Story Published: Apr 16, 2010 at 10:30 PM PST
Story Updated: Apr 17, 2010 at 1:51 PM PST
With only a handful of counter-demonstrators, supporters of the new patriot movement vowed to go the polls and do whatever else it takes to return what they consider constitutional government to the United States.
"The federal government needs to recognize our rights as states and needs to get out of the states as far as education, as far as forestry, mining, environmental protection, taxes, so on and so forth," said Isaac "Ike" Young, a Republican candidate for the Dist. 6 House seat currently held by Democrat Shirley Ringo.
Dawn Foiles of Moscow said she is a stay at home mom who home-schooled her daughter. She is critical of President Obama and those in his administration.
"Obama is wanting to turn this country into a socialist country and he surrounds himself with socialists and Marxists people and you're judged by the people you surround yourself by," she said.
John Lafer of Potlatch is a board member of the Palouse Liberty Project, the group that organized Thursday's rally. He addressed the crowd, covering a number of topics, including the right to bear arms.
"Keeping our own arms free of federal regulation should not be viewed as some dangerous and kooky extravagance," Lafer said. "It should be viewed as the final roadblock on the way to tyranny."
Tina Trana works with disabled people in Moscow and was on hand to defend the president and the new health care bill.
"I believe that everybody has the right to health care," she said. "Everybody has the human right to come to a country and work hard and support their family. And I personally feel that a group like this (Tea Party) is what's wrong with our country."
Jeff Williams was the keynote speaker at the rally. He is chairman of the Palouse Liberty Project. He offered strategies for taking on the federal government.
"It is a major violation of federal for me to even suggest that you not pay your taxes," he said. "Oops. I've already spoken critically against the government and violated the Patriot Act, so I don't really give a crap. Just make sure that you send me nice care package from time to time. If 50 to 100 people do this, they're screwed. They're easy targets. But if you want to see real change. 50 to 100 million people or more individuals and businesses, just decided to stop sending their taxes to the IRS, it is an immediate game changer. The paradigm shifts overnight."
James Gray of Moscow is retired from the Coast Guard, and a substitute teacher. Gray, an African American, said he did not vote for Obama and that the issues he is concerned about have nothing to do with race.
"Quite frankly I am getting tired of all the things going on in our government," Gray said. "Plus a friend of mine invited me to come out and see what was going on. So I thought I'd come out and become more involved with, I guess, taking the country back."
Some at the rally hold both parties responsible for the growing national debt.
"I guess I don't believe the Democrats are any worse than the Republicans at this point," said Wayne Glassman of Tensed. "They're wasting our money. The current administration is really running us into debt quite quickly I believe. All we have to do is look at other countries and how they've gone bankrupt and I think we're there. I think our nation is in big trouble."
