Tea Party Express brings out protesters

About 250 people filled Carson City's Fuji Park this morning to wave signs and yell chants condemning government spending and health care reform efforts in Congress.

The protesters were participating in a political rally organized by the Tea Party Express II bus tour, a 38-city traveling event sponsored by conservative groups such as Americans for Prosperity and the American Conservative Union that will end Nov. 12 in Orlando after starting on Sunday in San Diego.

It was locally organized by Sue Kyle, a retiree and political activist from Washoe Valley.

Dozens of yellow "Don't Tread On Me" flags flapped in the chilly autumn morning as participants listened to recorded brass bands play patriotic tunes over loudspeakers, followed by Nevada politicos giving speeches.

Assemblyman John Settelmeyer, R-Gardnerville, who is running for the state Senate in 2010, carried a "Beat Reid" sign before addressing the crowd.

"This isn't just about taxes, it's about a loss of freedom," he said, mentioning a meeting at the statehouse Wednesday morning that was reviewing Nevada's tax policy.

Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate Sharron Angle and Robin Titus also addressed the crowd.

During the event, Sue Abrams, 62, was walking her terrier, which was wearing a custom-made sandwich board that read, "I'll keep my bones and kibbles, you can keep the change."

"I'm an American and I'm trying to save our country," said Abrams, a real estate broker from South Shore in Lake Tahoe.

One man carried a sign that read "Taxation w/o Representation = Revolution" while another carried a snow shovel over his shoulder with a photo of President Barack Obama and the message, "Call me when you're shovel ready."

Deborah Johns, vice chairman of Our Country Deserves Better PAC who is traveling in the Tea Party bus tour, told the crowd to vote politicians out of office if they don't adhere to conservative political principles, regardless of party.

"You have got Washington on the run," Johns said. "You have moved them to the defense you are on the offense. You are history-making people."