Tea Party: Will you be drinking or dunking?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/15/art.teaparty1.gi.jpg caption="Activists nationwide are holding gatherings on Tax Day, April 15."]WASHINGTON (CNN) – Finger sandwiches won't be served, but there will be a lot of frustration brewing about the current tax system at "Tea Parties" being held Wednesday across the nation.
Activists are holding these events on tax day to voice their opposition to the current tax system and the federal government's spending decisions, such as bailing out the banks and the auto industry.
So, what do you think? Have President Obama and Congress taken the right steps to help the ailing economy? Have Republicans been smart to oppose his fiscal policies? Does the tax code need an overhaul?
Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.
Here are some CNN stories about the nationwide "Tax Day Tea Party":
Activists gear up for national 'Tax Day Tea Party'
GOP uses tax day to raise money
GOP encourages supporters to send virtual tea bags to top Dems
Listen: CNN Radio analyzes the politics of Tax Day
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Again, did the ELEPHANTS pay off the 5 trillion dollars worth of debt left by giving W a blank check? If not, I dotn care to join them in the THUG Party.
This is what liberal voters don't get. Who is going to pay for the Bama/Pelosi spending?? You?
Instead of these gimmicks, the GOP should be putting forth sound ideals! They are sooooo lost
Wha...what? LOL!!!
This is hilarious, these are the same people who don't realize their own money is being used for lots of things...I mean, LOTS AND LOTS of things.
You guys crack us up, LOL!!!
Obama has the DHS going after all Americans who do not vote lib while turning a blind eye to every Islamic sucide bomber and other real terrorists who actually want to kill Americans all over the globe.
According to Obama and the DHS, our brave men and women returing home after fighting for our freedom are to be labelled terrorists but those who actually want to kill Americans in the name of some god are to never be refered to as that.
Keep in mind that almost every dem in America agreees with this.
Dunking all the way!
For all my Tea Party Guest: Don't forget you are paying 2008 taxes today, those are Bush's taxes not Obama's. I understand that paying taxes suck but it is how our country is funded and are a necessity. What you should be getting angry at is how the individual states are raising your taxes. And if you live in the Los Angeles area, you should be protesting the city government for authorizing the laying off of 5400 school employees (those are not Administrator numbers) while the school board smiles for the cameras. If Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa runs for governor I hope San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom wipes the floor with him. You don't need to go to Washington to see Government run amok, just come to Los Angeles.
I thought something like 90% of the people are supposed to get their taxes cut under the Obama Plan. Are their really that many people making more than $250k a year? or are these middle income conservatives being hoodwinked by FOX news?
I love America and I think if Big GOP backers and Corporations can advertise and get a dozen people nationwide to have tea bag parties, GO FOR IT! I also support the gay parade. I just don't like haters, racist, and the american/hitler/kkk groups to get...to much attention. The crazies have just as much right to speak their minds as the sane people. But, the topic still is EHE. Energy/Healthcare/Education is what the majority voice wants and we are all about the majority here.
So the ideological descendants of King George are having a Tea Party to protest government spending that will actually stimulate the economy. What a surprise! What a farce! Where were these characters when the Reagan-Bush gang showered the rich with tax cuts and burdened working people with tax increases?
Where were these people when Bush was doubling our national debt?
This is cynical political opportunism at its sickest.
President Obama has done the right things to try and get this country back on its feet, it is the Republicans that are not trying to solve anything because they want this President to FAIL........this will be the down fall of the GOP..... the Republicans are never satified with anything the President does, they put him down for everything, they only know how to play "Follow The Leader" with Rush Limbaugh
Simply put. This Tea Party was Paid by the rich. It the original rich's grass roots movement.
Get a life! Do something to help America get out of this Bush mess. Pepper "Limpbaugh" on how stupid he and all his "Fox" people are.
This is just pathetic. I'm all for freedom of speech... but this is pathetic.
Peaceful demonstrations... just about as American as it gets.
Time will tell on the first two questions... but our tax system does need an overhaul.
All the people participating in these "tea parties" that make under 250K a year should take the extra money they got from the new tax plan and give it to someone making over 250K a year.
I will be neither drinking nor dunking.
I will be grabbing my ankles once again. BOHICA.
And so will everyone else before long, especially those who bought into the "no tax increase if you make over $250K" drivel.
You've already got hit with a tobacco tax increase. Next is going to be the new carbon taxes. It's really a shame, because these are "regressive" taxes that hit lower-income folks much harder than those in higher incomes.
If I have to pay $20 more a month for electricity, I won't like it – but I'll survive. A lot of people I know are just scraping by. It could actually take food off of their tables.
THis is not a movement against the Democratic Party. This is a against big govcerment. Both parties are getting carried away and need to know "WE the People" should have a say. They need to butt out.
It's always great to see people standing up for what they believe in, especially if they believe in those things that made our country great in the first place.
More power to the tea partiers! Where can I sign up.
The government has forgotten the founding principles of this nation...for the people, by the people. Put a housewife in the oval office and the budget will be balanced in a jiffy – with the proper eliminations. Are you listening California gov? What we need is a good old fashioned national tea party!
we need to say NO to obama higher tax bisg wasteful spending socialism. we are very upset with obama's madness. he is wasting our tax payer money and then trying to steal more form us so he can waste more. we need less taxes and we need them reduced now for our nation to survive. and dont believe obama's deception that only people above a certian income will be taxed more. to pay off his crap we will all be taxed more down to our children and grandchildren and farther. and he wants to tax all energy sources. we will all be screwed by him. i dont know where he thinks we will get the money to pay him. and is wrong and crinimal for him to punish us for working, punish our success. no matter what your income we all deserve to keep more of what we earn
this is a huge joke. protesting what? the tax breaks they have under the Obama plan? you lost, get over it.
Where was all this faux outrage during the 8 years that Bush ruined everything?
wow. that poor kid. Ignorance flows strongly in the picture. Taxes have not been raised since 1994. People at the tea parties are protesting tax rates that were under George W. Bush – a republican. Obama's tax rate for the top tier is 10% less than the right-wing 'saint', Reagan. There's no logic behind them; there's no focus on their message.