Tea Party Protest in Fayetteville, NC; Rally Against Lack of Fiscal Responsibility and Intrusive Government

Ralph Reagan, chairman of the Cumberland County Republican Party, and event organizers selected the Liberty Point Resolves Marker in downtown Fayetteville, NC, to host the Fayetteville Tea Party Protest against a lack of fiscal responsibility in stimulus spending. This occasion was part of an effort to hold what was promoted as non-partisan New American Tea Party events in cities all across the nation to protest a lack of fiscal responsibility and intrusive government. The organizer's talking points note that "large-scale government interventions into the free market were kicked off under Bush, and Obama's doing no better." Stimulus, government spending, earmarks, and the economic crisis were the topics of the day, along with talk against big government and for a return to fiscal conservatism.

Patriot Rodney Dezarn, who drove with his father and son 2 hours from Greensboro, said, "It is just a shame that it had to come to this."

Dezarn joined more than 70 protestors today as the rain held off and temperatures rose above 65 in Downtown Fayetteville, NC.

Protesting Stimulus Spending and Fiscal Irresponsibility

Those protesting equated government deficit spending and stimulus spending to taxation without representation. Fayetteville has a population largely consisting of fiscal and social conservative military, government civilian employees, and contractors. Military personnel are prohibited from participating in political rallies in uniform, and according to bystanders, this type could be seen as subversive in nature. That forced some in attendance to observe curiously from the sidelines, not willing to risk having their security clearances brought into question over a Tea Party Protest against government stimulus spending. Despite apprehensive observers, the symbolism of the selected location was not lost on the crowd as frustrations over, "economic crisis", "disenfranchisement" and "taxing our children's future" were common themes heard in the rhetoric used by event goers.

At or near this site on June 20, 1775, the Liberty Point Resolves, also called an early Declaration of Independence, was signed by a group of 55 patriots, commonly called the Cumberland Association. A granite stone at Liberty Point, the point created by the Person St. and Bow St. convergence, lists the names of the 55 patriots who signed the resolves, each of whom pledged their lives and fortunes to gain independence from Great Britain.

Republicans try to Distance Themselves from Spending and Stimulus Earmarks

Congressional Democrats have fired off counter-claims of Republican earmarks on spending. Republican leaders were quick to try and marginalize this attack by comparing their record on spending to Democrats recent stimulus and spending bills. Neither argument seemed to be resonating with the citizens rallying in Fayetteville over the handling of the economic crisis; both sides being held accountable for their lack of fiscal responsibility.

As reported in "The Christian Science Monitor" House Minority Leader John Boehner admitted that making the argument for smaller government is a tough sell in tough times, "We have a tougher job than our friends across the aisle. They've been offering Americans a free lunch for the last 80 years, rather successfully," he said at recent session with reporters. "Those of us that believe in a smaller, more accountable government, we have a tougher time making our principles relevant to the American people. But it's our challenge, and we've got to do it."

Stimulus and Spending Accountability for All of Congress

Those who spent their noon hour today trying to catch the attention of their government did not seem interested in who spent how much on what program; Noting that Minority Leader Boehner may not have ever added a single earmark, but Republicans are allowing earmarks and pork spending to be added by members from both sides of the aisle. Stimulus may be the catalyst to the disgruntlement here, although ever growing government and rewarding bad choices seems the overarching theme.

Earmarks have become more than a way to satisfy constituents at home, they have become a means of by-passing the bidding process for contractors; yet another topic near and dear to the hearts of many in this community of Defense Department funded construction, development and research projects. In many ways this community has yet to feel the real sting of the economic crisis, as Businesses seeking a piece of the $250 million headquarters building project for the U.S. Armed Forces Command and U.S. Army Reserve Command at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville can simply go to a new Web portal to learn about work available to subcontractors; www.buildbragg.com.

Key Words: Stimulus, Spending, Earmarks, Economic Crisis, Government, Stimulus Spending, Spending Earmarks, Government Spending, Government Earmarks

Reference:

J. Peter Freire of The American Spectator, "About Us", New American Tea Party

Dave Cook, "House GOP Leader Boehner: bullish on Obama speech, bearish on US economy", The Christian Science Monitor

"Subcontractor Web site launched for $250M Fort Bragg project", Triangle Business Journal