Metairie tea party supporters call for less government, more freedom

From the New Orleans Times-Picayune:

About 500 flag-waving activists gathered on the Veterans Boulevard neutral ground in Metairie Thursday to protest big government and voice support for less government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Sponsored by the Greater New Orleans Tea Party, the "We the People" gathering was held in conjunction with Thursday's federal tax deadline.

And

Gisela Chevalier recalled her childhood in Cuba, saying that the socialism she lived under for so many years is making its way to America under the leadership of President Obama and the Democratic Congress.

And

Many waved American flags and carried signs that said "Save Our Constitution," "Repeal Obamacare" and "Just Say No to Big Spending." Some lined up to sign a recall petition against Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana.

More here.

I live in Metairie, and today's protest took place about a block from the restaurant where I work. It strikes me as no accident that the "Greater New Orleans Tea Party" chose to stage its demonstration here, just over the parish line, rather than in New Orleans proper: Metairie, a classic white flight community, which launched Klan leader David Duke to state prominence by sending him to the legislature back in 1989, is by far the most conservative community in which I have lived. And I'm from Texas. Metairie is just perfect for both misguided and psychopathic right-wingers alike.

When a lot of the demonstrators came in for some spaghetti and chicken parmesan after their political action had ended, a liberal friend of mine with whom I work was like, "Ron, are you going to talk to the Tea Baggers?"

I told her that I wouldn't even know what to say. For starters, I'm not even sure what these people believe. All I know is what I've heard second hand, on FOX News, and those shock stories on liberal web sites. But beyond that, I'm pretty sure that the conversation would get pretty absurd within seconds. I mean, they think Obama is a socialist. What am I supposed to do, lecture them on Karl Marx? They want to recall Mary Landrieu from the Senate for being too liberal, even though she's a staunch anti-abortion Democrat, absolutely pro-war, and is totally on the take with Big Pharma; that is, she's pretty fucking conservative. These people don't understand what liberalism or conservatism actually mean. Or so it seems. So I avoided any discussion about politics with them.

Besides, who the fuck wants their waiter talking politics with them?

At any rate, strictly for my own personal financial reasons, I was happy to see them. It's been slow lately, and I was looking at not making much money tonight. Instead, the Tea Baggers came in and gave me some business. And for that, I'm thankful. Not bad tippers, either.

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