Conservative and Republican leaders rallied against health care reform, cap and trade legislation and other Democratic policies at a conservative “tea party” conference at the Wisconsin Dells this weekend.

The Wisconsin chapter of Americans for Prosperity hosted the third annual “Defending the American Dream Summit.” It included speakers such as Rep Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., Michael Reagan, son of President Ronald Reagan and “Joe the Plumber.” It is estimated around 2,000 people attended the unofficial tea party convention.

Mark Block, state director of the Wisconsin AFP, said the conference touched on subjects such as government spending, health care reform and climate-change legislation. The goal of the conference was to give people the information and tools they need to be well-educated advocates on these issues.

“It was a very aggressive program to educate not just our activists, but the citizens of Wisconsin that the issues that are dealt with in Madison and Washington have a direct effect on their ability to prosper and their companies’ ability to prosper,” Block said.

Block added they were “very excited” about the more than 27 speeches over the course of the conference, especially Reagan’s speech which he believes “resonated strongly” with attendees.

“The center-left works on their issues 24/7, and we have to be more than just going to a summit on a Saturday and going home and hoping somebody else does all the work,” Block said. “The movement is looking for fiscally responsible candidates and legislators and we have to do the same thing the center left does, and that is to be active.”

One of the keynote speakers, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, spoke with people about fighting for the “American Dream” and how his work as Attorney General has allowed him to keep fighting and make sure justice is served.

“I’m here to celebrate with and remind you how we defend the American Dream,” Van Hollen said to a packed conference hall. “It is the rule of law-honoring and upholding it is the surest path to ensure that the promise of that dream is itself protected.”

Bill Cosh, spokesperson for Van Hollen, added Van Hollen accepts many invitations and viewed this as an “opportunity to share his thoughts about what he believes is important to citizens and tax payers.”

Although Block and Van Hollen believe the Tea Party movement is gaining steam and has a strong backing, others are not so optimistic.

In an e-mail to The Badger Herald, University of Wisconsin political science professor Barry Burden wrote he views the Tea Party movement as a short-term solution to many people’s problems.

“This is a small group fueled by anger and fear…. Any social movement is legitimate, but this one lacks the internal logic and comprehensiveness to be a long-term force in American politics,” Burden said.

Burden added the movement is “part of the broader conservative movement but it does not focus on the full range of concerns that motivate social and economic conservatives.