Tea Party Organizers Want to Keep Politicians Out
Tea Party organizers said they won't allow elected officials or candidates to speak
Friday, Jul 3, 2009 | Updated 8:31 AM CST
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Protesters wave signs during a "tea party" demonstration in Lafayette Park across from the White House on April 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Photo credit KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)
Organizers of America's Tea Party hope to attract 50,000 people to Southfork Ranch on the Fourth of July.
But Gov. Rick Perry, who in April fired up an anti-tax "tea party" with his stance against the federal government and for state rights, was not invited to speak, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Dallas Tea Party organizers said they have accepted no support from any political party and won't allow any elected official or anyone running for office to speak.
Phillip Dennis says they plan to celebrate the "original Declaration of Independence signed in 1776" with a goal of getting like-minded middle-class taxpayers active in the political process.
Perry, meanwhile, is planning to speak at four tea parties across the state.
Copyright Associated Press
Posted Thursday, Jul 16, 2009 - 8:46 PM CST
