Hundreds Attend Tea Party Protest in Salem at Oregon Capitol (VIDEO)

(SALEM, Ore.) - A protest event held across the nation today called the Tea Party is named after the event from the Revolutionary War period, it was a show of will against policies the Obama Administration is bringing forth to revive the economy.

The bottom line, is that the tax breaks under President Bush that benefited the wealthiest Americans, are going back to the way they were in previous years. Most people attending the tea party share the opinion that Obama does not have a good strategy.

I asked Salem resident Darrell Britton, who was attending the event, to explain what message he hopes the Tea Party leaves people with.

"I would hope that it would wake up some of our state representatives and state senators to: we're taxed way too much and the money is frequently wasted"

A young man attending the event put it this way, "We can't be spending trillions of dollars and have no way to pay for it."

Some attending the event didn't want to talk on camera, and that's always fine. I made it a point to get as many people's views as I could.

Tea partiers like Oregon resident Bob Darling, discussed how the event brought out many people who don't normally get involved in the political process.

Several hundred attended the Tea Party in Salem today. The assembly saw many creative signs and approaches for those who object to current economic policies. As part of the same Democratic process that allows peace and immigration rallies to take place, this more unusual crowd of protesters certainly had their day, and were able to express their views openly and freely.

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Henry Ruark April 18, 2009 12:56 pm (Pacific time)

BH: Ever try estimating such crowd, in midst of changing circumstance, attendance, other factors ? Kept track of six reports, all of which were stated as was Tim's. Only seond-day stories carried "thouand" or "thousands". No matter how you slice, dice, twist numbers, still was initiated, driven, funded, and otherwise manipulated via GOP noise machine, per reliable national-level sources. That's true significance of event; anti-tax/rate movement well established, on way in any case, reputably built --and probably hurt by crass manipulation for political pander purposes, as further national reports now show.

Bornhere April 18, 2009 11:33 am (Pacific time)

"Editor: I didn't have a count when I produced my report, but I saw one local source estimating that it was between 1,000 and 2,000. It was a good turnout, but are you guys going to start amplifying the number now? Sort of like the fish story of the year?" If you didn't have a count, why guess in your headline? Isn't that what Journalists are supposed to answer: who, how many, where, etc? "Fish story" is hostile, don't you think? Otherwise a good report.

Henry Ruark April 17, 2009 3:12 pm (Pacific time)

Daniel: Re Beck's $250,000, you're right on the money at minimum level. Re similar take for those promoting any possibilities for further attack on Obama, previous experience with the noise machine indicates that is only starting level, esp. for any with direct political ties, as for Armey et al. They did not go into GOP politics for public service, as previous extensive records will show on probing examination of past actions. You will recall many who now serve as lobbyists, with some multiple of any dollars prior to that excursion in flexible morality.

Henry Ruark April 17, 2009 11:53 am (Pacific time)

To all: For solid reality re how our national fiscal/financial policy has shaped all-else, see "BAD MONEY: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism"; Kevin Phillips; 2008,2009. ISBN 978-0-14-311480-2 is for paperback with FIFTY-PAGE Preface and ALSO THIRTY-PAGE Afternote added to original best-seller, detailing in depth, with numbers, dates, perpetrators the entire once-a-century set of exceptional damages from our protracted actions and our choice to allow them to happen to us. NOBODT is "informed" without precisely that detail set into solid, sensible, easy-read and documented information-form !!

Daniel April 17, 2009 8:52 am (Pacific time)

I wonder how many of the thousands that showed up make over $250,000 per year . If they make less they got a tax cut ! I know Glen Beck and company make more than $250,000

Henry Ruark April 17, 2009 8:42 am (Pacific time)

N-C AGAIN !: Are you really surprised ? The whole design, initation, development, and disciplined application of this false "tea party" cabal smells strongly of skilled, heavily funded propaganda methods and cynical manipulation of a sacred American national-attitude story: The Boston Tea Party. Detailed analysis by cognitive scientists, now well underway, will prove that full point given time. We will report on that as it develops further... Meanwhile make wise choice and Constitutional decision to aid, assist, support, and strengthen new President, and avoid negative attack-cabal intended to bring him down by any possible means at any profound cost to our tattered democracy. Simply let your innate American commonsense prevail.

Henry Ruark April 17, 2009 8:34 am (Pacific time)

Friend Lipton: Your thoughtful analysis states reality well. No disagreement with either full probing of policies by citizens and then dissent to force best consensus decision. Remember ? FDR told strong fans "now make me do it !", emphasizing essential need for democratic consensus pressure. BUT noise machine distortion and manipulation by those very desperate to defeat Obama as elected leader is what drove this situation from the start. That's well documented, fully admitted by those so determined, and undeniably a major risk to democratic dialog distorted for their negative purposes. Have you read either of two by reformed conservative pundit David Brock, detailing his own work within that machine ? Any one of forteen by from Kevin Phillips, D.C. vet of GOP administrations ? Full information avaialable for those who really seek the truth. You and others, in all good faith, do NOT want to aid their attacks, even via such needed movements as this one simply continuing same old neocon manipulations. for

In The Silent Majority April 16, 2009 11:11 pm (Pacific time)

Sorry, but there are far more than mere hundreds. One of the other news stations (either KGW or KPTV) says more like 3,000. So did a participant I spoke with afterward. Then there are those of us who had to work or otherwise couldn't make it. Tip of the iceberg - and no "imported" bodies, as with other demonstrations we've seen.

Editor: I didn't have a count when I produced my report, but I saw one local source estimating that it was between 1,000 and 2,000. It was a good turnout, but are you guys going to start amplifying the number now? Sort of like the fish story of the year?

scott April 16, 2009 9:58 pm (Pacific time)

we need a true tax cut, not a mere adjustment to the tax withholding table which we'll feel at tax time next April.

Daniel April 16, 2009 5:32 pm (Pacific time)

Looks like a Glen Beck cut and paste event .

Aurelia April 16, 2009 4:10 pm (Pacific time)

Looks like the Klan still exists in Oregon.

Lipton April 16, 2009 3:50 pm (Pacific time)

I have noticed that all over the media spectrum there has been a variety of analysis as to what happened the other day. From my perspective we saw essentially everyday Americans who are deeply concerned about the direction the country is going along with the monetary policies of the federal government down to the local level. This was not a one day event and it's over movement. I expect that the numbers of people involved will grow and their detractors will simply be drowned out and fade away. We should look at this as a positive event which will generate debate that we all can be involved with and possibly come out better in the end. To just be quiet and see the politicans ignore us is not going to be tolerated any longer. We all win when the government is held up to the light.

"Support Our Troops" But Don't Tax April 16, 2009 10:19 am (Pacific time)

Posted by Stephen Carson at 08:18 AM Leo Laporte, the great tech broadcaster, nails the pro-war anti-tax Right in less than 140 characters: It surprises me that the same people who say "support our troops" resist paying taxes. Where do you think the taxes go? Beautifully said! He is right, you're going to have to pick one, people: 1. An American Empire and the high taxes/inflation to fund it. 2. An end to high taxes/inflation and a return to minding our own business. Choose wisely! And choose soon because, as Ron Paul points out, option 1 will eventually be off the table as we are bankrupted like every Empire before us.

Neo-Conned Again April 16, 2009 10:17 am (Pacific time)

Writes Kit Maira: I attended the tax day Tea Party in the San Fernando Valley last night and was appalled at how the anti-tax message has been co-opted by the cynical neocons and their pro war agenda. There was a large crowd of maybe 800 sign-carrying activists with mostly on-topic placards opposing taxes, lots of signs denouncing Obama as a Socialist, a smattering of signs against the Fed, a half dozen in support of Ron Paul and probably the last two remaining Libertarian Party activists in the San Fernando Valley, my friends Joe Miranda and Ed Bowers, handing out leaflets and doing their best to promote the LP. However the roar from the stage was a completely different story, as speaker after speaker drummed up pro-war jingoism with constant exhortations about “9-11” this, and how “Obama is in bed with the terrorists,” and how he was opposed the concept of “American Exceptionalism.” This was all punctuated with chants from the stage of “USA! USA! USA!”, which I am annoyed to say was carried by a large contingent of the audience. I thought I was going to puke. As the event was dying down the mike was opened to comments so I made my way to the stage to make a statement. I was handed the mike and started to say, “If you want to end taxation, we need to end the war, and bring the troops home.” At that point the lady in charge of the mike immediately lunged for me, grabbing it, while screaming, “Don’t touch me! Don’t ever touch me!” as if to get security to take me down. Fortunately, none emerged. I left the event feeling angrier then ever. Guess we’ve been Neo-conned again.

ThisIsJustTheBeginning April 16, 2009 9:52 am (Pacific time)

We're taking over this country!!

Aurora April 16, 2009 8:41 am (Pacific time)

People are so ignorant and out of touch---this tea party exemplifies this.

Hundreds? April 16, 2009 4:50 am (Pacific time)

Katu news reported over a couple thousand were out there by noon. You can tell by your own video that there's thousands.

thoughtful April 16, 2009 12:30 am (Pacific time)

Hundred's of people is considered a large turnout? Seems pretty low.

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Hundreds Attend Tea Party Protest in Salem at Oregon Capitol (VIDEO)

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