No Cuts, No Government, Says Tea Party

By Rachel Whitt

A modest gathering of Tea Party activists joined together on the Capitol lawn Thursday to send a clear message to their freshmen representatives: cut spending, even if it means curtailing the government.

“If Liberals in the Senate would rather play political games and shut down the government instead of making a small downpayment on fiscal discipline and reform, I say shut it down,”  Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) told the rally.

The assembled audience responded with chants of “shut it down” and “cut it or shut it” while waving signs, some of which included calls for the impeachment of President Obama.

“They are printing money like crazy, [Congress] is out of touch,” one demonstrator told TRNS. “They don’t get it.”

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), the chair of the House Tea Party Caucus, called on members of the rally to “stand strong” and “hold accountable” members of congress who have made promises regarding long term spending cuts and deficit reduction plans.

“You sent your voice to Washington DC and you expect that your voice will be heard,” Bachmann said. “I agree with you.”

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tx.) also called for accountability on behalf the American people, saying any members of Congress not being true to their word should be shown the door.

“If we don’t [keep our promises], we deserve to be thrown out of office,” Gohmert said. 

Thursday’s rally was the first major Tea Party event in the capital since the mid-term elections in November. It was organized by the group Tea Party Patriots.