More than 10,000 people turned out Monday night for a North Houston Tea Party Patriots gathering to protest proposed health care reform and what they called big government spending and overzealous government leadership, according to preliminary attendance figures.Under clear skies and a perfect moon, crowds packed the field at the Sam Houston Race Park and cheered loudly as speakers called for the people to take control of the American government. Wearing slogans that said "Don't Tread on Me" and T-shirts stating, "I am a Tea Party Patriot -- I will defend our Constitution," those attending the event enthusiastically showed support for more constraints on the government and more personal freedom.
"This isn't about 'I can't stand Barack Obama' -- this is about 'I can't stand a government that will tread on me,' " said Houston radio talk show host and TV anchor Joe "Pags" Pagliarulo to a rousing burst of applause from the audience.
"Taxes are going up because we have to pay for health care for people who are here illegally," Pagliarulo said. "We have to pay for health care for people who don't want health care ... We've got a government that's run amok -- we've got a government that doesn't care about you or me. It cares about power, it cares about control."
Attendees stressed that Monday's event -- and their support of it -- was not partisan in nature. Several of those in the audience said they feel all political parties have stopped listening to the people and that voters feel like they no longer have a voice in Washington.
"We vote primarily Republican, but they don't seem to be that much different anymore than Democrats," said Everett Cochran of Montgomery, who attended the rally with his wife, Donna. "Nobody in the party apparently is listening to what the moderates to conservatives are saying -- all they're listening to is the moderates to the liberals."
Laureen Jones and Joan Orozco of The Woodlands said they attended to protest government spending as well as government-run health care.
"Basically, I think the country is going in the wrong direction quickly," Orozco said. "I think the Constitution is being violated. People are tired of being told what the government is going to do to them."
An exact attendance count was not available Monday night, but Sam Houston Race Park officials said preliminary numbers based on turnstiles indicated the crowd exceeded 10,000 people.