Moore TEA Citizens to Stage Tax Day Rally April 17
Participants in last year's Tax Day Rally in Southern Pines
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Four years ago, an estimated 1,000 residents packed downtown Southern Pines to support Moore TEA Citizens, a newly formed local tea party group.
Despite diminishing crowds in recent years, organizers say this year’s Tax Day Rally is as important an event as they have had.
“This is a presidential election year,” said Dee Park, coordinator of Moore TEA Citizens. “And I think it is our most important election in our history.”
The free event will be held from 4-7 p.m. April 17 in front of the post office in downtown Southern Pines. “TEA” stands for “taxed enough already,” and is a nod to the Colonial Boston Tea Party, one of the nation’s first organized political protests.
Residents are encouraged to bring their own flags and signs, provided they are in good taste.
Organizers expect this year’s event to be similar to those in prior years where attendees sang songs, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, prayed, and read from the Constitution.
The most important things the tea party group will do during the rally is register voters and provide information about candidates.
Park said the group’s goal is to make sure issues for the voters are “understandable and supportable.”
Carol Wheeldon said while the perception may be that the tea party movement is losing steam, she said the group is just changing its focus to improve its effectiveness.
“People say the tea party is dead but we are very much alive,” Wheeldon said. “This event is extremely important to get as many folks there as possible so we can show them where we stand on the issues that affect all citizens.”
Pushing voter registrations, vetting candidates, and taking a greater interest in what is happening locally are key objectives of Moore TEA Citizens.
As an organization, Moore TEA Citizens says it advocates adhering to the Constitution, which it believes will result in limited federal government, better fiscal responsibility and a free market. The group does not endorse candidates.
Moore TEA Citizens’ mission is to organize like-minded individuals, educate and inform others based on its core values, secure public policy consistent with those values, and affect the outcome of elections.
Since its first Tax Day Rally, the group has registered more than 1,700 members, and has become one of the larger and more influential tea party groups in North Carolina.
The group makes regular trips to Raleigh and Washington, D.C., to visit legislators and speak out on a variety of issues.
One of the hot-button issues for the group continues to be health care. Others include transparency and the loss of personal freedoms.
“2012 is a tipping point, in my opinion,” Park said. “We can either continue down the slippery slope we are on or we can decide to pull ourselves back from the precipice.”
For more information on the group, go to www.mooreteacitizens.com.
Contact Tom Embrey at tembrey@thepilot.com.
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Comments
cmptrepair 1 year, 1 month ago
might want to read the sunshine bill 67 before getting excited. ruse - same old same old. section 1 paragraph 4. nothing has changed about transparency, its a feel good bill. read it for yourself. tea party has been blinded by the light - sunshine bill. look it up and read it before jumping to conclusions. you might not be as dumb as you look.
cmptrepair 1 year, 1 month ago
o no. its the silly season again. drive by and honk when the speakers have a mic in hand. toot toot.
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
Would be interesting to find out why this gathering has a open comment option but the NAACP gathering is kept from comments,must be the fear factor,small time,small minded media.
Thatcher 1 year, 1 month ago
I think the NAACP gathering post just went up. I'm sure they will allow comments. I'm also sure they are not small minded.
AM910 1 year, 1 month ago
Alaska called - they don't want Sarah Palin back...
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
It's never a good idea to read too much into the vagaries of the Pilot website.
Bentpan 1 year, 1 month ago
Golly, do you think we'll get more than the 25-30 people ( being generous) that showed up for the Occupy So. Pines Rally. Remember you're all invited to the 2nd semi annual shellacking nov 2012.
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
Thatcher,With all the news in the past week being so zeroed in on that Florida case I just found it very unusual to not find a open forum for discussion once the Pilot did make it known about the NAACP rally,my intent was not to belittle but was intended to get some reaction It seems that is still not open for discussion and I was just wondering why?
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
When one sees the corruption being exposed almost everyday in our media outlets from thecounties and state levels to the federal levels and their abuse of power yet the citizans have no way to restrain this activity as they choose to police their own with little reguard for morals and ethics and hide behind the protection of being elected officials not subject to the laws of the land,handing out jobs to those that helped those in power to stay in power,there might be a few that do not fall into that catagory but for the most part all are lifelong politicians who depend on the state taxpayers funding to give them benefits few of us would ever be able to obtain through an honest days work,something most of them have not had to endure for years,being older now and probably having more time to really examine what our leaders do leads me to the conclusion that I would probably not spit on anyone of them if they were on fire,the only way to regain this country is to regain control which would result in none,none of the sitting political leaders being in office for more than two terms and elgible for removal if they fail to uphold the promises we voted them in for,since they all tend to say many things before election and have memory loss soon after.
Thatcher 1 year, 1 month ago
cantstandya-- I see. Let me tell you about what my crazy dog did today at the lake. Yes, there were ducks on the lake. And yes, my dog loves to chase ducks. My lovely wife releases the dog as I'm shouting, "Honey! Ducks!" About 35 minutes later, the ducks were exhausted. So was my dog. My dog is sleeping now.
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
Thatcher I'm sure you and your dog and your wife have alot in common,and there is a cure for it at the vets.
Thatcher 1 year, 1 month ago
Thanks cantstandya! You are correct! My wife, our dog, and I have alot in common. We all love each other. Not sure if the vet loves us or merely likes us, but thanks for asking!
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
I, too, would like to see an open comment thread regarding the NAACP rally. I would particularly like to see the observations of Mr. Russell Walker and his supporters here regarding the conservative positions on same.
cantstandya 11 minutes ago Thatcher I'm sure you and your dog and your wife have alot in common,and there is a cure for it at the vets.
Goodness. Can we expect another firestorm of indignation a la harleyman? Will thatcher show up at the Pilot offices like Mr. McClellan, "demanding satisfaction"?
Thatcher 1 year, 1 month ago
DR-- No indignation from me. And since cantstandya made his/her comment only towards me, I would hope that the Pilot folks would take into consideration that I was not offended. At all. And I defended harley, and said no person would like to be judged by their worst post or worst day. I think cantstandya's post was fine, and it did not offend me at all.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
I am pleased by that, thatcher, and will certainly remember the same in the future.
Thatcher 1 year, 1 month ago
Not a problem, DR. Regardless of what you've been told, conservatives like me are not jerks.
FightFireWithFire 1 year, 1 month ago
I always look forward to you guys. Certainly makes my days sitting here at my coffee shop so much more interesting. People definitely need to lighten up and see more of the humor in things. But then again, I was bullied my whole life, so I think everything is funny now.
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
If we could just get away from the childish remarks and return to the matter at hand which would be why has the Pilot not presented a forum for remarks in reguards to the NAACP rally.thats all I really was after yesterday until the senseless rebuttals started overshadowing the real subject,and yes I also made a few of those uncalled for statements.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
What childish remarks would those be, cantstandya? I have tried to be as polite as possible, but if in any way I am failing in that, I would appreciate your input.
MikeNC 1 year, 1 month ago
dustyrhoades 9 hours, 35 minutes ago ...Goodness. Can we expect another firestorm of indignation a la harleyman? Will thatcher show up at the Pilot offices like Mr. McClellan, "demanding satisfaction"?
The proper spelling is McLellan. And the satisfaction also came in the form that the Pilot"s Editor and staff has been attempting to put a lid on the free range style of commentary for some time. I would imagine that many posters also get some satisfaction in not having to read the constant barrage of slander and childish name calling that a few enjoy spewing at any opportunity. I'm sure there are forums that allow and advance such rhetoric for those who enjoy such a place.
I would assume that the NAACP article not being opened for comments will soon be corrected and allowed the normal time in being open for commentary...Mike
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
dustyrhoades,Being the icon you are on this site any attempt to carry on a intelligent short conversation would be pointless,you relish this small town atmosphere like a big fish in a small pond so I will leave you to your followers who hang on your every word,have a great day.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
your followers who hang on your every word
Thank you for the flattery, canstandya. I try to be an effective leader to my little flock.
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
dustyrhoades,I believe the reason so many must follow you is do to the fact they probably would not trust you to be behind them,I could go on all day with this bull but far more important things are on my schedule ,you bask in your own world and enjoy the provisions provided by living in town that has some clown dressed in 1776 garb as front page news theres a real world out there and I have to get back to it,again Have a Great Day,
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
As flounces go, I regret that I can only give that one a 5.5 out of 10.
Courseaire 1 year, 1 month ago
Dusty – I’d like to interview you after your recent flouncing.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
I don't recall a recent flounce by me, Courseaire. Can you point one out?
http://flounce.urbanup.com/848691
Courseaire 1 year, 1 month ago
You just said "As founces go.." meaning someone flounced you. I was just trying to get your response to that via my interview..
Tom_Embrey 1 year, 1 month ago
For those interested in the reasoning behind the decision to disallow comments on the advance of the Martin vigil in SP, please click here.
kiki 1 year, 1 month ago
Thanks, Tom.
Good decision, John!
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
One person does not "flounce" another, Courseaire. One simply "flounces," as in, "cantstandya flounced off."
Here's an explanation:
http://wiki.fandomwank.com/index.php/Flounce
Whereas normal people who are fed up with a discussion or debate simply leave, flouncers need eternal validation. Instead of simply logging off, they must announce that they are leaving.
Courseaire 1 year, 1 month ago
Gotchya - my bad interpretation.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
No worries, dear fellow.
kiki 1 year, 1 month ago
Now that's civil discourse! :-)
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
kiki, I'm recalling the days when I used to watch Prime Minister's Question Time from the House of Commons on C_SPAN. Yes, I'm that big a nerd. But no one does polite disdain like an English MP.
kiki 1 year, 1 month ago
I used to love watching that . . . just for the comedy of it all!
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
Always pleased to meet someone as nerdy as me. It doesn't happen often.
kiki 1 year, 1 month ago
Wait a minute . . . was I just insulted?
I love the way they say "Mr Speaker, is the Prime Minister aware . . .". Then the PM stands up with his book of notes and respond to the "gentleman" and then sits down like he is finished. Then it starts all over again. Funny stuff . . . I also enjoy the yelling that occurs to get "called on" by the speaker.
Anyway . . . where were we on this thread?
fugitiveguy 1 year, 1 month ago
Daniel Hannan MEP: The devalued Prime Minister of a devalued Government by DanHannanMEP
You guys reminded of one of my favorite videos from the UK. Check it out.
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
dustyrhoades, You have really messed up now, have I been counter flounced by a flouncer or would a more appropriate means of ending the discussion be to dismiss myself on the grounds the subject matter has been lost,but it was rewarding to some degree as I did finally discover why the NAACP rally was not to be made available for comments and actually thats all I wanted to find out.
kiki 1 year, 1 month ago
WOW . . . a real dressing down in public . . . was that an EU meeting?
kiki 1 year, 1 month ago
The Tea party . . .There is value to the premise of the TP but just stop spending isn't enough. There must be more revenue from strategic locations. It is as in household finances . . if we are financially struggling (too much debt, etc.) we cut expenses and get another job. To think we can just spend our way out of this or we can just cut taxes isn't reasonable. It needs to be a combination. That is where the rub is . . . generally Dems want to spend to create more jobs, stimulate the economy, by boosting up the marginalized, etc. Generally Reps (TPers) want to cut taxes and not spend at all maybe except on military or districts pet projects.
My opinion . . . some firms do a great job creating jobs but most of the individuals that are at the "C" level actually receive compensation that is ridiculus and they should be paying a similar percent of their personal income = cap gains or salary - as the other 90%. Many of these people have come upon their money honestly but sime use their vast resources to influence politicians on both sides of the aisle to maximize theri personal wealth . . to me that is wrong.
Also, Dems seem to want to prop up many people that could make a living, pay for med ins, get a degree, etc. I feel it is true that there are many people in our country that need help at times but many others take advantage of the system.
I feel (opinion) that we need to control spending unless it cuts jobs or places a person in a situation that puts their health at risk. I feel we need to have a more equitible tax system that will have those that can afford it contribute to the gov't revenue at a rate similar to others.
Maybe I seem to rambling (when I started to write this it was clear in my head) but I guess what I am trying to say that it is not "either / or" but "both / and". As long as we insist that "my way is best" we will continue to flounder as a nation. Get away from the political talking heads and think for your self. Don't just vote the party line! Don't be intellectually lazy. We need both parties and the solution is probably somewhere in the middle.
My thoughts . . . yours?
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
As we can see from cantstandya, the flouncer often contradicts him or herself by coming back. Merriment!
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
Now Comes the Part Where We Throw Our Heads Back and Laugh! by MrGreenTea37
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
kiki, Having read your post and agree with every thing you have stated but my question would be where are we going to find politicians that are willing to cross party lines,they have done nothing but argue for the past three years which accomplished next to nothing,they continue to circle the wagons to protect their own parties forgetting in many cases why they were even elected,many have been in Washington so long that it's become more about their party than the country and citizans they represent,I have been around long enough to remember Ike and as of yet to see an administration that has done less than this group,there is no accountability just endless arguements with no results,people want change but even at the street level we argue amoung ourselves about Dem's and Rep's as if we owe them our loyalty and they feed off our infighting the division in this country has never been as bad as it is now and probably will grow worse after the next elections,our government has grown into a unmanageable monster with an appetite that can't be satisfied.
kiki 1 year, 1 month ago
cantstandya, maybe you and I should run!?!?!
Seriously though . . . as long as TPers and 1% ers continue to think their way is the only way we will struggle.
My question to party loyalists . . . those who follow party lines to the letter and all other thinking is wrong. "how's that working for ya?" We are in a bigger mess than we have been in my 56 years. Our future generations are in trouble and to think that the other "guy" is responsible is niave. Both parties over the past 20 years have added to our current situation. Our economy is too complex to say " why don't we just . . ." and think that will work. It will take Americans from many ways of thinking to solve our current situation. Maybe that won't even work due to pur reliance on the "global" economy. I also will put to you that to expect a single president to solve our current issues in 2, 3 or 4 years may be a bit much to expect due to reliance on influences that we have very little immediate impact upon like the EU, oil, China, etc.
Conments?
fugitiveguy 1 year, 1 month ago
I think our biggest future hurdle is the debt. Some Republicans (Paul Ryan) have developed a plan to begin to deal with it. The president and the Dems have done nothing but demonize him and use it for yet another wedge issue. Forget cutting the budget, Democrats can't even go along with a freeze. Everything has to be played for political advantage including the death of Trayvon Martin. "never allow a crisis to go to waste" someone once said.
kiki 1 year, 1 month ago
I think the Paul Rand budget is much more of the same . . . too Rep or conservative. There needs to be a middle ground.
The TM situation is very unfortunate and Obama's comments were not needed in the debate.
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
We have a global economy but the U.S. and China seem to be at the heart of that,this country has itself spread so thin and at a cost we no longer can endure yet the politicians continue to keep us involved with every little situation that comes along in these other countries,China on the other hand excludes itself from participation openly which leaves them a easier exit when it becomes a financial burden,not us we stay and overstay along with over spending,yet those who are now in control of our government have turned a deaf ear to the fact most Americans want out of all these conflicts and more of a concentrated effort put towrds our problems,question is who can we get to listen,we have actually lost our voice to Washington and now seem to be stuck with whatever they choose to do,thats not democracy thats dictatorship.
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
dusty, You just can' let it go can you,your beating a dead horse here man,move on with your life and your vain attempts at stardom ,your losing your audience as I am not a important enough figure to draw a crowd for remarks to be appriciated ,you have worn flouncer out,so relax and move on,,I did appriciate your posting your family photo,are you the one on the left or the middle..
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
It's so good to have you back, cantstandya.
kiki 1 year, 1 month ago
There is a lot of truth in what you have said . . . it is important to realize that both parties have had a hand in our foreign activities. How do we as a people determine what is in our strategic interest and maybe focus on those few activities? It seems that each administration determines the "strategic interest" and has led us to the mess we are in today. Maybe that leans to dictatorship but I am not sure. If so whoever the party in power is seems to be the "dictator".
In a business enviroment we would go on retreat and look to our vision and mission and align our activities to those core beliefs. Maybe the founders docs are our vision and mission but how do we bring them into the 21st century? How do we align our activities on our core beliefs?
Tough situation . . . that is why we need to drop the "my way or the highway" concept and work together to begin to solve our issues. We have too many intelligent people in our country to be in this situation.
buskwon 1 year, 1 month ago
I miss Harleyman already.
lakeview 1 year, 1 month ago
Not me. Harley was a loser. Bringing someone's family into any argument is as despicable as it comes and is totally inexcusable.
Cantstandya, I understand what your saying about Dusty beating a dead horse but to pay him a compliment, if I need a lawyer, he would be my guy. In a kind spirited way, anyone that bull-headed who loves yo argue like he does, is my kind of lawyer.
lakeview 1 year, 1 month ago
Dusty, please over-.look me complimenting you that one time. I promise not to let it happen again.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
Thatcher 1 year, 1 month ago
Gosh DR, I thought cantstandya was mad at me. Now he/she appears mad at you. Interesting blog here.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
Gosh DR, I thought cantstandya was mad at me. Now he/she appears mad at you.
It's so hard to tell, though. Perhaps he/she's just mad in general.
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
Thatcher, First of all I never get mad,wasted energy,I stay in control of my emotions and always consider the consequences of my actions,but to refresh your memory I believe it was your own statement directed towards myself that brought out the rebuttal that I directed at you and that should have been the end of that,your little song and dance about nothing was mindless dribble intended to offend me I guess,fact is I could care less,now you seem determined to re enter into a subject matter that till now we have done quite well without your input,but there is always that one person that has to stand on their chair to get recognition,you just be careful not to fall
cantstandya 1 year, 1 month ago
Dusty I see your followers are coming out in force,I'm having a hard time fending off your supporters defenseless and having no allies of my own I think I should pull back and regroup I'm taking enemy fire from every position and negotiations are not possible, outnumbered and knowing you have even more support that has not yet entered the discussion,I will bid you a good evening and farewell,till our paths cross again.
Thatcher 1 year, 1 month ago
cantstandya-- I have posted nothing here to offend you or anyone else, and if you believe otherwise, please let me know what I said that offended you. And my engaging in "mindless dribble" (as you call it) is incorrect, since I merely post my opinions here as do many others. Hope that helps.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
Dusty I see your followers are coming out in force,I'm having a hard time fending off your supporters defenseless and having no allies of my own I think I should pull back and regroup I'm taking enemy fire from every position and negotiations are not possible, outnumbered and knowing you have even more support that has not yet entered the discussion,I will bid you a good evening and farewell,till our paths cross again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47bCZX9qJ8A
Courseaire 1 year, 1 month ago
Dusty - Not that you had much competition, but you get my vote & win this debate.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 1 month ago
Heh. Thanks.