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| Fifth Column | |
| Democrats Complain About Parade Float Honoring Veterans Sponsored By Tea Party | |
| 2010-12-21 | |
| The democrats were not pleased after a Texas tea party group sponsored a float to honor the military in a Texas holiday parade. Local democrats said politics should be kept out of community events.
About 20 people, some wearing military uniforms, were in the Northeast Tarrant Tea Party float during the Dec. 2 Christmas parade through downtown Grapevine. The float was a show of support to the military, said Julie McCarty, president of the Northeast Tarrant Tea Party. Critics said the group itself is a political statement. Some also said they heard people shout politically themed messages from the float, something McCarty said never happened. "I was taken aback that they were allowed in the parade," said Mark Bauer of Colleyville. "I've been to many Christmas parades, and I don't remember any other political groups ever participating." The Tea Party is widely known as a conservative grassroots movement that emerged last year in response to growing government spending. With more than 1,500 local members, "I would simply say that the Tea Party is part of the community," said McCarty of Grapevine. The Tea Party float was one of 123 in the parade, said RaDonna Hessel, president of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the parade. About 30,000 to 40,000 people attended. "It was just a really ugly disruption," said Thompson, former president of the Mid-Cities Democrats. Leslie Miner of Grapevine was not at the parade but was angered when she heard about the Tea Party float the next day. Hessel said Thursday that the chamber received about seven complaints. McCarty said "a handful of naysayers" shouldn't determine whether certain groups are able to participate. Wasn't it thoughtful of the newspaper to hunt up people who had not even been there, just so that they could complain? | |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #9 Buggering each other up the arsehole is a god given right. But taking a liking to one's country is complete heresy. I will make a mental note of this. |
| Posted by: Clomotch Smith5797 2010-12-21 22:18 |
| #8 "Seven people out of 30,000?" OMG, Keenster - that 0.000233%! Oh, the humanity! Guess they'd better make sure those evil T.P. people aren't allowed to sponsor a float again, or the town admin will all lose their jobs when the vast numbers of objectors vote them out. /Sarc |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2010-12-21 15:30 |
| #7 The Tea Party float was one of 123 in the parade, said RaDonna Hessel, president of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the parade. About 30,000 to 40,000 people attended. Hessel said Thursday that the chamber received about seven complaints. Seven people out of 30,000? Wow, sounds like a town-wide outrage. There could be rioting in the streets; better call in Homeland Security before things get out of hand. |
| Posted by: Keenster 2010-12-21 14:43 |
| #6 The left has spoken up for Islam and against Christianity many, many times. Christmas is a major component of the Christian culture. Many TEA Party members are Christian Americans as well as many in the military. For them to express their support for each other's vital role in keeping America free, both on the home front (The Tea Party) and on the battle field is a fundamental right. It is another attempt by the left to try to strip that right to freely assemble, to exercise freedom of religion as ell as freedom of speech away from traditional America. The left should pack up and head to Cuba, Venezuela, Russia or Kenya. |
| Posted by: Spath Stalin4748 2010-12-21 14:37 |
| #5 Critics said the group itself is a political statement. Some also said they heard people shout politically themed messages from the float, something McCarty said never happened. Kinda' like the unproven claims of racist comments directed at members of congress after passage of ObamaCare. /Snark |
| Posted by: WolfDog 2010-12-21 10:56 |
| #4 Yep, terrible it is about soldiers and Christmas. It's not like they get a day off from 'work' so that self important pols can wring their hands. |
| Posted by: P2kontheroad 2010-12-21 10:47 |
| #3 Hey, a*%holes get your own float and STFU. |
| Posted by: bigfingo 2010-12-21 08:07 |
| #2 "This was supposed to be community event designed to focus on Christmas, and there's no place for politics in Christmas," Miner said. "I feel like they got in the back door." No that's after DADT is removed |
| Posted by: Beavis 2010-12-21 07:30 |
| #1 Maybe if the Democrats could stop hating the Military they might get more traction from middle America. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2010-12-21 00:08 |
