Pence Defends Tea Party Against Democrat Attack: “Smacks of Desperation”

Joe Schoffstall | July 29, 2010
DONATE
Font Size

U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, delivered the following remarks on the House floor today defending the Tea Party against attacks being hurled from Democrats:

Thomas Jefferson said, ‘When the people fear their government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.’ Make no mistake about it; there is fear in the air. Now, elitists in Washington, D.C. would have us believe that the rising voice of the American people is based on fear, but it’s becoming evident that the real fear is coming from Democrat elitists here in Washington who realize that the people will not be silenced. Yesterday we learned of a new effort by Democrats in Washington to attack American citizens who speak their mind and peaceably assemble as ‘extremists or radicals.’ Demeaning tea party citizens, or other Americans who are simply saying ‘no’ to runaway spending, takeovers and bailouts, is beneath the dignity of a great political party and it smacks of desperation. The voices of the American people, whether the left or the right or the middle, should never be muted or demeaned by the leaders who serve them. When we see baseless smears of good Americans, whose only offense is the exercise of their First Amendment rights of free speech and free assembly, we should see the fear for what it is - the fear of losing an election.
donate