By Ken Hawkins, but enhanced by others
Updated Apr 16, 2009 at 9:14 am; First filed Apr 15, 2009 at 8:05 pmCharleston's anti-stimulus Tea Party draws thousands (updated)
Update, April 16: More links added to story. Be sure to look at "more coverage" below the story.
While Columbia's "Tea Party" and its Fair Tax rally were the crowning jewels into today's ant-stimulus rallies, Charleston's activists showed their own might.
Gathering at the U.S. Custom House, the independent voices were strengthened by Sen. Jim DeMint and Gov. Mark Sanford who spoke first and told the tale of why the stimulus's long-term higher taxation is not worth the near-term economic boost.
McCaltchy has an excellent write-up of South Carolina's rallies and Obama's latest pitch to South Carolina. The Post and Courier has some reporting, a good photo gallery, and decent video from the local rally.
Sadly, as far as I can tell, no tea was actually dumped in the river.
Finally, if you don't know what these Taxed Enough Already Parties are about, I'll send you over to their description page.
The rallies were pitched as non-partisan, but their predominant interest by those in the GOP has lead to some criticism.
More coverage
- Flickr user Montwerx: Rally imagery
- SC Now: Write-up and video
- The Post and Courier: Early write-up and imagery
- NBC News 2: Write-up
- Charleston City Paper: Column, and write-up
- YouTube: Video of Charleston and Columbia rallies
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15 Apr 2009 10:05 pm.
that's the US Custom House. it's only 130 years old. the Old Custom House is over 240 years old, and located at the intersection of Broad and East Bay streets.
Ken Hawkins
15 Apr 2009 10:31 pm.
Quite right. Thanks.
16 Apr 2009 12:04 am.
Glad the dude with the "KILL Yore T.V." poster decided to come on out. You tell 'em buddy!
16 Apr 2009 9:39 am.
What a joke. Where were these people for the last eight years? You lost, get over it.
16 Apr 2009 10:07 am.
These people are idiots. This whole Tea bagging thing was orchestrated by a GOP lobbying group out of DC and made to look like a grassroots movement. They even went so far as to hire an agency to design websites to look really amateur to give it all a regular Joe feel. But the Fox News crowd is already brain washed.
16 Apr 2009 10:25 am.
Guest, have some links to share?
16 Apr 2009 10:42 am.
It was all hatched by a Washington DC lobbying firm called Freedomworks which is headed by former congressman Dick Armey.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090415_obamas_cup_of_tea/
Anyone who thinks this was a regular Joe grassroots campaign is in need of some re-educating. But then again these republican types are nothing but a bunch of sheeple.
16 Apr 2009 11:00 am.
these people are clearly delusional.
16 Apr 2009 11:05 am.
Sweet. thanks.