Last night I attended a Tea Party in Manassas. As usual I had a good time. The folks were friendly and the event was well organized.

The event organizers, the Manassas Tea Party,  deserve our congratulations and thanks.  The Harris Pavillion turned out to be an inspired choice. The weather was perfect, and there was plenty of parking. Even though political season has yet to arrive, at least 2,500 people showed up. So we needed the parking.  In addition, some folks enjoyed taking advantage of the nearby dining facilities after the event.

All in all, the Manassas Tea Party operated much like a summer music concert; tea party people like that sort of thing.

Nonetheless, people hold tea parties to address serious matters, and the speakers spoke on the serious issues of our day. So we began with a prayer, and we ended our prayers with the Lord’s Prayer. Next we reaffirmed our commitment to the liberty of our fellow men and women. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang our national anthem. Then we listened to the speakers.

• Manassas Councilman Marc Aveni: Aveni emphasized limited government, low taxes and citizen involvement. Citizens must hold their elected officials accountable. Here is a little background on Aveni from the Washington Post.
• Delegate Jackson Miller: As a delegate in the General Assembly, Miller has focused on immigration reform.  Miller wants to implement a 287 G program in Virginia, but the Democrats in the Virginia Senate have thus far blocked his legislation. Miller noted that President Barack Obama’s administration governs against the will of the people, even rubbing salt in their wounds.  He gave as this example, White House Picks Critic of Local Immigration Enforcement for Key Role at ICE.
• Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli: Cuccinelli spoke mostly about his effort to fight government-run health care, that is, Virginia’s lawsuit. Here is a video where he explains his effort.  In the video, Cuccinelli explains what he is doing to defend our liberty — why it is about liberty, not health care — and what you can do to help.
• Delegate Bob Marshall: Marshall drafted the bill Cuccinelli is now using to fight government-run health care, HB 10, the Health Care Freedom Act.  However, Marshall spoke on the broader issues of protecting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and he emphasized Virginia’s critical role.  Marshall demonstrated how, for good or ill, at every step in American history Virginia has taken the lead in deciding our nation’s future. Now we must take the lead to defend the federal system established by our nation’s Founders. We must use a state’s right to fight power grabs by the leaders of our central government.
• Jaimie Radtke, President of Richmond Tea Party, and Chairman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots:  During Radtke’s speech, I found myself distracted. So I did not get to hear it. I just noticed that crowd seemed to like what they were hearing. To see why, check out the video below. In this video, Radtke accepts an award for her efforts at the 3rd Annual Sammies. If you want to know what the Tea Party movement is about, please listen to Radtke and check out tea party websites.
• Dr. John Bruchalski, Founder Divine Mercy Care:  Brunchalski spoke up to defend our right to make our own health care choices. Brunchalski said health care involves more than expertise and technology. Health care is about the relationships people form when they create communities.  We take care of each other, and we have the right to choose the relationships we make. To get some idea of where Bruchalski stands, read this document, Tepeyac Physicians Write on Conscience Protection.
• Sonnie Johnson, the Frederick Douglass Foundation, President, Virginia:  We are told that political speeches bore.  Nonetheless, the vast majority of attendees stayed to the end, and Johnson made waiting to the end worth the trouble. She gave a great speech that mapped the freedom issues we face today to the Declaration of Independence.  Here is a link to videos of Johnson’s speech at a recent Tea Party in Roanoke, VA.

The Manassas Tea Party ended when a lady with a beautiful voice took the podium. She led her audience singing God Bless America.

–Tom Salmon