Apr 20
Huizenga Attends Tea Party in Muskegon, courtesy of the Grand Haven Tribune
MUSKEGON — Between 200 and 300 people showed up along downtown Muskegon’s waterfront on Thursday to support a grassroots political group’s opposition to big government spending.
The Muskegon County Tea Party, which is also calling itself the Muskegon Patriots, organized the rally at Heritage Landing. It was one of hundreds around the country and nearly 20 in Michigan on what is also known as “Tax Day,” because of the income tax filing deadline date.
“You turned your money over to the federal government today,” Chris Kaijala, one of the leaders of the Muskegon Patriots, said at the Muskegon rally Thursday afternoon. “I know some of you are not happy with what they’re doing with your money and how they’re conducting business in Washington. So we’re here for a ‘tea party’ because we believe we’re taxed enough already.”
Other Tea Party rallies were held Thursday in Grand Rapids, Hudsonville, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Port Huron and about a dozen other locations in the state, The Associated Press reported.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox spoke to the crowd of sign-waving protesters in front of the state Capitol on Thursday. The Associated Press said the Republican candidate for governor got the crowd roaring with his charge that the federal health care changes are unconstitutional.
State Police estimated that 1,000 to 1,200 protesters attended the Lansing rally, far fewer than the 4,000 who were at last year’s “Tax Day” event at the Capitol. That may have been because protesters could attend one closer to home this year.
Many of the rallies included a mock rendition of the Boston Tea Party revolt of 1773. Kaijala threw a crate marked “tea” into Muskegon Lake after speaking to the crowd about protecting the original meaning of the country’s Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights.
More than half of the crowd at the Muskegon rally were retirees, as indicated by a show of hands prompted by Kaijala.
While the Tea Party movement has been politically aligned with conservatives, Kaijala told the crowd he no longer considered himself a member of the Republican Party, or any traditional political party.
However, GOP congressional candidate Bill Huizenga, a state House representative from Zeeland, was at the Muskegon rally asking for signatures for his nomination petition. Huizenga said he supports the Tea Party’s mission.
“I’ve been on the road (campaigning) and I’ve heard a constant theme from people that they are frustrated that their government is not listening to them,” Huizenga said.
Many in the crowd held bright yellow “Don’t tread on me” flags and signs with slogans such as “Congress: Get ready to get fired!” and “Just say no to Socialism.” A group called Citizens for Health Care Reform were also circulating petitions in the audience.
The rally in Washington, D.C., was spirited but modest in size, lacking the star power of Tea Party favorite Sarah Palin, who roused the masses at earlier stops of the Tea Party Express in a cross-country bus tour. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., won roars of affirmation as she accused President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats of trying to take over health care, energy, financial services and other broad swaths of the economy.
“We’re on to this gangster government,” she declared. “I say it’s time for these little piggies to go home.”
Obama, speaking Thursday night at a Democratic fundraiser in Miami, told supporters he is amused by the protesters’ complaints about taxes because, contrary to their claims, he’s cut taxes.
“You would think they’d be saying thank you,” the president said.
Bob Carr said he is one of six founders of the Muskegon County Tea Party, or Muskegon Patriots, but no one right now could be called its leader. He said they’ve only held two meetings, but have scheduled a leadership election in May. Thursday’s rally was put together quickly, Carr said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Please visit the Grand Haven Tribune at their website www.grandhaventribune.com for more great content!
