
The name "Tea Party" is a reference to the [[Boston Tea Party]], and the protests have sought to evoke images, slogans, and themes from the [[American Revolution]].<ref name=rebel>{{cite news | first=Michael | last=Oneal | coauthors= Janet Hook | title=Anti-Obama rebellion poses risk for the GOP | date=2009-04-16 | url =http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-tax-day_thuapr16,0,2440162.story | work =[[Chicago Tribune]] | accessdate = 2009-04-21}}</ref><ref name="cbs">[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/04/opinion/main4843055.shtml A Growing "Tea Party" Movement?], Jonathan V. Last, [[Weekly Standard]], March 4,2009</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509445,00.html Taxpayers Strike Back With 'Tea Parties']. ''[[Special Report with Bret Baier]]''. Published March 16, 2009.</ref> The letters T, E, and A have been used by protesters to form the [[backronym]] "Taxed Enough Already."<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[The Politico]]|title=T.E.A. = Taxed Enough Already|author=Anne Schroeder Mullins|date=April 8, 2009|accessdate=June 17, 2009|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/0409/TEA__Taxed_Enough_Already.html}}</ref>


Commentators promoted Tax Day events on [[blogs]], [[Twitter]], and [[Facebook]], while the [[Fox News Channel]] regularly featured televised programming leading into and promoting various protest activities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/14/tea-party-protestors-gird-possible-backlash/ |title=Tea Party Protesters Gird for Possible Liberal Backlash |publisher=FOXNews.com |date=2009-04-14 |accessdate=2009-04-19}}</ref><ref name=fox>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21275.html Fox teas up a tempest]. By Michael Calderone. ''[[The Politico]]''. Published April 15, 2009.</ref> Reaction to the tea parties included counter-protests expressing support for the Obama administration, and dismissive or mocking media coverage of both the events and its promoters.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:8iBuFzqP6ZgJ:www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/04/16/04162009wacteaparty.html+Waco+joins+in+nationwide+%27tea+party%27+taxation+protests&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a|accessdate=June 16, 2009|first=Tim|title=Waco joins in nationwide 'tea party' taxation protests|last=Woods|publisher=[[Waco Tribune-Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_protest16.4024876.html|accessdate=June 16, 2009|title=Demonstrators decry bailouts, taxes at Tax Day tea parties|first=Aaron|last=Burgin|publisher=''[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|Press Enterprise]]''}}</ref><ref name=fox></ref>
Commentators promoted Tax Day events on [[blogs]], [[Twitter]], and [[Facebook]], while the [[Fox News Channel]] regularly featured televised programming leading into and promoting various protest activities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/14/tea-party-protestors-gird-possible-backlash/ |title=Tea Party Protesters Gird for Possible Liberal Backlash |publisher=FOXNews.com |date=2009-04-14 |accessdate=2009-04-19}}</ref><ref name=fox>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21275.html Fox teas up a tempest]. By Michael Calderone. ''[[The Politico]]''. Published April 15, 2009.</ref> Reaction to the tea parties included counter-protests expressing support for the Obama administration, and dismissive or mocking media coverage of both the events and its promoters.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:8iBuFzqP6ZgJ:www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/04/16/04162009wacteaparty.html+Waco+joins+in+nationwide+%27tea+party%27+taxation+protests&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a|accessdate=June 16, 2009|first=Tim|title=Waco joins in nationwide 'tea party' taxation protests|last=Woods|publisher=[[Waco Tribune-Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_protest16.4024876.html|accessdate=June 16, 2009|title=Demonstrators decry bailouts, taxes at Tax Day tea parties|first=Aaron|last=Burgin|publisher=''[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|Press Enterprise]]''}}</ref><ref name=fox></ref>

Despite attempts by International and Progressive elitists to use propaganda to demonize and discredit the TEA Party movement, the TEA Party Movement became more popular than the 2 major American Political Parties; the Democrats and Republicans. <ref>Los Angeles Times sites NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll - [Tea party outpolls Democratic, Republican parties -- will anger fuel 2010 elections?][http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/12/tea-party-more-popular-than-republicans-or-democrats.html]</ref><ref>[CBS TV cites Rasmussen Poll - Rasmussen polls in December revealed that if the tea party were an actual party it would beat the Republicans; among voters not affiliated with either major party it was the most popular.]http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/12/opinion/main6201161.shtml</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
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On February 4, the first Tea Party national convention was held in Nashville. While the paying turnout was only 600 people<ref>http://washingtonindependent.com/75905/media-at-the-tea-party-convention</ref>, the convention received broad media coverage as former GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin was the featured speaker.
On February 4, the first Tea Party national convention was held in Nashville. While the paying turnout was only 600 people<ref>http://washingtonindependent.com/75905/media-at-the-tea-party-convention</ref>, the convention received broad media coverage as former GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin was the featured speaker.


=== Taxpayer March on Washington ===
=== TEA Party Taxpayer March on Washington ===
[[Image:Taxpayer March on Washington.jpg|thumb|Protesters walking towards the [[United States Capitol]] during the [[Taxpayer March on Washington]].]]
[[Image:Taxpayer March on Washington.jpg|thumb|Protesters walking towards the [[United States Capitol]] during the [[Taxpayer March on Washington]].]]
{{Main|Taxpayer March on Washington}}
{{Main|Taxpayer March on Washington}}


On September 12, 2009, Tea Party protests were held in various cities around the nation. In [[Washington, D.C.]], Tea Party protests gathered to march from [[Freedom Plaza]] to the [[United States Capitol]]. Estimates of the number of attendees varied, from "tens of thousands"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/12/tea-party-express-arrives-march-washington-protest-government-spending/|title= Tea Party Express Takes Washington By Storm|date=September 12, 2009 |publisher=Fox News}}</ref> to "in excess of 75,000".<ref name=wsjournal>{{cite news | url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125276685577405975.html?mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular | title=Protesters March on Washington | last=Sherman | first=Jake | date=September 13, 2009 | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | publisher=online.wsj.com | accessdate=September 13, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=atlanta>{{cite news | url=http://www.ajc.com/news/georgians-lead-protest-at-137117.html?imw=Y | title=Georgians lead protest at Taxpayer March on Washington | last=Keefe | first=Bob | date=September 12, 2009 | work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] | publisher=ajc.com | accessdate=September 13, 2009 }}</ref> A rally organizer asserted that one local [[ABC News]] station had reported attendance of over one million, but he retracted the statement after ABC News denied making any such report.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/protest-crowd-size-estimate-falsely-attributed-abc-news/story?id=8558055|title=ABC News Was Misquoted on Crowd Size|date=September 12, 2009|publisher=ABC News}}</ref>
On September 12, 2009, Tea Party protests were held in various cities around the nation. In [[Washington, D.C.]], Tea Party protests gathered to march from [[Freedom Plaza]] to the [[United States Capitol]]. Estimates of the number of attendees varied, from "tens of thousands"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/12/tea-party-express-arrives-march-washington-protest-government-spending/|title= Tea Party Express Takes Washington By Storm|date=September 12, 2009 |publisher=Fox News}}</ref> to "in excess of 75,000".<ref name=wsjournal>{{cite news | url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125276685577405975.html?mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular | title=Protesters March on Washington | last=Sherman | first=Jake | date=September 13, 2009 | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | publisher=online.wsj.com | accessdate=September 13, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=atlanta>{{cite news | url=http://www.ajc.com/news/georgians-lead-protest-at-137117.html?imw=Y | title=Georgians lead protest at Taxpayer March on Washington | last=Keefe | first=Bob | date=September 12, 2009 | work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] | publisher=ajc.com | accessdate=September 13, 2009 }}</ref> A rally organizer asserted that one local [[ABC News]] station had reported attendance of over one million, but he retracted the statement after ABC News denied making any such report.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/protest-crowd-size-estimate-falsely-attributed-abc-news/story?id=8558055|title=ABC News Was Misquoted on Crowd Size|date=September 12, 2009|publisher=ABC News}}</ref>

And when you get tired of the Progressive Government Propaganda you can judge for yourself by the photos comparing photos of President Obama's Inauguration to the September 12, 2009 TEA Party event. Dont read the estimates, view the pictures yourself. (The TEA Party Movement does not tell you how to think, we ask you to "think critically" for yourselves.)

''Millions At D.C. 912 Project Tea Party Protest Dozens At 913 Pro Obamacare Rally….A Tale Of Two Protests.'" <ref>http://thespeechatimeforchoosing.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/millions-at-d-c-912-project-tea-party-protest-dozens-at-913-pro-obamacare-rally-a-tale-of-two-protests/</ref>

Photos of other Washington events like the Million Man March and Promise Keepers can be found here.

''Just how many marched on D.C.?'' <ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=109844</ref>

Again, decide from the photos for yourselves. You must be the determiner of truth? Which estimate of attendance is more correct? 75 thousand, 850 thousand, a million or two million?

Still need more data? Read what foreign papers, not having to worry about retaliation from Obama's Progressive ACORN thugs, have to say.

''
London Daily Mail Reports - A million march to US Capitol to protest against 'Obama the socialist'' <ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1213056/Up-million-march-US-Capitol-protest-Obamas-spending-tea-party-demonstration.html</ref>

And now, my fellow American's, I ask you to ask yourselves, "Did your government and the major media lie to you?" And if so, for what purpose? [[User:CynicalPatriot|CynicalPatriot]] ([[User talk:CynicalPatriot|talk]]) 18:17, 14 February 2010 (UTC)



The march was reported as the largest [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] protest ever held in Washington, D.C., as well as the largest demonstration against [[Presidency of Barack Obama|President Obama's administration]] to date.<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/politics/13protestweb.html?hp | title=Thousands Rally in Capital to Protest Big Government | last=Zeleny | first=Jeff | date=September 12, 2009 | work=[[The New York Times]] | publisher=nytimes.com | accessdate=September 17, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=washind>{{cite news | url=http://washingtonindependent.com/59109/beltway-conservatives-comb-tea-party-movement-for-converts | title=Beltway Conservatives Comb Tea Party Movement for Converts | last=Weigel | first=David | date=September 14, 2009 | work=[[Center for Independent Media|The Washington Independent]] | publisher=washingtonindependent.com | accessdate=September 17, 2009 }}</ref>
The march was reported as the largest [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] protest ever held in Washington, D.C., as well as the largest demonstration against [[Presidency of Barack Obama|President Obama's administration]] to date.<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/politics/13protestweb.html?hp | title=Thousands Rally in Capital to Protest Big Government | last=Zeleny | first=Jeff | date=September 12, 2009 | work=[[The New York Times]] | publisher=nytimes.com | accessdate=September 17, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=washind>{{cite news | url=http://washingtonindependent.com/59109/beltway-conservatives-comb-tea-party-movement-for-converts | title=Beltway Conservatives Comb Tea Party Movement for Converts | last=Weigel | first=David | date=September 14, 2009 | work=[[Center for Independent Media|The Washington Independent]] | publisher=washingtonindependent.com | accessdate=September 17, 2009 }}</ref>
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== Tactics ==
== Tactics ==
⚫
''[[The New York Times]]'' reported on August 8, 2009 that organizations opposed to the health care reform legislation were urging opponents to be disruptive. It noted that the Tea Party Patriots web site circulated a memo instructing them to "Pack the hall. Yell out and challenge the Rep’s statements early. Get him off his prepared script and agenda. Stand up and shout and sit right back down."<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/us/politics/08townhall.html?hpHealth Debates Turns Hostile], New York Times, August 8, 2009</ref> The memo continued, "The Rep [representative] should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington."<ref> [http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/townhallactionmemo.pdf Think Progress], July 2009</ref>


To demonize, discredit and make fun of the TEA Party Movement, Progressive's have began referring to them as "teabaggers" The term teabagger is American slang for a particularly disgusting homosexual act. Such is the level of sophistication of Obama's Elitist and ACORN astroturf thugs.
⚫
Some Tea party organizers have stated that they look to [[Saul Alinsky]]'s ''[[Rules for Radicals]]'' for inspiration. Protesters have also [[appropriation (art)|appropriated]] left-wing imagery; the logo for the 9/12 March on Washington featured a [[raised fist]] design that was intended to resemble those used by pro-labor, anti-war, and [[black power]] movements of the 1960s. In addition, the slogan "Keep Your Laws Off My Body", usually associated with [[pro-choice]] activists, has been seen on signs at tea parties.<ref name="alinsky">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27285.html|title=Conservatives use liberal playbook|accessdate=September 18, 2009}}</ref>

Also, Obama's Educated Elitist thugs have wrongfully tried to paint the TEA PArty Movement as a rebellion by uneducated commoners against the superior Obama educated elite class. <ref>The Tea Party Teens (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/opinion/05brooks.html?partner=rss&emc=rss </ref> <ref>Obama's educated aristocrats attitude toward the TEA Party - "Let them eat Cake" http://twurl.cc/273w</ref>
The TEA Party Movement is about adhering to the Constitution and Bill of Rights, Government Corruption by both of the major USA political parties, limited government, fiscal responsiblity, free markets and personal freedom.<ref>TEA Party - It is not Republican vs Democrat nor Educated vs Uneducated nor white vs color http://twurl.cc/273x</ref>

Initially the Republican Party attempt to slip some Republican Trojan horse tea party groups in in an attempt to Usurp the Movement. But they were discovered. And, in many instances, the Republican handlers have lost control of their Trojan horse groups. <ref>TEA Party Nation and its Convention are Republican Trojan Horses http://twurl.cc/273z</ref> (Please visit this reference to find a list of true and Republican Trojan horse TEA Party Groups. <ref>Comprehensive List of TEA Party / Grassroots Groups Hashtags, websites, issues and Goals http://donmashakteapartyindependentdissent.blogspot.com/2010/01/comprehensive-list-of-tea-party.html</ref>)
And the Democrats also have attempted to tap into the energy of the true TEA Party Movement. They have slowly began moving from calling themselves Progressives to Populists. <ref>President Obama looks to tap populist anger http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31631.html</ref>This in attempt to lose the extremist image so that left leading tea partyers might rejoin the Democrat party. (Yes, there are liberal, left leaning true TEA Partyers) However, both Republicans and Democrats just dont get that the TEA Party group is sick and tired of the lying, duplicity and corruption of both of America's 2 major Political Parties.

⚫
''[[The New York Times]]'' reported on August 8, 2009 that organizations opposed to the health care reform legislation were urging opponents to be disruptive. It noted that the [[Tea Party Patriots]] web site circulated a memo instructing them to "Pack the hall. Yell out and challenge the Rep’s statements early. Get him off his prepared script and agenda. Stand up and shout and sit right back down."<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/us/politics/08townhall.html?hpHealth Debates Turns Hostile], New York Times, August 8, 2009</ref> The memo continued, "The Rep [representative] should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington."<ref> [http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/townhallactionmemo.pdf Think Progress], July 2009</ref>

To Counter Obama's astroturfing of events with ACORN and SEIU thugs<ref>
⚫
Flashback: Who’s funding the Obamacare Astroturf campaign? http://michellemalkin.com/2009/08/04/flashback-who%E2%80%99s-funding-the-obamacare-astroturf-campaign/</ref> <ref>SEIU Thugs Beat Up Town Hall Protester http://sweetness-light.com/archive/seiu-thugs-beat-up-town-hall-protester</ref>, some Tea party organizers have stated that they look to [[Saul Alinsky]]'s ''[[Rules for Radicals]]'' for inspiration. Protesters have also [[appropriation (art)|appropriated]] left-wing imagery; the logo for the 9/12 March on Washington featured a [[raised fist]] design that was intended to resemble those used by pro-labor, anti-war, and [[black power]] movements of the 1960s. In addition, the slogan "Keep Your Laws Off My Body", usually associated with [[pro-choice]] activists, has been seen on signs at tea parties.<ref name="alinsky">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27285.html|title=Conservatives use liberal playbook|accessdate=September 18, 2009}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 19:48, 14 February 2010

This article is about the protests themselves. For the Tea Party movement as an ongoing issue, see Tea Party movement.
A Tea Party protest in Hartford, Connecticut, on April 15, 2009.

The Tea Party protests are a series of protests that have been held across the United States since 2009.[1][2][3][4] Participants say the events are part of a Tea Party movement opposing big government,[5] President Barack Obama,[6] the U.S. federal budget and, more specifically, the stimulus package, which the protesters argue are wasteful government spending and unnecessary government growth. They oppose the increase in the national debt as well.[7] The protesters also objected to possible future tax increases[3]. Protests have been held on April 15, 2009 to coincide with the annual U.S. deadline for submitting tax returns, known as Tax Day,[6][8] over the weekend of July 4, 2009 to coincide with Independence Day, and on September 12, 2009 to coincide with the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

The name "Tea Party" is a reference to the Boston Tea Party, and the protests have sought to evoke images, slogans, and themes from the American Revolution.[8][9][10] The letters T, E, and A have been used by protesters to form the backronym "Taxed Enough Already."[11]

Commentators promoted Tax Day events on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook, while the Fox News Channel regularly featured televised programming leading into and promoting various protest activities.[12][13] Reaction to the tea parties included counter-protests expressing support for the Obama administration, and dismissive or mocking media coverage of both the events and its promoters.[14][15][13]

Despite attempts by International and Progressive elitists to use propaganda to demonize and discredit the TEA Party movement, the TEA Party Movement became more popular than the 2 major American Political Parties; the Democrats and Republicans. [16][17]

History

A Tea Party protester holds a sign saying "Remember: Dissent is Patriotic" at a Nashville Tea Party on February 27, 2009.
See also: List of Tea Party protests, 2009 and List of Tea Party protests, 2010

Background

On January 27, 2009 radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh criticized the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commenting, "This 'porkulus' bill is designed to repair the Democratic Party's power losses from the 1990s forward, and to cement the party's majority power for decades."[18] The term porkulus was coined as a portmanteau of "pork" and "stimulus,"[19] in reference to pork barrel[20] spending or earmarks,[21] proving popular with conservative politicians and commentators, who began to unify in opposition against stimulus spending after the 2008 General Election.

On February 10, FreedomWorks activist Mary Rakovich,[22][23][24] who is also a leader in the conservative advocacy group "America Coast 2 Coast",[25] led a protest outside President Barack Obama's townhall meeting in Fort Myers, Florida, displaying a sign with an image of a pig and the statement "$650,000,000 for DTV coupons".[25]

On February 16, the day before President Obama signed into law the stimulus bill, blogger Keli Carender called for and organized a "porkulus" protest in Seattle, Washington.[26] A protest was held in Denver on February 17[27] and a protest in Mesa, Arizona on February 18 brought 500 protesters.[28]

Protests

April 15 Tax-day events

Tea Party protesters in Louisville, Kentucky on April 15, 2009.

April 15, 2009 was the date of the largest number of tea parties, with demonstrations reported to be occurring in more than 750 cities.[29] Estimates of numbers of protesters varied by location and source. The Christian Science Monitor reported on the difficulties of calculating a cumulative turnout and said some estimates state that over half a million Americans participated in the protests, noting, "experts say the counting itself often becomes politicized as authorities, organizers, and attendees often come up with dramatically different counts.".[30][30][31] Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, estimated that at least 268,000 attended in over 200 cities.[32] Statistician Nate Silver, manager of fivethirtyeight.com, has stated that the largest protests were in capitals and large cities while many others had little or no reliable media coverage and were thus not included in his estimate. He reported cumulative crowd size from credible sources to be an estimated 311,460 for 346 cities and on April 16, 2009 stated "essentially all major cities and state capitals should now be accounted for."[33] The largest event, in Atlanta, Georgia, drew an estimated 7,000[34] to 15,000 people.[33][35] Some of the gatherings drew only dozens.[30]

An April 15, 2009 Tea Party protest outside the White House was moved after a box of tea bags was hurled over the White House fence. Police sealed off the area and evacuated some people. The United States Secret Service brought out a bomb-detecting robot, which determined the package was not a threat.[36] Approximately a thousand people had demonstrated, several waved placards saying "Stop Big Government" and "Taxation is Piracy".[6]

According to an April 20, 2009 Rasmussen poll, 51% of Americans polled viewed the protests favorably and 32% of these viewed them "very favorably." About one in four people polled knew someone who had attended a Tea Party protest.[37] Those results, however, stand in contrast to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey in March found that 62% said that they approved how Obama is handling tax policy.[31] An April USA Today/Gallup also found that a majority of Americans favor the expansion of government economic intervention, at least for now.[6]

Independence Day and other post-April 15 Tea Parties

After April 15, Tea Party rallies continued in various locales around the nation. Many of these events were focused on opposition to state or local taxes and spending, rather than with national issues. Late April saw Tea Parties in White Plains, New York,[38] Jackson, Tennessee,[39] and Monroe, Washington.[40] In May, there were six more Tea Party events in Tennessee[41], New York,[42] Idaho,[43] Ohio,[44] Nevada,[45] and North Carolina.[46] During June, another dozen events were held in North Carolina,[47] California,[48] Rhode Island,[49] Texas,[50] Ohio,[51] Michigan,[52] Montana,[53] Florida,[54] New York,[55] and Washington[56] state. On June 29, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee, four thousand people rallied against new emissions trading (cap and trade) energy and universal health care legislation in Congress.[57]

A number of Tea Party protests were held the weekend of July 4, 2009, coinciding with American Independence Day.[58][59]

On July 17, there were additional Tea Party protests around the nation organized by a group called Tea Party Patriots, this time against President Obama's proposed health care reform bill that they labeled socialized medicine.[60]

On February 4, the first Tea Party national convention was held in Nashville. While the paying turnout was only 600 people[61], the convention received broad media coverage as former GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin was the featured speaker.

TEA Party Taxpayer March on Washington

Protesters walking towards the United States Capitol during the Taxpayer March on Washington.
Main article: Taxpayer March on Washington

On September 12, 2009, Tea Party protests were held in various cities around the nation. In Washington, D.C., Tea Party protests gathered to march from Freedom Plaza to the United States Capitol. Estimates of the number of attendees varied, from "tens of thousands"[62] to "in excess of 75,000".[63][64] A rally organizer asserted that one local ABC News station had reported attendance of over one million, but he retracted the statement after ABC News denied making any such report.[65]

And when you get tired of the Progressive Government Propaganda you can judge for yourself by the photos comparing photos of President Obama's Inauguration to the September 12, 2009 TEA Party event. Dont read the estimates, view the pictures yourself. (The TEA Party Movement does not tell you how to think, we ask you to "think critically" for yourselves.)

Millions At D.C. 912 Project Tea Party Protest Dozens At 913 Pro Obamacare Rally….A Tale Of Two Protests.'" [66]

Photos of other Washington events like the Million Man March and Promise Keepers can be found here.

Just how many marched on D.C.? [67]

Again, decide from the photos for yourselves. You must be the determiner of truth? Which estimate of attendance is more correct? 75 thousand, 850 thousand, a million or two million?

Still need more data? Read what foreign papers, not having to worry about retaliation from Obama's Progressive ACORN thugs, have to say.

London Daily Mail Reports - A million march to US Capitol to protest against 'Obama the socialist [68]

And now, my fellow American's, I ask you to ask yourselves, "Did your government and the major media lie to you?" And if so, for what purpose? CynicalPatriot (talk) 18:17, 14 February 2010 (UTC)


The march was reported as the largest conservative protest ever held in Washington, D.C., as well as the largest demonstration against President Obama's administration to date.[5][69]

Tactics

To demonize, discredit and make fun of the TEA Party Movement, Progressive's have began referring to them as "teabaggers" The term teabagger is American slang for a particularly disgusting homosexual act. Such is the level of sophistication of Obama's Elitist and ACORN astroturf thugs.

Also, Obama's Educated Elitist thugs have wrongfully tried to paint the TEA PArty Movement as a rebellion by uneducated commoners against the superior Obama educated elite class. [70] [71] The TEA Party Movement is about adhering to the Constitution and Bill of Rights, Government Corruption by both of the major USA political parties, limited government, fiscal responsiblity, free markets and personal freedom.[72]

Initially the Republican Party attempt to slip some Republican Trojan horse tea party groups in in an attempt to Usurp the Movement. But they were discovered. And, in many instances, the Republican handlers have lost control of their Trojan horse groups. [73] (Please visit this reference to find a list of true and Republican Trojan horse TEA Party Groups. [74])

And the Democrats also have attempted to tap into the energy of the true TEA Party Movement. They have slowly began moving from calling themselves Progressives to Populists. [75]This in attempt to lose the extremist image so that left leading tea partyers might rejoin the Democrat party. (Yes, there are liberal, left leaning true TEA Partyers) However, both Republicans and Democrats just dont get that the TEA Party group is sick and tired of the lying, duplicity and corruption of both of America's 2 major Political Parties.

The New York Times reported on August 8, 2009 that organizations opposed to the health care reform legislation were urging opponents to be disruptive. It noted that the Tea Party Patriots web site circulated a memo instructing them to "Pack the hall. Yell out and challenge the Rep’s statements early. Get him off his prepared script and agenda. Stand up and shout and sit right back down."[76] The memo continued, "The Rep [representative] should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington."[77]

To Counter Obama's astroturfing of events with ACORN and SEIU thugs[78] [79], some Tea party organizers have stated that they look to Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals for inspiration. Protesters have also appropriated left-wing imagery; the logo for the 9/12 March on Washington featured a raised fist design that was intended to resemble those used by pro-labor, anti-war, and black power movements of the 1960s. In addition, the slogan "Keep Your Laws Off My Body", usually associated with pro-choice activists, has been seen on signs at tea parties.[80]

See also

References

  1. ^ Servatius, David (March 6, 2009). "Anti-tax-and-spend group throws "tea party" at Capitol". Deseret News. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  2. ^ "Anger management". Economist. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  3. ^ a b Tapscott, Mark (March 19, 2009). "Tea parties are flash crowds Obama should fear". The San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  4. ^ Think Progress, 09 April 2009, Spontaneous Uprising? Corporate Lobbyists Helping To Orchestrate Radical Anti-Obama Tea Party Protests
  5. ^ a b Seleny, Jeff (September 12, 2009). "Thousands Rally in Capital to Protest Big Government". New York Times. Retrieved Sept 28, 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help) Cite error: The named reference "nytimes" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d "Anti-Obama 'tea party' protests mark US tax day". Google News - AFP. April 15, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  7. ^ Ferrara, Peter (April 15, 2009). "The Tea Party Revolution". The American Spectator. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  8. ^ a b Oneal, Michael (2009-04-16). "Anti-Obama rebellion poses risk for the GOP". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-04-21. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ A Growing "Tea Party" Movement?, Jonathan V. Last, Weekly Standard, March 4,2009
  10. ^ Taxpayers Strike Back With 'Tea Parties'. Special Report with Bret Baier. Published March 16, 2009.
  11. ^ Anne Schroeder Mullins (April 8, 2009). "T.E.A. = Taxed Enough Already". The Politico. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  12. ^ "Tea Party Protesters Gird for Possible Liberal Backlash". FOXNews.com. 2009-04-14. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  13. ^ a b Fox teas up a tempest. By Michael Calderone. The Politico. Published April 15, 2009.
  14. ^ Woods, Tim. "Waco joins in nationwide 'tea party' taxation protests". Waco Tribune-Herald. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  15. ^ Burgin, Aaron. "Demonstrators decry bailouts, taxes at Tax Day tea parties". Press Enterprise. Retrieved June 16, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Los Angeles Times sites NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll - [Tea party outpolls Democratic, Republican parties -- will anger fuel 2010 elections?][1]
  17. ^ [CBS TV cites Rasmussen Poll - Rasmussen polls in December revealed that if the tea party were an actual party it would beat the Republicans; among voters not affiliated with either major party it was the most popular.]http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/12/opinion/main6201161.shtml
  18. ^ Limbaugh, Rush (2009-01-29). "Rush Limbaugh: My Bipartisan Stimulus -- WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  19. ^ Tom Kuntz (2009-02-08). "Idea of the Day: 'Porkulus'". Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  20. ^ Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D. (1999-04-02). "How Congressional Earmarks and Pork-Barrel Spending Undermine State and Local Decisionmaking". Retrieved 1999-04-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  21. ^ Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D. (2004-11-10). "Is Pork Barrel Spending Ready to Explode? The Anatomy of an Earmark". The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 2004-11-10.
  22. ^ Steinhauser, Brendan (2009-03-29). "Cape Coral Tea Party is ON!". FreedomWorks. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  23. ^ "Members Protest President Obama in Fort Myers". FreedomWorks. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  24. ^ Steinhauser, Brendan (2009-02-09). "plans to protest Obama in Fort Myers, Florida Tuesday!". FreedomWorks. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  25. ^ a b "Those outside Harborside in Fort Myers had plenty to see, say". The News-Press. 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  26. ^ KIRO Tv (2009-02-16). "VIDEO: Dozens Gather At "Porkulus" Protest". Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  27. ^ "President Signs Massive Stimulus In Denver". 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  28. ^ Gary Grado, Sonu Munshi, Hayley Ringle (2009-02-18). "More than 500 protest Obama's arrival". Retrieved 2009-04-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Tax Day Is Met With Tea Parties. By Janie Lorber and Liz Robbins. The New York Times. Published April 15, 2009.
  30. ^ a b c Arguing the size of the "tea party" protest. By Patrik Jonsson. Christian Science Monitor. Published April 18, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  31. ^ a b "Nationwide 'Tea Party' Protests". CNN. April 15, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  32. ^ First Read - Tea Party Attendance 268,000+ MSNBC
  33. ^ a b "Tea Party Nonpartisan Attendance Estimates: Now 300,000+ Tea Party Attendance estimate". FiveThirtyEight. April 16, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  34. ^ The myth of the 15,000. By Jim Galloway. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Published April 27, 2009.
  35. ^ "Thousands Attend Atlanta Tea Party". April 16, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  36. ^ 'Tea parties' take place across US against tax increases. By Alex Spillius. The Daily Telegraph. Published April 15, 2009.
  37. ^ 51% View Tea Parties Favorably, Political Class Strongly Disagrees. Rasmussen Reports. Published April 20, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  38. ^ Tax protest draws crowd in White Plains, The Journal News, April 24, 2009
  39. ^ Tea Party draws hundreds, The Sun, April 25, 2009
  40. ^ Tea Party supporters protest taxes in Monroe, April 26, 2009, Everett Herald
  41. ^ Knoxville Tea Party, Instapundit, May 5, 2009
  42. ^ "Hundreds attend rally downtown". WIVB-TV. May 9, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  43. ^ "Crapo meets with Tea Party organizers". Associated Press. May 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  44. ^ "Tea Party 'grass-roots politics at its best'". Dayton Daily News. May 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  45. ^ "Gov. Gibbons joins tax opponents at rally". Reno Gazette-Journal. May 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  46. ^ "Kernersville Taxpayers Hold Tea Party Protest". WFMY News 2. May 31, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  47. ^ "Hundreds turn out for local "Tea Party" rally". Associated Press. June 6, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  48. ^ "'An amazing, patriotic event'". The Union. June 8, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  49. ^ "Protesters prepare to parade through State House". The Providence Journal. June 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  50. ^ "600 protest Pelosi in Houston". Politico. June 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  51. ^ "Flag Day Attracts Patriotism, Political Activism". WLWT-TV. June 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  52. ^ "Fair Tax plan wins big at convention". Detroit Free Press. June 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  53. ^ "Ravalli Co. 'Tea Party' organizers deliver petitions". KPAX. June 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  54. ^ "Tea Party: 'Give me liberty, not debt'". Bradenton Herald. June 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  55. ^ "Tea Party part II". Troy Record. June 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  56. ^ TEA Party steeped in messages, The Olympian, June 28, 2009
  57. ^ "Thousands Protest Obama Policies In Nashville". WTVF. June 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  58. ^ Teachout, Woden. ""The Tea Party in Politics: Why the Event in Boston Harbor Keeps on Appealing to Conservatives," History News Network, June 29, 2009". Hnn.us. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  59. ^ "Time for a Tea Party," The Washington Times, July 3, 2009.
  60. ^ "Tea Parties Protest Health Care Bill". WXIA-TV. July 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  61. ^ http://washingtonindependent.com/75905/media-at-the-tea-party-convention
  62. ^ "Tea Party Express Takes Washington By Storm". Fox News. September 12, 2009.
  63. ^ Sherman, Jake (September 13, 2009). "Protesters March on Washington". The Wall Street Journal. online.wsj.com. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  64. ^ Keefe, Bob (September 12, 2009). "Georgians lead protest at Taxpayer March on Washington". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ajc.com. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  65. ^ "ABC News Was Misquoted on Crowd Size". ABC News. September 12, 2009.
  66. ^ http://thespeechatimeforchoosing.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/millions-at-d-c-912-project-tea-party-protest-dozens-at-913-pro-obamacare-rally-a-tale-of-two-protests/
  67. ^ http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=109844
  68. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1213056/Up-million-march-US-Capitol-protest-Obamas-spending-tea-party-demonstration.html
  69. ^ Weigel, David (September 14, 2009). "Beltway Conservatives Comb Tea Party Movement for Converts". The Washington Independent. washingtonindependent.com. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
  70. ^ The Tea Party Teens (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/opinion/05brooks.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
  71. ^ Obama's educated aristocrats attitude toward the TEA Party - "Let them eat Cake" http://twurl.cc/273w
  72. ^ TEA Party - It is not Republican vs Democrat nor Educated vs Uneducated nor white vs color http://twurl.cc/273x
  73. ^ TEA Party Nation and its Convention are Republican Trojan Horses http://twurl.cc/273z
  74. ^ Comprehensive List of TEA Party / Grassroots Groups Hashtags, websites, issues and Goals http://donmashakteapartyindependentdissent.blogspot.com/2010/01/comprehensive-list-of-tea-party.html
  75. ^ President Obama looks to tap populist anger http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31631.html
  76. ^ Debates Turns Hostile, New York Times, August 8, 2009
  77. ^ Think Progress, July 2009
  78. ^ Flashback: Who’s funding the Obamacare Astroturf campaign? http://michellemalkin.com/2009/08/04/flashback-who%E2%80%99s-funding-the-obamacare-astroturf-campaign/
  79. ^ SEIU Thugs Beat Up Town Hall Protester http://sweetness-light.com/archive/seiu-thugs-beat-up-town-hall-protester
  80. ^ "Conservatives use liberal playbook". Retrieved September 18, 2009.
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