Frustration with President Barack Obama's policies drove Kay Lynn Smith to speak out on Saturday.
The Dodge City woman urged people who share her unhappiness with the Obama administration to take a stand by voting in the fall elections.
"Like I said in my last letter to the editor, this is probably the most important vote of our lives," she said. "We must take back our Congress at the earliest opportunity we have.
"Even at that, it will be an uphill climb to undo what's happened under this administration. But we, the people, can do it."
Smith and other speakers voiced their dissatisfaction with the government during a tea party rally Saturday at Wright Park's Liberty Garden. Organizers estimated 100 to 120 people attended the event, which mixed calls for change with reminders to vote in the November election.
Smith's husband, Garland, said American soldiers had sacrificed their bodies, lives and families to keep their country free and preserve the Constitution.
"Surely, the least we can do is to show up at the polls and vote to honor what they have fought and died for," he said. "In the past, now and what we are willing to do in the future to keep this great nation of ours."
Other speakers said Americans should return to traditional conservative values and put their trust in God — not politicians.
"If we want things to change in America, then what America needs today is not more government, not a better candidate, but people whose hearts will be in prayer to God," said the Rev. Kirk Larson, pastor of Grace Community Church.
Smith reminded people to vote in the next election, then shifted into a sharp attack on Obama and his policies. Her litany of complaints included a claim that the president and his administration were trying to ruin America.
"The plague of Barack Obama and his troops will destroy us if we sit back and let it happen," she said. "It is their goal."
Smith also said Obama might not be a Muslim, but all signs pointed in that direction.
A poll released this month found that nearly one in five people, or 18 percent said they thought Obama was Muslim, up from 11 percent in 2009, according to the Associated Press. Thirty-four percent said correctly the president is Christian.
But complaints about Obama did not sit well with a small group of counterprotesters, who said the tea party movement does not speak for them.
About 20 counterprotesters gathered at the park's east entrance during the rally, armed with flags and signs criticizing the movement. Among them was Dodge City resident Patty Ahern, whose sign read: "Tea Party?? More like a white whine party."
Ahern said her group wanted people to realize that the movement relied on bad information, not facts. As an example, she cited claims that Obama was a Muslim.
"That's just flat-out wrong," she said. "And that he's trying to brainwash us all — it's just flat-out wrong."
Counter-protester Seth Eckelman added: "We wanted to let Dodge City know there are people that absolutely, fundamentally, do not agree with these crazy people."
|
|
|
Frustration with President Barack Obama's policies drove Kay Lynn Smith to speak out on Saturday.
The Dodge City woman urged people who share her unhappiness with the Obama administration to take a stand by voting in the fall elections.
"Like I said in my last letter to the editor, this is probably the most important vote of our lives," she said. "We must take back our Congress at the earliest opportunity we have.
"Even at that, it will be an uphill climb to undo what's happened under this administration. But we, the people, can do it."
Smith and other speakers voiced their dissatisfaction with the government during a tea party rally Saturday at Wright Park's Liberty Garden. Organizers estimated 100 to 120 people attended the event, which mixed calls for change with reminders to vote in the November election.
Smith's husband, Garland, said American soldiers had sacrificed their bodies, lives and families to keep their country free and preserve the Constitution.
"Surely, the least we can do is to show up at the polls and vote to honor what they have fought and died for," he said. "In the past, now and what we are willing to do in the future to keep this great nation of ours."
Other speakers said Americans should return to traditional conservative values and put their trust in God — not politicians.
"If we want things to change in America, then what America needs today is not more government, not a better candidate, but people whose hearts will be in prayer to God," said the Rev. Kirk Larson, pastor of Grace Community Church.
Smith reminded people to vote in the next election, then shifted into a sharp attack on Obama and his policies. Her litany of complaints included a claim that the president and his administration were trying to ruin America.
"The plague of Barack Obama and his troops will destroy us if we sit back and let it happen," she said. "It is their goal."
Smith also said Obama might not be a Muslim, but all signs pointed in that direction.
A poll released this month found that nearly one in five people, or 18 percent said they thought Obama was Muslim, up from 11 percent in 2009, according to the Associated Press. Thirty-four percent said correctly the president is Christian.
But complaints about Obama did not sit well with a small group of counterprotesters, who said the tea party movement does not speak for them.
About 20 counterprotesters gathered at the park's east entrance during the rally, armed with flags and signs criticizing the movement. Among them was Dodge City resident Patty Ahern, whose sign read: "Tea Party?? More like a white whine party."
Ahern said her group wanted people to realize that the movement relied on bad information, not facts. As an example, she cited claims that Obama was a Muslim.
"That's just flat-out wrong," she said. "And that he's trying to brainwash us all — it's just flat-out wrong."
Counter-protester Seth Eckelman added: "We wanted to let Dodge City know there are people that absolutely, fundamentally, do not agree with these crazy people."
