Hundreds rally in Metro-East to voice concern over Big Government in Washington and Springfield

About 400 to 500 Metro-East Illinois and Missouri Tea Party Patriots rallied yesterday in the small town of Collinsville, (near E. St. Louis). Republican Congressman John Shimkus was there. Other elected officials joined in the celebration. The local Republican Party had an information booth.

Six members of the Metro-East Libertarian Party set up a World's Smallest Political Quiz table. 60% of the 50 or so dots ended up in the Libertarian square, the other 40% in the high libertarian-leaning Conservative area. Zero scored Liberal or Authoritarian. Though, many expressed support for the Libertarian Party, a common complaint was the worry of splitting the vote with Republicans heading into November.

Top Consevative Blogs has a brief story:

Hundreds turned out today at the Alton Tea Party Movement’s Pre-Tax Day Rally at Woodland Park in Collinsville, Illinois. The park was so crowded that the local police would not allow patriots into the park before the rally. You had to park in nearby lots and walk over. It was a beautiful day in Collinsville. Mike Flynn from Big Government website was the keynote speaker today. Local patriot Stephanie Rubach spoke about health care and family values. Adam Andrzejewski gave a great speech on accountability in government. Jordan from Big Government, former Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski , Mike Flynn.

Rubach gave the biggest crowd pleasing speech. She extolled the crowd to oppose affirmative action, saying she wanted to be judged on her own merit and not because she was Black.

Other speakers of note, Jon David started things off with his rendition of "American Heart." Jim Hoft from St. Louis, and propietor of Gateway Pundit blog also gave a rousing speech.

The mood was not only anti-Washington, and anti-Socialism from the Obama administration. But attendees focused a great deal of their anger towards corruption in Springfield. Encouraged by Andrzejewski they changed Speaker Madigan, "Open up the Books," a reference to Democrats in the State Capitol hiding expenditure reports because of suspected cronyism and illegal political pay-offs.