Changes

== Beginnings ==

== Beginnings ==

The Tea Party movement began on February 19, 2009, when Mr. [[Rick Santelli]], an on-the-air editor and analyst for [[CNBC]],<ref name=santelli1>"[http://www.cnbc.com/id/15837966/ Rick Santelli Profile, Biography, About]," ''[http://www.cnbc.com/ CNBC.com]'', accessed September 16, 2009</ref> made this statement on the floor of the [[Chicago Board of Trade]]:{{cquote|We're thinking of having a Chicago Tea Party in July! All you capitalists who live near Lake Michigan, I'm going to start organizing!"<ref name=santelli2>"[http://www.cnbc.com/id/29283225/site/14081545 Angry? Join Rick Santelli's Chicago Tea Party]!", ''cnbc.com'', 19 February 2009. Accessed 16 September 2009.</ref>}}

On January 27, radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh criticized the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]], commenting, "This 'porkulus' bill is designed to repair the Democratic Party's power losses from the 1990s forward, and to cement the party's majority power for decades."<ref>{{cite web|last=Limbaugh |first=Rush |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123318906638926749.html |title=Rush Limbaugh: My Bipartisan Stimulus - WSJ.com |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date=2009-01-29 |accessdate=2009-04-19}}</ref>

At issue was the [[Obama Administration]]'s program for offering to repay many home mortgages that were nearly in default at the time, and also the tremendous "economic stimulus" package, which Santelli and others viewed as an excuse for dispensing "pork", i.e. agreed-upon graft. Mr. Santelli was making an obvious reference to the [[Boston Tea Party]] in 1773. To underscore his point, Mr. Santelli cited [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and other members of the "[[Founding Fathers]]" who, he said, must be "rolling over in their graves" at the spectacle that the [[President of the United States|Presidency]] of [[Barack Hussein Obama]] is now creating.<ref name=santelli2/>

On February 10, a [[Cape Coral]] woman named Mary Rakovich led a small protest outside President Barack Obama's townhall meeting in [[Fort Myers, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news-press.com/article/20090211/OBAMA/90210068 |title=Those outside Harborside in Fort Myers had plenty to see, say |publisher=The News-Press|date=2009-02-11 |accessdate=2009-04-26}}</ref> Then in late March of 2009, faced with the prospect of heavy fines from the city for not having the proper permitting or insurance, Mary Rakovich moved forward with future protests but with the backing of national organization ''[[Freedom Works]]''. Rakovich said ''Freedom Works'' will provide the insurance per the city's rules.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/504707.html?nav=5011 |title=Tea party finds new life, broadens cause |publisher=cape-coral-daily-breeze.com|date=2009-03-31 |accessdate=2009-03-31}}</ref>

These statements became rapidly known as the "Shout Heard 'Round the World," and Mr. Santelli would be called upon repeatedly to clarify his statement.<ref name=santelli3>"[http://www.cnbc.com//id/29331920 Santelli's Manifesto: Why He Called for a 'Tea Party']," ''CNBC.com'', 22 February 2009. Accessed 16 September 2009.</ref><ref name=santelli4>"[http://www.cnbc.com//id/29283701 Rick Santelli's Shout Heard 'Round the World]," ''CNBC.com'', 22 February 2009. Accessed 16 September 2009.</ref><ref name=santelli5>Santelli R., "[http://www.cnbc.com//id/29471026 I Want to Set the Record Straight]," ''CNBC.com'', 2 March 2009. Accessed 16 September 2009.</ref> But, though Rick Santelli did not participate further in organizing any such event as he proposed, many others did. "Tea Party Organizations" hastily assembled and planned multiple spontaneous events that took place on April 15, 2009&mdash;the deadline for the filing of individual [[income tax]] returns. These were the [[Tax Day Tea Party|Tax Day Tea Parties]], at least one of which was held in each of the fifty States within the United States.

The first anti-spending protest, organized by Liberty Belle, occurred in [[Seattle, Washington]] on February 16, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|author=Derek Erwin|url=http://derekerwin.blogspot.com/2009/04/dozen-ring-liberty-belles-sound-800.html |title=A 'Dozen' Ring Liberty Belle's Sound, 800 Cities Ring-Back |date=2009-02-16 |accessdate=2009-04-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Michelle Malkin |first=Glenn Reynolds |url=http://www.pjtv.com/video/Pajamas_TV/Tea_Party_Protests%3A_Mesa%2C_Seattle%2C_Denver_%28Michelle_Malkin_and_Glenn_Reynolds%29/1406/|title=Tea Party Protests: Mesa, Seattle, Denver  |publisher=PJTV|date=2009-02-16 |accessdate=2009-02-16}}</ref> Another protest was held the following day, held in [[Denver]] on February 17,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/politics/18732002/detail.html |title=President Signs Massive Stimulus In Denver |date=2009-03-17 |accessdate=2009-04-02}}</ref> and a protest in [[Mesa, Arizona]] on February 18 brought 500 protesters.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gary Grado, Sonu Munshi, Hayley Ringle|url=http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/135640/ |title=More than 500 protest Obama's arrival |date=2009-02-18 |accessdate=2009-04-02}}</ref>

 

===Shout Heard 'Round the World===

The Tea Party Movement gained support when on February 19, on live [[Television|TV]], [[CNBC]] reporter [[Rick Santelli]] argued about the bailouts and shouted, "The government is promoting bad behavior."<ref>[http://freedomeden.blogspot.com/2009/02/rick-santelli-tea-party.html Transcript of Rick Santelli's speech], February 19, 2009</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Santelli |first=Rick |url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/29283701|title=Rick Santelli's Shout Heard 'Round the World |publisher=CNBC|date=2009-02-19 |accessdate=2009-02-22}}</ref> Standing in the middle of the [[Chicago Stock Exchange]], Santelli declared that America needed "a new kind of tea party," so that citizens can express their discontent with "the government's support of fiscal irresponsibility".<ref>{{cite web|last=Rubin |first=Jennifer |url=http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/mr-president-turn-back-while-theres-still-time/|title=Mr. President: Turn Back While There’s Still Time |publisher=Pajamas Media|date=2009-02-19 |accessdate=2009-02-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Drudge |first=Matt |url=http://www.streetinsider.com/Insiders+Blog/Rick+Santelli+-+The+Rant+Heard+Round+the+World/4419854.html|title=Rick Santelli - The Rant Heard 'Round the World' |publisher=streetinsider.com|date=2009-02-19 |accessdate=2009-02-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Roesgen |first=Andy |url=http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/TeaParty|title=Protestors Gather for Self-Styled Tea Party |publisher=myfoxchicago.com|date=2009-02-27 |accessdate=2009-02-27}}</ref> With the help of ''[[DontGo]]'', ''[[Top Conservatives on Twitter]]'' (TCOT), ''[[Smart Girl Politics]]'' (SGP), ''The American Spectator'', ''Americans for Tax Reform'', ''Freedom Works'', and ''The Heartland Institute'', the Chicago Tea Parties were scheduled to happen nationwide on February 27, 2009.<ref>[http://www.dontgomovement.com/blog/2009/02/23/the-chicago-tea-party-is-on/ The Chicago Tea Party is on!], February 23, 2009</ref>

 

Americans across the country gathered in 50 cities to protest the newly-passed Stimulus Bill of 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcotreport.com/Talking_Points.htm|title=Talking Points and Theme for the Nationwide Chicago Tea Party |publisher=TCOTReport.com|date=2009-02-24 |accessdate=2009-02-24}}</ref> Over 30,000 people made it to this event.<ref>{{cite web|last=Christoph |first=Teri |url=http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/video/video/show?id=2488056%3AVideo%3A24070&|title=SGP.TeaParty |publisher=Smart Girl Politics|date=2009-02-27 |accessdate=2009-03-03}}</ref> Many at the event were upset over the economic stimulus packages and bailouts for [[Wall Street]] pushed through by both [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] and President Obama's administrations.<ref>[http://www.raleigh3.com/default.asp?sdetail=1849&sc=2724 Raleigh Holds 'Tea Party' To Protest Government], ''Raleigh Telegram'', March 25, 2009</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Roesgen |first=Andy |url=http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/TeaParty|title=Protestors Gather for Self-Styled Tea Party |publisher=myfoxchicago.com|date=2009-02-27 |accessdate=2009-02-27}}</ref>

 

{| class="wikitable" border="1"

! Location !! Sponsors<ref>[http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=page&page-id=68 Schedule of American Tea party Protests (with Sponsors)], February 27, 2009</ref> !! Details

| [[Atlanta, Georgia]] || TCOT, SGP, Don'tGo || A reported 300 to 400 protesters gathered outside the Georgia Capitol in protest of a $787 billion recovery bill.<ref name="georgia">{{cite web|url=http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/02/27/budget-debate-launches-new-tea-party/ |title=Budget debate launches new tea party |date=2009-02-27 |accessdate=2009-02-27}}</ref><ref>[http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/71521/ Tea Party from Atlanta], February 17, 2009</ref>

| [[Chicago, Illinois]] || Don'tGo<ref>[http://www.dontgomovement.com/blog/2009/02/19/chicago-tea-party/ Don'tGo Movement: Pledge to Have a Representation at Chicago Tea Party], February 19, 2009</ref> || Approximately 300 people braved the 25 degree cold and wind in Chicago.<ref name="illinios">{{cite web|url=http://www.foundingbloggers.com/wordpress/2009/02/breaking-chicago-tea-party-pictures/ |title=BREAKING - Chicago Tea Party (Pictures) UPDATED Now With Video! |accessdate=2009-02-27}}</ref><ref>[http://www.dontgomovement.com/blog/2009/02/27/the-birth-of-a-new-revolution/ The Birth of a New Revolution], February 27, 2009</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Roesgen |first=Andy |url=http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/TeaParty|title=Protestors Gather for Self-Styled Tea Party |publisher=myfoxchicago.com|date=2009-02-27 |accessdate=2009-02-27}}</ref>

| [[Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas]] || Americans for Prosperity,<ref>[http://www.redcounty.com/texas/2009/02/the-tea-parties-were-successfu/ The Tea Parties were successful - here's the proof], February 23, 2009</ref> TCOT, SGP, Don'tGo, Dallas County Young Republicans || A "Texas-sized Tea Party" of 300 or more Texans met in Fort Worth, protesting big government and taxes.<ref name="fortworth">{{cite web|url=http://txtcot.ning.com/video/tea-party-09-made-the-world |title=Tea Party '09 made the world news |date=2009-02-27 |accessdate=2009-03-19}}</ref> One sponsor, TCOT, collected over 800 signatures during the event.<ref>[http://txtcot.ning.com/profiles/blogs/tea-party-09 Tea Party '09], February 28, 2009</ref>

| [[Denver, Colorado]] || TCOT, SGP, Don'tGo || At the East Capitol Steps, 100 "[[Atlas Shrugged]]" fans braved cold temperatures for a "Nationwide Chicago Tea Party" to protest the Obama Administration's bailout plan.<ref name="dcolorado1">[http://coloradoindependent.com/23026/ayn-rand-stars-at-denver-stimulus-tea-party-protest Ayn Rand stars at Denver stimulus ‘tea party’ protest], February 28, 2009, [[Colorado Independent]]</ref><ref name="dcolorado2">[http://colorado.newsplatoon.com/2009/02/24/denver-tea-party/ Denver Tea Party], February 24, 2009, [[colorado]]</ref>

| [[Houston, Texas]] || TBD || Large groups, not entirely made up of Republicans, tried to create a modern day version of the Boston Tea Party.<ref>[http://houstontps.org/?page_id=163 Houston Tea Party Society, In the News, Audio, Video], February 27, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.khou.com/video/topstories-index.html?nvid=352345&shu=1 Houston's Tax Day tea party], February 27, 2009</ref>

| [[Washington, D.C.]] || Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Young Conservatives Coalition, The Heartland Institute || The American Tea Party made some noise outside the White House.<ref name="dc_examiner">[http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/New-American-Tea-Party-40442172.html DC Tea Party thrown at the White House], [[The Washington Examiner|Washington Examiner]] February 27, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.freedomworks.org/petition/iamwithrick/index.html 2009 Taxpayer Tea party], February 28, 2009</ref> Several hundred taxpayers showed up at the DC Tea Party protest in Lafayette Park,<ref name="michellemalkin">[http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/27/scenes-from-the-tea-party/ Scenes from the D.C. Tea Party], February 27, 2009, [[Michelle Malkin]]</ref><ref name="dcfreedomworks">[http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/bstein80/video-from-the-dc-tea-party Video from the DC Tea Party], February 28, 2009, [[Freedom Works]]</ref> including "[[Joe the Plumber]]".<ref name="hotair">[http://hotair.com/archives/2009/02/27/joe-the-plumber-at-dc-tea-party-no-one-on-the-hill-gives-a-rip-about-you/ Joe the Plumber at D.C. Tea Party: No one on the Hill gives a rip about you], February 27, 2009, [[Hot Air]]</ref>

== Schedule ==

== Schedule ==