POLITICS
For political tea parties, two can be a crowd
Anti-tax protests have different flavors, philosophies.
By W. Gardner Selby
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, July 03, 2009
For the second time in less than three months, Austin plays host to two anti-government "tea parties" this weekend with contrasting approaches suggesting disagreement over what such gatherings are about — including whether political leaders are welcome and whether partisan groups should benefit.
The first party, scheduled for this morning at Zilker Park, was pulled together by Austin lawyer Greg Holloway and his wife, Judy, who helped throw an April 15 tea party outside the Texas Capitol.
 THOMAS WALSH Judy Holloway  MARK LIGGETT Heather Liggett  Peggy Venable |
There won't be elected officials speaking, though they expect the political celebrity known as Joe the Plumber. The couple said the rally is reflective of a grass-roots movement opposed to uncontrolled government spending, overgrown government and abuses of the U.S. Constitution.
"Nothing personal," Greg Holloway said, "but we don't want any politicians speaking. This is the voice of the people."
The second party, set for Saturday outside the Capitol, is to feature about 30 speakers including Texas Republicans U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Tyler and state Rep. Wayne Christian of Center, and Wayne Allyn Root, the Libertarian Party's 2008 vice presidential nominee. It's being managed by the Texas office of Americans for Prosperity, a nonpartisan group that advocates economic freedom. The group helped host an April party outside Austin City Hall.
"Of course we the people need to be heard by our politicians," organizer Heather Liggett said on the group's Web site. But "we also need to listen to them when they are fighting for us!"
The contrasting approaches could signal growing pains for what has been a fairly undefined sprawl of tea parties across the nation — including more than 40 scheduled across Texas for this weekend. The first wave of parties in April, inspired by the tax-protesting Boston Tea Party that preceded the Revolutionary War, has been credited by some to an on-air rant by CNBC's Rick Santelli and by others to ground-level work by Libertarian Party loyalists.
It's uncertain where the rallies will lead, but mainstream political figures have been paying attention amid speculation from the left that the gatherings are encouraged by Republican groups coaxing opposition to Democratic President Barack Obama.
Daron Shaw, a University of Texas government professor who has helped Republicans, said he doesn't think the rallies are a coordinated brainchild from the nation's right.
"They're like a lot of movements, such as (for) Ross Perot and Ron Paul, bringing together a hodge-podge of people who have grievances," Shaw said. "It's an interesting way to express frustration or antipathy with the system" though "when you get these people together, it's often hard to tell what they're for, what their solutions would be" to hot-button issues.
The Holloways expressed wariness of politicians and political groups horning in for their own purposes.
"We have been surprised by how some people have tried to co-opt the movement for their own purposes and own fundraising," Greg Holloway said. "If anyone thinks we're a shill for the Republican Party, absolutely not."
In a May letter sent to tens of thousands of people, the Republican Party of Texas sought contributions to "keep the passion of the Texas tea party patriots burning bright." Tina Benkiser, the party chairwoman, wrote that she got goose bumps speaking at an Austin party; her letter states $55,000 is needed so the party can mobilize "these patriots" in the state's 254 counties.
Peggy Venable, Texas director for Americans for Prosperity, didn't question the GOP appeal; she said political groups including Democrats are probably citing the parties to drum up money. "I won't blame anyone for taking the opportunity," Venable said.
Robert Butler, executive director of the Libertarian Party of Texas, said he sometimes has trouble persuading Libertarians to attend the parties because they incorrectly assume the events are Republican pep rallies.
"Like any good politicians," Butler said, "Republicans try to get in front of the parade. From a political point of view, it's wise on their part. But they were by no means in control there."
Cornyn, who sent a supportive letter to some April parties, said he wasn't sure what reception he would get Saturday.
"I've agreed to come and talk about my belief that local government, including state government, is closest to the people and more likely to be responsive," Cornyn said. "And we'll see how it goes."
Joe Wurzelbacher, nicknamed Joe the Plumber last year when his exchange about tax policy with Obama was celebrated by GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, drove from his Ohio home to speak at tea parties in Austin, The Woodlands and San Antonio.
He said he enjoys encouraging people to pay attention to government doings and also doesn't think politicians should be joining in.
Wurzelbacher told a Wisconsin audience in June that Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd should be strung up; he said this week that he was upset by Dodd equivocating about protecting bonuses for AIG workers.
Gov. Rick Perry plans to attend tea parties in Sulphur Springs, Rockwall, Austin and San Antonio, his office said. Similarly, Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams plans to speak at a Weatherford party.
Perry, who spoke at the April tea party outside City Hall, told Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit.com this week: "Let me tell you, they were great events spontaneous, organic, coming right out of the ground, if you will, all across this country."
The Holloways own up to being new to calling rallies; they incorrectly have said today's party is happening "right next to the infamous Frisbee golf course that is being built with $886,000 of our federal tax dollars."
The Zilker course has been in place for years. And though the city once listed a desired course in Northeast Austin as a prospect for federal stimulus money, no request was made.
The Holloways, estimating they've put $8,000 into hosting the tea parties, hope people get energized to respond to government actions.
Ultimately, Greg Holloway said, he hopes the parties yield principles that candidates and officeholders would be pressed to consider.
wgselby@statesman.com; 445-3644
Staff writer Sarah Coppola contributed.
