Conservative Nevada candidates tap Tea Party ire

What began as traditional tax day protests throughout the country became mini Tea Party rallies for conservative politicians plugging their campaigns in Nevada.

In Las Vegas, about 300 people attended a Tea Party rally at Sunset Park on Thursday afternoon. A handful of mostly Republican politicians, including gubernatorial candidate Mike Montandon and U.S. Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian, expressed opposition to higher taxes and government spending.

"People decided they want to stand up for their principles and decide that personal responsibility, individual liberty and self-determination are the foundations of what made us the greatest country in the world," Tarkanian said to thunderous cheers. "Not one entitlement program after another, not government intervention, not government telling us the best way to solve social problems. It's you as individuals who have the right to make those determinations."

Montandon added that expanding government power with taxes "scares" him.

"There really is one thing that scares me, and that's the possibility of getting audited by the IRS. Scares me. The audits scare all of us," Montandon said. "And to think, what would happen when the IRS expands their capability.

"Here in this state, there are a lot of politicians who have drafted bills of a Nevada income tax, trying to bring an income tax to Nevada, be it corporate or personal. Shame on us if we let that happen. This is a good-size group, but it's not enough to sway the vote. We need to get the voters out there."

Members of the Clark County Republicans were also on hand for the event.

Robert Stern of Henderson said voters want to bring fiscal responsibility back to government.

"These are people with a very strong point of view," said Stern, who writes the political comic strip "Microman USA," which is endorsed by Joe the Plumber. "They're very scared. Americans feel like they're being shortchanged by the government. They just have to stop spending. Congress' view is to spread the wealth and create government charity -- to give out, to take care of, to take care of, to take care of. It's not sustainable. It doesn't work, and it's a form of socialism."

About 600 people attended a Tea Party rally in Carson City on Thursday morning. Dozens of politicians, led by Gov. Jim Gibbons and U.S. Senate candidate Sue Lowden, turned out to plug their candidacies and express opposition to higher taxes and national health care.

"Your Constitution has been trampled on and your wallets stolen," said Gibbons, who received more cheers than any speaker during the four-hour rally.

Gibbons touted his move to challenge the constitutionality of the national health care law over the objections of state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat who is seeking re-election.

"I fought in two wars, and I will not stand idly by while your rights are trampled on," Gibbons said from a podium placed on the mall between the Legislative Building and the Capitol.

Lowden told the mainly senior citizen crowd that she shares their anger with what is occurring in Washington, D.C., and asked for help in stuffing envelopes, making telephone calls and doing everything possible to defeat U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

"I am one of them," said Lowden, who with husband Paul wandered among the crowd. "They are frustrated and feel no one speaks for them."

Debbie Landis of the Anger is Brewing organization, which helped organize the rally, said it was a deliberate move by her party for the rally to include political speeches by candidates, unlike the event last year that dealt more with Tea Party philosophy and anger toward government. She said many people are not aware of where the politicians stand on issues.

"Voters are starved for information," Landis said.

A few crowd members expressed disappointment that the event seemed more like a Republican campaign rally than one to express disgust with taxes.

There also were sparsely attended counter-protests in both cities.

Seven people rallied in front of the main Las Vegas post office at 1001 E. Sunset Road.

"Taxes pay for things, like the road you're driving on, and we're not opposed to taxes," said Erin Neff, the group's executive director of ProgressNow Nevada. "We think the system is unfair. And we think completely that reform is necessary. We think there are taxes that are not going to hurt the individual, not going to add to deficits that can be absolutely beneficial."

Neff explained that a broad-based business tax, a constitutional mining tax and a legalized marijuana tax would help boost the economy.

About a dozen counter-protesters, led by Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada members, conducted their own rally in Carson City, across the street from Tea Party protesters.

"I love to pay taxes," said PLAN state Director Bob Fulkerson, explaining that by paying taxes, children can attend schools and the fire department will be at his door within three minutes if he ever needs it.

Contact Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279. Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.