Tax Day fix requires more than 'tea parties'

John Kass

Then they'd whip out their canes and give us a sound thwacking for willingly giving so much of our labor to government in the form of taxes, and for ceding, like so many sheep, individual economic freedom to the central planning authority.

But the founders wouldn't have needed the canes on Wednesday, the day that Americans who aren't big shots in the Obama administration traditionally file their federal taxes. Grass-roots protesters and libertarian think-tank organizers gathered in towns across the country in a series of "tea parties" to rail against the insatiable federal leviathan.

Predictably, Democrats, the Hopium smokers in the media and the left-wing blogs condemned such "tea parties" as gatherings of right-wing wackos.

"I assume we'll be ridiculed as some fringe element, but I don't consider myself a right-wing wacko. I'm a stay-at-home mom with three young children," said Kim Visokey of Winnetka, one of those in the crowd in Chicago's downtown federal plaza.

Visokey said she's not terribly politically active. But she came to hear Democrats and Republicans, Libertarians and conservatives rip on the federal government for spending us into servitude.

"I don't think the Founding Fathers would enjoy what we've become," Visokey said. "They'd be embarrassed. They organized this country on the principles of limited government. But here we are, in Chicago, in Illinois."

There seems to be no limited government in Illinois, where a group of family political clans dominate Democratic politics, with the Republican establishment serving as willing enablers, or jesters.

Reporters didn't have to work hard to find critics of President Barack Obama. But if they only asked, they'd have found that many in the audience were equally concerned with how the Republicans under President George W. Bush spent federal dollars like drunken sailors. Anger over the orgies of Democrat and Republican politicians feasting together has brought out the "tea party" protesters.

"What critics of this don't understand is that we're upset with President Obama, yes, but also upset with Bush administration bailouts, and how Obama has taken that and compounded it with all his spending," said Mike Lennox, a real estate manager.

"Democrat, Republican, I don't care about the excuses. What we're tired of is all the lies and the corruption," Lennox said.

Clearly, the message was heard, as Obama himself hoped to demonstrate how his administration was helping "working families" pay lower taxes. Locally, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger—the hapless puppet of Mayor Richard Daley—announced he was also cutting sales taxes: A whopping quarter of a penny.

"So if you spend $100, you save 25 cents in taxes?" asked Mike Lyons, who works at the Board of Trade. "A quarter-of-a-cent tax cut? You've got to be kidding."

Although it was good theater, what happened on Tax Day was about something more than criticizing a liberal president. It was about an unorganized group redefining conservative/libertarian principles after so many Republican cheerleaders abandoned themselves to the failed "big government conservatism" of the Bush years.

Obviously, such events are open to manipulation by seasoned political operatives.

As Democrats and their mouthpieces rip on the "tea parties," Republicans and their mouthpieces will try to hijack the symbolism.

So, to satisfy those who, like Obama, seek a post-partisan American politics, I've got an idea. I offered it up years ago, but in honor of the "tea parties" I humbly offer it again. Here goes:

All American elections should be held on Tax Day.

Under my plan, there would be no federal withholding taxes from paychecks. That sleazy political trick is only about numbing us to the extent of the federal tax bite. Under my plan, such tricks would be relics of the partisan past.

Instead, every American would pay a quarterly tax. We'd write our national and local tax checks to the government on Election Day, April 15.

And only after writing the checks could we vote.

Clearly, politicians would hate my idea, since voters would be angry.

But we wouldn't be arguing about "tea parties," would we? We might not even need them any longer.

Tens of thousands rally at tax day 'tea parties'

Tens of thousands rally at tax day 'tea parties'

By SHANNON MCCAFFREY

- Whipped up by conservative commentators and bloggers, tens of thousands of protesters staged "tea parties" around the country Wednesday to tap into the collective angst stirred up by a bad economy, government spending and bailouts.

The rallies were directed at President Barack Obama's new administration on a symbolic day: the deadline to file income taxes. Protesters even threw what appeared to be a box of tea bags toward the White House, causing a brief lockdown at the compound.

Shouts rang out from Kentucky, which just passed tax increases on cigarettes and alcohol, to Salt Lake City, where many in the crowd booed Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman for accepting about $1.5 billion in stimulus money. Even in Alaska, where there is no statewide income tax or sales tax, hundreds of people held signs and chanted "No more spending."

"Frankly, I'm mad as hell," said businessman Doug Burnett at a rally at the Iowa Capitol, where many of the about 1,000 people wore red shirts declaring "revolution is brewing." Burnett added: "This country has been on a spending spree for decades, a spending spree we can't afford."

In Boston, a few hundred protesters gathered on the Boston Common - a short distance from the original Tea Party - some dressed in Revolutionary garb and carrying signs that said "Barney Frank, Bernie Madoff: And the Difference Is?" and "D.C.: District of Communism."

Texas Gov. Rick Perry fired up a tea party at Austin City Hall with his stance against the federal government, as some in his U.S. flag-waving audience shouted, "Secede!"

But unlike many events around the country, politicians were not allowed to speak at a separate rally in San Antonio.

"They are welcome to come and listen to us, for a change," organizers said in a statement.

In Atlanta, thousands of people gathered outside the Capitol, where Fox News Channel conservative pundit Sean Hannity broadcast his show Wednesday night. One protester's sign read: "Hey Obama you can keep the change."

One of his guests was Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher, who made news during the presidential campaign when he asked Barack Obama about taxes. The crowd cheered many of Hannity's stances against higher taxes and moves by the Obama administration so far.

Julie Reeves, of Covington, brought her Chihuahua, Arnie, who wore a tiny anti-IRS T-shirt. "I want the government to get its hand the hell out of my wallet," Reeves said.

The tea parties were promoted by FreedomWorks, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington and led by former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who is now a lobbyist.

Organizers said the movement developed organically through online social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and through exposure on Fox News.

While FreedomWorks insisted the rallies were nonpartisan, they have been seized on by many prominent Republicans who view them as a promising way for the party to reclaim its momentum.

"All you have to be is a mildly awake Republican candidate for office to get in front of that parade," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

The movement attracted some Republicans considering 2012 presidential bids.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich took the podium in front of New York's City Hall while the crowd of about 2,000 chanted, "We are America!"

He urged people to tell their lawmakers to vote against big spending or else "we're going to fire you."

As the former House speaker left after his 11-minute speech, passers-by yelled, "2012, Newt!" and "Run for president!" But when asked about a run, Gingrich shook his head emphatically and said, "I'm just part of a citizen movement."

Zachary Caceres, a 19-year-old New York University student, was dressed as one of the Colonial rebels known as Sons of Liberty.

"I feel very, very strongly that my own future is being ransomed," said Caceres, of Ocean City, Md.

Another possible candidate, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, sent an e-mail to his supporters, letting them know about tea parties throughout the state. South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford attended two tea parties.

In Missouri, Karla Waite, 28, brought her four young children to a rally in Kansas City because she said "it was time to stand up."

"The way we've been going, with the bailouts and the entitlements, we're heading toward socialism," Waite said. "That's not the kind of world I want my children to live in."

There were several small counter-protests, including one that drew about a dozen people at Fountain Square in Cincinnati. A counter-protester held a sign that read, "Where were you when Bush was spending billions a month 'liberating' Iraq?" The anti-tax demonstration there, meanwhile, drew about 4,000 people.

In Lansing, Mich., outside the state Capitol, another 4,000 people waved signs exclaiming "Stop the Fiscal Madness," "Read My Lipstick! No More Bailouts" and "The Pirates Are in D.C." Children held makeshift signs complaining about the rising debt.

More than 1,000 protesters gathered outside a downtown federal building in Salt Lake City despite the rain and snow. Kate Maloney held a cardboard sign that read "Pin the tail on the jacka$$" with a picture of Obama on a Democratic donkey.

Other protesters also took direct aim at Obama. One sign in the crowd in Madison, Wis., compared him to the Antichrist. At a rally in Montgomery, Ala., where Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" blared from loudspeakers, Jim Adams of Selma carried a sign that showed the president with Hitler-style hair and mustache and said, "Sieg Heil Herr Obama."

Still others talked of their children's futures. In Washington, D.C., Joe Hollinger said he took the day off to attend the protest with his 11-year-old daughter.

"I'm concerned about the incredible amount of debt Congress is going to put on our children," Hollinger said, pointing to his daughter's sign, which read, "Congress get your hand off my piggy bank."