Palin backs Angle in Reno speech

RENO - Sarah Palin regaled a crowd of more than 500 Monday with attacks on liberals, the "liberal mainstream media" and Republican leaders who she said "don't get it."

Speaking from a stage set up in the parking lot of a closed Smith's Supermarket, Palin compared the Tea Party movement with the Boston Tea Party of 1773, telling the crowd, "you are patriots doing the same thing now."

It was the kickoff of the Tea Party Express's fourth cross country tour because, as several speakers put it, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is their No. 1 target this campaign season.

"We are not going to work for our government," Palin said. "Government is going to work for us. We have had enough and we are taking it back."

She said voters Nov. 2 should replace Washington incumbents including Reid with conservatives like Sharron Angle.

"We know she will listen, know she will apply those time tested simple solutions," Palin said.

But she told the audience not to take Angle's strength in the polls for granted. Recent polls have the two very close, with Angle a point or two ahead at this juncture.

"Get out on the streets, knock on doors, stuff envelopes," she told them. "Get out the vote for those who know that the government that governs least governs best."

She said the spending policies of Washington, D.C., must change because, "it's unsustainable. We're headed for insolvency."

She blamed politicians - especially Reid: "It's Harry Reid calling the shots, making the policies."

She said Americans want a smaller government that protects the inalienable rights of Americans "from the accumulation of power in a centralized entity."

But Palin made it clear Reid and the Democratic majority aren't the only problem in Washington. She said too many Republicans don't understand the wave of support growing behind the Tea Party and the anger over government waste and interference in the lives of citizens. She said they must stop their opposition and get on board.

Palin later told CNN she doesn't believe the Tea Party will split the GOP in two because she believes Republican leadership will get the message and join the movement. If they don't, she said, the GOP "is through."

She also took several shots at the numerous media outlets covering her speech, calling them "the compliant left wing media," and charging that reporters have distorted the beliefs of Tea Party supporters.

The solution, she said, is to "go around them - go to the people."

Several members of the audience said they have seen Palin before and intend to follow her trip if they can.

Flora Whiteside said she and her husband drove six hours from Ridgecrest, Calif., to hear Palin speak.

"She's awesome," she said.

Amber Dahl of Reno joined the Whitesides, saying: "She's worth it."

Pat Boone said simply "I'm here for our country."