Thousands of tea party activists converge on Sen. Reid's hometown

[michael89156]

LAS VEGAS – Thousands of tea party activists streamed into Sen. Harry Reid's hometown in Nevada Saturday morning, bringing American flags, "Don't Tread on Me" signs and outspoken anger toward President Barack Obama and his health care overhaul.

The activists' star, Sarah Palin, will rally the crowds later Saturday from a makeshift stage in a patch of dusty desert about 60 miles south of Las Vegas.

Organizers predict as many as 10,000 people could come to tiny Searchlight, the hardscrabble former mining town where the Senate Democratic leader grew up and owns a home. By noon, traffic was backed up more than 2 miles on a highway leading into town. Cars and RVs filled the area as people set up lawn chairs and braced against a stiff wind whipping up dust clouds and blowing dozens of flags straight out.

The rally that's been called a conservative Woodstock takes place just days after the historic health care vote that ushered in near-universal medical coverage and divided Congress and the nation. The vote was followed by reports of threats and vandalism aimed at some Washington lawmakers, mostly Democrats who supported the new law.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sent dozens of uniformed and plainclothes officers to patrol the crowd. Officer Jay Rivera said there was a report of a fistfight in the morning, but when police responded, they found nothing. He said there had been no arrests.

"So far it's nice and peaceful," Rivera said.

The tea party movement is a far-flung coalition of conservative groups angered by Washington spending, rising taxes and the growth and reach of government. It takes its name from the Boston Tea Party in 1773, when colonists dumped tea off English ships to protest what they considered unfair taxation by the British crown. The rally kicks off a 42-city bus tour that ends in Washington on April 15, tax day.

Leonard Grimes, a 70-year-old retired logger, said the nation is drifting toward socialism, and he's not convinced Obama is eligible to be president.

"I'd like him to prove he's an American citizen," said Grimes, who is originally from Michigan but now lives in Golden Valley, Ariz.

He called the health care bill "a joke, just another way to enslave the American public."

Ketha Verzani, 60, said she came to the rally from her home in Las Vegas "to stand with those who want to clean house."

The Republican opposes the health care bill and worries Americans are losing their rights, including parental rights and gun rights.

"It seems like every day more and more of our rights are being taken away," Verzani said, sporting a Palin 2012 button to show support for the former Alaska governor who "doesn't beat around the bush."

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, is scheduled to appear after spending Friday and Saturday morning campaigning for Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who led the 2008 ticket.

Now a Fox News analyst and potential 2012 presidential candidate, Palin faced criticism after posting a map on her Facebook page that had circles and cross hairs over 20 Democratic districts. She also sent a tweet saying, "Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!"

She said Friday she was alluding to votes, not guns.

A string of polls has shown Reid is vulnerable in politically moderate Nevada after pushing President Barack Obama's agenda in Congress. His standing has also been hurt by Nevada's double-digit unemployment and record foreclosure and bankruptcy rates.

Reid supporters set up a hospitality tent Saturday in the parking lot of a Searchlight casino, about a mile from the tea party rally. The Senate leader planned to spend part of the day at a new shooting range in Las Vegas with National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.

Luis Salvador, 55, an unemployed fire sprinkler fitter, drove down from Las Vegas to support Reid, who he said has done a lot for the state and doesn't deserve the protest brought to his hometown.

"You don't come to a man's house and start creating a ruckus," said Salvador, a registered independent. He and several others taped signs saying "Nevada Needs Harry Reid" to the side of a truck near the highway that runs through town.

Another Reid supporter, Judy Hill, 62, said she doesn't understand the hatred of Reid. The longtime Democrat from Searchlight, a town of about 1,000, said she thinks people just don't know the man she calls a friend.

"They listen to the rhetoric. I think he's very misunderstood and under-appreciated," she said.






Source:   AP

[Vatican_Assassin]

I know, I was watching Palins speech at the rally, she makes me wanna puke. I think the Tea Party movement is great, but please put someone else on the podium. People forget the fact that Ron Paul started the movement, but now it's being hijacked by neo-cons like Palin, Beck, Hannity and others.

[Biggs3535]

People forget the fact that Ron Paul started the movement, but now it's being hijacked by neo-cons like Palin, Beck, Hannity and others.

They forget that because that's not what happened.  I'm pretty sure Rick Santelli is one who "started" it.

[Vatican_Assassin]

People forget the fact that Ron Paul started the movement, but now it's being hijacked by neo-cons like Palin, Beck, Hannity and others.

They forget that because that's not what happened.  I'm pretty sure Rick Santelli is one who "started" it.

[cyberdude557]

I like Palin because she pisses of the left-wingers so much.

She must be doing something right to get the liberals mad.

[Morgan]

Does she really? I can't speak for left wingers, but she comes across as stupid.  As a democrat, I don't find her in any way threatening.  I just can't understand why people believe in her.

[Biggs3535]

People forget the fact that Ron Paul started the movement, but now it's being hijacked by neo-cons like Palin, Beck, Hannity and others.

They forget that because that's not what happened.  I'm pretty sure Rick Santelli is one who "started" it.

What does that have to do with anything - and what is the issue, exactly?  That some "Tea Party" candidates are running against Ron Paul?  Good!  I like Paul and the fight he puts forth in congress, but he's been there long enough.

Even though Paul's politics goes hand-in-hand with the Tea Parties, he didn't start the "Tea Party" movement that we have seen over the last year -

[Vatican_Assassin]

Who the Hell is Rick Santelli anyways?

[Biggs3535]

Who the Hell is Rick Santelli anyways?

A business analyst on CNBC.

[Morgan]

Who the Hell is Rick Santelli anyways?

Try to keep up.

[oregonbucfan]

Palin shouldnt be allowed to speak at this event... she supported part of the problem (McCain) yesterday, when she could have helped get rid of the problem and backed Hayworth. That alone made me lose even more respect and make it 0% chance Id vote for her.

[pewtersmoker28]

in the end she wont be conservative enough to win the nomination in 2012...

[oregonbucfan]

in the end she wont be conservative enough to win the nomination in 2012...

hopefully

[nybuccguy]

in the end she wont be conservative enough to win the nomination in 2012...

hopefully

    Carefull saying anything bad about Palin. Cyber will accuse you of being scared of her.

[pewtersmoker28]

by 2012, unemployment will be close to 25 pct.....not including the people who have given up on looking for a job.....the world will on the verge of if not have already suffered another nuclear disaster.......