April 15, 2009
Posted: April 15th, 2009 08:23 PM ET

From
 Uniformed members of the Secret Service are seen outside the White House after a suspicious package was tossed over the fence onto the White House grounds.
Uniformed members of the Secret Service are seen outside the White House after a suspicious package was tossed over the fence onto the White House grounds.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Secret Service officers were scurrying to close the North Lawn of the White House Wednesday afternoon because of a suspicious package and it appeared that trouble was brewing.

But it turned out that nothing more was brewing than an innocent little box of, yes, tea bags.

The security alert started around 2 p.m. ET, when an unidentified person tossed the box over the gate of the White House and it landed on President Obama's lawn with a thud.

Journalists were quickly banned from moving outside of the press briefing room, and hundreds of protesters gathered for a "Tax Day Tea Party" were quickly shooed out of Lafayette Park as a security robot inspected the package closely.
After about a half hour of high alert, a Secret Service official told CNN the "suspicious package" was merely some tea bags. So the threat was over, and so was the anti-Obama protest.

Updated: 5:05 p.m.

Filed under: Tea Party movement • White House


Alan   April 15th, 2009 8:43 pm ET

I can predict with certainty, what these protesters will accomplish. Can you say "Nada," or "Zip," or "Big Zero?" The mentality of those involved in the protests was displayed today when one of them threw a package of tea bags over the White House fence. I also heard that someone mailed a package of tea bags to Obama.

I can also predict what will happen to that package. The Secret Service will intercept it and destroy it. Do you actually thing a package mailed to the White House would get to Obama? It's much too dangerous. Obama will never see it.

Sal C   April 15th, 2009 8:43 pm ET

It seems to me that both parties have had the responsibility for screwing up this country...not one or the other. Neither party cares about you or this country. They stink equally. It also seems to me that now is the time for people to say to both parties "Enough!". I say to you: Be very careful who you vote for.

SLM   April 15th, 2009 8:43 pm ET

As an average middle income American citizen I am fed up with all the taxes we pay and how the government wastes our hard earned dollars. Don't any of you think that Government taking 60% of Average Americans paychecks in the forms of taxes and fees is enough?? We are Not just talking about Income taxes, it's all the taxes and Fees we are charged. Don't take my word for it, add it up and you will see it is 60%. Our sales tax is 9.25% how much higher should that go. Our DMV fees just doubled, Property taxes are outrageous, Gas taxes, taxes on your phone bill, electric bill, state income tax, federal income tax, Fica tax, SDI tax, Inheritance tax, tax you on any interest you earn, the list goes on and on. Where does it end?

Patty   April 15th, 2009 8:41 pm ET

Shocking how none of these people cared when $845 billion of their tax money was spent on kiling people in Iraq. But god forbid Obama spend it on helping Americans get their jobs back. It's as if Republicans just embrace stupid now as their theme.

Trudy   April 15th, 2009 8:41 pm ET

Funny, the 'tea party' I went to today was peaceful, well-organized and very well attended. What a great idea. I had a great time.

Thank you to all of the people who organized these events across our great land.

God Bless America!!! :)

WDM   April 15th, 2009 8:39 pm ET

Tom Paine, Do you realize that this year you are paying the taxes put in place by the Bush administration? You won't be paying Obama's tax rates until next year, and I expect you will be paying less next year. Personally, I think this is just another right wing anti Obama tantrum.

Moving Forward!   April 15th, 2009 8:35 pm ET

Here in "BOSTON" home of the original "Tea Party" only a few hundred showed up according to the local newspaper. I think these "parties" only had really big numbers in predominately republican areas and the organizers are apparently oblivious to the original intent of the "BOSTON TEA PARTY" which was to protest "TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION" the symbolism they were hoping for miss it's target by a few thousand miles I'd say!
How is it they don't have the money to pay taxes yet can afford to take a day out of work to protest?? I can see plenty of thought went into these protests!

diane08   April 15th, 2009 8:34 pm ET

Mr. Thompson wrote:

April 15th, 2009 5:16 pm ET
"Interesting that the Republicans never protested war based on faulty intelligence, never protested horrible conditions at veterans' hospitals, never protested the wiretapping and other destruction of civil liberties, never protested Bush's extremely high budgets (which left the cost of the war out of them), never protested the first bailout which came under Bush… they never made a peep about ANY of that, and often called the people who did "un-American."

But what does it take to finally get them out of their holes and screaming in the streets? A 3% tax hike on income above $250,000 for the few individuals who make that much.

Nice to know what motivates these people. Not conscience, not morality, not the liberty which they'll happily give away if a Republican's the one taking it. Nope… the only thing that'll get them out there is greed, during a time of national financial crisis. Well, I guess now we know where their hearts are at."

Thanks Mr. Thompson! Best ticker post I've read in a long tome!!!!!

Ed, Santa Fe, NM   April 15th, 2009 8:31 pm ET

the whole "tea bag" idea was MORONIC.... there should be legal charges... whatever anger there is in this country should be aimed at war criminal Bush and his henchmen.... they are responsible for the economic state of America since they sold us out to BIG OIL which stays rakes in big profits.....

Dissapointed   April 15th, 2009 8:31 pm ET

It is not President Obama's lawn.

E.C.Coleman   April 15th, 2009 8:31 pm ET

Too bad it wasn't a dump truck full of tea bags!

How can this country get this Egomaniac to stop lauding himself long enought to LISTEN to the Voice of the Nation???????????

O applauded himself for the 'tax cuts' on Tax Day..............
Excuse ME, WHAT TAX CUTS???

WRW   April 15th, 2009 8:30 pm ET

It is amazing how the media has refused or tried to belittle American citizens who are totally fed up with Washington politics regardless of which political party you are associated with. The coverage would have been much different and more agreeable to the protesters had they been against the previous administration. Our federal deficit has now been increased in just the last few months more than all the administrations from Washington to Bush. How can the media and most Washington politicians continue to support this outrageous spending agenda.

Each administration in recent history has restricted more personal freedoms but I have never seen (and I am a senior citizen) such a fast tract as we are now on to take even more personal rights and freedoms from us. It is time for more grassroots efforts to take hold as the TEA parties today – maybe something will get the attention of the people we elected to represent us will take heed.

strawberry   April 15th, 2009 8:27 pm ET

By the way every time Bush was asked about ALL his protesters everywhere he went his reply was always. This is America and everyone has the RIGHT to freedom of speech. He welcomed it, unlike our President Obama who banned it. Another shot at our democratic and republicans liberty.

Cali Girl   April 15th, 2009 8:26 pm ET

Al, California April 15th, 2009 7:20 pm ET

The tea-bag morons make GOP a bad and scary joke.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry told lots of nonsense at "tea party" today as some in his audience shouted, "Secede!" The GOP is a mix of crooks and extremists, and they will do anything that would be profitable for crooks.
______________________________________

Don't worry Al, Texas isn't going anywhere. Despite all the ignorant calling for succession, Texas would never survive a succession.

Brian   April 15th, 2009 8:25 pm ET

This was nothing more than an Obama supporter trying to do something to make the protestors look bad and change the focus of the protest. It will not work, we continue to see the continued waste of gov't spending by Obama and we will show our voice in the 2010 & 2012 elections.

annie - Palin 2012   April 15th, 2009 8:21 pm ET

Who threw the tea bags – acorn?

Jeff   April 15th, 2009 8:21 pm ET

Hey, let the tea bag clowns protest from one of those "free speech zones" the Bushies were so fond of.

Rob in Detroit Mi.   April 15th, 2009 8:20 pm ET

This whole tea thing is getting out of hand.don't these people know they bare being used by the conservatives. how lame can you be.

Cali Girl   April 15th, 2009 8:18 pm ET

What dupe threw a package at the White House? I certainly hope this individual is on his way to one of our black site prisons.

Enlightened Voter   April 15th, 2009 8:18 pm ET

Rethuglicans gave gwb a blank check to invade Iraq and then REBUILD Iraq. President Obaam wants to rebuild this country and the rethugs call it socialism. Incredible! And all of a sudden they are worried about the deficit even though President Obama is putting it into THIS country, not Iraq. So what is the gop beef????

Grab your pitchforks!   April 15th, 2009 8:07 pm ET

A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have. – Thomas Jefferson

I am proud of those that stand up to the wasteful spending today.

Get A Grip!   April 15th, 2009 8:07 pm ET

As usual, the crowd of "tea bags" consist of caucasion males and females. I did not see anyone of color participating in the tax protest. Hey tea bags,,,,I am a tax payer and I say this to the President of the United States,,, I am OK with my money going towards the reveral of the Bush Admin. mess. Where were these creeps when Hailburton and other clonies of Bush and CHeney robbed the tax payors blind? WHy speak out now? One guess......

C W   April 15th, 2009 7:56 pm ET

Mr. Thompson, I would disagree wtih only one thing your post: You are assuming the current Republican leadership have hearts. In that regard, based on their actions, I must humbly disagree.

Steve   April 15th, 2009 7:54 pm ET

Hmmm, protestors are angry about wasteful government spending with our tax money yet go out to buy boxes and boxes of tea bags to dump into the streets and bays just to make a point. I guess I'm missing something here.

C W   April 15th, 2009 7:53 pm ET

All these tea-party people need to read a little history. The Boston Tea Party was a protest against the largest multi-national company at the time, the British East India Company (the WalMart of its day).

The participants in the Boston Tea Party were protesting against the passing of the Tea Act by Britain, which the colonists believed violated their rights to only be taxed by their representatives ("taxation without representation").

The taxes we pay today are passed by Congress, our elected representatives. There is absolutely no correlation!

So, once again, the GOP, in trying to get people to join their tea party, is inciting fear and divisiveness, based on incorrect information.

What a bunch of losers!

Beth   April 15th, 2009 7:40 pm ET

I don't know what channel you people are watching, but from the channel I am watching, some of the cities have about 3,000 people protesting. It's very peaceful, and there are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents in attendance. They are not just protesting Obama's spending, but Bush's as well. You people are buying into the media's spin on this. I miss the days of honest reporting. The media doesn't look out for the people anymore. They support a man who threw shoes at our former President, but they denegrate average Americans who are demonstrating their freedom of speech. Very hypocritical.

nom deplume, esq.   April 15th, 2009 7:39 pm ET

I smell a rat. I used to work right there on Lafayette Park, and there is always heavy Secret Service and FPS presence. Even more during a protest. The streets also have guardposts at each entrance.

So, at an identifiable time, someone walked up to the fence, tossed over a tea box, and got away even though there was a small army of Secret Service uniformed and plainclothes officers nearby sounds an awful lot like someone is wagging the dog.

Chris   April 15th, 2009 7:39 pm ET

Some of these comments are just asinine:

1. We live in a Republic, not a Democracy. It is the duty of our elected leaders to vote for what they think will best serve the country. It's our duty to give them feedback (as in voting them out if we think they're wrong).
2. I'm a fiscal conservative. I'm not represented by either of the two main political parties nowadays. The Libertarians are a bit over the top in some areas, but far closer to fiscal conservatism.
3. It's not racism. It might be dumb, and require one to ignore the Bush administration's 8 years of out-of-control spending, but in reality it doesn't require disliking someone based on the color of their skin to disagree with the policies of a presidential administration. Incidentally, it's not helping the Obama administration one bit when people toss that word around for no reason.

Lynda/Minnesota   April 15th, 2009 7:38 pm ET

Wouldn't it better if the "Tea-Party" had been directed at those who actually put our country in this mess in the first place? Silly me, that would be the GOP, wouldn't it?

Annoyed One   April 15th, 2009 7:37 pm ET

Gloria,

While it may have been a Republican administration because of who was in the Oval Office, Democrats have controlled Congress for the last 2+ years. If the Dems couldn't change anything in 2+ years, what makes anyone think that anything will change in another 3.75 years with a Democratic administration?

Oh yeah, and Carlo, I don't care if it is only a few dollars (which is greatly understated) that people would get. People donate to charities by choice and it is not the government's place to use my tax money to help the "under-privileged" get out of whatever hole they are in. Most people have worked hard to get where they are in life and it is insulting to think that there are lazy slackers who can sit around and collect my hard earned money.

Tom Paine   April 15th, 2009 7:33 pm ET

Hey Obama supporters – just wait until you get stuck with the giant bill too.

You think people making $250,000+ are the only ones who will pay? Get ready for the gag – it's going to be you too.

Assuming any of you have jobs...which I doubt.

Brendose, Oceanside CA   April 15th, 2009 7:33 pm ET

Where were all these people when BUSH was in office?

Oh yeah, they were counting their money in the hyper inflated, falsified, stock market!

Don't blame Obama for Bush's mistakes!

jim/phoenix   April 15th, 2009 7:33 pm ET

no one minds paying taxes,but we all object to the way washington
and the clowns in congress spend spend and spend. pay raises
and pork (or the new word "earmark") This is not the times for this
waste of money.New administation/same crap New president/
same crap Democtatic congress/same crap.
nothing has changed except the faces mind set is the same

arnie   April 15th, 2009 7:33 pm ET

Ask Captain Phillips if the Government should stop spending or we should cut our taxes. I would rather pay more taxes to have that Navy Seal in place just in case I am a seized by a bunch of thugs on the High Seas. If you want less government that is fine. Perhaps we should take each name who participated in this TEA party send you all of the taxes you have paid and allow you no access to law enforcement, keep you off the roads and let you provide your own Defense against rogue nations.

Norom   April 15th, 2009 7:32 pm ET

Pat F April 15th, 2009 5:25 pm ET

I get really sick of crocodile tears from liberals about helping the working class, when everyone is in such a hurry to sell Detroit down the river. Jerks in Toyotas and Hondas with Obama bumper stickers – it's a disgrace that such hypocrits are allowed to drive.

More often than not those Hondas and Toyotas are built in the USA by
American workers. I get really sick of the crocodile tears from the wing nuts that claim they love our troops, love the little children until it comes time to pay the taxes to take care of our soldiers and veterans, and fund education. It's a disgrace that hypocrites like you are allowed to live in this country. Talk about wanting a free ride.

Renee from Broward, FL   April 15th, 2009 7:31 pm ET

At the end of the day, I bet Lipton l make a profit!!

Ashley in Wisconsin   April 15th, 2009 7:30 pm ET

I saw one of those so-called 'Tea Parties' here in my hometown of Wausau, Wisconsin. Those people should be ashamed of themselves! I went to see what was going on with my husband, who is blind and has a service animal, and one of those so-called
' Patriots' tried to set their pit-bull on our beautiful Labrador. I am a proud Democrat who supports our President all the way and I hope that these people soon stop their 'tea partying' and get actual jobs, if they think America is so hard-up.

Ray Fisher   April 15th, 2009 7:28 pm ET

The President must unfortunately endure the wrath of the memory impaired public on this tax day. They convienently overlook the postive actions he has taken thus far in their haste for reparations. The public must withold judgement of our President for at least 2 years till his policies take hold in earnest. I doubt we have the patience judging from history!!!

Biff Biffington   April 15th, 2009 7:26 pm ET

amazing...

first VOTING against your own best interests...

now PROTESTING and voting agianst your own best interests...

I wonder how many people making overe 250k were 'protesting'?

arithmetic is liberal   April 15th, 2009 7:24 pm ET

Tim April 15th, 2009 5:02 pm ET

Wow, way to silence the opposition Obama break out the water hoses next. Sorry that a community has organized against you.

Take it from a take-to-the-streets left winger...

If a liberal, anti-war protester threw ANYTHING over the wall at the Bush Administration's White House, the poor jerk would STILL be mid-cavity search!!

I really don't think Republicans get it. When you have people rolling their eyes at your phony outrage, you call it "suppression" and that people are denying you First Amendment rights. I'll tell you what it feels like. Have any Tea Party people been maced in the face today?

Mace really, really stings. I got maced at a protest in Los Angeles two years ago against the war and you can't really imagine anything more painful than getting mace out of your eyes.

So if you want to talk about riot police and tear gas and German Sheperds, then I've got stories for you, but something tells me your average conservative wouldn't be able to handle it.

The protesters who hurled some garbage over the fence was nothing but AN IDIOT.

Luke   April 15th, 2009 7:23 pm ET

This entire comment section demonstrates exactly why the two party system has failed in America. Everyone is so enamored with their own party that they fail to view policies as a whole.

Do I know that massive bailouts are going to solve the economic crisis? No. Do I like massive deficit spending? No. Do I like the government cherry-picking which companies get to survive via our and our children's money? Vehemently no. Does that mean I hate Obama? Absolutely not. I have never agreed with everything a sitting President and Congress have sought to do. Anyone who does, regardless of political background, is contributing to the weakening of our country.

Grow up, everyone!!! Get over yourselves and get on with your life. If you want to debate or protest you have every right to do so. It's what makes this country great. But all the snark and demeaning comments have no place. The pendulum will swing back and forth...Republican to Democrat...conservative to liberal...those who value opportunity first to those who value fairness first. We each can be our own judge of where we are now. Our voices and votes determine the future, not our hatred and contempt.

Biff Biffington   April 15th, 2009 7:23 pm ET

Oh Please, Tim...

Surely even YOU can understand that you can't throw ANYTHING over the fence at the President of the United State's house...

besides... once the situation was given the all clear, the protesters were allowed to return.

bush would have had them in a "free speech zone" someplace in Virginia.

MN   April 15th, 2009 7:21 pm ET

I don't quite understand what these tea parties are for this year. The reason coming from those actually attending these parties vary greatly. So how can this tea party across the nation have an impact when the message is garbled?

I'm going to give Obama a chance and see if he can fix this economy.

Now.. if this really is about taxes... I'm not entirely sure as most of those protesters, their taxes went down in April.. but yet the tax return that is due is from last year before Obama became president, maybe its government spending? but that seems silly as no one protested on the last administration, or maybe its about gun control?..... nevermind confusing myself again as to why these tea parties are happening again.

I do think the tax laws need to be overhauled! But I don't have time for parties.. I have a family to raise.

Zion   April 15th, 2009 7:21 pm ET

I'm scared..I guess now I can run as a GOP candidate. LOL. I'm sorry, I'm normally classier than that, but I'm sorry these people make it entirely too easy.

Norom   April 15th, 2009 7:21 pm ET

Mr. Thompson April 15th, 2009 5:16 pm ET

Interesting that the Republicans never protested war based on faulty intelligence, never protested horrible conditions at veterans' hospitals, never protested the wiretapping and other destruction of civil liberties, never protested Bush's extremely high budgets (which left the cost of the war out of them), never protested the first bailout which came under Bush… they never made a peep about ANY of that, and often called the people who did "un-American."

Mr Thompson, you are right on the money.

silly rabbit   April 15th, 2009 7:20 pm ET

The GOP is trying to call this a "grass roots" movement yet it backed by FoxNews and other large conservative groups. I have to agree that if this had happened through the Bush years with all the spending and the GOP pushed it I would find it to be more believable. This is just a GOP last ditch effort because as usual they have NO answers to help righten the economy. Of course they'll draw big crowds, heck Palin drew huge crowds with a lot of racists idiots among the bunch as well. Bottom line is even after the tea-bagging is over, nothing is going to change but money spent which could have been used somewhere else better.

Al, California   April 15th, 2009 7:20 pm ET

The tea-bag morons make GOP a bad and scary joke.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry told lots of nonsense at "tea party" today as some in his audience shouted, "Secede!" The GOP is a mix of crooks and extremists, and they will do anything that would be profitable for crooks.

tom   April 15th, 2009 7:20 pm ET

Its funny everyone comment on here is nothing but a slander against the GOP. Its obvious the majority of you do not understand economics much less politics. Give over your blinded hate!!! Economic policies take many years to have any relevant impact so the majority of the problems stem from the end of the Clinton Era, secondly Barney Frank and his peers refused to support any legislation which would of regulated banks/investment banks. Do your research before you spew hate. The last thing I will leave you with is the Tea Parties where not about individual income taxes. They are about the government taking individuals hard earned income and spending it on socialist programs, paying peoples mortgage with bought down loans and universal healthcare and programs of this nature.

This country was founded upon the priciples of liberty and hard work and the current government is taking those liberties( hard work, money) and using them to benefit others instead of the person who earned them.

Get a life educate your self before you spew such ignorance!

nom deplume, esq.   April 15th, 2009 7:19 pm ET

A friend with a background in special operations told me something like this would happen. Federal agents use various techniques to bust up gatherings or cause them to devolve. Certainly an agent would know that tossing a box onto the North Lawn would cause that result, especially during a press conference. And the anti-tax protesters get the blame. I didn't believe him when he suggested it would occur, but now he looks prescient.

Bushed   April 15th, 2009 7:13 pm ET

I agree. Well said Mr. Thompson @ 5:16.

Kenyan Wonder Kid   April 15th, 2009 7:11 pm ET

The O'man admin was looking for some excuse, ANY excuse, to shut down the Tea Party protest in D.C.. Yes, squelching free speech is now well on its way, headed up by "Homeland Security".

How do you like THAT for change!

Joanna   April 15th, 2009 7:09 pm ET

The GOP cried about some dems not paying there taxes( which they should) but yet say it is Patriotic to NOT pay taxes! Wow is all i can say!!

Lee Bartholomew   April 15th, 2009 7:06 pm ET

Add one on the socialism signs... uh.. well I guess those protesters don't deserve the Postal Service, need to have their SOCIAL security removed and they'll get zero in medicaid.

Clf1990   April 15th, 2009 7:06 pm ET

Just a moron, who support the GOP. The person who did this should be arrest and put in prison for 20 years and be in the same cell and put in the same cell as a sodomite. We should come together to fix Bush's mess not get together his supports to make up lies. Fox News should be ashamed of themselves for the lies the tell on a dailey bases.

Joanna   April 15th, 2009 7:06 pm ET

The GOP cried about some dems not paying there taxes( which they should) but yet say it is Patriot to NOT pay taxes! Wow is all i can say!!

Lee Bartholomew   April 15th, 2009 7:04 pm ET

Nothing like Misguided american's protesting against lowering taxes. And quit that with the tea baggers comment.

Just absurd about the tax stuff. Spending they have some leway, but protesting against lowering taxes? lol. Good joke. It's either that or the protest shoulda been held maybe September when the taxes might count. But Obama lowered taxes so the tax protest is a joke. Unless your making over $250,000. Which isn't too grassroots to me if your making over $250,000

Joanna   April 15th, 2009 7:04 pm ET

Humm FYI TEA BAGGERS... Your taxes have not increased! Obama just gave YOU 95% of the country the largest tax DECREASE in US history! But don't take my word for, research it yourself and stop taking fox news word for things. You are making fools of yourself. If you want to protest go ahead, that is one of our wonderful rights. But my goodness get the facts right.

arithmetic is liberal   April 15th, 2009 7:02 pm ET

Mr. Thompson, sir, you took the words right out of my mouth.

Lesley Anne   April 15th, 2009 7:02 pm ET

Lois is right. If we want to change government, we need to change who we send to run it. Corporate interests and special interest contributions are what have been pushing any agenda in Washington. I also agree with bloggers who ask what these people were doing and what they were drinking during the Bush administration? It wasn't tea.

Belle1   April 15th, 2009 7:01 pm ET

CNN, PLEASE STOP YELLOW JOURNALISM

I am a Democrat that attended a tea party in Las Vegas. You falsely say they are anti tax...and anti Obama. They aren't.

What did President Obama Promise?
No New Taxes
Fiscal Responsibility
No more politics as usual
No more Pork
No more Lobbyists

What have we received? OUT OF CONTROL SPENDING by the House and Senate. The Tea Party is about We the People...all of us.

Don't worry though...pink slips will start arriving for the House and Senate in 2010. They are not listening, and neither is CNN.

Sharon   April 15th, 2009 6:58 pm ET

OBAMA–The American people have always had the right to protest–to burn flag (you know-like your friend Wm. Ayers)–to show their dislike regarding American politics! However, you (Obama) are the first to have one of your staffers (homeland security) to cry 'RIGHT WINGERS ARE OUT OF HAND!

The Vietnam protesters stood and ranted and ranted in the streets–on college campuses–people would sit and refuse to remove and had to be phsycially removed by police.

Now Mr. President–your homeland security lady cries and sounds the alarm of the right winges posing a threat to your Administration–well that doesn't say much for the feminist movement!

Obama do no how it looks across the world when the HOMELAND SECURITY IS AFRAID OF THE RIGHT WINGERS OF AMERICA!

carol   April 15th, 2009 6:57 pm ET

I am outraged by the statement president Obama made concerning the itemized taxes... His answer was that most American's won't understand what everything means... Why don't he let the people determine what "we" understand and what "we" don't understand? It's more proof that government wants American's to be ignorant to what is going on in American politics. Stop hiding the truth from Americans! There is something to be said of the old saying: "the truth shall set you free".
I am aware that each year the government must submit a budget for the next year. If the previous year's budget was not used fully by year end the money is spent on unnessessary things in order to ask for more money for the next year. This is a major problem in our government! Each year the budget is increased because of wasteful spending. It is rediculous and it must stop... Government MUST make available to the public an itemized bill for all state and federal spending and the press could help by airing some of the wasteful spending on a regular basis... "similar to the coverage that was given of the high profile people who were on the unpaid taxes list".

Viet Vet   April 15th, 2009 6:56 pm ET

Your Federal Taxes do not pay for State police, county police or your home town police It does not pay for your fire departments – state taxes , county taxes (property tax), and city taxes pay for those.

If you have large construction projects (bridges for example) or the federal highways (Interstate for example) the feds may provde funding)
Remember the Bridge to Nowhere. Know who receives your hard earned dollars. So also teabag your state

ginger   April 15th, 2009 6:50 pm ET

This tea bag thing is just plain stupid. I could see if you had a better plan than the Presidents but you don't.

My husband earns $68,700 per year and he received his tax break in his last paycheck. This will continue until 2010. I bet 99.9% of these tea baggers earn less than 75k a year.

By the way, my water, gas and electric has been going up ever since I was old enough to pay the bill. Please find an arguement that's real and not trumped up.

HouseDiva   April 15th, 2009 6:49 pm ET

I ready to go downtown to the tea baggers protest here in st. louis with a huge sign asking where are the black people, and where were you morons when bush was handing out trillion dollar contracts to black water and halliburton that all got squandered???

bitter people deserve their bitter tea...their days of robbing the poor man so that the rich man can buy another yacht for his mistress days are over!

I hope Obama taxes the hell out of the wealthy just so we can get back everything that they have taken from us...including freedom!

michaelam   April 15th, 2009 6:49 pm ET

Just back from California's Capitol: The majority of those attending today's "Tea Party" were older, White-Anglo, Protestants……no surprise there, and didn’t even know what they were really protesting until some speaker would say our President’s name and everyone would boo or wave their signs frantically. Then we had the bikers…….yes, the Capitol looked more like the Torch Club (a club in Sacramento, Ca.) on a Sunday or the Toy run in December. Three people shared a full, complete set of teeth. Then we had the “silly, willy’s,” folks dressed up as Betsy Ross, Native Americans, and “Qakers.” Oh, and some fashion queen was wearing Lipton Tea bags as earings......yeah!

Obviously, it comes as no surprise that I do not support any rhetoric these people were selling. However, it did make for some great, lunchtime, entertainment. BTW……not to make you anti-government types even more paranoid, but the CHP and Sac P.D. were passing around fliers among each other that posted several anti-gov. types that they were closely watching.

I love seeing my tax dollars at work!

Had It   April 15th, 2009 6:48 pm ET

How childish. Nothing accomplished except to waste tea.

Tulsa L   April 15th, 2009 6:47 pm ET

hey all the hoopla with tea bags is coming from the republicans, whinning and complaining again, thats all they know ......... put all the tea bag protesters around the country today in an election booth and it wouldn't be enough to win any republicans a seat in Congress or the Senate or give them the Presidency or VP......... when you can come up with something subtantial to fix the problems of this country besideswhinning and complaining and tax cuts for the Rich and big business......then we might listen to you......

Joe Terrogano   April 15th, 2009 6:44 pm ET

Here is my response to the Tea Party:

Forbes ranked the recent Presidents and prosperity in this country on 7/21/04. The top four, in order, were Clinton, Johnson, Kennedy, and Reagan. How about recessions? 2001-2003 (G.W. Bush); 1990-1991(G.H.Bush); 1980-1982 (Carter/Reagan); 1973-1975 (Nixon/Ford). Any patterns here? These are facts, not spin. Look them up. Republicans have had many chances. You be the judge of their economic wisdom!

Steph   April 15th, 2009 6:43 pm ET

So, these Rethuglicans are now fine with throwing things at the leader of the free world. Aren't these the same people who were outraged during the Iraqi shoe-throwing incident? Didn't they say anyone who insulted the President during wartime was anti-American? Hypocrites!

Helena   April 15th, 2009 6:43 pm ET

What has happened to the Republican party? Do they realize their are children living in the White House? I hope they catch the culprits and jail them!

HouseDiva   April 15th, 2009 6:41 pm ET

The only reason that we even know about this "tea party" nonsense is because it's funded and organized by the corporate giants and the RNC otherwise the news media wouldn't even cover it.

where was the media when people were protesting the Iraq war by the millions? THAT"S RIGHT...where were you CNN???

and if we were still under the bush adm. those tea baggers would have been confined to free speech zones, beaten, and pepper sprayed far away where no one could see or hear them.

no arrest is the biggest indicator that the wealthy republicans are behind the tea party. if democrats came out to protest the republicans would have staged riots in the mist of a peaceful protest just to overshadow the democrats message of protest..

how stupid do they think we are?

Jon in CA   April 15th, 2009 6:39 pm ET

@ Tulsa says,

"President Obama is a constitutional lawyer who has sworn to defend and preserve our constitution."

Yeah... just like he was defending the 2nd Amendment when he sided AGAINST gun-ownership in DC?

Is Obama preserving the Constitution when he nationalizes banks and auto companies?

Are we to "trust" him to defend the Country when he travels abroad apologizing to other nations, calling American "cynical", and bows to the Saudis?

Will Obama be protecting us when he & democrats grant amnesty to 20+ million illegal aliens?

Is Obama preserving the law when his Administration is prosecuting a witch-hunt against Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio because the Sheriff actively rounds up and detains illegal aliens??

Lisa   April 15th, 2009 6:37 pm ET

Where were the tea parties for the last 8 years? When Clinton left office, we had a surplus. When Bush left, we had a massive deficit. Do the math.

Chris   April 15th, 2009 6:34 pm ET

The "Teabaggers" have got their history all mixed up. Their movement has more in common with the "Whiskey Rebellion" then it does with the "Boston Tea Party". The "Whiskey Rebellion" was about a group of angry American citizens protesting a tax passed by their duly elected representatives. It was put down by no less then George Washington himself, because he rightly saw such movements as a threat against the democratic process itself. As so many others have pointed out, the "Boston Tea Party" was not a protest against taxes but rather a protest against taxation without representation. The tea taxes was unilaterally imposed by the British Monarchy and the colonies were denied any input whatsoever. The "Boston Tea Party" was a protest against tyranny. The "Whiskey Rebellion" and this moden Tea Party movement is a protest about being on the losing side of a fair vote.

Dejah Thoris   April 15th, 2009 6:34 pm ET

The wealthy folks at FOX and their GOP owners are using average americans for some vendetta. What i want to know is why Republicans and right-wingers don't want to pay their taxes. The rest of us do because we know that this is government of, by and for the people - and people need to pay for the services that all of us use. But, apparently Fox News, Goppers and right-wingers are not patriotic. They do not love their country and by their actions, they show how much they hate most of America.

Gary S.C.   April 15th, 2009 6:30 pm ET

And the CEO of the Lipton Company is just setting back laughing.

ADLord   April 15th, 2009 6:29 pm ET

Robin,

No it is not OK and it is not a double standard. The guy who threw his shoes at Bush WENT TO JAIL. What is a double-standard is to waste our tax dollars and commit massive generational theft, then to hold 'tea-parties' complaining about another party wasting our tax dollars. Where were these people when Bush ruined our economy and mortgaged our kid’s futures? They were supporting our president because that is the 'patriotic thing to do'. But now that our president is a Democrat (and black no less) supporting the president is no longer patriotic. THAT is a double-standard.

It also makes me sick that they are holding tea-parties. As if they had some sort of connection or camaraderie with our revolutionary fore-fathers. Before they were called conservatives, they were called LOYALISTS.

Doug   April 15th, 2009 6:25 pm ET

Here's what you get after decades of dumbing down the populace: tea bags. It's too soon to vote against your own interests, so protest the fact that the wealthiest few will soon have to pay a little more in taxes. Idiots.

Jason   April 15th, 2009 6:24 pm ET

Can you imagine if that idiot had been shot dead on the spot!! The pathetic extremist right wing Republican dogs would have been calling for holy war! How low are the Republicans going to go or is there a bottom for them?

MPTD   April 15th, 2009 6:24 pm ET

How funny! Like jimmy carter's attack-rabbit! Oooooo! Scary box of tea!

Dawn   April 15th, 2009 6:23 pm ET

Anything thrown into the White House lawn, you can scramble the Secret Service.

I do agree that we never seen this during the Bush Administration... Oh we could not do that, we could have been picked up and placed in a CIA torture camps because we were never allowed to protest anything.

Well they have the wrong definition for the tea party,. The colonist protested taxes that was levied by a tyrannt King 3000 miles away. He kept the taxes and did not help the Colonist... Thus the Amercian Revolution. And why didn't we revolute Bush's Policies? Just answer that Question, since he spent and squandered the money that was a surplus from a liberal President.

Well go and buy some iced tea, hey it isn't taxed...

sam   April 15th, 2009 6:23 pm ET

what a laim party. I have had more people over at my house for a tea.

JM   April 15th, 2009 6:19 pm ET

This is about protesting wasteful spebending and non-responsiveness from Washington. The only thing mentioned in the constitution twice is the right to redress which the people aren't being given.

Ain't life strange?   April 15th, 2009 6:19 pm ET

It would stand to reason the majority of the tea bag throwers are making over $250, 000 a year. If they weren't that would make the protesters those people who are getting a tax cut under Obama's tax plan. This tea party was stirred by the wealthy and they are sitting back watching all the middle class folk protest for them. Same old, same old. We just keep doing the work for the rich. That's why today I had an extra cup of coffee.

Chris   April 15th, 2009 6:18 pm ET

Does anybody know what ideas the tea-baggers have to fix the economy? I thought not.

SJ   April 15th, 2009 6:17 pm ET

REPUBLICANS ARE OUTRAGED! Why? For the first time in 8 years the money's not going in they're pockets.

So cal   April 15th, 2009 6:06 pm ET

@ Robin who typed: "But it was okay for someone to throw shoes directly at the world leader? Talk about double standard".

No, it wasn't ok, if you were to look at the news every once in a while the person who threw the shoes received jail time for it.....

Dylan from MN   April 15th, 2009 6:05 pm ET

We already had one Tea party, this one will be forgotten in history and it looks really foolish. Any level headed educated person know where this country needs to go and how we need to get there. We're not going to "socialism" or whatever you crackpots call it, we need new government, a government for the future and the majority of us trust President Obama to get us there.

SJ   April 15th, 2009 6:03 pm ET

Anyone notice how news networks never show the crowd size at any of these protests? The only one that I noticed had to be at least 12 protesters, yet some media outlets made it sound like it's a huge national event!

Quick Question   April 15th, 2009 6:01 pm ET

At Robin:

Ever hear of how Obama and top dems have promised NOT to reintroduce the "fairness doctrine". Stop doing basic propaganda and do some basic research.

Kitty   April 15th, 2009 6:00 pm ET

You Obamanites – if you thought Bush spent a lot of money on wars – STRAP on your seat belts – Obama will out spend Bush not just on wars!!!

Don   April 15th, 2009 6:00 pm ET

All I got to say is where were these Tea Part nuts8 years ago. Seems to me that I am paying less in taxes..not sure what their beef is. FOX news should be ashamed for what they are stirring up. I have been watching their "fair and unbalanced" coverage most of the day. Can we say that the impartial journalist are almost giddy with excitement. Glenn Beck has a right to free speech, but what he is doing is creating a mass hysteria.

Lori   April 15th, 2009 5:57 pm ET

To 'Worried Mom' and the like:

No one is threatened by these 'tea parties' anymore than we were threatened by Sarah Palin. Don't you Republicans see that everyone you claim Democrats are threatened by, end up losing? Palin lost (she didn't rally the Independents and woman that they wanted in order to win the election) and these 'tea parties' will only galvanize the majority of the Democrats and the Independents against the radical Republicans we see on t.v today because we all know that it is an anti-Obama protest. America hates GOP negativity. Didn't you guys learn that from the last election???

USMC - Mike   April 15th, 2009 5:57 pm ET

good bye GoP ...

We've been laughing about this crap at work today ...

too funny ...

Jeff   April 15th, 2009 5:56 pm ET

Susan Roesgen is a fool for saying the tea parties are "Anti-CNN"....the tea parties stand for smaller, less intrusive federal government and more individual liberties. why would those views be threatening to CNN?

Lori   April 15th, 2009 5:51 pm ET

What matters is that the majority of Democrat and Independent Americans see through these tea parties and know that it is hidden racism and hatred against the President and the Republicans will see the backlash from these tea parties. If these protests weren't racist than why weren't these people out protesting when George Bush was sending our AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS to the Iraqi people for YEARS and when Bush passed the 1st stimulus bill? All of a sudden after January 20th these Republicans (and some Libertarians) are now are against gov't spending? And did you see the rednecks that were at these 'tea parties'?

I agree with our President's tax and economic policies. It is necessary to right the wrongs that Bush and the Republicans created and to move America forward!

Robin   April 15th, 2009 5:51 pm ET

@ Mark who said...
That's easily the dumbest statement so far. Any idiot knows that in a protest you don't throw a suspicious package towards the domicile of a world leader, doesn't matter who you are.

But it was okay for someone to throw shoes directly at the world leader? Talk about double standard.

@ Tulsa....
Ever hear of the "Fairness Doctrine" and the Dems who are fighting to bring it back?

Lillie   April 15th, 2009 5:51 pm ET

I mailed checks today to pay my federal and state taxes due! Now that's the patriotic thing to do and it makes me a great AMERICAN, Sean Hannity! The majority of the tea baggers are earned income credit folks pretending they have a problem with taxes. And the only folks making over $250.000 are those pundits that don't believe half of the garbage they spew over the airwaves! Come on people, please wake up!! Pres. Obama didn't steal this election....HE WON!!!

Obama/Biden 2012

JonDie   April 15th, 2009 5:50 pm ET

The morons who put the box there cost the taxpayers a bundle. But what do Republicans care? Most of them hardly pay ANY taxes.

Ryanna   April 15th, 2009 5:47 pm ET

These people are SO pathetic. Are they actually trying, poor souls, to protect the rich who should pay MORE taxes ? Delusional ...

SJ   April 15th, 2009 5:47 pm ET

A majority of protesters are Republicans....they don't really know why they're out there, they were just told to do so. They just follow blindly, not really knowing were they're going or why.

Galen   April 15th, 2009 5:45 pm ET

Absolutely repulsive, that Americans would do such a thing.

Shame on rascism, shame on the G.O.P, shame on rascists and hate groups.

STAND WITH THE PRESIDENT.

OBAMA =D AND OBAMA 2012 =D

GOP is done!   April 15th, 2009 5:44 pm ET

To all the people who say the govt should stop spending, do us a favor, stop using roads, stop using schools, don't call the police or fire dept. When you all stop doing that, the govt will stop spending.

Then we can get back to the GOP's type of spending, Wars!

SJ   April 15th, 2009 5:43 pm ET

Republicans buried their head in the sand for 8 years. Now they deny those 8 years never happened, and blame the first 12 weeks of the Obama administration for all the worlds problems.

Carl from MI   April 15th, 2009 5:43 pm ET

@ Tax Cuts for the Employers Please:

Japan has been doing exactly what you suggest... do nothing!! They've been nothing about their economic problems for over 15 years now with no results!!! They are in their SECOND DECADE OF DEPRESSION!!!

Being a worldly-wise person, you obviously are aware of what's been going on in Japan and have learned that history repeats itself when we refuse to learn from it. No? You haven't been paying attention??

Don't feel bad... neither have your Republican counterparts or your tea-bagging friends at large...

Mike   April 15th, 2009 5:43 pm ET

It's time The People took back our Democracy. It's not up to the politicians to vote their opinion. It's their duty to vote as the people who elected them say. They can lead by presenting their ideals for debate, but in the end, they Must vote as We The People tell them to. No more father knows best routines. No more blindly voting based on party line.
We demand our right to majority rule. And by majority rule we mean the majority of the people, not the congress!!!

Barbara Independent in NY   April 15th, 2009 5:42 pm ET

If these people would take a minute to actually listen to someone other than Rush and Faux News they might not be so angry and hateful. For the first time in a very long time (maybe ever) we have a president who sincerely wants to help the majority of the American people and some of these protesters are so bogged down in ideology that they don't want to see what's in front of them. They don't even realize that they have been manipulated.

Pam   April 15th, 2009 5:41 pm ET

How many of these protesters do you think earn more than $250,000.00 a year? I for one am enjoying the extra money in my paycheck, thank you very much.

Pam   April 15th, 2009 5:40 pm ET

Were these people protesting when Bush created a huge deficit?

The Real Slim Shady   April 15th, 2009 5:40 pm ET

Talk about asinine. The Republicans need to find another way to be relavent.

worriedmom   April 15th, 2009 5:37 pm ET

Isn't it amazing that CNN states it was an Anti-Obama demostration. That is not what it is all about. It is about the overspending our money rewarding people who did wrong. If you guys would figure it out, this is not a Republican thing, this is an American thing. I have loads of friends who are Republicans, democrats, Independents and all of them are attending tea parties. It is about saying enough is enough. stop spending our money!
It just cracks me up how some of you are so afraid of these demostrations. I guess you have no problem paying higher taxes, or giving your money to others who don't work for it, or letting govt dictate what business will succeed and what wont and most of all the fact that the media and our Govt is trying to suppress Freedom of Speech. I think this has actually scared a lot of you that people are out there.

TJ   April 15th, 2009 5:36 pm ET

How much money did they spend on the tea? Who is paying for it?

Carole   April 15th, 2009 5:36 pm ET

So with NO taxes there would be NO police; NO schools, and so on. These people are just sour grape right wing extremist racists or uncle tom and aunt jemimas.

I like the fact they at least told Newt back off buddy. LOL Poor Repubs thought they had some red meat to devour. All they know is to spew hate and racism.

Barbara in Boston   April 15th, 2009 5:36 pm ET

@ Mr. Thompson: you said it so well, I have nothing to add - except praise.

Suzy   April 15th, 2009 5:34 pm ET

I am sure the White House knows how to handle "Pranks"

david   April 15th, 2009 5:34 pm ET

What a bunch of fools. these bailouts started on GWB watch. Now they are coming out now that obama is finally turning around our economy?

What a bunch of idiots. Especially the one who said they were a clinton supporter but now is becoming a republican. You are a wolf in sheeps clothing. republicans started this mess. Obama will finish it!

How can you have a tea party now when taxes have been lowered? LOL make sense out of that

Tulsa   April 15th, 2009 5:33 pm ET

Robin,
If you really believe we are going to lose free speech then there isn't much hope for you and your ilk.
President Obama is a constitutional lawyer who has sworn to defend and preserve our constitution. If you don't believe him, fair enough. But aren't we in this country innocent until proven guilty?
It seems to me that you and people who hold like views are buying into the fear mongering that is the Republican party.

Paul   April 15th, 2009 5:32 pm ET

it's silly things like this tea party that is driving the GOP to extinction. (Well, that and the fact that they spent the last 8 years ruining the country). Have you tea partiers seen the GOP's poll numbers?

Annette   April 15th, 2009 5:31 pm ET

What on God's beautiful earth are those folks protesting for??? Most of those folks likely make under 100K a year? Most of those same folks protesting benefit from the stimulus, middle class tax cut and the change in the new tax code, the refinancing act, let's see......

Yet those who make more then 200K, I guarantee none of them are out there protesting, naw...they want the under paid, over tax folks like the ones protesting today, to walk up and down in the dampness and coldness of April 15th, to accuse for them. What a drama show. I understand freedom to protest, but this is absolutely ridiculous.

Regarding the gun issue, remember guns done kill, but people will use gun to kill and destroy,...it doesn't seem real until it effects those same people protesting their right to bear arms. I not once heard the President say he will disarm that right to bear arms??? Yet, we have seen time and time again what happens when guns are in the wrong hands, Columbiine, VA Tech, MD Beltway Sniper and so on and so on...

I bet the folks in France and Canada are laughing at those protestors,,,why aren't they protesting about affordable healthcare, and wages, and housing...that's worth protesting for...

Moe NY   April 15th, 2009 5:30 pm ET

As usual, the republicans/conservatives go too far! What ever possessed the moron to throw a package onto the WH lawn? Truly stupid move.

2009TeaParties   April 15th, 2009 5:29 pm ET

These protests are not a partisan protest against just Barack Obama. They are against ALL excessive government spending and taxation, past and future, whether by democrats or republicans. Sure, more republicans may support them, but that doesn't mean that the anger is focused solely at democrats; just at the signs people are holding, very few are partisan, many specifically criticize spending and bailouts that have been going on for years. And in response to everyone who says, "where were these people under Bush", perhaps they were just not fed up with bad government yet.

GB in Kansas   April 15th, 2009 5:28 pm ET

Too bad they didn't throw some milk and sugar over the fence, too!

sene   April 15th, 2009 5:28 pm ET

This whole tea party thing is idiotic. Of all the things to protest what are they actually protesting?? 3% tax increase to top 1% in 2011??? or do they just not want to pay any taxes?? (Don't they call that unpatriotic). Do these people feel like they have no representation? How about they call their local republican representative and ask what they are doing? How about they get some lives like the rest of us...pay your taxes...and support the veterans that are wilting in an army hospitals and not getting the care they need.

Bunch of nonsense!!!!

catmom   April 15th, 2009 5:28 pm ET

I thought the tea parties were against taxes, why does it seem like it they are against President Obama? CNN interviewed a man participating in the tea party and he kept calling President Obama a fascist. When asked what he meant and how President Obama was being a fascist he couldn't answer. Had no clue. Probably couldn't even give a definition. That was his complaint and why he was participating, nothing about taxes.

With Fox news and other right wing talking heads promoting this, most people who think for themselves understand and believe that this is more sour grapes from Republicans. Had these same people came out and protested during the Bush administration when they were running up the deficits, when they began to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Off budget, the tea parties would make sense.

I just received a small increase in my check because of President Obama. It may be small but it helps a lot. I realise that President Obama is trying to give middle class and poor a break and I thank him for it. You pitiful people who think we can run this country, pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, fund the military, schools, police, fire ect. without paying our share of taxes are just being plain stupid and selfish.

Cass   April 15th, 2009 5:27 pm ET

The Tea Baggers are so out of touch with reality, its not funny. The tax structure and deficits you are "protesting" are the policies of George W Bush ( the idiot who could not even string a sentence together) Additionally, unless you make a quarter of a million dollars a year, your taxes went down, but the again you probably don't know math and the difference between a tax cut (more in you pocket) and a tax increase (less in your pocket).

Stop falling for the Rethuglican fantasy and think for yourselves. its spineless follow along sheep like you that allowed 8 years of hell and the reason we are currently in this mess,

As for your claims of "socialism", what the heck do you think programs like Social Security and Medicare are. Please, use what litle brain matter you have and think.

Thank God the rethuglicans are out of power and I pray the rest of them are swept away with the elections of 2010, they are disgusting and so are you.

soldier girl   April 15th, 2009 5:26 pm ET

This person should be found an locked up. Bush would have done so if he was in the white House.

J Norman   April 15th, 2009 5:25 pm ET

Where were these folks the last 8 years when taxes were higher?

It's looking more and more like the GOP is done. Nothing but hard core wackos driving a nonsensical, out-of-date ideology seem to remain.

Pat F   April 15th, 2009 5:25 pm ET

I disagree, Ray Ray, about the auto companies. The domestic auto companies have been on top for quality for several years now. Lots of Detroit bashers are just stuck in the 1980s.

I get really sick of crocodile tears from liberals about helping the working class, when everyone is in such a hurry to sell Detroit down the river. Jerks in Toyotas and Hondas with Obama bumper stickers – it's a disgrace that such hypocrits are allowed to drive.

soulstar   April 15th, 2009 5:25 pm ET

hypocricy at it's best...where were all these republicans and libertarians when bush was thrashing the economy, wasting tax payers' money, and giving coperations unbelievable breaks??? just say it: they are protesting obama because of one thing, and i'll let you figure it out for yourself.

Beverly   April 15th, 2009 5:24 pm ET

Bravo Mr. Thompson. Very eloquent and accurate post.

Mark   April 15th, 2009 5:24 pm ET

@ Doug, New Jersey......Are you really that naive when you throw a box onto the lawn of the most powerful person in the world, what do you think is going to happen? And I would LOVE to see the order instructing DHS to arrest anyone with tea...

JV   April 15th, 2009 5:24 pm ET

The George Bush era is the past! Better to focus on the present.

R   April 15th, 2009 5:24 pm ET

Hmm! If these people are disgusted with taxes why don't they give back the slight increase in their pay check each month to the IRS.

Larry from RI   April 15th, 2009 5:24 pm ET

I thought I heard the sound of a squeaky wheel and broken record.

This "Astro-turf roots" event brought to you by Dick Armey, the GOP and FAUX news.

"Hundreds of protesters"? That is a National Mandate (in Hannity's world)

If that is all these talking heads could muster it doesn't speak well for the popularity of their cause now does it?

Many chuckles

frank   April 15th, 2009 5:24 pm ET

Does anybody remember that the Bush Dynasty rewarded bad behavior for eight years, no body complained, so what's all the fuss about now. They believed in corporate welfare.

debinaz   April 15th, 2009 5:24 pm ET

maybe the president will realize that these tea partys are about we the people....all the partys not just republicans as i am a democrat.....stop spending our money washington.......

Watchful Cowboy   April 15th, 2009 5:23 pm ET

I have written to my elected official – several times and feel pretty good about it – they don't always do what I say but they always respond – even if a form letter to let me know they received my letter – system works.

Amy   April 15th, 2009 5:23 pm ET

GOP= Pathetic

Susan   April 15th, 2009 5:23 pm ET

Those people who are calling out Obama for taking away rights should have been a little more alert under Bush/Cheney, who really WERE out there scuttling the Constitution as fast as they could. Did you not know they were spying on all of us? Wanted to CLOSE the national mall to any and all gatherings? Jailing innocent people who they then tortured? Spending money hand over fist to their no-bid war contractor buddies, their oil friends (you don't see the oil industry needing help, do you?) and bailing out the big banks? And Obama gets the heat for all this crap? Nonsense. Sour grapes, and nonsense (and a little racism, too, I think.)

enlightened voter who can actually think for themselves and not blindly follow like sheep   April 15th, 2009 5:23 pm ET

I know more than 37 people who have vowed to vote against dimocrats after seeing what they do when they seize control.

Even Bush is better than president pelosi, reid and obama

and as far as this stunt costing the taxpayers money, just add it to the $1.3 trillion for this year, it's less than a rounding error at this point.

Ethan   April 15th, 2009 5:21 pm ET

Real smart.

gl, Pittsburgh   April 15th, 2009 5:21 pm ET

This tea party is bring all the racist nuts out just like at Palin rallies. White people are the main once at this rea party rallies. Please get over yourself your race is not the only race that can run the white house. Where were you big mouth for the last 8 years when your White President was spending like there were no tomorrow.

Janine   April 15th, 2009 5:21 pm ET

This is so funny. People are protesting paying taxes (something that they've always done). Wow. Do these people have jobs????

Tax Cuts for the Employers Please   April 15th, 2009 5:20 pm ET

This has to due with the fact that Obama has spent more in 70 some days than Bush did in eight years. Uh, lets spend more money to get out of this recession. How ludicrous!! We will take over for private businesses because we are so good at not operating in the RED. Yeah right!! These guys are a bunch of power hungry creeps that have no experience running a profitable business and have lived off the public dime most of their lives. The funniest part about it is that a lot of ignorant people voted for them.

frank   April 15th, 2009 5:20 pm ET

I bet all those tea beggers didn't pay their taxes. IRS needs to hunt them down and throw away the key. I smell audit.

Get Well Soon GOP   April 15th, 2009 5:20 pm ET

I wonder if it scared the first family. The poor grand mom must have been home and wondering what the heck was going on. The GOP sure is wild.

Mel of Alexandria   April 15th, 2009 5:19 pm ET

Gimmick after stupid gimmick, the Republican right wing-nuts are hoping that one of their "hail Marys" will produce something that can take hold and help in the rebuilding of a party that has lost its compass and is hopelessly adrift. All they have been doing is focusing on how they can regain power instead of trying to find a way to help us get back on our feet.
Stay adrift, after a while you will be so disoriented that you will be the laughing stock of all but the nuts.

Claude   April 15th, 2009 5:18 pm ET

All the tea partiers need to go get themselves some jobs and make some money so they'll have income to pay taxes on. How is it they find the time to raise all this hell and still hold down a job. If one of them worked for me and took time off for this mess, I would fire them. Sounds like a bunch of people who want something for nothing.

Mr. Thompson   April 15th, 2009 5:16 pm ET

Interesting that the Republicans never protested war based on faulty intelligence, never protested horrible conditions at veterans' hospitals, never protested the wiretapping and other destruction of civil liberties, never protested Bush's extremely high budgets (which left the cost of the war out of them), never protested the first bailout which came under Bush... they never made a peep about ANY of that, and often called the people who did "un-American."

But what does it take to finally get them out of their holes and screaming in the streets? A 3% tax hike on income above $250,000 for the few individuals who make that much.

Nice to know what motivates these people. Not conscience, not morality, not the liberty which they'll happily give away if a Republican's the one taking it. Nope... the only thing that'll get them out there is greed, during a time of national financial crisis. Well, I guess now we know where their hearts are at.

American   April 15th, 2009 5:16 pm ET

TEA parties are happening all over the country and have nothing to do with "Obama" himself but all those in Politics that have decided what they should do with my money and my life for years now Those on the receiving end have no complaints only that they want MORE.

Gracie   April 15th, 2009 5:15 pm ET

Where were all these protesting bozos when BUSH and their Republican Leaders were squandering ten billions a month on a pointless war in Iraq costing $10 billion a month and wasting both blood and lives??

95% of these clowns don't even know the TRUE meaning of the word tea-bagging, otherwise they'd feel mighty ignorant and foolish.

Or when he doled out 350 BILLION before the end of his reign of terror in the TARP bailouts…with ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY???! Gimme an f'ing BREAK! What a bunch of HYPOCRITES!!!

Obama's given 95% of Americans a small tax break, and these imbeciles are whining about a few lousy more bucks from the mega-rich!! LAME!!

Sunshine   April 15th, 2009 5:14 pm ET

Why are all of you so blind! This is not about party affiliation but about this country going to hell in a hand-basket! I was a Clinton supporter and I'll tell you I'm becoming more republican EVERYTIME O speaks! Open your eyes people and it was probably one of Obama's lacky's throwing the box over! Hiter re-incarnated! I'm beginning to to believe in the end in 2012–Obama's pushing for the end!

ray ray   April 15th, 2009 5:14 pm ET

@ carlos says,

"This has nothing to do with taxes."

--

No, not with taxes... but it has EVERYTHING to do with the SPENDING SPREE:

Bail-out for banks
Bail-out for Insurance Companies
Bail-out for irresponsible homeowners
Bail-out for crap auto Companies

OUR money is being used to reward bad behavior! Those of us living the RIGHT WAY (working, paying taxes, paying our mortgage, not asking for a hand-out, etc) – WE are stuck with the bill.

We are sick and tired of rewarding bad behavior and sticking it to the good people.

Irma in North Carolina   April 15th, 2009 5:14 pm ET

I think the republican party is becoming a disgrace. Some one needs to do something about this party they are getting out of hand. But as long as they have leaders like Rush, coulter and ingram what can you expect. I am so glad that I know longer belong to this party. Can they not see they are only hurting their chances of ever getting into the white house. As long as I live I will never vote for another republican no matter what they are running for.

txkboy   April 15th, 2009 5:13 pm ET

Some people just need to get a life!!

Beverly   April 15th, 2009 5:12 pm ET

The tea party participants are dingbats, plain and simple. Have any of them ever written a letter to their elected officials? Probably not.

Sniffit   April 15th, 2009 5:12 pm ET

@ Carol, who said "to the idiot who threw the pckage, guess how much that prank cost? Guess whos taxes are going to have to pay for it?"

Haha, awesome...so true...you hit the nail on the head.

Gloria   April 15th, 2009 5:11 pm ET

The shame of this whole idea is that these people are protesting about tax brackets, deficit spending and bailouts that all began under the previous administration. In case you don't remember, it was a republican administration.

I also would like to know how many of these idiots are willing to give up medicare and social security (these are a form of socialism) for themselves or any of their family members who?

GOP...the party of no NEW ideas!!!

Karen - Missouri   April 15th, 2009 5:10 pm ET

These people are idiots. Noway near the Boston Tea Party. Typical Republicans....any stupid idea they can think of. These people would let this economy totally fail if it were up to them. Uneducated jerks if you ask me.

Mark   April 15th, 2009 5:10 pm ET

"Wow, way to silence the opposition Obama break out the water hoses next. Sorry that a community has organized against you."

That's easily the dumbest statement so far. Any idiot knows that in a protest you don't throw a suspicious package towards the domicile of a world leader, doesn't matter who you are.

I don't credit neocon tea-baggers with an overabundance of brains, but they should be able to figure the basics out. The folks are lucky it's not the Bush era any more, they'd already be in Guantanamo with no paperwork, no trial, no due process.

Jon in CA   April 15th, 2009 5:09 pm ET

Glad to see one of Obama's surrogates could toss a box of tea-bags causing the Secret Service to disband any protests!

This Administration is doing a bang-up job orchestrating events to conrol the masses.

Another example: Cuba. Obama loosens restrictions – which could cause a backlash from Americans. Castro, on que, complains about the embargo, thereby buying Obama some sympathy.

Castro and Obama doing the good-cop, bad-cop routine.

But go back to your zombie partisan defense of your messiah. Don't let REALITY spoil your little party.

Lois   April 15th, 2009 5:09 pm ET

It is NOT an anti-Obama protest! It is much bigger than that. Congress controls the spending and the same old people have been in charge, some for more than 20 years. Come on let's get it right as to who is to blame for the mess we are in today.

Susan   April 15th, 2009 5:09 pm ET

where were these guys when Bush was in power.
Even though I do not like many of Obama policies, Republican party's hypocrisy and its stupid cheer leaders (Rush, Hannity, Glenn Beck etc) are forcing me to stay with the best among the worst.

Robin   April 15th, 2009 5:08 pm ET

It won't be funny when we lose our freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.

Linda32   April 15th, 2009 5:08 pm ET

These people are wasting the tax dollars they are crying so much about! But why would I expect them to make sense.

republicans hate america   April 15th, 2009 5:08 pm ET

i proudly paid my taxes today

Charlie in Maine   April 15th, 2009 5:07 pm ET

Hey tea bag throwers: Wake uo and smell the coffee. Where was your protest when GW Bush thoght it was agood idea to spend 12 million dollars an hour occupying a country that never attacked us? I thought so.

Jon   April 15th, 2009 5:07 pm ET

oh yeah, the "anti-obama" protest.

Gracie   April 15th, 2009 5:06 pm ET

This tea bagging is so stupid on all levels.

WHAT is the GOP hollering about now? Tax, Socialism, etc.???

WELL whose taxes do these clowns think they are protesting? It's the Bush/Republican taxes!!!

These protestors are too ignorant to realize they are protesting their own party's taxes, socialism and deficits!!!

Once again leave it to the GOP to sabotage their own party! How ironic is that?

Doug, New Jersey   April 15th, 2009 5:06 pm ET

Obama has instructed that the DHS take out any honest, tax paying, never arrested, play by the rule American with tea, but to look the other way at an illegal with c4. Thanks for voting Democrat!!!

carlo   April 15th, 2009 5:06 pm ET

This has nothing to do with taxes. Obama's tax cuts haven't even taken effect, so if the taxes upset them, they would have protested for the past 8 years. The spending has been large for 8 years and no protests about it. This is about people who hate Obama and who selfishly fear that someone might receive a few dollars of their money, yet if they were in the other person's shoes, they'd be beging for the government to help them, too.

Carol   April 15th, 2009 5:02 pm ET

to the idiot who threw the pckage, guess how much that prank cost? Guess whos taxes are going to have to pay for it?

Tim   April 15th, 2009 5:02 pm ET

Wow, way to silence the opposition Obama break out the water hoses next. Sorry that a community has organized against you.

Enlightened Voter   April 15th, 2009 5:02 pm ET

Disgusting! I know 37 people who switched from being republican to democrats in the last election and they are working on their friends and family. People, we have to take a stand against the republicans, talk to everyone you know and let's stop this insanity! Haven't the rethugs ruined this country enough?

anonimus   April 15th, 2009 4:59 pm ET

"We've got tea bags sir!"
"Call of the bomb sniffing dogs and pull out the teapot."
"Affirmative!"

barking republican ankle biters   April 15th, 2009 4:59 pm ET

All forty tea baggers ran for their life like fearful little kids that they are.

Sniffit   April 15th, 2009 4:59 pm ET

And let the sophomoric giggling continue! Gotta love it. Someone please report on the content of Kaminsky's memorandum so the full-on laughter can begin.

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