“We want capitalism back,” said Brenda Schmitt of Beavercreek. She and fellow Beavercreek Liberty Group member Bre Mahaney said they got involved with the Tea Party because they were sick of the government taking too much control.
“We hate being told what to do,” said U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, to one of the most resounding cheers of the night. “We actually value this thing called freedom.”
The night included historical re-enactors, colorful T-shirts proclaiming “BF (Ben Franklin) is my BFF,” a rap by Abe Lincoln, and American flags waved and worn in every possible way.
From bailouts to health care, the message to Washington was shouted, literally at times, with “Fire ‘em!”, and “Repeal it!”
Keyes encouraged the nostalgic tone and shouts for change with his answer to the opening question, “We want a Tea Party that looks back to the spirit of 1776,” he said. “A real Tea Party understands that no matter how much you like tea, if it comes at the price of your liberty you will throw it in the ocean and tell them no.”