The Scioto County Republican Party hosted its annual fall rally Saturday at Tracy Park in Portsmouth. Members heard speakers and had lunch.
Carol Caudill, an active Republican and former Portsmouth City councilperson, said local candidates for office were scheduled to speak, including Terry Johnson, candidate for state representative, and Jon Hustead, candidate for Ohio Secretary of State.
Tim Graham of Stout said the TEA Party was scheduled to coincide with the march on Washington, D.C., that also took place Saturday.
“It’s a gathering of people who want to get together and get their voices heard and listen to each other and their ideas on what we should be doing and what direction we should be going,” Graham said.
Graham said there were about 300 at the first tea party held April 15. Many people, he said, had contacted him to help organize another.
“People wanted to have it because of the one in Washington,” he said. “They’re getting together and showing their support for the movement.”
With so many other events taking place this weekend, Graham wasn’t sure how many to expect. Later, Caudill said about 120 were on hand for the event.
According to the Associated Press, tens of thousands of protesters fed up with government spending marched to the U.S. Capitol Saturday.
DEBORAH DANIELS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 234.
The TEA parties are in opposition to the government corruption, bailouts, unsustainable spending and mortgaging the future of our children and grand-children.
You say Obama has not raised taxes since he's been in office...have you bought any cigarettes?
Do you know how much the health care plans now being considered in Congress will cost?
I'm not Republican or Democrat...I'm American.
I'll keep my God, my guns, and my money...you can keep the Change
In any case, I find it amusing that the Republican Party would want to throw a TEA party. Taxes have NOT been raised since President Obama took office. Where were all these people when Bush was in office? The taxes were just as high and they should have been just as concerned then, but they were nowhere to be found.
Personally, I don't believe it is about the taxes at all. It is just another typical "sore loser" GOP tactic to avert attention from their own disheveled and lack-luster party. Grow up, people...our problems began LONG before January 21, 2009.