Posted 12:44 am Saturday, May 05, 2012
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Tea Party Express Rolls Into Tyler
By DAYNA WORCHEL
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Amy Kremer, national chairwoman of the Tea Party Express told a crowd of supporters on Friday afternoon that the national Tea Party is not dead like she said the news media recently have reported.
"We've just been focusing on elections at the local and state level," Ms. Kremer said to those who gathered in the late afternoon heat.
The Tea Party Express buses rolled onto the grounds of the Lone Star Event Center on the last leg of the organization's national bus tour, which began in Pennsylvania on April 27.
"Obama didn't want to pass a budget -- he wanted to shove 'Obamacare' down our throats. We'll make him a one-term president," Ms. Kremer said to cheers from about 100 people in attendance.
Entertainers sang about the difficult economic times the United States has had since President Barack Obama was elected and different speakers talked about the need for less intrusive federal government and how bailouts should end.
Grassroots America - We The People in Tyler sponsored the Tyler stop of the tour. JoAnn Fleming, executive director of the group, said her organization is working on a "get out the vote effort."
"Our main thing is to keep people interested and make sure they are educated voters," Ms. Fleming said.
In her speech to the crowd, Ms. Fleming criticized those in the Republican Party who like to spend money.
"We've got to tell these big spenders to put down the shovel and back away from the hole so we can fill in the hole," she said. She said she and her organization want to ensure a fair election in Smith County.
City Councilman Jason Wright said there are more people on food stamps than ever before in the United States.
"It sort of reminds me of one of those signs you see in the national parks: Don't feed the animals or they may become dependent on those who feed them," Wright said.
Wright then introduced Rafael Cruz, father of U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz, who criticized his son's opponent, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
Dewhurst "said his main accomplishment is reaching across the aisle to compromise -- this is not the time for compromise," Cruz said to the group, which agreed with his comments.
U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, said there have been discussions in the media about how only 15 percent of Americans support the Tea Party and its values.
"Only 15 percent of Americans supported the (American) Revolution and look where it got us," Gohmert said.
He said when he was elected seven years ago, he didn't know the United States could be energy independent, and now he knows it can.
"Think of the millions of dollars we could keep here instead of sending to foreign countries to purchase oil," he said.
The Tea Party Express bus tour will conclude Tuesday with a stop in Hot Springs, Ark.
According to its website, the organization "identifies conservative candidates and causes that will champion Tea Party values and return our country to the constitutional values that made it 'a shining city on a hill."'
