Traveling Tea Party draws thousands (New Lenox, IL)

Billed as a protest against taxes and government spending, the national Tea Party's stop in New Lenox became a gathering of local conservatives and a call to action on national political issues.

"As much as we say the system failed us, maybe we failed the system as well," said Joliet resident Tim Kraulidis, who helped organize Monday's event. "We can't complain ... that our legislators are doing things we don't want them to do and then we don't engage the system."

About 6,000 people packed the hillside venue at The Commons Performing Arts Pavilion for the protest, part of a nationwide Tea Party Express tour that includes speeches, musical performances and updates from a traveling Fox News correspondent.

Dressed in a "Peace Through Superior Firepower" T-shirt, 46-year-old Mike Klempin Jr. said he made the six-hour drive to the rally from downstate West Frankfort "because (President Barack) Obama is anti-small business" and "because it's good to be around people who have the same like mind."

Standing shoulder to shoulder, the crowd was united in a series of impromptu chants celebrating America, lionizing national pundit Glenn Beck, booing the mainstream media and supporting the burning of HR 3200, the health care reform bill commonly referred to Monday as "ObamaCare."

The intensity wasn't shared by a small group of about eight counter-protesters who gathered at the back of the crowd.

"People were getting more riled up as time went on. Frankly, it was a little scary," said Susan Burke, a 67-year-old massage therapist and actress from Chicago Heights. "We just decided to leave."

Many of the estimated 6,000 people who arrived at Monday's Tea Party Express rally held up homemade protest signs. Here's a look a few of them.

The Tea Party Express is a national bus tour that started Aug. 28 and culminates with a final "Taxpayer March" rally in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 12.

The rallies have included speeches by leaders of political action committees and performances from musical acts.

Usually, Tea Party organizers and participants are politically conservative and say they're against high taxes and big government spending.

By STEWART WARREN swarren@scn1.com

NEW LENOX — Not long after 10 a.m. Monday, the Tea Party Express inched its way toward the enormous crowd.

There literally were thousands of people jammed inside the open-air pavilion in front of New Lenox Village Hall. Because so many were waving protest signs and chanting their opposition to powerful Democrats, they didn’t see the approach of the big bus. But dozens of others did. They split off from the bigger group, surrounding the vehicle.
» Click to enlarge image
A crowd gathers in front of New Lenox Village Hall on Monday morning for the Tea Party Express bus tour in New Lenox. Thousands more people came to the rally than expected.
(Ryan Thompson/For the Herald News)

Diana Nagy sings “Where Freedom Flies” on Monday during the Tea Party Express rally.
(Ryan Thompson/For the Herald News)

“God bless you!” called one woman, waving a sign denouncing high taxes.

The bus driver blew the horn. Cameras flashed. The crowd roared.

“It’s like going to a rock concert,” marveled Ann Bode, 49, of Gibson City. She had been busy with visiting relatives Sunday and missed the bus’ stop in Bloomington, a city much closer to her home. But she was bound and determined to come to one of the rallies on the Tea Party Express’ two-week tour, so she drove to New Lenox early Monday morning — after all, she could squeeze in some time with nephew Greg Telfer, 48, who lives in the village.

“I drug him here,” Bode teased.

But they weren’t kidding around as they bemoaned the sad state of the economy, the problems with big government and the possibility of nationalized health insurance.

Telfer, a tree trimmer and a member of Local 9, the union representing electrical linemen and the people who work with them, is still on the job. But his hours recently were cut to 32 a week. If the government controls health care, it won’t be good, he said.

“They are telling us our rates are going up. Why should we be paying more?” Telfer asked.
Republican officials take centerstage
At one side of the stage, Will County Board member Laurie Smith, R-New Lenox, sat with local lawyer Judy DeVriendt, a Republican who ran for Will County state’s attorney last year and now is running for judge. State Rep. Renee Kosel, R-New Lenox, was close by.

“I think this is wonderful. It’s about time they get the message,” Smith said. “Especially at the federal level — there is too much government in our lives.”

As she spoke, Smith’s son-in-law, Bill Walker, the chairman of the New Lenox Republicans, had the center-stage microphone. He organized the group’s stop in the village.

The group says one of the rally tour’s goals is to “highlight some of the worst offenders in Congress who have voted for higher spending, higher taxes, and government intervention in the lives of American families and businesses.” Walker began ticking off a list of powerful Democrats, and when he got to Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, the boos were deafening.

“Debbie, I’ve got news for you,” Walker said. “I think you’re in trouble!”

After his speech, Walker said the organizers had expected a few hundred people. By his count, there were nearly 5,000 at the rally.

“We were hoping they’d have to close Route 30,” he said.

And his wish nearly came true. The parking lots surrounding village hall were jammed, and many people left their cars at nearby businesses or the surrounding residential neighborhood. Police officers were directing traffic around the event.

“We really had no idea there would be this many folks,” Walker said.
Making history
On the other side of the crowd, Al Kempf Jr., 63, of Mokena, was dressed as a naval officer from the War of 1812. He wore a tricorn hat, a ruffled white shirt, a heavy wool officer’s coat, white breeches and, oddly enough, black sneakers.

He carried a homemade sign: “Do not surrender our freedom to politicians.” Used tea bags were tacked to its border.

Although the day was very warm and his outfit was winter-ready, Kempf said he didn’t feel overheated.

“I’m much more worked up over the political areas we have to address,” he said. It was time to take back the country.

“I think what we have to address are immigration and taxes,” Kempf said. “I actually put health care low. It works as it is.”

As he finished, a woman walked up with a camera, asking to take his picture with her children. Kempf graciously agreed.

“History is something where you can read about others or live it yourself,” he said.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1757843,4_1_JO08_TEAPARTY_S1-090908.article#

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