But, I DO know this is him in 2000 during the recount fiasco :)
Posted on 04/16/2012 6:07:28 PM PDT by batmast
Staten Island Tea Party honors artist Scott LoBaido
Published: Sunday, April 15, 2012, 5:02 PM Updated: Sunday, April 15, 2012, 5:06 PM
By Jillian Jorgensen
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Staten Island Tea Party celebrated three years of influencing politics in the borough and beyond this afternoon, and honored artist Scott LoBaido with its Great Patriot Award.
"Three years ago today we stood in the rain on New Dorp Lane," Staten Island Tea Party founder Frank Santarpia recalled.
About 350 people showed up that day, he said. Now, the group has about 2,000 members on its mailing lists. While the Tea Party hasn't united behind a single candidate in this year's presidential race, Santarpia said he believed the party would play a big role in the general election. It was the policies of President Barack Obama that got members of the movement involved in the first place, Santarpia said, and those policies are still in place.
"It's the policies of Barack Obama that will fuel the Tea Party movement right through November of 2012," he said.
Locally, Santarpia said the group was proud to have helped flip a seat in the House of Representatives to a Republican.
"We're proud to have participated to a certain extent in the election of Michael Grimm," he said.
Lorainne Scanni read the crowd a timeline of Tea Party events over the last three years, from rallying to help wounded warriors to fighting against Obama's healthcare overhaul, to the group's very first meeting in New Dorp.
LoBaido was awarded the "Great Patriot Award" for his artwork, including the thousands of flags he has painted across the Island and the nation, as well as conservative activism through art -- like dressing as a Christmas tree after the Department of Transportation banned them at the ferry terminal.
"Scott does so much work in service to his country," Santarpia said.
LoBaido told the crowd that 20 years ago, he felt Americans were "falling out of love" with their country. He wanted to share his love of the country and the flag, and the freedoms that allow him to paint whatever kind of art he chooses.
"We, as artists, get to test the boundaries of the First Amendment," he said.
LoBaido said he had been a conservative activist for two decades, and had been waiting for a movement like the Tea Party.
"I've been tossing tea for 20 years," he said. "I've been trying to get you guys on board for 20 years."
But despite his political leanings, LoBaido said the great thing about Staten Island was the sense of community and unity, and the ability of people with different political viewpoints to be friends and discuss their differences.
"It's about the community," he said. "It's always about the community. We have the right to speak our mind."
LoBaido said the veterans he meets -- whom he often helps raise money for with his paintings -- keep him so motivated to keep painting Old Glory. Outside the luncheon, with dried paint on his hands and his belt, LoBaido said he had just finished painting a flag.
"It was just as passionate as the first one I painted," he said.
© 2012 SILive.com. All rights reserved.
But, I DO know this is him in 2000 during the recount fiasco :)
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