Time to Speak Up America - Take Action - Make a Difference:

What Can Tea Party Patriots Do????? Take Action Now:

Between now and our next "gathering" we all must continue to take action to have our voices heard loud and clear by our lawmakers - at home and in Washington D.C. Recommended action that you can take:

1. Identify yourself as a "Tea Party" member/participant by wearing a "Tea Party" T-shirt and/or Tea Party button(s) - it's a great way to spread our message as well as to start a dialog with someone who wants to know more.

2. Call and/or write your congressman and/or senator: Congressman Sam Farr; Senator Diane Feinstein; Senator Barbara Boxer. Call each of them on every issue that concerns you and on which you wish to have your voice heard. If you don't call - how will he/she know that there are opposing views? Here is the contact information. Program the phone numbers into your cell phones/fax machines so that you can contact them often and before they pass those bills "under the radar":

Congressman Sam Farr: Tel: (202) 225 - 2861 Fax: (202) 225-6791

Senator Diane Feinstein: Tel: (202) 224-3841 Fax: (202) 224-3841

Senator Barbara Boxer: Tel: (202) 224-3553 Fax: (202) 224-0454

FYI: When you call - be sure to let them know which proposed bill you oppose. While your message is received ....I hear that letters or faxes are even more compelling! Speak Up! The minority interests who now control did...look where it got them!

3. Send a "Tea Party" postcard to your congressman/senator - Since Congress will not receive the Tea Bags that we have been mailing ....we will have "Tea Party" postcards ready for Tea Party participants to send to Farr, Feinstein, and Boxer ...after each Tea Party event. By sending a postcard...you are telling them that you are watching the way that they vote....and you expect them to be accountable to you! (Note: Get your "Tea Party" postcards - which are ready for mailing - by sending an email to: speak-up-america@sbcglobal.net. They are available for pick up.)

4. Write letters to the editor - Speak up. The main stream media (MSM)is not doing its job of holding our politicians accountable. Write letters to The Herald and The Salinas Californian so that we can have an impact on our local voters and politicians; but don't forget to blog your opinion on the endless number of main stream media (MSM) website blogs, including the on-line Herald and Salinas Californian that exist out there! If you are interested in being on Monterey County Tea Party's education committee to help us write articles of interest for posting on the website - or on newspaper blogs, etc. - email: speak-up-merica@sbcglobal.net

5. Become involved and volunteer. If you are interested in getting involved and helping with the next rally or with any other activities - please let us know. We need you! Send an email to

paul@mcpaint.com

News Article That Appeared in Monterey Peninsula Herald re: Tax Day Tea Party Held In Monterey on 4/15/2009

NEWS ARTICLE THAT APPEARED IN HERALD RE: "TEA PARTY" TAX DAY RALLY- HELD ON 4/15/2009:

Monterey: Protesters fed up with government spending
By LARRY PARSONS Herald Staff Writer
Updated: 04/16/2009 08:02:17 AM PDT

A tea party protest drew about 600 people in Monterey on Wednesday, all voicing their fervent displeasure with taxes, government spending and the Obama administration. Carrying wind-whipped signs and American flags, the crowd lined the sidewalk at Window on the Bay Park on Del Monte Boulevard for two hours as afternoon commuters drove by. It was among dozens of Tax Day Tea Party demonstrations across the country. Unlike several of the protests that featured top Republican Party figures and Fox News commentators, the Monterey crowd did its own speaking with signs condemning "pork" spending, taxes, illegal immigration, government bailouts, big government and the "change" promised by President Barack Obama.

There were Libertarians, stalwart Republicans and people who said they voted for Republican John McCain in November, but now consider themselves political independents. Brian McLaughlin, a 30-year-old student, wore a gray-and-white shirt that demanded "End the Fed." The Libertarian said the Federal Reserve's power to set interest rates represents the most onerous tax against "the poor and middle class."

Steve Lang, a 48-year-old Marina artist, carried a sign that declared "We Don't Want Obama's Fed-Zilla Government." He said the protest gave him and like-minded anti-Obama people the opportunity "to stand up and say, 'No more' to federal spending." On other side of Del Monte, about two dozen people carried Obama banners and pro-administration signs, including "I'm a proud American taxpayer," along with Libertarian-themed messages against big government.

Sean McCain, a Pacific Grove Libertarian, held a sign that said, "It's not about right or left. It's about truth. No more corruption." Lawrence Samuels, an organizer of the event and a Libertarian, said the turnout was great. He said he hoped it would help bridge the gap between people upset about taxes for military spending as well as other government programs.

"A lot of people don't like the Republican Party either," he said. "(It is) part of the problem."

Paul Bruno, a Monterey resident and state Republican Party officer, looked at the crowd and was all smiles. He said it was a true grassroots gathering, brushing aside critics who claimed the national Tea Party campaign was underwritten by GOP leaders and wealthy conservatives.

"I'm here as a taxpayer," Bruno said. "It's important we stand up so our government can hear us." The mood of the crowd appeared upbeat and buoyant. Libertarians wearing small pastel-colored buttons walked beside people carrying billowing "Don't Tread on Me" flags. Several protesters brought young children. Ed Mumm, a 72-year-old beekeeper from Watsonville, toted a sign that said, "Obama — Commander in Thief." He said politicians are taking "all of our money, from our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren."

Many carried signs against the president, but they were outnumbered by placards bearing more generic slogans against taxes, pork spending and politicians in general. William Miller, an unemployed Santa Cruz construction worker, had a two-sided sign that said "Flush the two-party septic tank in Washington D.C." on one side and "Enforce immigration laws" on the other.

"Our government is no longer responsive to the people of this country," said Miller, who fiercely criticized free-trade agreements.

Brian Scarr, a Salinas salesman, wore a red shirt with a yellow hammer-and-sickle and carried a flag with the same design and one word: "Change." He said some people didn't understand his ironic intent. "Some people think it's pro-Obama," he said. That's 180 degrees from the direction that Scarr said he sees the country going. "This country is headed toward communism," he said. "I hope the president opens his eyes and realizes there is a large group of people opposed to his policies."

Jeff Nadler, a maintenance worker at Salinas Valley State Prison, said freedom and capitalism are under siege. He said he is worried about reports that the Obama administration wants to set up forced indoctrination schools for children. "We're under an obvious threat of government intrusion into every aspect of our life," he said. Others didn't hold views quite so extreme.

Dorcas Miller-Gash, a Salinas hairdresser, said she wasn't protesting anything in particular, but wants politicians to be careful with public money.

Spencer Critchley, a spokesman for the Monterey County Democratic Party, watched the tea party demonstration from the other side of Del Monte. He cited the Obama administration's tax cut that he said would benefit most taxpayers. "People have the right to their own opinion," he said. "But they don't have a right to their own facts." But he did concede that, as a percentage of income, poor and middle-class taxpayers "have a heavier tax burden" than wealthy Americans.

A few feet away, Sam McNeely, a CSU-Monterey Bay student and Green Party member, held a sign that said, "Tax the Rich." He explained, "I came down to see what was going on. I liked the sign." Asked about the tea party rally across the street, McNeely said, "What you have there is a rebellion of the bourgeoisie."

Larry Parsons can be reached at 646-4379 or lparsons@montereyherald.com.