Dissent is Patriotic

In support of Obama's budget (or perhaps retaliation to the tea parties), ACORN is "helping to organize dozens of rallies on the same day [as the tea parties]" (FNC). Said ACORN spokesman Brian Kettenring, "'This is the first time we've heard of these so-called 'tea parties.' And, frankly, a bunch of small get-togethers by fringe conservative activists dedicated to simply saying 'no' is of little interest to us'" (FNC).
On the other hand, John O'Hara, who will be hosting a tea party in Chicago, said, "'If ACORN wants to send some of their paid, pretend activists to show up, that's fine. . . . They don't have a message that resonates wtih the American people or resonates with this broad coalition that's upset with the spending that's going on in Washington'" (FNC). Sacremento organizer Mark Mekler says, of ACORN, "'We don't take them seriously. . . . We expect people to attempt to infiltrate, we expect people to attempt to disturb what we're doing. But the reality is this is a very broad-based grassroots movement. . . . There is no leader at the top. There is no individual event that they can disturb that would cause us a problem nationwide'" (FNC). According to Taxdayteaparty.com, "more than 250 locations in all 50 states will hold rallies on April 15" (FNC).

"A bunch of small get-togethers?" I think not. At about 1:23 in the below video, Julie Johnson, the national communications director of tax day tea parties, says that 30,000 people attended the first tea party, with 500,000 to one million expected to attend on Wednesday.



For FOX News' tea party day coverage, click here.

Unfortunately, I will not be attending any of the tea parties April 15th, as I have classes (and no car). However, I will be attending a tea party on April 18th, and I hope to cover that either via Blogger or Twitter (or both).