200 Tea Partiers protest taxes in Sequim; one protester protests Republicans
A crowd of some 200 protesters gathered Thursday in downtown Sequim to decry taxes, socialism and the Obama administration. The rally lasted about two hours. -- Photo by Diane Urbani de la Paz/Peninsula Daily News
3,000 gather at Capitol in Olympia
Peninsula Daily Newsnews services
OLYMPIA — Thousands of activists flocked to rallies around the state Thursday as part of national tax-day protests united under the banner of the Tea Party movement.
One of the state's largest rallies was held at the Capitol in Olympia, where people packed the sandstone steps to listen to speeches from talk-radio hosts, conservative think-tank organizers and citizen campaigners.
The State Patrol estimated the noontime crowd in Olympia at about 3,000.
Other rallies across the state included an evening event in Seattle.
Republican candidates and conservative ballot-measure promoters prowled the sign-carrying, flag-waving crowd in Olympia in search of support.
Among them was anti-tax activist Tim Eyman, who collected petition signatures for Initiative 1053, which would make it more difficult for state legislators to raise taxes.
Other activists demonstrated from Maine to Hawaii.
“Obamaism: assault on America!” trumpeted one banner, while another read: “Washington We Are Not Your ATM!”
“When Congress is in session, no man's money is safe,” said another placard.
Several thousand rallied in Washington, D.C.'s Freedom Plaza in the shadow of the Ronald Reagan office building, capping a national Tea Party Express bus tour launched by Sarah Palin in the dust of Nevada.
But no members of the Republican congressional leadership were featured at the nation's capital rally — and Palin was at a charity fundraiser in Canada.
Fans in Hamilton, Ontario, paid $1,000 to meet the former Alaska governor and to have their pictures taken with her.
At the rally in Washington, Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota won roars of affirmation as she accused President Obama and congressional Democrats of trying to take over health care, energy, financial services and other broad swaths of the economy.
“We're on to this gangster government,” she declared.
“I say it's time for these little piggies to go home.”
Obama, speaking Thursday night at a Democratic fundraiser in Miami, told supporters he was amused by the protesters' complaints about taxes.
Obama said that he has cut taxes, contrary to the claims of protesters.
“You would think they'd be saying thank you,” he said.
Congress has cut individuals' federal taxes for this year by about $173 billion, leaving Americans with a lighter load despite nearly $29 billion in increases by states.
However, Obama plans to increase taxes on the wealthy to help pay for his health care overhaul and other programs.
By Diane Urbani de la Paz
Peninsula Daily News
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Marking April 15, the day most Americans face the Internal Revenue Service, the Concerned Citizens of Clallam County -- aka FourC -- organized an anti-taxes rally from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sequim's busiest crossroads.
Larry Carter came to the event from Port Ludlow. He told the Peninsula Daily News that during the final five minutes he climbed onto a bench near the table where FourC T-shirts were being sold and announced his candidacy for the state House of Representatives.
Vowing to run as a Republican, the retired Navy command master chief will seek position 2 of the 24th district, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
Carter, 62, said he feels a strong connection with the Tea Party movement for fiscal conservatism, of which FourC is a part. Yet "I'm not into partisan politics," he said.
The House seat Carter seeks currently belongs to Democratic Rep. Lynn Kessler, who announced Tuesday that she won't seek re-election in November to the position she's held for 18 years.
Around him at Thursday's rally, the mood was one of disgust -- with elected officials in Washington, D.C., especially President Barack Obama -- and the signs reflected as much.
'I want my country back'
"I want my country back. Does that make me racist?" asked one placard.
"It doesn't matter what this sign says. They'll say it's racist anyway," declared another.
Then there were "Capitalism works / government doesn't," "Give me liberty, not debt," "Limited government under God," "Taxed Enough Already," "Socialism kills initiative" and "Got money? Don't tell the government."
Frank Keith, a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe who lives in Sequim, wore a feathered headdress to the rally.
"I'm sick of the joke in Washington," he said. "I had no idea [Obama] was going to change everything for the worse.
"I have been dealt a terrible fear," Keith added, "that my children and grandchildren will have to live under socialism."
Then, in the midst of the noontime crowd, came an individual who held high a message that didn't fit with the rest.
"Republicans take responsibility: $9 trillion debt / a ruined economy / millions unemployed you left us," Will Parsinen's sign read.
As he stood on the corner, other protesters clustered around while one man who wouldn't give his name raised an arrow-shaped sign above Parsinen's head. On one side it read "Infiltrator," and on the other "Not one of us."
'Not one of you'
"I'm not one of you, that's for sure," said Parsinen, who lives in Port Angeles.
He told a reporter that he'd gotten "no respect" from the others at the rally. "They've pushed me, told me I shouldn't be here," and tried to cover his sign.
Eyeing the thicket of placards, Parsinen gave his summary of the rally: "They don't want to pay taxes. The Republicans just spend. They don't tax ... and they're great believers in 'Somebody else did it.'"
Judy Larimore of Sequim, meanwhile, waved a balloon she'd received for her 70th birthday and declared herself proud to be out protesting what she sees as too much government.
She worries that "our children are going to have to pay for the policies being put into place today," and predicts "a big change in November."
That, Larimore believes, is when the Democratic majority in Congress will be replaced by a raft of Republicans.
________
Sequim-Dungeness Valley Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: April 16. 2010 12:49AM
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