A large and enthusiastic crowd turned out for today's Greensboro tea party (click all images to enlarge). Crowd estimates are tough, but John Hammer and I did some counting and thought it looked like 1,500 people or so.

The speakers were determinedly non-partisan. Gerald Hutchinson (with microphone) stressed the grass-roots nature of the event. Still, invocations of a "silent majority" opposed to current government policies reminded me that Guilford County rather famously went for Obama by a wide margin.

Most sign-bearers honored the request to stay on point. Not everyone got the memo, including the person at left and the one in the upper left of the top photo.

This guy had a message of his own.

Comments

[Ged]

That crowd looks really diverse.

[cheripickr]

Similar to this one.

[Roch101]

Or not similar if one actually sees.

[eric]

Nice to see that the Lynard Skynard fans were there.

[cheripickr]

Do we need to plant the right types of people in our pictures to confer inclusivity and legitimacy? Get a life.

[ajs]

Really?? Seems to be a pretty close-minded crowd...and with such hateful signs! What were the proposed solutions? Please tell me there was more than name-calling and finger-pointing going on…

[cheripickr]

Can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not, but if you are asking seriously, consider the source for the photos.

[Kim]

I think Joe Killian summed it up well at the N&R.

[ajs]

Not being sarcastic... I would hope that with all the negativity these sign portray, SOMEONE brought to the table a positive suggestion or two. I don't understand the point of gathering just to complain. I'm hoping that wasn't the case here, and I'm curious about what was said.

[Robert Reddick]

I hate seeing children at political protests.

[Kim]

Those signs were carried by a handful of the 1500 on hand.

[Joe Killian]

I did mention some of the more entertaining signs - and some of the negative ones - in a piece I got up online quickly at the N&R site. But I also got some quotes from some folks in the crowd and from the speakers. We've got some video coming as well.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/04/15/article/large_crowd_gathers_for_tea_party_tax_protest

I think they're expecting a large and lively crowd over at the Eden Tea Party, where I'm told they'll be actually dumping tea. Our print coverage will have that.

[cheripickr]

Kim, please tell us there was some racial, ethnic, sexual and religious diversity as well. Were there at least a few Allman Brothers fans mixed in with the Skynyrd crowd?

[Kim]

Looked more like Merle Haggard. But there were old and young, urban and rural, handsome and ugly. Some what diverse. Hell, there might have even been some Baptist and Methodist in there.

[Spag]

Didn't someone mention before on another thread that the GOP was about dividing people into ethnic, racial, religious groups etc? Seems to me that arguing about the makeup of the crowd here in terms of diversity would prove the opposite. I.E., your message doesn't count unless it is spread among ethnic, racial and religious groups. Who is categorizing people now?

[newtogso]

I'm not sure there is necessarily a disconnect between a county going for Obama and a mild revolt against government spending. As an Obama voter, I too, am very uncomfortable with the bank and auto bailouts, particularly, but in full support of the stimulus package and putting a tax plan in place to help us out of the deficity...reduced spending alone won't get us there. Guess I should read Joe's article to see what folks were saying.

[James]

Goodness, that will be exciting Joe! Actually dumping tea!

It's amazing how easily the lunatic fringe manipulates the fourth estate. But just in case you decide to REALLY cover teh baggin' parties, feel free to use this:

THIS JUST IN. AMERICA-HATING REPUBLICANS, UNHAPPY WITH THEIR TROUNCING IN NOVEMBER, BRING EXCITING INNOVATION TO THE TABLE IN HOPES OF MEETING THE TOUGH ECONOMIC CHALLENGES THEY HELPED CREATE. THE WORD OF THE DAY? CUT TAXES.

Of course, you'll have to get around explaining to them that "cutting taxes" is exactly what Obama is already doing. But who cares about a few facts. They're actually dumping tea!

Sheeesh.

James

PS I don't generally approve of sarcasm, but this thread literally demands it.

[Spag]

I seem to recall as well that the "New Way Forward" protesters were also opposed to bailouts.

[eric]

I'm told they'll be actually dumping tea.

Will they clean up the tea when they're finished. Or do they expect tax-funded sanitation workers to pick up after them?

[Kim]

I don't recall any lunatics in my diversity count. Let me review my notes.

[Beelzebubba]

the children in the photos looked to be handling things in relatively good fashion. They've been given a payment book to an 85k house that they will never get to live in, or look at, for that matter. The payments on this house will continue to rise while the value of their currency falls. I commend the parents and the children for their behavior under these circumstances. Several of these children will develop Stockholm Syndrome and become apologists or advocates for the system that assigns them this debt.

[Joe Killian]

James:

If by "manipulating the fourth estate" you mean that we're covering it -- you got me.

[Ged]

Seems as though the tea party protest at the White House was shut down by police and the Secret Service when one of the protestors threw a package over the fence and onto the White House lawn. Well done people!

[Spag]

Wow, that's almost as bad as shouting down Tom Tancredoin Chapel Hill (ivory tower and bastion of free thought, diversity and expression) and forcing him to cancel his speech.

Debating the relative worth of demonstrations is really getting fun. I just wonder who will get the blame for making the discussion "us vs. them".

For those of you who find protesting taxes (NOT the only subject of the demonstration by the way) amusing my advice is to send all of your money in to the government because you know that you are right and the protesters are wrong. I mean, how dare they disagree with you over the level of taxation? Taxes are good. So good that you should stop complaining about people who think taxes are too high and just worry about yourself. You can start by doing what you wish the protesters would do, and that is to just submit and send in ALL of your money. From some of the comments here, it is clear that some people believe it is an all or nothing debate as foolish as that is to most people.

Or maybe it's just sarcasm.

Thank God there weren't any hippies beating on drums. I really hate that.

What's missing from some of the comments here is the context, and that is that it isn't merely the tax rates at issue. Obama's increase in terms of income taxes is not all that high and still well below rates before Reagan. The issue to many people is the justification he is using to raise them- that somehow people are entitled to the wages of others. This makes taxation not a function of need, but wealth redistribution. That does not sit well with many Americans of either stripe whether the money is going to bailout huge corporations or going down the street as a transfer payment to someone for simply earning less money. The rhetoric coming from the new Administration is highly divisive and inflammatory on this issue.

[cheripickr]

The Huffington Post, how lovely! Giving us the take-home message from today's nationwide gatherings, as it all boils down to a package thrown over a fence. Those radicals would do well to find some role models for their protest etiquette, perhaps prop 48 dissidents. Well done back to you, Ged. Keeps those insightful tidbits coming.

[Dave Ribar]

Sam:

Please show us where Obama has said that "people are entitled to the wages of others."

Following on your thread, my advice to the tax protesters would be to turn down (boycott) the government services they so despise.

[jwg]

I believe that NPR is reporting "a crowd of about 400" in Greensboro.

[Karen]

I agree with Howard Kurtz, a commentator on media at the Washington Post who said:

"People are entitled to protest, and the Fox [TV] opinion-mongers are welcome to use their megaphone as they see fit. But I can't help but observe that we didn't see large-scale protests during the eight years when George W. Bush ran up record deficits with spending programs that many Republicans now admit got out of control. Most of the tea-party types are basically Obama protesters, and that raises questions both about their agenda and the way today's partying is covered."

[cheripickr]

Don’t play naïve , Dave. Of course he didn’t just come right out and say it that way ( or maybe he did-I think his Joe the plumber statement might qualify). He could never have gotten elected. Socialist-minded democrats always have to disguise their intentions if they are to have any hopes of attaining power, at least up till this point in our history.
I hope
this refreshes your memory though, from one of my favorite cherry-picking sources and right –wing propaganda arms:

“According to Tax Policy Center tables, there are roughly 72 million tax units in the bottom two quintiles, representing 48 percent of all tax units. Under current policies, these people pay just 4.8 percent of all federal taxes. Those in the lowest quintile would receive $22 billion in various tax credits under the Obama plan, which would reduce their overall federal tax liability by an average of $567. However, since these 39 million people currently pay an average of only $489 in federal taxes, they would see their federal tax liability fall below zero, meaning they would get money back from the government in excess of any taxes paid.”

Keep in mind that this was well before the pressure of the financial crisis “necessitated” all the bailouts.

This is from Obama’s own campaign tax platform. Now if you want to maintain that this does not represent a philosophy of some people being entitled to the wages of others, I would love to hear your argument.

[cheripickr]

"this" link above appears not to work. Try again.

[cheripickr]

Fair enough Karen, and good point. When the tea party organizers say they are protesting policy, not a party, maybe there is some truth to it. Any past hypocrisy from some outlets aside, the crowds are protesting their concerns for the present and future.

[Jeffrey Sykes]

@Eric:"Will they clean up the tea when they're finished. Or do they expect tax-funded sanitation workers to pick up after them?"

Eric: Can you believe it, we tied a rope to the crate and hauled it back in from the river.

Self-reliance at its finest.

After the crowd had left, there was not a speck of liter at the site, much unlike the on the National Mall following the recent presidential inauguration.

[RecycleBill]

On the TV news tonight it was stated that 61% of Americans are happy with their taxes-- so much for the protestors being from the "silent majority".

Jeffery,
Has tea ever been tested on fish? You'd best hope the scaley little dudes don't come floating to the top or start jumping out on the banks all hopped up on caffine.

[Ishmael]

Isn't it great that we now live in a country where people feel free to protest without being labeled "anti-American"?
Long live this right - no matter who the President is!

[Jeffrey Sykes]

Bill: I think they might like it. I hope it won't be any worse than the crap Duke Power puts in a few hundred yards downstream or the raw sewage that leaks into the Dan when the City of Eden has a sewage overflow.

We took lots of steps and had much discussion on leaving no litter in the river or at the site.

As a funny aside, there was a dude who showed up at the boat landing to put his jet-ski in the river and he was kind enough to drive around for 20 minutes until we could clear a path for him to back his truck into the area.

Several people asked if we got a permit for the site or checked with authorities to see if we could do what we were doing and my response was that I didn't think our forefathers were concerned about that in Boston all those years ago, so we weren't concerned about it either.

[RecycleBill]

Jeffery,
I used to make deliveries to the coal powered plant you speak of-- water and air pollution from coal are without a doubt worse than tea grounds. And sewage overflows are just plain yucky.

I'm glad everyone cleaned-up after themselves as I despise litter.

On an unrelated topic, please e-mail me at [email protected]

[Spag]

"Most of the tea-party types are basically Obama protesters, and that raises questions both about their agenda and the way today's partying is covered."

Yeah, kind of like the way Iraq war protesters were basically Bush protesters. Did anyone burn an effigy of Obama or call for impeachment today? I wonder if Kurtz gave a damn how those protests were covered? We still have combat troops in Iraq, Obama is sending more into Afghanistan, and where are all the drum beating hippy protesters? Nowhere. It wasn't about the war, it was about Bush.

Nevermind that this particular demonstration was explicitly non-partisan and as has been addressed on this blog, even a number of Obama supporters aren't thrilled with his economic plan. Further, what about the "A New Way Forward" demonstration last week? Those people also do not favor government bailouts, nor do they favor Obama's current policy regarding the banks. Are they "basically Obama protesters"? How was that protest covered?

Dave, do you have anyone you can cite for your claim that those at the tea party aren't in favor of the federal government providing any services? How much does the federal government provide for trash collection in Greensboro, North Carolina anyway?

As for the quote you asked for, here are a few:

"[W]hat people really want is fairness. They want people paying their fair share of taxes. They want that money allocated fairly..." June 28 2007

"I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." October 14, 2008.

Obama is giving tax credits to people who don't even pay taxes. He is paying for that by raising taxes on other people. Remember also that many conservatives were appalled at the bailouts under Bush and remain appalled at bailouts under Obama. This protest was not about Obama, but fiscal policy.

[Ged]

Everyone I know, or who I am related to, or work with have had their taxes lowered in the last 3 months, not raised. Taxes have been raised on right around 5% of the US population. The entire middle class of America has had their taxes lowered. So as I'm understanding it, all these brave folks who came out today are standing up for those 5% of us rich folks why had their income tax rate raised by 3% right?

Right?

[Ged]

Forget burning in effigy too, that's SO 1997. Now you just cart around signs showing the President depicted as Hitler, call him a fascist and refuse to explain why when asked on national TV.

I mean, it's all about the taxes right?

[Jeffrey Sykes]

Ged: Do you know what a red herring is?

[Ged]

Yes, in this particular case it refers to all the people who attended tea parties under the guise of protesting the government's unfair tax practices and increased deficit spending, but who really showed up to pout about losing in the last election. Since Obama's been in office for less than 100 days, and hasn't even had a fraction of a chance to screw the economy up as badly as the last President, I assume that's what you must be referring to Jeff.

I see many people who have legitimate beefs with Congress' spending and their perceived loss of control over where their tax dollars are going. However, I see many *more* people who are simply latching onto something to give them a false sense of satisfaction and community with individuals who all feel slighted that the majority of the country voted for the guy they didn't.

I applaud the people who attended the tea parties who recognize that Bush holds much of the blame (if not all) for where we are today with the economy. As well as the people who came together of their own volition to protest. Unfortunately these people seem to be vastly outnumbered by blinded Obama haters who somehow think our democracy isn't working, when in fact, just the opposite is true.

We tried it the GOP's way for 8 years and decided to make a change. That change has just begun, but the opposing team is already crying fowl even before the batter has stepped into the box.

[cheripickr]

Ged, ever considered other sources besides Daily Kos, Huffington Post and Keith Olbermann to learn about what goes on in our world?

[Ged]

Cheri yes, I read the News & Record, listen to the radio, watch CNN, read all kinds of blogs from left to right and sometimes even watch Fox News. Do you do the same or do you just stick to Hannity, Rush, Beck and Malkin?

[eric]

@Jeff -- I was imagining people dumping hundreds of individual tea bags, which is what I understand was done at some other places. Glad to know you were more creative and thoughtful and took the trouble to make your point without dumping on the river (which, after all, is entirely blameless in this mess). As someone who occasionally fishes in the Dan and Mayo, I thank you!

[Fred Gregory]

Dave,

The " Tax Protesters ", as you full well know , can not refuse basic services. That remark was a lame blank.

A US citizen must submit to the confiscation of their income or move to a tax haven such Campione or Andorra. Otherwise, refuse to pay and go to jail.

The current occupant of the White House has a sufficient majority in both houses of congress and can pretty much do as he pleases with few exceptions, although I sense some buyer's remorse percolating out there.

On the other hand ordinary folks who have concerns about the size and scope of the federal government ( and the national debt ) have a right to peacefully demonstrate. I am sorry this bothers you. There seems to be a new disorder manifesting itself in the blogosphere and the MSM...Tea Party Derangement Syndrome(TPDS)

Doubt it ? Then watch this CNN "reporter" show her
Ojectivity

What contemptuous elitism !

So for those who have no problem with sharing the wealth to assuage the guilt and are feeling generous with your money ( not ours )there is a provision in the US Code that has been around since 1843 whereby you can make voluntary gifts to fund the welfare state with which you are so enamored . Here is the address where you can send the checks.

Gifts to the United States
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Credit Accounting Branch
3700 East-West Highway, Room 622D
Hyattsville, MD 20782

Give until it hurts, suckers.

[Fred Gregory]

Link looked good on preview. Don't understand but I'll try again.

CNN "reporter " exhibiting her Objectivity

[Beelzebubba]

i didn't see any of my favorite signs: "Honk if you paid for my bailout/bonus/abortion/viagra"

[Spag]

"Yes, in this particular case it refers to all the people who attended tea parties under the guise of ....but who really showed up to pout about losing in the last election."

Again, kind of like the war protesters who really just hated Bush.

"I see many *more* people who are simply latching onto something to give them a false sense of satisfaction and community with individuals who all feel slighted that the majority of the country voted for the guy they didn't."

And the evidence to support your opinion is....?

Ged, do you have one objective or reasonable bone in your body or do your knees just jerk involuntarily? You always have some pathetic excuse as to why it's always "different" when your side does something different from the "other" side.

Yesterday's rally was nowhere near as hateful and partisan as some of the regular anti-Bush rallies we were treated to in Greensboro, and as I have written previously, some of the key positions of the Tea Party crowd were the same as the New Way Forward crowd.

[Spag]

Correction.

"You always have some pathetic excuse as to why it's always "different" when your side does essentially the same thing as the "other" side."

[Ged]

Just listened to an caller into the Brad & Britt show who asserted that the reason why there were no blacks or hispanics at the tea party was because whites are the ones who pay their taxes and blacks are the ones who sit back and wait for government checks. Amazing that this kind of attitude persists in 2009.