Thousands in D.C. Protest Gov't Spending

Opponents Fill Pennsylvania Avenue, Blasting Obama's Health Care Reform Plan, Other Fiscal Policies

(AP)  Last updated at 6:34 p.m. Eastern

Tens of thousands of protesters fed up with government spending marched to the U.S. Capitol on Saturday, showing their disdain for the president's health care plan with slogans such as "Obamacare makes me sick" and "I'm not your ATM."

The line of protesters clogged several blocks near capitol, according to the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. Demonstrators chanted "enough, enough" and "We the People." Others yelled "You lie, you lie!" and "Pelosi has to go," referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Throngs of people waved U.S. flags and held signs reading "Go Green Recycle Congress" and "I'm Not Your ATM." Men wore colonial costumes as they listened to speakers who warned of "judgment day" - Election Day 2010.

It was the largest outpouring of anger yet against the new administration, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes. At one point, the crowd filled all of Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the Capitol.

The rally was the final stop of the 30-city Tea Party Express, an anti-government movement which gained steam over the summer, Cordes reports.

Other signs - reflecting the growing intensity of the health care debate - depicted President Barack Obama with the signature mustache of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Many made reference to Obama as a socialist or communist, and another imposed his face on that of the villainous Joker from "Batman."

Richard Brigle, 57, a Vietnam War veteran and former Teamster, came from Paw Paw, Mich. He said health care needs to be reformed - but not according to Obama's plan.

"My grandkids are going to be paying for this. It's going to cost too much money that we don't have," he said while marching, bracing himself with a wooden cane as he walked.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

FreedomWorks Foundation, a conservative organization led by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, organized several groups from across the country for what they billed as a "March on Washington."

Organizers say they built on momentum from the April "tea party" demonstrations held nationwide to protest tax policies, along with growing resentment over the economic stimulus packages and bank bailouts.

Armey and other speakers directed their ire at Pelosi - Armey took a photo, telling the crowd he wanted to be able to prove to her they were there.

"If it's necessary, we'll come back here next year," he said.

Many protesters said they paid their own way to the event - an ethic they believe should be applied to the government. They say unchecked spending on things like a government-run health insurance option could increase inflation and lead to economic ruin.

Terri Hall, 45, of Starke, Fla., said she felt compelled to become political for the first time this year because she was upset by government spending.

"Our government has lost sight of the powers they were granted," she said. She added that the deficit spending was out of control, and said she thought it was putting the country at risk.

Race also became an issue when a black Republican leader denounced African-American politicians that she said had an "affinity" for socialism.

"I'm outraged prominent black politicians use the race card" to cover up their failed policies, said Deneen Borelli.

Lawmakers also supported the rally. Rep. Mike Pence, chairman of the House Republican Conference, said Americans want health care reform but they don't want a government takeover.

"Republicans, Democrats and independents are stepping up and demanding we put our fiscal house in order," Pence, of Indiana, told The Associated Press.

"I think the overriding message after years of borrowing, spending and bailouts is enough is enough."

Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., and Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., also spoke at the rally. DeMint said he'd had enough of "Alice in Wonderland" politicians promising more programs at the risk of financial disaster.

"The president has warned us if we disagree with him he's going to call us out," DeMint said. "Well, Mr. President, we are out."

Norman Kennedy, 64, of Charleston, S.C., said he wants to send a message to federal lawmakers that America is "deeply in debt." He said though he'd like everyone to have free health care, he said there's no money to pay for it.

"We want change and we're going to get change," Kennedy said. "I want to see fiscal responsibility and if that means changing Congress that will be a means to that end."

Other sponsors of the rally include the Heartland Institute, Americans for Tax Reform and the Ayn Rand Center for Individuals Rights. Other scheduled speakers included actor Stephen Baldwin and C. Boyden Gray, who worked under the administration of George H.W. Bush.

[vnthend]

Hey, it's not about Bush or Obama, it's about what's best for this country, period. That's what the people who marched and go to these tea parties are all about. It's about America, not partisanship.

[vnthend]

There were hispanic and black protesters there, on t.v. as proof. So I don't think you watched enough t.v. coverage.

[vnthend]

There were thousands upon thousands...look at the pictures and look at the pictures from Obama's inauguration. Not to mention the were many other events linked to the march taking place in other cities AND many VEIWERS at home who couldn't be at any of them! Many at HOME watched and stood behind the march. The main thing is: how much government control and government spending are we goning to allow?

[Conservaliberist]

I didn't see a lot of ethnicity in this protest, mostly white. What am I saying? It's all white. The day Barack Obama became president was a beautiful moment because finally the voice of reason had been heard rather than the voice of ignorance that fueled the Bush administration's heart-wrenching two terms. Republicans get on TV and on the radio and point out all the things wrong with our country, and basically blame Obama. The sad fact is, Bush and his administration of fat cats and oil-guzzling good ol' boys caused most of our current problems. This country is always going to be divided between those that truly care about the future of America and those that care only about abortion, religion, gay marriage, money and race. For now, let the latter feel the pain I suffered for 8 years of Bush's debacle of a presidency.

[badbob007]

http://michellemalkin.com/2009/09/12/yes-the-picture-is-real-nutroots/

It looks like a million + to me!!!!

[actornaught]

Even foxnews.com stated there "tens of thousands" at the rally, and they publicized it!

Figures on how many were clueless kooks that were protesting reality are similar....

[michellecortes]

MATURE COMMENT!

[michellecortes]

THAT 46MILLION INCLUDES ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS....

[bantamei]

I will NEVER vot for anyone these lunatics vote for. One woman said
"the Mulsims are moving in and taking over!" What idiocy. She is either under the delusion that Obama is a Muslim or you can replace the word Muslim with black. The racsim was thick enough to cut with a knife. I don't want a government run by people that these wingnuts vote for.

[jimmyc1955]

Those who are dismissing these protesters are actully missing the whole point. ABC and CBS both reported that many of these folks just showed up. They weren't bussed in, weren't in planned caravans but made their own way to DC.

They are a tip of the iceberg of frustration and anger at the completely out of control spending.

Folks who want to make this a Bush/Obama or Republican/Democrat issue are simply caught in an old time warp. This protest is beyond party affiliations or candidates/representatives. This is about a government that feels no fiscal responsibility to the tax payer. We who have forked over hundreds of thousands in tax money over the years are watching rich Democrats and Republicans, aided by the ultra-rich lobbyists go on mad, wild spending sprees. The goals of those spending sprees are not the betterment of the US but simply a headline grab for their next election.

We simply want our representatives to STOP SPENDING AND PAY DOWN THE DEBT.

I don't care who got us into debt. I won't waste my time with people who say "It was Bush/Reagen" or it was "Clinton/Obama" - that is irrelevent to the current problem.

PAY THE BILL AND STOP SPENDING!!! That is pretty damn clear.

[babooph]

Thousands at the rally? The south must be calming down over the years-did not MILLIONS show up for the Klan rally there in the early 1900s?Those Birth of the Nation days may be fading.

[auntc3]

You forget one thing on your title of this article should read:


Thousands "Republicans" in D.C. Protest Gov't Spending

[jemp1305]

Americans are the most generous people on the face of the earth. Look at the amount of money donated to help the victims of the Tsunami, Katrina, world hunger. These folks donated because they wanted to help others. No one made them. This proposal to force Americans to pay for health care for others is unfair. I propose that those folks (mostly democrats)that insist everyone have health care, donate to a fund to provide health care to those without any. I personally don't feel I should be forced to pay for someone else's medical bils. I already pay for their free housing,day care, free lunches,and free breakfasts. What's next?!

[notsouthern]

Today's Republicon mob are the same folks (closet and embarrassed to admit they were Republicons in the 60's) that spit on returning GI's from active duty in Vietnam.

[davidsjones-2009]

This is the right wing minority kooks that the GOP is forced to address. These wackos believe that we are planning concentrations camps, that death panel are real, that Rush is their "real" leader, that the govt. is going to brainwash our children to be commie reds, that Obama is a Muslim in league with the terrorist, was not born in the US and if we don't believe in what they stand for they will drown us out when we try8 to exercise our first amendment rights. The right wing shock jocks have stirred up a hornets nest with the minority dictating to the majority to think like them or we are commies and should die. LOL

[veteran22]

there is government-run healthcare in Israel too - much of it paid for with massive infusions of American Aid. They have one of the finest health care systems in the world!

[gepat-2009]

Pay no attention to that little mini rally that you see on the TV --- they are inconsequential and have no power --- be gone! Had to really search the MSM sites for info on this 9/12 happening and finally found tiny insertions here and there. Are they that insecure that they have to try to hide the significance of a million plus voters?

I hear Huffington says the picture is fake and the numbers are inflated. There, that should make OBie happier.

[ClaytonBixby]

The right is p-eye-titi-full!! What the hell are they doin out there protesting 'gainst big government, higher taxes and all dat crap? Get your butts back to work !! Someone got to pay for all this.. We can't all get somethin for nutin...

[kansas1946]

Tens of thousands of protesters fed up with government spending marched to the U.S. Capitol on Saturday, showing their disdain for the president's health care plan with slogans such as "Obamacare makes me sick" and "I'm not your ATM."
***********************************

What a bunch of illiterate hypocrites and liars. They are not protesting government spending. If they were, they would have been out there when GWB was spending down the largest suplus in American history to the largest deficit in American history. If these folks were concerned about government spending, they would all have voted for Clinton for his second term. No, they don't care about spending one whit. What they care about is listening to facists like Rush and Beck, and bashing Obama. They have about as much credibility as their hero, Newt, who is hanging out with porn execs now. The right is pitiful.

[Maineiac_Kevin]

Listen to what you are saying to each other....bickering back and forth. "Obama did this because Bush did that" and "Bush did this because Clinton that" like kids arguing on a playground. Libs...I'm not playing your game. I am more ticked off at Repubs than Dems because I actually expected better out of them than what we got (especially in the second term of Bush). No matter which side you stand on, facts are facts and Pres. Obama is trying to 'fundamentally change' America in ways that I dare say MILLIONS of people do not approve of. He is trying to hand out 'candy' to all (except the ultra wealthy) and we cannot afford it. The Chinese are nervous, the dollar is on the brink, predictions of hyper inflation keep coming.
Governement is to big. It was to big when Bush got in and was even bigger when he left. It is now growing exponentially, grabing more and more power and money from us and leaving us with less and less freedoms and money. Stop the nonsense. Vote them OUT!

PS - CBS....there werent "thousands" or even "tens of thousands" in DC...there were HUNDREDS of thousands!