November 7, 2009

Tea Party rally attempts to warn officials.
One Year Notice is the theme at Capitol Hill

By Andy Humbles The Tennessean

Residents from throughout the state are rallying at a Tea Party event at the Capitol Hill building’s east side, demanding politicians who now are in office listen or be voted out in 2010.

Signs displayed include:

“Stop the spending or you’re fired.’’

“No to the healthcare bill.’’

“Congress you work for us.’’

“Born free — taxed to death.’’

“I’m fed up with both parties, fed up of being lied to,’’ one attendee, Kelly Clapp said.

Many attending expressed conservative viewpoints and described themselves as conservatives. But several called it a non-partisan event and RINO (Republican In Name Only) was seen on signs and spoken from the stage.

Helping organize the rally was Tea Party Nation, a social networking Web site organization for political conservatives to aid the Tea Party movement started by Judson Phillips, a local attorney.

The rally’s them is “One Year Notice’’ and voting out elected officials in next November’s elections who don’t listen to the people. Pink slips are being made available at the rally for participants to fill out and have sent to Congress.

“We the people will remove these inferior officials,’’ attendee James Queen said.

Several talk show hosts from around the state, including Ralph Bristol and Phil Valentine, locally attended and other activists were scheduled to speak.

The crowd stretched the length of the Capitol Building's east side and toward the middle was full several rows deep, perhaps 15-25 feet.

The event began around 11 a.m. and was scheduled to last to about 1:30 p.m.

Tea Party rally attempts to warn officials

I didn’t even know this rally was going on today.