Frustration Abounds at ‘Patriots Tea Party’
By SHELLEY HANSON Staff WriterArticle Photos
WHEELING - Waving American flags and homemade signs demanding fiscal responsibility by the government, several hundred people gathered in front of WesBanco Arena Saturday for an Independence Day rally.
Organized by "We The People of the Ohio Valley," the event, dubbed the Wheeling Patriots Tea Party, featured local residents who spoke about wanting fiscal restraint by the federal government, in addition to the necessity for all citizens to participate in the democratic process.
Before the rally's start, Cameron, W.Va., resident Brandt Wendell said he hoped people would come to a consensus "about the acts taking place in Washington, D.C." Those acts, he said, are the passage of bills without oversight that call for too much spending.
"It's something people in this country can't continue to tolerate," Wendell said. "We're on a collision course with ruin."
Dressed as Benjamin Franklin, Wheeling resident John Price told the crowd that the nation is in "grave danger" and is "loaded with perpetual debt."
"You were ignored by Congress on April 15," Price said, referring to a Tax Day Tea Party held at Heritage Port in Wheeling. "It's been three months ... are you happy with the way they're spending your money?"
Speaker Jim Caveney of Wheeling told people they need to start voting with their own interests in mind.
"Your life is at stake. Your family is at stake. We don't need to go around the world and apologize for our success," Caveney said. "The politicians work for you, you don't work for them."
Speaker Jonathan Scovell said he is "not an American to bailout companies."
"It is not yours to give - leave our freedom alone," Scovell said.
Speaker Bob Barker said the nation's values are precious, and are worth "fighting for and dying for."
Speaking again as Ben Franklin, Price noted, "The well is running dry." And our forefathers' fight for freedom should not be forgotten.
"We did this because we rather die on our feet than live on our knees," Price said.
Organizers said a bus trip to the "Freedom Works Taxpayers' March" in Washington, D.C. is slated for Sept. 12. There is a cost. For more information, call Wilda Lee at 304-232-9499 or Connie Stahl at 304-233-5848.
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ElScorcho
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07-11-09 1:10 PM
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What a bunch of endearingly wacky lunatics. It's always amusing to see Republican heads explode when they are faced with a dose of reality. Truth is that the average middle class "tea-bagger" is going to see his or her tax burden decrease over the next several years. Of, course that does not jive with the fiction they have crafted or bought into to the point where they cannot admit to being wrong since that would expose their dearly held beliefs as wisps of smoke and would make them look like a mob of villagers angry at the imaginary monster in the woods. The only thing missing from the crowd of dozens are the torches and pitchforks. Give it a break, conservatives. You've had your chance and we all see how well that worked out.
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GymJones
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07-08-09 12:10 PM
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It's funny how Neocons, like Ellis, try to blame the war on Democrats. Yup, your right, some voted for it. Big funkin deal!!! The Iraq War is Bushes legacy. PERIOD. As is all the buttraping, waterboarding and menstrual blood smearing torture that occurred under that administration.
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GymJones
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07-08-09 12:06 PM
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Ah poor, poor Georgie. Those mean old libs are always putting him down. Waah, Waah, Waah!!! DIAF apologists!!!!
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EllisWyatt
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07-07-09 7:17 PM
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acoustic I would agree with you but then we have to put all the Democrats in jail, as well. Our own DIA, CIA, NSA, NRO as well as the British, French, German, Israeli and Italian intelligence agencies ALL said that Hussein (Saddam, not Barack) had WMD. The Democrats voted for the war and, if Bush is to blame, so are the Dems. After all, the Dems have controlled Congress since 2006. Congress controls spending. Congress continued to vote for war funding. Where is your outrage for Idiot Pelosi and Dingy Harry Reid? Please explain this to me. Liberals attacked Bush for 8 years, called him every name in existence, threatened him, publicly wished him dead, etc. Bush was "a moron". Yet, the Democrats PUBLICLY state that Bush "fooled" them. How? Do you see where I'm going with this? The Dems called Bush a complete dolt and then admitted that he fooled them! What does that say about their intelligence? BTW, Hussein (Barack not Saddam) voted yes on war funding. Prison fo
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Thebudman
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07-07-09 2:24 PM
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McNamara
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acousticportal
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07-07-09 2:13 PM
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Bush should be in prison.
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robojock
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07-07-09 12:05 PM
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but then, sorry
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robojock
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07-07-09 12:05 PM
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Do you realize this trip probably cost taxpayers over 10 million, easily, not to mention the WEd. cocktail parties at the White House. Tell you what, if they are so worried about the poor, give the money that would have been spent on such parties to charity. 10 Million spent on a European trip could go a long way to provide for scholarships, especially if this money eas invested, thus making a renewing scholarship, by then who would vote for them?
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EllisWyatt
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07-07-09 7:10 AM
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Sanitizer Why do you liberals behave like children? Wanting what isn't yours, name calling, saying "someone else did it, too", etc. The wars were a necessity. Do I agree with how they were handled? No. Am I thrilled about the money we spent? No. But, to me, $500 billion spent to keep this nation free from attacks for 7 1/2 years beats $3 trillion spent to give handouts to shiftless layabouts. What do ya think?
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Sanitzer
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07-07-09 6:24 AM
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robojock: I am sure the cost of the trip is much less than a war that should never happened and now someone else is left to clean up.
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robojock
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07-06-09 11:02 PM
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Now we see another story that the White House will not reveal the amount of money it costs for the first family's European vacation. Also remember this, when you you work 50 hours to pay for that increased electric bill. The monarchy has been established.
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robojock
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07-06-09 10:58 PM
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$50,000 Jarvis, Kristen E. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR SCHEDULING AND TRAVELING AIDE TO THE FIRST LADY) $45,000 Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE FIRST LADY) Tubman, Samantha (DEPUTY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR,SOCIAL OFFICE) $40,000 Boswell, Joseph J. (EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY) $36,000 Armbruster, Sally M. (STAFF ASSISTANT TO THE SOCIAL SECRETARY) Bookey, Natalie (STAFF ASSISTANT) Jackson, Deilia A. (DEPUTY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE FIRST LADY)
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robojock
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07-06-09 10:57 PM
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Think of this people when you pay 10% of your yearly $30000 salary to the taxman, and remember, these are only a partial listing of staffers for the first lady. I personally know CEOs with over 10000 employees with less assistants.
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robojock
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07-06-09 10:56 PM
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90,000 Medina, David S. (DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY) $84,000 Lelyveld, Catherine M. (DIRECTOR AND PRESS SECRETARY TO THE FIRST LADY) $75,000 Starkey, Frances M. (DIRECTOR OF SCHEDULING AND ADVANCE FOR THE FIRST LADY) $70,000 Sanders, Trooper (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
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robojock
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07-06-09 10:55 PM
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This is where your tax money is going people. I would like such a job as a staffer for the first lady. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST LADY) $113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL SECRETARY) $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE FIRST LADY) Winter, Melissa E. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
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Kubotaman
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07-06-09 10:23 PM
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I thought Obama was supposed to bring this country together? I do not see that happening any time soon. The truth is, I'm sick of this bickering back and forth. I do not care if someone has a R or a D next to their name. I do not trust Obama, he is worse than I had feared during the election. I do not want a welfare state. I believe in working for what you have and if you are too lazy to go out and get it, than that is too bad. I want people to take reposability for their selves and I do not want to pay for someone elses healthcare, housing, car or food and I do not want them to pay for mine. Some of you that root on Obama and his Social- ism must be very pathetic and lazy. If you want something...then work for it!
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GymJones
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07-06-09 8:27 PM
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SOCIALISMBIRTHCERTIFICATESEEKRITMUSLIMACORN!11!
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1whoworks
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07-06-09 8:13 PM
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Congrats to all Tea Party goers! Keep the movement going. Interesting talking points from the left folks. Keep reading Huffington and watching NBC!
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Graysongs
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07-06-09 6:29 PM
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rockledge - The don't know what the term "ad hominem attack" means. They hear a phrase like that and they become "aroused" and go looking for another "hominem" to play with, you know?
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GymJones
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07-06-09 6:18 PM
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Rockledge, grow a pair, whiny boy!!!
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wvhoopie
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07-06-09 6:05 PM
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thebudman, your post at 4:15pm, what makes you think that the government is not listening to the people? The majority elected Obama and a Democratic Congress to change America. You may not like that change, but I sure do and this is exactly what I voted for. So the gov't is listening to the majority, just not you or the minority. Thats what happens when your side loses the election. Get over it.
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Rockledge
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07-06-09 6:02 PM
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Well, I see the lefties are up to their usual ad hominem attacks, childish attempts at humor, mischaracterization, dismissiveness, race-baiting, name-calling. They cannot deal with facts and substantive points, so they attack the messengers.
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poc1999
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07-06-09 4:59 PM
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SAME OLD LINE.....IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT. GEE THAT HURTS. THIS VALLEY HAS HAD THE SAME MENTALITY FOR THE 35 YEARS THAT I HAVE LIVED HERE. GET OFF THE GOVERNMENT DOLE AND GROW UP!!!
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Thebudman
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07-06-09 4:38 PM
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George Washington was opposed to a two party system. He probably felt the more parties we had the better.
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Honesty
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07-06-09 4:35 PM
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To put down Americans because they believe in the Constution and liberty makes many people just sheeple. Followers of a party line are simply fools.Thank GOD our forefathers had the guts to come together and demand representati0n.We must eliminate the incumbants that vote to destroy our country.Cap and tax and National health care is bad for the working people.The whole congress should cut their wages in half and they should be covered by the same health care services that we are. See how far it goes then!To hurt for your country should be even across the board. That is the communist way isn't it Obamma? Yeah!!!
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