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[[Image:Headnew.jpg|right|380px|thumb| Tax Day Tea Party]]

[[Image:Headnew.jpg|right|380px|thumb| Tax Day Tea Party]]

'''Tax Day Tea Parties''', the earliest manifestation of the '''[[Tea Party Movement]]''' (from an acronym for '''T'''axed '''E'''nough '''A'''lready), were a nationwide, locally organized multi-event that protested the [[generational theft]] of public [[tax]] dollars by the Federal Government on April 15, 2009. In the spirit of the founding fathers [[Boston Tea Party]], the local organizers, Top Conservatives on Twitter, and just ordinary citizens who use various social media sites, created a massive grassroots movement which held protests in all fifty states on April 15th 2009 and another scheduled for the July 4th [[Independence Day Tea Party]].

The '''Tax Day Tea Party''' occurred on April 15, 2009, as part of a series of nationally coordinated protests that developed into an ongoing [[Tea Party Movement]]. The acronym for '''TEA''' is '''T'''axed '''E'''nough '''A'''lready. In the spirit of the founding fathers [[Boston Tea Party]], the rallies used themes from the [[American Revolution]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509445,00.html Taxpayers Strike Back With 'Tea Parties']. ''Special Report with Bret Baier''. Published March 16, 2009.</ref><ref name="deseret">[http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705289328,00.html Anti-tax-and-spend group throws "tea party" at Capitol], March 6, 2009, Deseret News</ref> Local organizers, Top Conservatives on Twitter, and thousands of ordinary citizens collaborated by using various social media sites, and created a massive grassroots movement which held protests in all fifty states on April 15th 2009.

The largest Tea Party held to date was the Dallas Tea Party, held July 4, 2009 at Southfork Ranch in Plano, Texas, which drew 37,000 attendees.<ref>[http://dallasteaparty.org/2009/07/americas-tea-party-official-press-release/ America's Tea Party Official Press Release, July 6, 2009.]</ref>

Tax Day Tea Parties were the are first of many scheduled events that protested the [[generational theft]] of public [[tax]] dollars by the Federal Government, followed by another nationwide rally which occurred on July 4th 2009, dubbed the [[Independence Day Tea Party]]. The largest Tea Party held to date was the Dallas Tea Party, held July 4, 2009 at Southfork Ranch in Plano, Texas, which drew 37,000 attendees.<ref>[http://dallasteaparty.org/2009/07/americas-tea-party-official-press-release/ America's Tea Party Official Press Release, July 6, 2009.]</ref>

   

   

==Founding==

One of their website states:

=== Founding ===

''"The Tea Party protests, in their current form, began in early 2009 when [[Rick Santelli]], the On Air Editor for CNBC, set out on a rant to expose the bankrupt liberal agenda of the [[White House]] Administration and [[Congress]]. Specifically, the flawed “Stimulus Bill” and pork filled budget."''

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>

 

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>

 

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>

 

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>

 

: ''More Info: [http://conservapedia.com/Tea_Party_Movement#February_27th_Tea_Parties February 27th Tea Parties]''

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>

==Mainstream Media==

==Mainstream Media==