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Hundreds gather as Tea Party stops in Helena on nat’l tour

hypocritexposer

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Hundreds gather as Tea Party stops in Helena on nat’l tour

By ALANA LISTOE, Independent Record | Posted: Monday, November 2, 2009 12:00 am

Hundreds of conservatives rallied against big government Sunday in Helena.

The Tea Party Express II national touring bus stopped at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds on its way to Bozeman and ultimately Orlando, Fla., with its energy directed at limited government, limited spending, and encouraging all legislative decisions to be based on words in the U.S. Constitution.

Roger Nummerdor, of Helena, said he's tired of big government spending money America doesn't have.

"It's time to let our Congress know it's not a Democratic or Republican problem - we just need to stop spending money," he said.

Nummerdor said the majority of those who attended the rally are independents who are fearful of losing their freedoms.

This is the second national Tea Party tour, but the first to have stops in Montana. Nummerdor says the group picked Helena and Bozeman because it wanted to hit the smaller communities.

"We are excited because this happens so rarely in Helena," he said.

Deborah Johns, vice chairman of the Tea Party Express, said the goal of the tour is the let people realize they are not alone in their conservative values and encourage them to take charge.

"They have the power of the vote to make a change in D.C.," Johns said.

Kristi Allen-Gailushas, secretary for the Big Sky Tea Party Association, said the government doesn't currently represent the people. Allen-Gailushas said she's a stay-at-home mom who is "tired of a Fascist government" and therefore decided to run for seat in H.D. 78 in 2010.

Citing a speech of former President Ronald Reagan, she said the government can't control the economy by controlling the people.

"Our first line of defense against an over-reaching government is the Constitution and the Bill of Rights," Allen-Gailushas said.

The national bus tour is hosting a series of Tea Party rallies all across the nation.

The effort began in San Diego on Oct. 25, and the tour traveled north to Washington and Oregon before hitting the Treasure State. Next on the schedule is the Midwest. The tour, which comes a year before the November 2010 elections, will end with a rally in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 12.

Rallies feature leaders in the anti-tax, conservative movement, along with musical performances of the "American Tea Party Anthem" and "A Bailout Song."

Chad Tudor moved to Helena from Washington about a year ago when he purchased 31 acres west of town. He says he's unhappy about the significant increase in his property taxes and says he's a libertarian, with a lower-case "l."

Tudor attended Tea Party rallies in Olympia, Wash., and was happy to see the large turnout in Helena.

Gilbert Cope is a general contractor in San Diego who says that when President Obama was elected his phone stopped ringing.

After losing his home in April, Cope said he was inspired through divine intervention, whom he calls "Dad," to travel with the Tea Party.

"I don't care what it costs me," Cope said. "My country is more important."
 
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