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| 9/10/2009 2:17:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Locals Ready For DC Tea Party
Daniel Riordan
Times-Union Staff Writer
People from all across the country will descend upon the nation's capitol Saturday for a tea party.
Sometimes referred to as a TEA (Taxed Enough Already) party, they are events that have gained steam in the past six months as a way for people to protest taxes and an increasing national deficit.
Dan Lee, a retiree from Chapman Lake, will make the 10-hour drive to Washington, DC, in a motor home with his son-in-law, a former police officer in Southern California.
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"I got the itch to go a few weeks ago," said Lee. "Also, I hadn't been to Washington, DC, in about 12 years so this was a chance to go again."
Lee said he's a conservative, and the rate of money being spent by the government bothers him.
He had t-shirts made up that say "Enough" on the front with "Read our Constitution" underneath.
Lee said there will be events and study groups Friday, and a chance for those interested to meet with their congressmen or senators.
People will assemble at 9 a.m. Saturday to begin a march on the Capitol. A program will then take place at the Capitol at 1 p.m.
Lee said he's not a "rabblerouser by any stretch" but just wanted to be a part of the event.
For Mike Wortenberger, an area small-business owner, this is not his first tea party. Wortenberger has been to two in Indianapolis and one in Warsaw. This week he attended one in Mishawaka.
Wortenberger said it's not an issue of being anti-Democrat or Obama or pro-Republican.
"Basically, I feel the government is out of control," said Wortenberger. "It's not just the Democrats, it's Republicans, too. I don't blame Obama. The system is broken."
Wortenberger said he believes government is ignoring the will of the Founding Fathers.
"The Founding Fathers were a lot more intelligent than we are," said Wortenberger. "They used God as guidance and I don't think that's the case anymore."
Wortenberger said he knows of several people making the trip and is traveling with a couple of people.
Having been to several tea parties previously, Wortenberger admitted that for some people attending it's "strictly political," but for the majority of those in attendance they feel like Wortenberger in that both sides have let down the American people.
"Our Republicans have ignored us as much as the Democrats," said Wortenberger.
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