Tea Party Express in South Bend/Mishawaka - 9/7/2009

[photoshooter]

I can't remember his name... but was the black gentleman/singer still part of the show? The one who says, "I am NOT an african-american... I am an AMERICAN!"

In Bloomington on Sunday, we had about 400 to 500 standing under umbrellas, and the gentleman I mentioned above said he was quickly losing his voice. I was concerned that he would have to take a few days off - esp after the wet weather in Bloomington.

0011 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[rambone]

Originally Posted by photoshooter

I can't remember his name... but was the black gentleman/singer still part of the show? The one who says, "I am NOT an african-american... I am an AMERICAN!"

In Bloomington on Sunday, we had about 400 to 500 standing under umbrellas, and the gentleman I mentioned above said he was quickly losing his voice. I was concerned that he would have to take a few days off - esp after the wet weather in Bloomington.

0011 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Yep he was there and he performed for us! Pretty cool!

[rambone]

Here is coverage done by the Northwest Indiana Patriots.

Tea Party Express In Mishawaka NWI Patriots Blog

What a day! Over 1000 people forsook family barbecues on Labor Day and came out to Battell Park in Mishawaka, on the St. Joseph River, to show their support for the mission of the Tea Party Express national bus tour. The tour has hosted a series of tea party rallies all across the nation, beginning in California and rolling eastward, to its final destination: the big 09.12.09 Taxpayer March on D.C. Keep up with them on their Tour Blog.

There are media attendance estimates of 1000 people–people on the ground say anywhere from 1500 to 2500 folks were there. I just know there were a lot!

I’m told there was no local publicity for the rally–the one Mishawaka policeman present happened to be driving by, off-duty, and put himself on the job when he saw all the people at the park. Not a bad turnout for word-of-mouth and internet advertising.

The buses pulled in to cheering and singing.

The attitude of the people about what’s been going on in Washington was clear.

It was a warm and sunny day for this family affair.

The rally officially started with the Pledge of Allegiance and singing “God Bless America.” There were several speakers, including Deborah Johns of the Our Country Deserves Better PAC, Amy Kremer, a national Tea Party leader, and Kenneth Gladney, who got beaten up at a town hall protest by pro-health care reform union thugs. There were live performances by Lloyd Marcus and others.

Here’s the Youtube version of the American Tea Party Anthem Mr. Marcus performed for us.

There was a beautiful tribute to the country’s veterans. Veterans from every conflict from World War I to the Iraq War were asked to raise their hands and be acknowledged by the crowd. Our flag was there to honor them.

Fox News’ Griff Jenkins was there, interviewing people in the crowd. He spoke to Faith on camera briefly.

There were people from all over the Midwest there. Members spoke to people from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania! I know that some people came from as far away as New York.

Before the rally, we’d heard that 10,000 had come out to a stop in Lamont, IL. We didn’t reach that height, but we did well in Michiana!

More pictures here, here, and here. Thanks to Bob Moore of the Elkhart Tea Party.
We will have more videos soon.
Local media coverage: WSBT news, Health care and government spending addressed at two Labor Day rallies
WSBT video
South Bend Tribune Mishawaka TEA Party attracts crowd of 1,000

[rambone]

South Bend Tribune: Mishawaka TEA Party attracts crowd of 1,000

Mishawaka TEA Party attracts crowd of 1,000

Buses don't arrive at Niles event protesting government's direction.

Tribune Staff Report

While some area residents gathered in South Bend to pitch for health care reform, others who got together in Niles and Mishawaka left little doubt that there are more than a few Americans unhappy with the direction of the federal government.

About a thousand residents showed up for a TEA Party rally at Battell Park in Mishawaka.

The large crowd at Battell Park was "tea'd off" at the government. And while some support reform, they opposed Obama's plans and said America is uncomfortable with sweeping change.

An earlier event that was planned for Riverfront Park in downtown Niles somewhat fizzled when a pair of buses filled with representatives of the national TEA (Taxed Enough Already) movement failed to arrive.

According to Jo Flock, organizer of the rally, the delay occurred when bus drivers leaving New Lenox, Ill., became lost. The buses, en route to Washington, D.C., for a rally on Saturday, eventually made it to Mishawaka.

But that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of about 60 residents gathered for the Niles event.

David and Laura Hubbard, a Niles couple who recently moved to the area from Arkansas, are upset with the government.

"The citizens need to stand up and take this country back,'' David said. "These people (in federal government) are totally out of control.''

His chief gripe, he said, is the costly incentives passed by Congress that have failed to jump start the economy as promised.

"They're taking away the initiative for people to work. It's socialism, communism, whatever you want to call it,'' he said.

Raising taxes, particularly on corporations and business owners, isn't the answer either, because that only results in higher costs for consumers that use the companies' goods and services, he said.

"It all rolls downhill,'' said David, employed in management at an air separation plant in New Carlisle.

Others pointed to the spiraling national debt, a major point of the TEA Party protest. Walt Dahlke, a Dowagiac retiree, and his wife, May, said the debt is so high it'll remain in place even when their grandchildren grow old.

"The interest on it alone is going to kill us,'' Walt said.

Still others like Niles orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Grannell said he's concerned Congress will adopt national health insurance legislation that not only will add to the debt but lower reimbursements for physicians who treat Medicare patients. Diane Grannell — Grannell's wife and the daughter of a "Medicare mom,'' Audrey Hansen of Berrien Center — agreed and argued that people on Medicare will have fewer options under a government program.

"I strongly feel we should be able to choose our health-care providers,'' she said.

Donna Ochenryder, Flock's sister who also lives in Niles, referred to federal lawmakers as "enablers'' and argued the government's tax-and-spend philosophy is so ingrained she has little hope it will go away.

Ochenryder, Flock and Flock's husband, Jack, said all the TEA Party protesters like themselves can do is try to get their message across and hope Washington listens.

WSBT-TV contributed to this report.

[Farmritch]

Anyone get a pic of my 7YO daughter dancing on stage?