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Turnout tepid in U.S. for modern-era 'tea parties'
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| Contributor | Bob |
| Last Edited | Bob Apr 16, 2009 02:08pm |
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| Category | News |
| News Date | Thursday, April 16, 2009 08:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | A Fox News-hyped U.S. anti-tax movement has failed to bring about the "popular uprising" its creators had hoped for.
The day of "tea parties," pushed by Republican operatives and partisan advocacy groups such as FreedomWorks, which sought to protest U.S. President Barack Obama government's tax and stimulus policies by encouraging people to "wave tea bags," brought about only a few hundred "tea-baggers" in most parts of the U.S., despite relentless promotion by Fox News TV hosts.
Participants had hoped to rally hundreds of thousands of people to begin a grassroots movement that would force Obama to change government policy. But the turnout was far from what was hoped for, especially compared to the 2006 immigrants' rights rallies or the 2004 pro-choice march on Washington, both of which attracted millions.
About 4,000 people are reported to have shown up in Cincinnati, Ohio, while Chicago drew an estimated 5,000 protesters and Des Moines, Iowa, drew 3,000. Farmingville, N.Y., drew 50 hardy souls.
Those who did show up to the right-wing event Wednesday didn't hold back from expressing their thoughts on government. Protest signs seen in the Washington, D.C., tea-bag protest featured slogans such as "Commander in Thief," "Party like it's 1773" and "Hang 'em high," the latter featuring a list of Democrats the sign holder wants taken to the gallows.
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