'Tea Party' protests high spending

Organizers of a "Tea Party" protest Saturday in Kalispell aren't sure what to expect, but they hope for a turnout similar to other tea parties across the country recently.

"We are hoping that hundreds come out," said Susan Taylor, one of about 10 people who have been organizing the event for the last three weeks. "It's one of those things where we are going to wait and see what happens."

The Flathead Tea Party, to be held at Depot Park from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, basically is a protest against Washington, D.C., Taylor said.

"It's nonpartisan. It's just basically, quit spending money and don't tax us to death," she said.

A Web site for the protest (www.voicesofmontana.org) urges participants to make signs but to avoid "Obama or Bush bashing" because both the Democratic and Republican parties "cannot seem to get a handle on spending."

Dozens of Tea Parties held elsewhere in the country have attracted thousands of people, many of them decorating hats and signs with tea bags.

"Cincinnati had theirs two weeks ago," Taylor said. "They had 5,000 people. Orlando had one recently, and I think they had 7,000 people."

Tea Parties have been spurred on by conservative radio and television commentator Glenn Beck.

The Kalispell protest will follow the lead of Orlando, having a long 'scroll" for people to sign that will be sent to Montana's delegation and to Beck's show, Taylor said.

"We just want to let them know how some Montanans think about what they're doing in Washington, D.C.," she said.

There will be several speakers at the event, along with music and food.

Taylor noted that more than 150 tea parties are expected to be held across the country on Tax Day, April 15.

"We thought about that, but our area has a lot of working people," she said. "So we wanted to do it on a Saturday."

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com