Published: July 04, 2009 07:44 pm      

TEA party draws 700 people

FRANKFORT — Around 700 people showed up on the state Capitol steps on Independence Day to stage their own TEA Party and voice their displeasure with policies of President Barack Obama and Congress.

TEA stands for “Taxed Enough Already,” and that was a theme of most speakers and their supporters in the crowd, but there were plenty of complaints about Obama who many said is leading the country “on a path to socialism.”

Miranda Davidson, 16, of Greenup carried a sign which read: “Obamanomics: Chains You Can Believe In.” She said her primary concern is the federal debt.

“I don’t like being put in debt before I even have money,” she said. “When me and my sister get older, we’ll have to pay for all the bailouts and we have no say in it.”

Her father, Jeramie Davidson, said it isn’t just Obama, not just Democrats who are the problem, but both parties and the whole government.

“I’m tired of all of the government sticking their noses in our business and taking away our freedoms,” said the elder Davidson. “You’ve got the radical left-wing in control of everything and we’re fed up about it.”

John Brown of Flatwoods told the crowd that nationalists are in power and distinguished that philosophy from patriotism.

“A nationalist is a person who loves his government,” Brown said. “A patriot is a person who loves his country and I am a patriot.”

He went on to say it is “foolish to keep returning to power” the same political leaders who have created a “central government out of control.” He said the people have the power to change things, the power of the ballot.

Most of the speakers primarily blamed Obama – who lost both the Democratic primary and general elections badly in Kentucky – for unemployment, high taxes and creeping socialism. But several sprinkled in boiler plate conservative social issues, including abortion and second amendment rights.

One of those was David Carr of the King of Kings Radio Network, a conservative Christian broadcasting group. Carr, of Somerset, talked about abortion as well as economic issues and said at one point that “members of Congress have no right to appropriate public money.”

Several in the crowd held small signs that said Democratic Kentucky Congressmen John Yarmuth of Louisville and Ben Chandler of Versailles should be replaced. Others held up signs critical of Obama, including some recalling unsubstantiated campaign charges about Obama’s citizenship.

“Where’s the birth certificate?” read one held by an elderly lady.

Dan Miler, a Lexington attorney and partner in The Conservative Underground Company, was doing a brisk business selling T-shirts with a large “O” over the word “crap” and “Don’t Blame Me – I voted for McCain” bumper stickers.

He said, “Business is booming,” but he said it wasn’t just anti-Obama buyers boosting his take.

“Based on my sales, it’s more anti-tax, anti-government,” Miller said, pointing to T-shirts which bore those kinds of messages. “The O-No and O-Crap shirts are selling well but anything with McCain isn’t selling.” One bumper sticker that was selling was “Sarah 2012.” That would be Sarah Palin, John McCain’s vice presidential nominee and Alaska governor.

Palin announced Friday she’s resigning as governor. She’s a popular choice among some conservatives to run for president in 2012.