San Antonio Tea Party, April 15th, 2009
Main Blog Need to do Who's Who Draft Agenda About Donate Contact Us!

This was supposed to be the closing speech at the Tax Day Tea Party

Since other speakers ran a bit long, we decided to have mercy on the tired crowd. Still, please give it a read. Julia Hayden wrote me one heck of a speech!

First, I hope you'll join me in thanking the members of the Executive Committee and the many other volunteers and donors who've made this possible. Just under one month ago , this was six people sitting around a table, wondering how to get a few hundred to show up for a Tea Party. I also want to recognize Joni Schmidt, who organized the Tea Party up in Boerne today. This is actually the second Tea Party at the Alamo—Joni and company did it here first. Thanks Joni, for leading the way!

One of the six people sitting at a table seven weeks ago was Eric Adam -- you all know who he is, right?  His video is the one that caught Glenn's eye--In the words of Eric Adam:  "I want my country back."  That's the message carried when you perform the steps outlined on the program we've handed out.  Each of you will be telling the corrupt aristocracy of politicians and bought special interests that “I want my country back."  That country, which I and many of you have served, and which all of us love so dearly!  When you perform those steps, you are telling the complacent enablers in the government "I want my country back."  When you perform those steps, you are telling those who go along to get along "I want my country back."  When you perform those steps, you are sending a message to those who have been too worried about what's said at their dinner parties—let them worry about Tea Parties! Tell them: "I want my country back."  Tell them!

Who among us is without sin?  Certainly none of us, in our personal lives. None!  But, even many of the "best" in Washington appear to turn a blind eye towards corruption, corruption of their fellows – and this among those whom we have trusted to faithfully administer to the needs of our nation! This careless irresponsibility, toleration of corruption and just plain bad faith would be unacceptable if practiced by any of us – and yet in Washington it seems to be business as usual.  It thrives--because they all let it!  Do you want to hear a bad joke, in a single phrase?  "The House Ethics Committee."  (pause for laughter). House Ethics Committee… or an even funnier one – Senate Ethics Committee… Talk about a contradiction in terms!  Major scandals appear in the headlines, and yet somehow those responsible continue in office - untouched and unscathed, because powerful people – our permanently revolving aristocracy of elected politicians – are involved. And so the scandal dies down and is forgotten – until the next time. And our representatives tolerated this enduring situation … we tolerated this enduring situation … until now. A line was reached, in the last few weeks and months, a line which has now been crossed. And so we have come here tonight, to draw another line.

Now, those in power have one fear--fear of you.  Fear of what “You the People” might do in November of 2010.  Use that fear.  Just as none are without sin, none are beyond redemption.  Give them a chance.  Just one chance. Tell them to clean it up, to hold the haughty and corrupt accountable.  Tell them to strip the grafters of their positions of power as committee chairmen and ranking members.  Tell them it's their last chance.  Tell them you want your country back! Tell them so loudly and in voices so clear that they cannot ignore us!

Among us in this audience tonight, we have many differences:  Some of us are for gun control, some believe in the freedom to keep and bear arms.  Some of us are devout, others are free-thinkers.  But we are united, in seeing this country as a shining city upon a hill, a noble experiment, in government by the people and for the people. And we are also united in this:  The government is spending, borrowing, and wasting far too much of our money.  We all agree that we don't want them to continue putting our children and our grandchildren ever further into debt.

I don't care if you vote for a 'D' an 'R' an 'L' or a whatever.  I care that those we elect serve the country and serve the people … serve the people as I served, according to the oath I took when I entered military service. Yes or no--Will you commit, right now and before your fellow citizens, to perform those steps on the program? Will you?  I can't hear you....

Yes or no--Will you commit to voting ONLY for those who will serve the county and the people, and have the courage and vision to make tough decisions?  Who will chose the difficult but necessary, over the easy but ultimately wrong? Will you?  I can't hear you....

Yes or no--Will you commit to voting ONLY for those who fight--and I mean FIGHT--against the time-servers and self-made aristocrats who now sit in the seats of power?  Will you?  I can't hear you....

Yes or no--Will you commit to getting involved in your party's primaries, to ensure they select the best of us, not the worst and most corrupt?  Will you?  I can't hear you....

Yes or no--Will you commit to STAYING involved, to keep writing and keep coming to Tea Parties and keep going to the long and boring candidate selection meetings your party uses to select who they will run?  Will you?  Will you?  I can't hear you....

OK, now I hear you! Let's hope those who are supposed to serve you in Washington get the message. But remember—this is but the first battle. We must keep the pressure on and never give up! Thank you for coming tonight – and God Bless America! Say it with me now: God Bless America! God Bless America! God Bless America!