Published: April 15, 2009 11:56 pm      

TEA Party draws hundreds

Protesters say Americans Taxed Enough Already

CUMBERLAND — Overcast skies and occasional showers Wednesday didn’t dampen the spirit of several hundred area residents taking part in a local Tax Day TEA — Taxed Enough Already — Party held downtown Wednesday.

As part of nationwide protests of President Barack Obama’s fiscal policies, the local event drew dozens of citizens to the corner of Baltimore and Mechanic streets.

Carrying umbrellas and protest signs — messages including “Do Away With the IRS” and “Stop Spending Our Kids Money” — the peaceful protesters braved a steady early-afternoon drizzle out of their concern for current governmental policies and the well-being of future generations.

“I’m worried about my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren,” said Flintstone resident Ron May, troubled by government bailouts.

“Spending this much money might get us out of the recession right now but what’s going to happen to generations that follow that have to pay it back? Who’s going to pay all this back,” asked May, a former one-term Allegany County commissioner.

Cresaptown resident Jarold C. Rice Jr. held a small U.S. flag, as did many others, awaiting the official start of the noon event.

“This is the greatest nation on earth. We built it with a third-grade education. It’s now run by a bunch of Ph.D.s and they’ve ruined it.

“I’d like for one of these Ph.D.s to step up and tell how to solve these fiscal problems. We cannot leave this indebtedness to our children and grandchildren.

“I’m here because of the issues. It’s not about Republicans or Democrats. I’m also elated that so many kids are here today,” said Rice.

As participants signed up for notification of future rallies by Tea Party organizers, others picked up T-shirts displaying the wording “Taxed Enough Already.”

Wayne Robertson of Cumberland stood near the organizers’ tent with his wife, Toyia, at his side.

“Our Constitution is being weakened by what is happening by this president’s people and policies.

“I’d like to know what will come of this. Hopefully, it will be something better to stop what is happening. I just heard on the news coming in that inflation was 24 percent last month,” said Robertson as U.S. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett began to address the crowd.

“You will be working another month to pay your taxes. ... The first time you make any money for yourself will be around the first of July,” said Bartlett.

“This is a great, great message. I’d like to send a picture of this to the president. If the president were here, he wouldn’t need his teleprompter. All he would have to do is read the signs and he would have a speech. The people have spoken with their signs,” he said.

Toyia Robertston said, “We need to talk to him — not him talk to us.”

Mona Lisa Garland of Cumberland said she took part in Wednesday’s event “to let the people know we want the taxes to stop.”

“We want smaller government. We feel we are not being represented by the current government. Our elected leaders are not representing us.

“I think they have their own agenda and I think that is socialism and big government,” she said as numerous motorists passed by, some honking their horns and others yelling as they drove south on Mechanic Street.

The citizens’ rallies were being held nationwide, protests patterned as a takeoff on the Boston Tea Party of more than 235 years ago.

Lisa Bittinger, organizer of Cumberland Maryland TEA Party Organization, said the group is registered with the Internal Revenue Service and may be contacted at lisabitt@atlanticbb.net.

“We were there to rally against wasteful government spending. We want fiscal responsibility and get rid of the pork,” she said.

Ken Winters, who accompanied Bittinger during a brief visit to the Times-News office, said, “We’re also against the massive spending that is mortgaging our children’s and grandchildren’s future.”

Bittinger said another TEA Party rally will be held at the same downtown location June 27 from noon to 2 p.m.

She said “up to 400 people” signed up for notification of future rallies. However, she estimated that up to 500 people attended the organization’s first rally Wednesday.

A tax increase protest will be held today at 7 p.m. at the Frostburg City Council’s public meeting at the Frostburg Community Center.

Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.