There seems to be a misunderstanding about the Tea Parties that have been held all day today around the country, and the party which will be held on the courthouse south lawn in a mere few hours. Never have I seen such fear, anger and opposition to a movement before the listener even hears the explanation of what it is we are doing.
The Republicans detest this movement because it is not a sanctioned movement. They detest this movement because they find the blame laid at their dirty hands as equally as it is the Democrats. And the Democrats, they cry foul before they even listen to our plea, our reasoning and our mission. Whatever it is, it should wait. They think we timed this to coincide with a Democratic presidential term. They both think, they guess, and they point, but they won't listen.
We have citizens who support us, but won't show up because they are afraid.
We have citizens who oppose us, but the only reason is because they haven't heard us. We have citizens who help us because they no longer fear, they no longer care, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to point out the cliff that we're headed for.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Some of us who have already begun to break the silence of the night have found that the calling to speak is often a vocation of agony, but we must speak. We must speak with all the humility that is appropriate to our limited vision, but we must speak. For we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us."
Preparing for this Tea Party has been a roller coaster for our emotions. I have never been more concerned for this nation that I love, and yet I have never been more proud to be a part of it. What a wonderful nation we have inherited. What a privilege it is to stand up to our government, because our forefathers had the wisdom and foresight to betroth us with the responsibility of controlling, owning and correcting our government.
So tonight, from 5 to 7 p.m., we will see who will stand up to say that this is enough. This is not the time to point the finger at our current president. He has hardly had time to change the course of this ship. No, this is a time to draw a line in the sand and let our representatives in Washington know that we will tolerate no more of the old Washington ways. It is time to end the runaway spending, the borrowing against our children's future, the exploding entitlement programs, and the buying of bad investments. The party is over. Washington, you have run out of our money.
Thank you all for your support and help in making this day a huge success.
Congratulations on your choice to stand up and be heard in Washington. This is not the last time your voice will be needed. It is only the beginning.
