Perhaps you have seen heard about CNBC's Rick Santelli and his report from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where he called for a "Taxpayer Tea Party" in the wake of efforts to enact a new, multi-billion dollar taxpayer funded housing bailout.

Across America, millions stood up and cheered.

Rick was expressing what so many have been feeling now for a long time, when it comes to out-of-control spending on the backs of hardworking U.S. taxpayers to reward the irresponsible and the corrupt: enough is enough!”

In St Louis, Bill Hennessy was inspired after Santelli's rant. He contacted local Blogger/Vlogger/Radio Host Dana Loesch, and the two of them decided to organize a Tea Party at the Riverfront in St Louis. There were phone calls, emails and some social networking activity... and 5 days later we had us a party!

Organizers originally expected maybe a turnout of 50. Were THRILLED when facebook group grew to a couple of hundred confirmed attendees the day before, and were ASTOUNDED when actual attendance ultimately well exceeded 1000!

Linking up with Michael Patrick Leahy of TCOT (Top Conservatives on Twitter) and Eric Odom of the Don't Go Movement... Hennessy and Loesch then began planning the St Louis effort for the Nationwide April 15 Tax Day Tea Parties. Utilizing Twitter, Facebook, email and the occasional phone call, the movement has grown to over 300,000 participants in over 300 cities! It has a national website, www.taxdayteaparty.com.

The media has portrayed the Tea Party movement in a number of erroneous and defamatory ways. Some say they're run by the Republicans. Others say it's run by this political organization or that talk show host. In St Louis, the Tea Parties were even equated with NAZIs in the Riverfront Times! So, why don't we take a moment to clarify: What exactly IS the Tea Party Movement and what ISN'T it?

The Tea Party Movement is a non-partisan, grassroots assemblage of INDIVIDUAL Citizen Patriot Voters who are fed up with (and who are standing up in opposition to) unrestrained runaway spending, confiscatory taxation, irresponsible bailouts and unconstitutional actions of any kind by anyone, regardless of their political affiliations. This is not a partisan effort, and EVERYONE – regardless of the letter after their name – will feel their opposition if they go along with the bailouts, the stimulus, increased tax-and-spend policies, and the unrestrained growth of government.

Contrary to some reports in the media, the Tea Parties are a grass-roots effort, planned and coordinated locally by concerned individuals and loosely associated thru social networking and other technologies.
This movement is NOT a part of the Republican Party. It is NOT associated with any nationally known political or media figures.While a number of national names and organizations have recently taken note of the Tea Party movement and have lent their support, their encouragement, or their endorsement of the Tea Party Movement… they are NOT the leaders, organizers, strategizers or planners of ANY of the Tea Parties.

Some national names are even trying to capitalize on the broad appeal of the Tea Party movement by seeming riding the coattails of the movement for their own agrandizement!

So, why Tea Parties? What is hoped to accomplish? What good will they do?

In a recent posting to the Tea Party participants, Eric Odom of www.dontgomovement.com summarized:

We are under no delusion that we're going to suddenly change the world on April 15th. We do, however, understand that the original Boston Tea Party Protest only had a few hundred participants and set the movement on a path to ultimate victory against the King of England.

Back then, it wasn't nationally known celebrities or officials calling for change. It was everyday business owners and taxpayers meeting in pubs, networking and putting together a collaborative strategy.

On April 15th, hundreds of thousands of Americans will gather in more than 360 cities across all 50 states to proclaim their lack of confidence in our Government.

Besides gathering together to show our numbers and proclaim our message, “We the People” will shake hands, network, share ideas, discuss our frustrations, let out some steam, and begin to develop new coalitions and citizen groups.

April 15th will be Historic, NOT because we instantly changed the world, but because we set in motion a machine that will offer some counterbalance to our out of control Government and eventually put it back in the hands of the people.

If you're one of those who likes to sit around and ask “what good does it do to go to a silly Tax Day Tea Party?” Let me follow that question with a question…

What good are you doing by staying home?

Copyright © 2009 by Doug Edelman

Doug Edelman is a conservative political commentator and has been a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice. His work is also seen on News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House etc.

View Doug's Blog at https://tinyurl.com/dbnhy8

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