Thousands of Tea Party activists descended on Washington Thursday to protest the trillion dollar health care bill and governm...
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Politico Contributor
Thousands of Tea Party activists descended on Washington Thursday to protest the trillion dollar health care bill and government spending, holding signs protesting Barack Obama’s agenda while aiming chants of “you work for us” at the Capitol building. .
The gathering was organized by local Tea Party groups around the country, who are arriving in Washington this morning by the busload. Conservative leaders in Congress, led by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), have taken to the airwaves to encourage the activists to show up on the Capitol steps and demand meetings with members of Congress. The crowd is expected to grow into the thousands by noon, when Bachmann has promised to lead some protesters to a press conference inside the Capitol to express their opposition to the health care bill in person to members of Congress.
The arrived as early as 8:30 a.m., by bus, car and plane — from Bluffton, S.C., Des Moines and Dorris, Calif. — to rally with conservative lawmakers and possibly roam the halls of Congress.
"Can you hear us now!" they chanted from the foot of the Capitol, as they awaited the arrival of their heroine — Bachmann.
"She's very brave," said Nancy Holmberg of Dorris.
"Palin/Bachmann 2012," came a shout from the crowd. The crowd is also chanting Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s name and demanding that she come address them on the steps of the Capitol.
Another hero of the movement, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), has been autographing tea bags for the crowd and is wearing a jacket covered in pins and stickers reading “Yes! Freedom!”
Speaking on conservative talker Laura Ingraham’s radio show this morning, Bachmann encouraged people listening to show up on the West Front steps, but she said they should show up with “cameras” instead of “pitchforks.”
The Charleston Gazette is a member of the Politico Network.
By
Politico Contributor
Thousands of Tea Party activists descended on Washington Thursday to protest the trillion dollar health care bill and government spending, holding signs protesting Barack Obama’s agenda while aiming chants of “you work for us” at the Capitol building. .
The gathering was organized by local Tea Party groups around the country, who are arriving in Washington this morning by the busload. Conservative leaders in Congress, led by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), have taken to the airwaves to encourage the activists to show up on the Capitol steps and demand meetings with members of Congress. The crowd is expected to grow into the thousands by noon, when Bachmann has promised to lead some protesters to a press conference inside the Capitol to express their opposition to the health care bill in person to members of Congress.
The arrived as early as 8:30 a.m., by bus, car and plane — from Bluffton, S.C., Des Moines and Dorris, Calif. — to rally with conservative lawmakers and possibly roam the halls of Congress.
"Can you hear us now!" they chanted from the foot of the Capitol, as they awaited the arrival of their heroine — Bachmann.
"She's very brave," said Nancy Holmberg of Dorris.
"Palin/Bachmann 2012," came a shout from the crowd. The crowd is also chanting Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s name and demanding that she come address them on the steps of the Capitol.
Another hero of the movement, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), has been autographing tea bags for the crowd and is wearing a jacket covered in pins and stickers reading “Yes! Freedom!”
Speaking on conservative talker Laura Ingraham’s radio show this morning, Bachmann encouraged people listening to show up on the West Front steps, but she said they should show up with “cameras” instead of “pitchforks.”
A Capitol Police spokeswoman confirmed to POLITICO that nine activists were arrested in the Hart building, and they are being processed at police headquarters. All the buildings in the Capitol complex remain open for now.
The protesters, who are occupying the patch of grass only a few yards from where Barack Obama took the oath of office on Jan. 20, have also chanted “you work for us!” Many are holding signs that echo their distrust of Obama and their belief that he is pursuing socialist policies.
Last night, Bachmann reasserted a claim that Pelosi was considering tightening security in preparation for the activists, which she warned "would be a huge mistake." There has been an increased police presence around the Capitol Thursday morning, and a Capitol Police officer told POLITICO that protesters are allowed to march on the West front lawn of the Capitol, but are not allowed onto the steps of the building.
Mary Beth Bishop of Monument, Colo., spent $500 on a plane ticket to lodge her complaints about the growth of government.
"We need to show up and uphold the Constitution," she said. "It wasn't written on toilet paper."
Police patrolled the gates and stone walls keeping the crowd in but there was little sign of trouble.
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) shook hands at a wall line like a presidential contender.
"This is too great," he said.
Daniel Libit and Martin Kady II contributed to this story
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Palin and Bachmann? Why not Laurel and Hardy? Or Beavis and Butthead?
Variances in poll as reported by pollester.com their composit of all from last poll avail(Favor v Oppose):Pollester 44 v 53; CNN 45 v 53; Rasmussen 42 v 54; McClatchy 44 v 51; NBC 38 v 42; Fox 35 v 54.
This source shows the question that was asked by each pollester. Could the context be the reason for the such variance as reported by Cap?
Rasmussen also asked STRONGLY SUPPORT = 23 v STRONGLY OPPOSE = 44
and
For those currently insured will your premium INCREASE = 55 v Reduce = 23
Could this much of a difference be in the question presented? What my research found was principally posed in the terms of: Given the plans currently being proposed, do you support or oppose?
If your question was: Do you want ANOTHER option? These two different formats would address the variances.
I would also like to congratulate you and your family for not suffering from any debilitating illnesses like cancer, which will throw any hard-working taxpayer into bankruptcy. Additional kudos go out to you for not getting laid off or put out of work due to serious personal injury, which automatically turns you from a hard-working, salt-of-the-earth pillar of this great land to a dole-leeching socialist pariah who is an enemy of all that is American and should be kept away from your neighbors' children and pets at all costs.
ByrdWatcher, and Red Dragon 70, thanks for the compliments.