The corporate news media is stoutly deaf, dumb, and blind to the fact. Nonetheless, patriots are gathering and organizing in Richmond, Virginia on January 18, 2010. Google the web for Richmond Virginia “tea party” “january 18, 2010″. See for yourself. Then google the news.
What is it about? The goal is to defend the 10th Amendment. Why is that important?
The Lynchburg Tea Party, for example, puts it this way.
This Rally has been organized by Virginia Campaign For Liberty and Virginia 10th Amendment Revolution in support of the final item in the original Bill Of Rights – one crucial to the freedom and liberty intended by our Founding Fathers:
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
This right was enshrined in our constitution to prevent the sort of overreaching federal government which now threatens so many personal freedoms, including the right to make individual choices with regard to health care. (from here)
Virginia Campaign For Liberty and Virginia 10th Amendment Revolution provide this description.
The Virginia 10th Amendment Revolution Lobby Day/Rally is to be held on capitol grounds in support of 10th amendment legislation to challenge the powers of the federal government not delegated to it by the states. Lobbying will begin at 9:00AM and go on throughout the day with a Rally hosted by Virginia Campaign for Liberty at the Bell Tower from 10 – 11AM. Patrick Henry impersonator, Mike McHugh of the Virginia Gun Owners Coalition, will emcee the event dressed in period costume and will give the famous Patrick Henry speech.
Keynote speakers include: Attorney General Elect Ken Cuccinelli, Delegate Charles (Bill) Carrico, Delegate Robert (Bob) Marshall, and Senator Jill Vogel.
See the event page at Virginia Campaign For Liberty (here) or at Virginia 10th Amendment Revolution (here) for details.
Note that those attending this rally will have the opportunity to lend their support to a concrete proposal, HB 10 (See WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH CARE? for details.). Additional explanation of HB 10 is available at Virginia Tomorrow, Delegate Bob Marshall: Questions and Answers About My Health Care Freedom Bill. H/T to Tertium Quids (see here).
This is a subject on which Virginia Democrats and Virginia Republicans can find much common ground. Citizens in both parties have witnessed both a Republican (Bush) and now a Democrat (Obama) expand federal power at the expense of the states and the citizens. Despite both presidents’ good intentions, citizens of both parties need to speak-up, loud and clear and say, enough!
A good first step is to work for good candidates who will defend the rights of the citizens and the sovereignty of our Commonwealth over items not specifically enumerated as a federal responsibility.
If anyone is interested in supporting good candidates in the special elections to be held on January 12th, here are the two Democratic candidates’ web sites:
8th (Virginia Beach) Bill Fleming: http://www.flemingforstatesenate.org
37th Dave Marsden: http://www.marsdenforsenate.com
Just go to the website and click on the button marked: VOLUNTEER.
It doesn’t matter what your usual party affiliation is. Visit these sites and take a look at what these gentleman have to offer.
Anyone who is willing to run for public office these days deserves a heap of respect, just for having a go at it.
J. Tyler Ballance – These guys have chosen to run as Democrats. I cannot claim to speak for everyone in the Tea Party, but it started in response to flagrant wasteful government spending. So far, Democrats have shown the least inclination to stop that spending.
Fleming’s website is at least out front with his position on the issues. I will give him that. Unfortunately, he still wants too much control of how we spend our money. I am sick of control freaks. If we want limited government, then we have to vote for people willing to respect limits on their power, not the limits on everybody else’s power.
Marsden strikes me as smooth talking and straight forward ambitiuous. Look at his endorsements. Such are the folk who we let get us into debt up to our ears. That is what the Tea Party folk want? I do not think so.