(Senator) Crapo (ID) salutes Tea Party group as they prepare for Statehouse rally

Idaho Statesman ^ | 1/14/2010 | Dan Popkey

[Domandred]

As conservatives from around Idaho prepare to rally Monday at a “Tea Party Convergence on the Capitol,” they have won the backing of the senior member of state’s congressional delegation, GOP Sen. Mike Crapo.

-- SNIP --

Crapo said the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress “are simply not listening to the American people. This sad truth has spawned deep frustration around the country, among many Members of Congress like me, and, of course, the Tea Party movement.”

Added Crapo: “The people of this movement come from every income level and background. They are in the majority in their opinions about the size of government, higher taxes and reduced liberties. And they understand, where their critics don’t, that the government cannot keep growing and spending on its current path without causing major damage to our future and the economy. The Tea Party movement has grown because its reason for existence is much deeper and more real than simple caricatures.”

[Domandred]

Included in Popkey's "blog" post is Sen Mike Crapo's guest opinion piece. Looked at the main Idaho Statesman site and didn't see the opinion there. Just seems to be included with the blog post.

Here is the first paragraph excerpted:

"Back in September, I wrote a column defending the First Amendment rights of the many Tea Party groups that sprouted up to protest the big government policies of the new Administration. At that time, many on the left and in the media tried to portray this as a temporary distraction that would soon fade. They assumed ridiculing and demonizing participants would marginalize the Tea Party movement in hopes of making it irrelevant. Exactly the opposite has happened. This grassroots movement has only grown in size and commitment since the first rallies early last year.

Like any excerpt for CR you'll have to click the link to read the full post and opinion piece.

[screaminsunshine]

MSM caniption fit alert!