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Thousands of citizens from across the state converged at the Wisconsin State Capitol Wednesday for a “Tea Party” to protest higher taxes and spending by Gov. Jim Doyle and President Barack Obama’s administrations.
The rally was echoed across the country as people in every state took advantage of the income tax filing deadline to express their dissent through speeches, signs and costumes at gatherings of their own.
The Madison event included speakers from organizations across Wisconsin, including Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Reince Priebus.
Priebus charged Democrats with refusing to listen to constituents and urged those present to promote conservative ideals.
His speech, along with those throughout the rest of the rally, was interrupted periodically by loud cheers and chants by the audience.
University of Wisconsin College Republicans Chair Sara Mikolajczak, who was among those at the rally, said she was excited by the energy of the event and the number of people.
She said she was particularly inspired by the words of Melika Willoughby, a Madison area high school student who spoke at the event about the influence government spending will have on younger generations.
“When she said ‘stop spending money that I haven’t even made yet,’ it really resonated with me and it should really resonate with all college students,” Mikolajczak said. “They’re spending money that we’re going to have to pay back when we don’t have jobs yet. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Rep. Robin Vos, R-Racine, also attended the rally.
While he said he was proud of the “show of democracy,” he expressed concern about the events following the rally. While speakers encouraged people to enter the Capitol building to speak to their representatives, Vos said many Democrats were not in their office.
He said representatives should always meet with their constituents, even if they do not agree with them.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Joe Wineke issued a statement following the rally critiquing descriptions of the event as a “grassroots rally.”
He said right-wing groups are supporting politics of the past that he said are responsible for the current economic troubles the country faces. He said the rally is an example of how Republicans are protesting without offering new ideas.
“When you look behind the curtain, you’ll see that this so-called grassroots movement is being bankrolled by special interest groups desperately fighting to protect the Bush tax cuts for multi-millionaires and big corporations,” Wineke said in the statement. “While the right-wing is busy playing with tea bags and supporting the trickle down economics of the past, the rest of America is supporting President Obama and his agenda for change.”
Lt. Kristen Roman of the Madison Police Department said overall the event was quite tame.
“The crowd has been exercising their first amendment right very peacefully,” Roman said shortly before the crowd dispersed at 1 p.m.
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And to think that the poor liberals who Obama in office didn’t raise this big a crowd during the eight years Bush did all his damage. Now Obama is doing HIS damage and all liberals can do is criticize the tax rally protesters.
However, it was nice to see quite a few disenfranchised liberals show up at the rally. The people who put their trust in Obama are finally waking up and accepting the fact that NO politicians in Washington can be trusted anymore. Nice to have such a diverse coalition for once. Now we can set aside all our differences and band together on the one issue that affects us all regardless of our political stripes.
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Look at all the crazy people.
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What about that elephant on the lawn at the capitol…I-R-A-Q
None of those fiscal conservatards wanted to talk about that money pit too much, but god forbid we spend money on working families in this country of all places.
I wish they would admit that this was merely a referendum from the minority who lost the election by a landlside in November.
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Well how does it feel Gov Jim to get Teabagged? You haven’t said much in regards to your teabagging. It is because you find it difficult to talk after you’ve gotten the shaft?
Right-wingers, lol.
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WORST SENTENCE EVER IN THE PAPER JESUS CHRIST WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE
He said right-wing groups are supporting politics of the past that he said are responsible for the current economic troubles the country faces. He said the rally is an example of how Republicans are protesting without offering new ideas.
HE SAID HE SAID HE SAID
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you mention reince priebus but not congressman paul ryan? did the author of this article even attend the event? it doesnt sound like it.
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How dare they lower taxes for 99% of Americans!
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The Clinton administration left us with record surpluses, allowing us to pay down the debt so that we wouldn’t be spending money today’s high school students haven’t earned yet. Then the economy collapsed and the national debt doubled under the Bush administration, which repeatedly demanded a higher debt ceiling. And now, when every reputable economist in the world says the only way to jumpstart the economy is by spending trillions of dollars, Republicans are suddenly against spending. And we all know that if John McCain was president and nothing else was different, none of these dandies would be whining about tea.
Yet somehow, this is all going to come back to the Clenis and President Obama’s birth certificate, isn’t it?
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I’ll bet the area was not trashed either, after the protest was completed. Contrast that with the way the adulating crowds left our National Mall in Washington DC, after Barrack Hussein Obama regaled them about his “new era of personal responsibility”! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1126162/Now-clean-How-days-just-remove-port-loos-Washington-Obamas-inauguration.
The presidential policies (Obama, Bush, I don’t care who…)of running up huge national debts in pursuit of an expanded socialist government will not cease until there are a million citizens pounding on the White House gates with torches and pitch forks.
It’s time to take a stand, fellow Citizens! It’s time…
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�While the right-wing is busy playing with tea bags and supporting the trickle down economics of the past, the rest of America is supporting President Obama and his agenda for change.�
By change, you mean by the time Obamanomics is through, the only change left will be the change in my pocket.
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I’m kind of torn on this topic. As a UW student graduating in May, job searching has not been the easiest task, and right now it’s almost rare to come by one. I agree with Sara Mikolajczak in her comment regarding Melika Willoughby’s words “stop spending money that I haven�t even made yet.” That line does indeed resonate with me as I’m not going to have much money until I find a stable job. However, I also understand Wineke’s comments about this grassroots movement, and how the trickle down economics of the past are no longer effective during our current crisis. There’s a reason why this crisis arrived, and things need to change to bring our economic state back to stability.
-Anonymous
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The revolutionary war was about taxation without representation. To me, this faux “patriotism” seems contrived and foolish. All we need now are McVeigh-like militia whackos to ruin the stability of the country. Fox News, the next home grown travesty is on your hands.
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Tea Party, seriously? As John Stewart would say, “Republicans, I think you are confusing tyranny with losing.”
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“And now, when every reputable economist in the world says the only way to jumpstart the economy is by spending trillions of dollars”
FAIL
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To the person who posted the comment about lowering taxes on 99% of Americans, I have a question for you. Do you buy gas? Do you think a good portion of those 99% of Americans buy gas? Do you think a good portion of them pay car insurance? Have investments? Even buy cigarettes? If you do any of those things then, unfortunately, your taxes are going up.
And you’ve heard all this talk about cutting out loopholes? That’s liberal language for getting rid of deductions. You probably don’t itemize but I’m sure your parents do, as do many Americans. Taxes will be increasing for them too. (small business owners can probably kiss most of their deductions goodbye)
The income tax rate may be going down for many people, but that doesn’t mean taxes are. The Capital gains tax in Wisconsin is set to skyrocket. If there is anyone left still making money on investments, they are set to get screwed over.
And that is what this rally was about. Not about democrats versus republicans, the republicans are just as much to blame for our countries debt. This rally was about citizens versus government, and demanding responsible tax and spending policies for the legislator who “supposedly” represent us.
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Republicans, libertarians, too bad your organization wasn’t this strong on November 4, 2008. Perhaps you should start focusing on REPRESENTATION rather than taxation. Your anger should be directed at the boobs who run your party, the boobs on your TV programming, and the boobs on AM radio.
You did this to yourself.
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Paying taxes is the most PATRIOTIC act most Americans will ever do! Freedom is not free. It looks as though Obama’s economic stimulus is working! Would you rather have had the government not spend the money and have the economy be in worse shape? The bankers should be punished though! The complacent, idiotic policies of Bush got us into the economic rut we are in today!
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http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/sen11/news/press/20090415tea%20party.htm
A State Senator supporting the “tea parties” clearly doesn’t understand what “taxation without representation” actually means. I hope the people taking part have better reasons, though I am doubtful.
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I totally agree with Sara Mikolajczak. It so ridiculous how our government is spending money that our future generations will need. Spending money they don’t have effects our younger generations. Will there be less to spend on schools, on safety? The government needs to quit taxing the public to death. If they lower taxes, the public will have more money in their pocket to spend and also small business owners will have more money to hire more people to work.
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Mr President,
I do not find your repeated attempts to dip your hand into my pockets to be stimulating. Neither do the hundreds of thousands of people participating in these tax protest rallies against your big government, bloated budget socialist policies. Please stop.
Are you listening yet? No, not yet. But you will, when there are a million angry taxpayers surrounding the White House. They won’t be there to fawn over your eloqeuntly empty rhetoric, however. You told the executives of the big banks that “The only thing standing between them and the pitch forks and torches is Me.” Nice touch of empty arrogance, sir, but the populist anger is not just for them. This is your future also, Mr. President, if you continue to drive our Nation into bankruptcy. It applies equally to Nancy Pelosi, Barney Fwank, Joe Biden, Charles Schumer, and Charles Rangel, as they promoted this financial crises through their failure to provide congressional oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lending and commoditization policies. In truth, you and they promoted the lending policies that led to the financial collapse and actively demagogued those trying to rein the stupidity in over the last decade.
The era of fiscal stupidity is coming to a sudden and angry end. You can listen, really listen to the Citizens and reverse course now or you will be swept out of office by your own arrogance and cupidity.
It’s time to take a stand, Fellow Citizens! It’s time……
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It always fries my bacon when I hear the old “Clinton Surplus” cannard.
The total debt of the USA was higher when Clinton left office than when he started. Any bogus “surplus” you hear about is the result of accounting shenanigans that would make an Enron or WorldCon accountant blush with shame.
Try to remember that the Dems have been in control of Congress for years and that Bush can’t be blamed for everything.
Barry HO is spending more money than anyone in the history of the world and taking the USA into debt beyond anything ever before imagined.
At least Carter level inflation is inevitable. I hope that we only have low double-digit inflation and not Weimar or Zimbabwe level inflation. The days of the wheel barrow wallet may yet come to the USA.
Oh well, at least the huge student loans will look smaller once the dollar shrinks.
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“How dare they lower taxes for 99% of Americans!”
How dare they claim to lower taxes for people WHO DON’T EVEN PAY TAXES!!!
It’s the tax-eaters against the tax-payers, and you know who’s winning with Barry HO.
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“Thousands”? I think not.
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Badger Herald reporters need to take Sara Mikolajczak off their speed-dial.
Where were the anti-tax protests when George W. Bush expanded the federal deficit? I must have missed those ones. I guess it’s because Glenn Beck wasn’t around to let me know. God Bless Ya’, Becky!
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“Look at all the crazy people.”
Where? I didn’t see any. They must’ve been hiding somewhere on the UW campus.
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As a former resident of the People’s Republic of Wisconsin & a man who has served proudly doing Our Wonderful Nation’s business in over 30 other nations worldwide, I offer the following: What most assuredly does not work (ever!) is the Stalinist/Leninist/socialist approach to government and national life that worships, as a religion, excessive government control & manipulation of businesses & institutions, lack of individual/personal responsibility for every aspect of one’s own life, continual ‘liberal’ racist & gender-racist demagoguery & policies…and big government deficits to pay for it all. These are the failed policies of the past, of today’s democrat party, and of Mr. Obama. Big Government, through emracing these policies during both Republican & democrat administrations created the problems in the lending, housing, credit, financial, investment & employment areas. These problems, in aggregate, do not yet equal those of the 1970s. It is time for all of you coddled students, profs & government workers to say, “Thank You, Jesus, for allowing me to live in the best economy ever…in the history of humankind…over the last 25 years!!” Then, just like real adults, do take responsibility for your own lives & financial futures and figure out how to go out every day, kill something and drag it home to the family. Pretty soon you too will be able to say, “I’m better than I deserve!”
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Not to point it out, but the country has spent our money longg before even Bush was in office. Pretty much we’ve been a slave to how money works since we left the gold standard. I think its pretty freaking retarded though that Faux News and corporations raised enough money for this astroturf movement and people went for it. The big basis for this has little to do with money but hatred of the new administration. Well sorry that you feel intruded upon by less intrusive government. Nothing compares to how much the government has grown over the past 10 years, so why they are freaking out now makes no sense. Its all the wicked leading the blind
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** Barack Obama already signed the largest spending bill in the history of the planet.
** Obama’s budget more than doubles the national debt held by the public, and adds more to the debt than all previous presidents — from George Washington to George W. Bush — combined.
** Barack Obama managed to spend more than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
** Obama and democrats have already saddled America’s children and grand children with massive debt. Not that this bothers them.
** Barack Obama is on track to spend more money than any person in the history of Earth.
** The US debt is so large that America couldn’t qualify to join the EU if it wanted to.
** President Obama expects the deficit level to be 12% of GDP this year larger than Great Britain’s record 10% deficit to GDP.
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“Thousands”? I think not.
Who am I gonna believe? Your thinking or my lying eyes? I can see a couple of thousand just in the picture.
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Thousands? I think YES!
Actual Attendance: 8000 http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=view-event&event-id=459
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Look at all the Republicans, protesting the tax CUTS that President Obama gave to them. The GOP truly is a cult devoted to the worship of the rich. How brainwashed do you have to be to put John Galt’s interests ahead of yours and your family’s?
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“And now, when every reputable economist in the world says the only way to jumpstart the economy is by spending trillions of dollars”
WAIT…WHAT? WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR WEED? IT MUST BE REALLY GOOD!
http://cato.org/special/stimulus09/cato_stimulus.pdf
“every reputable economist”? You must mean every crackpot economist supports throwing away money.
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I do not understand where people think all Obama’s magical “change” budget is going to come from. Oh wait….YOU and ME. As the high school student stated, they’re spending money we have not even earned yet. Why do I want to pay for college, grad school, and work hard at an occupation if all my money is going to be paying for Obama’s debt. I’m all for change, but not when hard working people are paying more than their fair share.
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“the tax CUTS that President Obama gave to them”
Perhaps their primitive animal brains realize that the HUGE deficit spending by Obama will eventually result in either HUGE tax increases or HUGE inflation.
Maybe they object to the tax CUTS going to people that don’t pay income taxes? How DO you cut taxes for those who don’t pay them in the first place?
I’d rather have Geithner/Rangel type tax “cuts”, where you just don’t pay the taxes.
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I am a 56 year old man from Kansas. When I listened to Melika Willoughby’s speach, tears welled up in my eyes, not only because she spoke of the great risk our founding fathers took to insure the birth of our country, but also, because she gave me hope for our countrys future. So many of her generation, are part of the problem, but I think she is part of the solution. Thank you Melika, and by God Bless you and America.