Gibbons, Lowden lead Tea Party rally

CARSON CITY – Led by Gov. Jim Gibbons and U.S. Senate candidate Sue Lowden, dozens of mainly Republican politicians turned out Thursday at a Tea Party rally attended by about 600 people 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 Tax Day rally.

Gibbons pointed out his move to challenge the constitutionality of the national health care reform law over the objections of state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat who also 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 her husband Paul wandered among the crowd for most of the rally. "They are frustrated and feel no one speaks for them."

Despite perfect weather conditions, the turnout was estimated at 500 to 600 by Legislative Police Chief Bob Milby, less than one-third of a similar rally that attracted 2,000 last year.

"They were nice people," Milby said about the cowd.

Debbie Landis, of the Anger is Brewing organization that helped put on the rally, said she was not disappointed by the turnout. Landis said only one local radio station publicized the event and some people might not have known about it.

Landis said it was a deliberate move on 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.

Her organization videotaped the speeches and intends to check whether candidates keep their promises. She said her group and dozens of others that share Tea Party views of lower taxes and the strict following of the Constitution intend in coming weeks to endorse Nevada candidates.

But Landis added the national Tea Party Express did not consult her or other Nevada followers of Tea Party principles before announcing earlier Thursday that it was endorsing Sharron Angle's candidacy for U.S. Senate.

Lowden's only comment on Angle winning the endorsement was that "in politics everything is fair."

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

"They decided to take advantage of the situation," said John Nygard of Coleville, Calif. "They all say they hate taxes and want less government. They are reiterating what they know the people here want."

But Gary Duff of Reno said he didn't think it was a partisan political rally, but "just middle American people" unhappy with Washington, D.C.

Only one African-American person, Orlie Trone, of Fernley, was seen in the crowd.

"This is not about pigment, it is about principles," said Trone who held a "Tea Party Against Tax Tyrants" sign.

"Obama is taking us to socialism."

Gary Sloan, a retiree from Susanville, Calif., wore a "political dissent is not racism" button and said too much is made by the media about the lack of minorities at Tea Party events.

White or black, most people want America to return to "conservative values and to see our money is wisely spent," he added.

Across the street, a dozen or you counter-protesters lead by Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada members conducted their own rally.

"I love to pay taxes," PLAN state Director Bob Fulkerson said.

By paying taxes, children can attend schools and the fire department will be at his door within three minutes if he ever needs it, he explained.

Jan Gilbert, PLAN's legislative lobbyist, said most of the crowd on the mall were senior citizens who are now or soon will receive Social Security and Medicare, government programs that some have labeled socialist.

Gilbert said the crowd was far smaller than last year and maybe people are not as angry with government as some conjecture.

"I wonder if what they are mad about more than anything else is the economy," she said.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.