Report on the Tea Party Express bus tour in Topeka

The Tea Party Express bus tour visited Topeka Friday April 2, 2010.

Upon my arrival it was raining steadily. A couple of hundred people had assembled on the State House south lawn by 10th street, but soon the number would grow to between 400 and 500 by my estimate.  Not bad, considering the weather and that no first stringers like Sarah Palin were featured for the Topeka stop.

The Tea Party Express rolls in. 

GPT Photo

The Tea Party Express is the creation of its Chairman Mark Williams, an entrepreneurial tour operator out of California, self published author, and fill in radio talk show host.

Several concessionaires travel with the show.  One from Springfield, MO, Michael Goodart, offered his booklets containing the Constitution with explanatory notes in the margins.  The general theme of their wares had to do with voting the Democrats and “Rhino” Republicans out of office in the next mid-term election and familiar themes such as pro gun and anti abortion, low taxes, and fiscal responsibility.  Others sold pre Betsy Ross flags and other memorabilia with revolutionary themes.

While waiting for the arrival of the Tea Party Express bus caravan, I spoke with several attendees paraphrased as follows.

A lady from Abilene feels that President Obama’s rhetoric is scary, reminding her of Hitler’s pre WWII speeches. He tells people what they want to hear without specifics. She asks, “How can the government expect citizens to respect the law when the government itself does not.

Another man from Shawnee asserts that the U.S. Constitution does not empower the national government to force people to buy insurance.

The lady from Blue Springs told me that over spending by our national government will crash our country. She is concerned that she might not leave to her children and grand children the same great country she has enjoyed.

A nurse told me she had earned her first car and paid for her own education without help from her parents and that she does not believe in give away programs. She is wary of the Fed taking over student loans and warns that the Fed will eventually dictate what programs students are to pursue.

Finally, as the rain subsided, the crowd cheered as the big custom painted yellow Tea Party Express busses rolled up, and the crew and speakers emerged.

Debra Shaw, Director of ResistNet’s North Central Region of ResistNet urged supporters to get personally involved at all levels, from precinct activities, local offices, as well as state and federal issues, and not to just sit by and expect someone else to do the work. Their purpose is summarized in an acronym of FLIP THIS HOUSE.

     Fix size of government.

     Limit taxes.

     Impose term limits.

     Purge Socialism.

Debra said that health insurance is regulated by State Law, not Federal, and that the Fed has no authority to require citizens to buy insurance. She got a laugh when she mentioned Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent comments about not knowing what was in the health care bill.

Diana Nagy, a pop, country, and contemporary singer, led the group with the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem and urged the crowd to “vote them out”.

Debra Lee, fouder of America's Mighty Warriors, shared with us the experience of losing her Navy Seal son (first Seal to fall in Iraq) and how a base in Iraq had been namd in his honor in recognition for his selfless galantry and sacrifice in the battle.

Debra Lee, Founder, America's Mighty Warriors

 
Roy Martin of Roy Martin Ministries entertained the group with an interesting “We’re taking back the country” song to the tune of New York, New York. His performance was clever and well done. His ministry serves people and families suffering from drug and alcohol addiction and sex offenses.

Mark Williams, the Chairman and operator of the Tea Party Express bus tour addressed the crowd. Wikipedia shows that Mark is a tour operator and sometime fill in radio talk show host. His speech did not reveal the vitriolic tone one might have expected such as calling Hillary Clinton the Hilda beast, or Jimmy Carter a faggot. He asserted that the purpose of the Constitution was to protect the people, and that the current administration reminded him of Marx, Lenin, or Stalin. He urged the crowd to become educated and engaged in events and to help “take America back one Tea Party at a time”.

Amy Kramer, a Tea Party Express Director, urged the crowd to vet our candidates. She offered a response to “Yes We Can” with “No You Won’t”

U.S. Congressmen Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt, candidates for the U.S. Senate Republican primary nomination, spoke a few words, none of which were very combative toward the other.

Jerry Moran said that the two governmental priorities are to defend the country and protect our freedoms and liberty for the next generation.

Todd Tiahrt defended the much recently criticized “C Street”. He is against bailouts and government taking over industry.

Joe Patton, Republican candidate for the State’s 54th district challenged the crowd to ask themselves, “…years from now when asked what did you do about working to save our country…what will you answer?...”

I believe it was Gulf Star Mom Debra Lee, founder of America’s Mighty Warriors, who began a clever chant of “In November we’ll remember.” Debra’s son was the first Navy Seal to fall in Iraq.

The group certainly supports causes often associated with the Republican Party but make no mistake, they are, in fact, independent. There are opposed to Republican “Rhinos” (I assume these to be moderates) who will incur the wrath of the Tea Party movement, the same as most Democrats, in the Fall elections.

Kansas Republican Senator Pat Robert’s 29 year congressional career escaped notice by the speakers.

Richard Mason

Reporter