Traci White/Register & Bee
Tom Harp raises the American flag on the liberty pole, a symbol from the Revolution, during the TEA Party on Saturday at the Danville City Courthouse Plaza.
Posted on 10/11/2009 2:04:25 PM PDT by Syncro
Traci White/Register & Bee
Tom Harp raises the American flag on the liberty pole, a symbol from the Revolution, during the TEA Party on Saturday at the Danville City Courthouse Plaza.
The Danville TEA Party attracted the ears and attention of local representatives and political candidates on Saturday.
The TEA Party Patriots, a group of residents who believe they are Taxed Enough Already and have protested current federal government policy, invited both former and current political candidates to introduce themselves and address Patriots’ concerns at a rally at the courthouse plaza in downtown Danville.
The rally served as a forum for residents to share their frustrations and for politicians to learn about and meet Southside voters as November’s Election Day draws closer.
“I think it’s very timely. I think the government needs to hear from the people and the people have spoken here today,” said Dave Newman, a Korean War veteran of Danville.
Newman appreciated the openness of the 10 speakers and candidates. He saw the rally as a way to return to the country’s “roots.”
“I don’t see this as a political rally. I see this as a freedom rally,” Newman said. “But I think it goes hand in hand this time of year.”
First speaker Herschel Stone, who ran for Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors in the past, sees the TEA Party as a “movement that is driven from the heart of the people.”
His speech fell in line with much of the day’s rhetoric about reducing government spending and the tax burden on Americans as he campaigned for the Fair Tax plan as Danville’s FairTax community coordinator. The plan proposes replacing income taxes with a progressive national retail sales tax.
The 150 attendees cheered to hear the plan would mean no more income tax filings.
State Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, who recently filed his candidacy for the 5th Congressional District, told TEA Party-goers that he wondered what the nation’s founding fathers would think of the country today.
“They would be heartened at one thing and that is what is represented here —a renewed American spirit,” Hurt said.
Hurt said the TEA Party represents a grave concern among Americans and residents of Southside about the future of the country when a Congress spends and accumulates debt well beyond its means. He said Southside residents need a voice in Washington that would truly represent their views and values.
Delegate Danny Marshall, R-Danville, who is running for reelection in November, reiterated the need for the state government to cut spending when the money’s tight, just like everyday people have to do in hard times.
“People should be speaking their minds about what they think government is doing right and what government is doing wrong,” Marshall said. “Part of my job is to listen to the people — that’s who I represent.”
Mike Mondul, who is running for Danville city sheriff, encourages every Danville resident to learn about all candidates to make informed decisions.
“This is a forum of voters,” Mondul, a current Danville Police Department crime scene search unit supervisor and public information officer, said about the TEA Party.
Feda Kidd Morton, a Fluvanna County educator and Republican Party of Virginia activist who also entered the race for the 5th District seat, told attendees she would uphold constitutional principles. Morton said the more open and larger a gathering like the TEA Party, the better.
“It provides a forum that allows average citizens to express their voices,” he said. “That way we know what the people think.”
“I think it’s very timely. I think the government needs to hear from the people and the people have spoken here today,” said Dave Newman, a Korean War veteran of Danville.Teaparties are going full steam ahead.Newman appreciated the openness of the 10 speakers and candidates. He saw the rally as a way to return to the country’s “roots.”
“I don’t see this as a political rally. I see this as a freedom rally,” Newman said. “But I think it goes hand in hand this time of year.”
Millions of citizens are fed up with the unconstitutional antics of our goverment, especially that emanating from the socialist/Marxist inspired Congress and current administration.
America is not Venezuela, Cuba or Viet Nam....the hard-left socialists have yet to realize it.
What is happening to this country?
Bill Louis Long Albemarle County
Published: October 11, 2009» 0 Comments | Post a CommentWhile visiting Washington, D.C., on Sept. 12, my wife and I found ourselves caught up in a massive crowd of overwhelmingly well-behaved, good-humored and average-looking Americans gathered on the Mall for a Tea Party to protest against government intrusion in their lives and the growing tax burden.
Imaging our shock when we learned the following week from many in the media that we had, in fact, been part of a motley assortment of political ideologues, anarchists and other extremists.
Upon reflection, I do recall see many violence-inciting signs, such as “No More Cash for These Clunkers” above photos of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and “Thank you, Mr. President. We’ll be forever in your debt!”
Then, On Oct. 4, we were part of another crowd packed into the martin Luther King Performing Arts Center at Charlottesville High School to hear the U.S. Air Force Band and the Singing Sergeants.
It looked to us that these were the same type of individuals who constituted the vast majority on the Mall a month earlier. Here they were, standing in respectful silence as the American flag was presented, loudly singing “The Star Spangled Banner” and (gasp!) expressing appreciation and affection for the members of our military.
We went home wondering about just what is happening to this nation.
They’ve witnessed such a weakening, in response to their attacks over the last 50 years. You can’t blame them for thinking they’ll win this.
Joe the Plumber had a tea party also, but it is reported on by a source we can’t publish
Check it out at this link, plus there is a link to some great pictures also
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091010/GPG0101/91010051/1207/GPG01
Don’t post them here though
real americans making a difference...
the 9-12 march on dc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdzspfkujHQ
teeman
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