The Independence Day Tea Party in Plains, Georgia attracted an estimated . . . → Read More: Tea Party in Plains, Georgia]]> How did you spend your Independence Day? If you live in Southwest Georgia, did you remember the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence by going to the lake, watching fireworks, or grilling in the backyard or did you go to Plains, Georgia?

The Independence Day Tea Party in Plains, Georgia attracted an estimated crowd of more than 400, not too shabby for a town with a population of 700. We had watermelon, games, and close friends. We gathered in the same spirit of the signers as we took a stand against an out of control government. We even had James Brown, Jimmy Buffett, and Elvis! Okay, James Brown is a pastor from Barnesville that spoke, Elvis was sung by entertainer Jimmy Hudson, and Jimmy Buffett was a llama that shares the same name as the famous performer and is the second famous “Jimmy” in the small town of Plains.

The day started off with the pledge to the flag, an invocation, and gospel music by the Freeman Group. Guest speakers included attorney Bill Moorhead, Pastor James Brown, Tom Knighton, attorney T. Gamble, and Dr. James Hattaway. We also had several people approach the stage for open mic time and Jimmy Hudson performed Elvis classics along with other songs. This was not your standard protest!

I served as the M.C. and between speakers called Representative Sanford Bishop and Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss so they could hear the crowd that had gathered.

Unlike the previous Tea Parties in Leesburg and Albany, this event had a festival appeal. There was popcorn, watermelon, crafts, booths set up for FreedomWorks, Libertarian Party, FairTax, and the Ray McBerry campaign. There were games like horse shoes, ladder ball, sack races and “knock out the pork”, and all of the games included prizes.

If you missed this Tea Party, you missed a chance to have your voice heard by your Representative and Senators, you missed educational speakers, and you missed a lot of fun.

What’s next? On July 17 we will protest outside of Sanford Bishop’s office. Around the same time we will host town hall meetings on the healthcare bill that is being proposed in Washington. There is a national march on Washington scheduled for September 12, 2009. We can no longer point our fingers at others and say they are responsible for the tact that our government has taken. It is time that we roll up our sleeves and do the work to put the greatest nation on the earth back in her rightful place. Please join us!