IT SEEMS the organizers of Saturday’s “tea party” on the Mercer County Courthouse lawn need to get a little more organized.
The Patriotic Tea Party, as it’s dubbed, is sponsored by the Mercer County Christian Coalition and set for 10 a.m. That much we know for sure. What it’s about, well, it depends on whom you ask.
When we heard about the “party” we contacted the president of the Christian Coalition, Vivian Moon of Mercer, to find out what it was about.
Mrs. Moon described the event to us and in a brief Friday we reported she told us it was about “social issues and the breakdown of the family” and would feature patriotic music and hymns.
You don’t have to be a political scientist to recognize the code words of the religious right and come to the conclusion that the tea party would provide a platform for anti-abortion, anti-gay and anti-Obama sentiment.
Turns out that’s not really what it’s about. Another person involved in organizing the event contacted us soon after the brief was published. According to Eiline Urmson, the party is a protest of reckless government spending, the ballooning national debt and government takeovers of private businesses.
We’ll take Mrs. Urmson’s word for it that Saturday’s party is more about irresponsible spending and taxes than it is about gays and guns, but it’s pretty clear the organizers stand on the right of the political spectrum.
And it’s also pretty clear — as evidenced by the mixed messages coming from the organizers — that the turmoil brewing for those on the right nationally is playing out here in Mercer County.
On one side are the family values voters to whom the key issues in any campaign are a candidate’s stance on abortion and gay marriage. On the other side are those who are less concerned about with whom you’re sleeping than they are about lower taxes and smaller government.
We expect people from both sides will be in Mercer Saturday and so will we.
Whatever the event is specifically about is of less interest to us than the fact that on Independence Day, some people will be exercising their rights — to freely assemble, speak their minds and question authority.
Opinion
OUR VIEW: Tea Party-goers exercise unique American freedoms
- Opinion
-
-
Juicy tips will be far fewer without ‘Scoop’ on the phone
I enjoyed calling him Scoop. I was the newspaper guy, but for more years than I can remember, Gary Douglas was at the other end of phone calls on a regular basis.
“Did you hear about this? Did you hear about that? Did you hear about so-and-so? Better check this out. I’ll bet you haven’t heard about this.”
That usually was the flow of the conversation. Most of the time he was right. Some of the tips turned into stories that were fit to print, and others not so much.
-
The only thing we have to fear is fear-mongering
To hear some folks tell it, it’s no longer morning in America, it’s five minutes to midnight. They say the United States, once the greatest nation on Earth, is today on a glide path to the ash heap of history.
-
Super Bowl Sunday brings a super boost for the local economy
The game is more than a glitzy international event. It serves as a one-day boon to local economies like ours here at home.
-
Punxsutawney Phil, Mitt and a litany of bad GOP hopefuls
Here are some thoughts from a guy who doesn’t put a whole lot of stock in rascally rodents that make weather forecasts.
-
In Ed Likovich’s yard, apples don’t fall very far from the tree
Adage tells us that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. It really applies to the Likovich family of Hermitage, specifically Ed the father and teacher and Ed the son and student.
-
A smaller state legislature? Don’t hold your breath
Don't tell me that our state General Assembly is finally going to do what should have been done many years ago – cut the size of the Legislature.
-
A sad end to life: History will determine JoePa’s legacy
I had the privilege, yes privilege and honor, of meeting Joe Paterno several times in my life, both as a student at Penn State and in my role as editor of The Herald. It was with a heavy heart when I learned that he was near death during the Mercer County Hall of Fame’s annual dinner at the Park Inn by Radisson Saturday, and that he had died Sunday.
-
OUR VIEW: Dearth of candidate interest defies worth of legislative races
In case you hadn’t noticed, this is an election year. Actually every year is, but this is one of the big ones. Sure, there’s some sort of presidential race going on, but that’s just a sideshow to where the real action in this year’s election is – or at least should be.
Voters across the country will be electing every member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and here in Mercer County voters will help decide who represents three state House districts. -
Hall of Fame weekend stirs memories of ‘good old days’
Is there anything better than reminiscing about the “good old days”? That’s why I love the Mercer County Hall of Fame’s annual induction weekend.
-
We couldn’t fool anyone - the neighborhood always snitched
An old African proverb tells us that it takes a village to raise a child. At least two books drawing lessons from the proverb have been written, including the most famous in 1996 by Hilary Clinton, “It Takes A Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us.”
- More Opinion Headlines
-
