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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

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|NEXT STORY »

Tax-Day 'Tea Parties' Test Aversion to Obama Spending

Tens of thousands set to attend nationwide demonstrations

By Matt Cantor| Posted Apr 15, 09 10:02 AM CDT|

(Newser) – Fiscal conservatives across the country will reenact Revolutionary history today with tea parties in every state to protest taxes and increased spending, ABC News reports. Tens of thousands are registered to attend in major cities, testing whether anti-Obama budget sentiment, which has picked up steam on the Internet, with help from Fox News, is “the beginning of conservative online grassroots politics,” says a Republican Internet strategist.

The demonstrations aren’t explicitly backing either party—in fact, “it’s almost libertarian,” said a GOP consultant. But some key Republicans are supporting the idea, with members of Congress attending events. The concept was sparked by CNBC personality Rick Santelli’s February attack on President Obama, in which he suggested hauling “derivative securities” into Lake Michigan.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

President Barack Obama, accompanied by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, makes remarks on the economy, Friday, April 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, left, accompanied by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington March 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

We definitely have people that are going to come dressed in historical costume. People are definitely bringing tea.
- Corie Whalen, college student

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35 comments

VIEWING:

nick
Apr 15, 09 10:06 AM CDT

Do those attending tea parties truly oppose Obama returning the top marginal tax rate to where it was under President Clinton? Are they really concerned that multi-national corporations may have to pay taxes on profits they earn overseas? Or are they simply following Fox News’ cheerleading, straight into the waiting arms of Dick Armey? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Snowleopard
Apr 15, 09 12:59 PM CDT

the outrage is completely manufactured. Economics is relative. If the super-rich are getting richer, the middle class is getting poorer in comparison. Income inequality hasn't been this extreme since right before the great depression, which isn't a coincidence.

| 0 minutes ago

nick
Apr 15, 09 10:08 AM CDT

Add quotation marks to the above. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

beauinindy
Apr 15, 09 11:43 AM CDT

good luck egg head, go back to college and rack up more bills for the rest of us to pay off.

| 0 minutes ago

skeptik
Apr 15, 09 10:12 AM CDT

Like it or not taxes are necessary for the funding of our society. I find the republican co-opting of the libertarians tea party strategy a bit pathetic (can't they come up with their own ideas?) and very hypocritical as we have bush & co to thank for the economic mess we are in. I personally think instead of sending teabags to Pres. O we should instead send douche bags to the head of the republican party, except no one knows who is leading the party of sorry whiners! Reply

IN RESPONSE:

northeast
Apr 15, 09 12:10 PM CDT

Taxes are integral towards running a government, but how far? High taxes can be a necessity in some times, but the returns we've gotten for our tax dollars (under Bush and Obama) just aren't enough to justify the price tags.

IN RESPONSE:

radnip
Apr 17, 09 2:00 PM CDT

Yeah, the returns under Obama, which we can judge after these long 3 months, isn't enough! [ROFL!]

| 0 minutes ago

lo9an
Apr 15, 09 10:19 AM CDT

Don't they realize that these 'Tea Parties' are being bankrolled by the wealthy corporations they so often demonize? If they were true Libertarians they would ask the USA to legalize marijuana and end the unjust War On Drugs! That would have more of an impact ! Oh wait, that would be contrary to the people financing these so-called parties! Reply

IN RESPONSE:

northeast
Apr 15, 09 12:02 PM CDT

Do anti-abortion activists show up with signs that say "Lower the income tax on corporations," even though both are Republican ideas? No, because that would look retarded. "Less taxes" is a Libertarian idea, but we wouldn't show up holding signs for a completely different event.

IN RESPONSE:

NutsInNY
Apr 15, 09 1:51 PM CDT

I saw a sign reading "You are Wrong Obama, This is a Christian Nation."

IN RESPONSE:

northeast
Apr 15, 09 3:03 PM CDT

And like I said, that person looks completely retarded.

| 0 minutes ago

skeptik
Apr 15, 09 10:19 AM CDT

Pathetic that the republicans can't come up with their own ideas & have to steal the libertarians. Hypocritical too as we have bush & co to thank for the economic mess we're in. Instead of sending tea bags to Pres O we should be sending douche bags to the head of the repub party & fixx news. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Doctor_Zaius
Apr 15, 09 10:30 AM CDT

Que operation "False Outrage Mark IX" Reply

IN RESPONSE:

northeast
Apr 15, 09 12:05 PM CDT

No, there's a legitimate outrage taking place. You just paid for AIG's parties, and the ones you voted in to prevent crap like that from happening are all taking campaign funds from AIG. Aren't you pissed too?

IN RESPONSE:

Snowleopard
Apr 15, 09 12:57 PM CDT

Northeast: Have you considered what would have happened if AIG went bankrupt? (ie. the world biggest insurer going under right when the world's financial system needed insurance more than ever)

IN RESPONSE:

northeast
Apr 15, 09 1:26 PM CDT

Yes, sadly. I know what will happen, but the first four bailouts haven't worked and I think that an AIG failure is inevitable.

IN RESPONSE:

Snowleopard
Apr 15, 09 2:05 PM CDT

I doesn't matter if AIG eventually goes bankrupt. The point is that keeping AIG afloat for the time being is allowing them to pay out insurance claims to the banks, which is preventing all the banks from going bankrupt. (That being said, I really don't like the "too big to fail" scenario, and hope that some of these insolvent institutions are broken up).

IN RESPONSE:

northeast
Apr 15, 09 3:02 PM CDT

I'd argue that if we had allowed them to fail when Bush had the chance, we wouldn't be in this mess. Simply putting them on life support for an unspecified period of time isn't doing anyone any good. If our real concern was their debt to the banks, why didn't we just bypass AIG and deal with the banks directly?

IN RESPONSE:

Snowleopard
Apr 15, 09 4:02 PM CDT

yeah, I hear ya. we're creating an artificially supported, zombie financial industry. The temporary nationalization and liquidation of assets approach probably was a better solution, but it has the "socialism" stigma unduly attached to it.

IN RESPONSE:

MrBisme
Apr 15, 09 6:22 PM CDT

There's nothing temporary about nationalization. Do you really think when everything's better, the government will just hand everything back over? I need power, but I'll give it right back when I'm done.... I promise.

| 0 minutes ago

Mad
Apr 15, 09 10:35 AM CDT

Oh good, from 'do nothing' the republicans are finally 'doing something' about the economy... They're taking tea. How quaint Reply

| 0 minutes ago

kokuaguy
Apr 15, 09 11:28 AM CDT

Perhaps the most logical response so far: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/14/2m4m-4ever_n_186575.html Reply

| 0 minutes ago

beauinindy
Apr 15, 09 11:38 AM CDT

don't worry liberal whiners, we'll leave you DC, and Illinois, when the civil war happens, we won't go away... Reply

| 0 minutes ago

beauinindy
Apr 15, 09 11:40 AM CDT

your ignorant candidate won, you liberals won nothing, BHO will take you down with him...Heil Barrack Reply

IN RESPONSE:

ezrider
Apr 15, 09 12:36 PM CDT

where do you think we were before BO took office?The twilight zone

IN RESPONSE:

Lula
Apr 15, 09 1:35 PM CDT

It sure sounds like you beauinindy, have been under a rock or in a cave for the past 8 years. Your GOP is what has got us in this mess. Wake up and smell the roses, because we now have someone in office with brains.

| 0 minutes ago

Timinator2K
Apr 15, 09 11:52 AM CDT

T-axed E-nough A-lready! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

northeast
Apr 15, 09 12:07 PM CDT

Again, guys, don't feed the trolls. By trolls I mean "beauinindy." Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Snowleopard
Apr 15, 09 12:54 PM CDT

I think it's good that some part of the populace is constantly a watch for higher taxes, and is constantly fighting back whenever they're threatened to be raised. That being said, their reaction to Obama is largely unfounded, because for 95% of the population taxes aren't changing. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

northeast
Apr 15, 09 1:41 PM CDT

I just got back from one of these tea parties...friggin' Religious Right completely ruined it. No, the financial collapse was not brought about because of a lack of faith. No, "atheist" is not a good insult. No, showing up drunk to a protest is generally frowned upon...and showing up drunk, then picking a fight with my friend (in front of your kid) is dickery of an unbelievable caliber. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Mad
Apr 15, 09 3:37 PM CDT

"I just got back from one of these tea parties... dickery of an unbelievable caliber" -- Lie with dogs, get fleas; lie with republicans and get unbelievable dickery

| 0 minutes ago

freethemall
Apr 15, 09 2:07 PM CDT

It has been said that if peaceful change is made impossible, violent change is inevitable. History bears this out. Think of the French and Russian revolutions, which occurred when the "haves" had nearly everything, while the "have-nots" had next to nothing, and saw no hope of change. As Snowleopard pointed out, Income inequality has increased to an alarming degree. This needs to change, and hopefully we change, in spite of reactionary tactics such as "tea parties' being employed by those with a vested interest in the status quo. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

SPH
Apr 16, 09 5:45 PM CDT

The French revolution yeah...The Russian revolutions (there were two, one in February and one in October 1917) was little more than a coup with the vast majorityt of the Russian population unaware or indifferent to the changing political landscape...If you are going to use historical references, please learn some history.....

| 0 minutes ago

freethemall
Apr 17, 09 12:52 AM CDT

Well, I guess I've learned "some history", SPH, maybe not as much as you. Are you a history professor? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

radnip
Apr 17, 09 2:07 PM CDT

Yeah, I talked with these anti-taxers and if they're not anything else, they're consistent: They don't use public roads or any public services paid for by taxes. They don't like any government agencies and can't stand any of the regulatory agencies. When products kill them, they blame themselves. They don't use money -- government printed and backed. They like potholes, lack of public services due to underfunding and don't participate in any public health programs. Unfortunately, they also did not show up for those tax parties because they cannot use the public roads. And of course, they don't watch on air television, regulated by evil big brother, so it was a lucky thing I found one to speak with. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 35 comments »

taxes • government spending • tea • protests • political demonstrations • Obama administration • President Obama • tea parties

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Tax-Day 'Tea Parties' Test Aversion to Obama Spending