GT: Tea Party activists demonstrate on tax day

CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES/Front Page, 4/16/2010 by Matt Neznanski [Also see video: Tea Party Protest on Tax Day] - Clint Colpo’s cardboard sign summed up the overriding sentiment in Corvallis on Thursday of people participating in a Tea Party tax day demonstration: “Vote them all out.” ∴ About 130 people gathered, mainly on Harrison Boulevard between Third and Fourth streets, with signs also asking to “Save the Constitution” and “Protect states’ rights,” and carrying yellow colonial “Don’t Tread on Me” flags. ∴ The demonstration drew honks of apparent support from late-afternoon traffic, but also some shouted insults and one-finger gestures of derision. ∴ The event was organized by Americans for Prosperity, a national group that favors removing regulatory restrictions to economic expansion. They set up a table to sell T-shirts and collect signatures. But many in the crowd didn’t want to be pinned down by any group or party affiliation. ∴ “We don’t care about party,” said Nic Oliver of Alsea, who is precinct chairman of the Republican Party in District 14. “It’s supposed to be an honor to serve the people. We need someone who can make it work without more taxes.” ∴ Oliver’s sign read, “We can’t fix stupid. We can vote it out.” ∴ “They know what we want, and they don’t do it. That’s stupid,” he said.

Colpo, of Lebanon, said he objected to government programs such as those to renegotiate mortgages and limit credit card debt liability.

“All through the ’90s and early 2000s, I was disciplined and didn’t get overextended,” he said. “If you’ve got to eat beans and weenies because you made a bad decision, that’s what you should do.”

Rose Cook of Philomath, the Republican candidate for state representative for District 16, which encompasses Corvallis, hitched her campaign to the protest.

“One of the things people are so angry about is not being listened to,” she said. “People I talk to aren’t proud to be Oregonians. We need jobs that aren’t government jobs.”

Richard Parks of Corvallis said he used to identify strongly with the Republican Party, but now is a “conservative independent.” Parks lives on Social Security benefits, he said, but he called for an end to government entitlement programs.

“I would give up all my entitlements if it would save this country, but I already put my money in Social Security. The government blew it away, and it’s not my fault.”

Matt Neznanski can be reached at 758-9518 or matt.neznanski@lee.net

Photo: Nic and Louanna Oliver of Alsea joined 130 other tax-day protesters on Harrison Boulevard on Thursday afternoon. (Andy Cripe | Gazette-Times)