9/12 Themes Echo Loud in DC

Jillian Bandes | September 12, 2010 2:20 PM

This year's 9/12 crowd is maybe a fifth as big as last year's, but it's still a formidable gathering, especially considering the rain and Glenn Beck's recent 8/28 rally. The themes are the same: small government, lower taxes. But participants have upped the ante with the kind of creative signage and refined messages that are the product of people who have clearly done this before.

The events began on the Washington Monument, where a nondenominational religious service was held at 10am. It was followed by presentations from local tea party leaders, who eventually led the march down Pennsylvania Ave. to the Capitol. There, Dick Armey gave a speech, accompanied by his wife.

There is only one power on this earth big enough to destroy this country: its government.

Tito Munos, a Spanish radio host, stole the show with a passionate speech on his transition to the US from his home country of Columbia.

Our job is to fight the socialist red coats in America!

A host of other speakers rallied the crowd, including Rep. Mike Pence, who received chants of "Sign the contract!" The crowd was ostensibly referring to the GOP's "Young Guns" platform, put out by Reps. Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan and Kevin McCarthy, which Pence has been "shut out of," according to Politico.