Wednesday, April 15th

Reported by: Dean Rogeness, LRTC Chair

The 2009 Tea Party happened in Springfield, too, and it was a success! On April 15th, 400-600 people gathered at the Springfield Post Office for the event. Town Committee members Ron Hastie, Bob Mosebach and Dean and Mary Rogeness, along with Longmeadow Republicans Jeanne Mosebach and Leon Herman took part. Notwithstanding media reports, the crowd was focused on out of control government spending, government waste, government intrusion into private lives, government propping up irresponsible corporations and borrowers, and the unhealthy prospect of passing huge deficits onto our children and grandchildren. While anti-tax sentiment was present, it was more the opposition to the certainty of having to raise taxes in the future to pay for the large deficits building up. The crowd makeup was of mixed political affiliation, although predominantly Republican. There was one anti-Tea Party person in attendance. As you might expect, he got equal billing and was interviewed by the media, although out-numbered 600 to 1. Check out the photos of Springfield's Tea Party below, including the one of the protester being interviewed. Click on a picture to enlarge and browse.