State Attorney General Rob McKenna Addresses Protest of Tax Day; Counter Protesters Rally Across the Street

Fresh off of last year’s political gains by conservative candidates, about 100 people gathered at Bellevue City Hall for a Tax Day rally Friday to press their message of fiscal conservatism and goal of unseating President Barack Obama next year.

Republican state Attorney General Rob McKenna joined the speakers at the rally, organized by members of the Tea Party movement, the Republican Party and other conservative groups.

He focused on the Constitution, including how his office’s involvement in a lawsuit challenging the national health care reform bill that passed last year was based on preserving citizens’ constitutional rights.

"Whether or not we recognize there are limits to the power of the federal government, I am here to tell you that there are, and we will defend them," he said.
McKenna, who lives in Bellevue, rallied the crowd and told them it was still important to continue to campaign.

“In 2010, people who believe this country has been headed in the wrong direction formed a movement, came together in a powerful coalition that made significant change in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “But it didn't just happen there. From school boards to city councils, from the legislatures to statewide offices all the way up to the Congress, and in 2012, I think, the White House, this movement is going to continue. It is going to turn this country in a better, stronger direction."

Rally organizer Suzanne Pak of Song Of Truth Foundation said there are three things the group wants to focus on: “innovation, engagement and outreach.”
“2010 was an amazing year for us,” Pak said. “We had 300 people here.”

Friday’s rally was also organized by Mark Sussman of the Washington Conservative Enthusiasts and included radio host Mike Siegel, Bellevue Deputy Mayor Conrad Lee and others.

The Tea Party movement, which gained momentum last year, centers on deregulation and lowering taxes, though there is a variety of beliefs on other social issues, such as the legality of abortion and gay marriage.

“We are fighting for fiscal conservatism, so we can bring back health and human services and fund higher education,” Pak said.

“Most people will focus on the key issue of health care,” and the health care reform package Congress passed last year, she said. “That’s really what spurred us last year.”

People came from as far away as Shoreline to participate in the Bellevue rally, including Ava Zsido, a member of the Tea Party in Shoreline.

“I believe that we are taxed enough already and we should show our politicians that we want them to do something about it,” she said. “They just talk around the issue.”

About 30 people gathered across the street for a counter-protest, carrying signs that said, “Close Loopholes, Not Schools,” and “Fund Human Need Not Corporate Greed.”

Progressive group Fuse Washington organized the counter-demonstration and planned others in Olympia and Bellingham.

“What we’re saying is when taxes are at their lowest in decades, it’s not the time to cut programs for kids, women’s health and veterans,” said Jim Dawson, organizer with Fuse Washington, who was dressed as the Mad Hatter --who ran the Mad Tea Party in the book “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

“Instead, cut the tax breaks for the millionaires and billionaires,” he said. “Those are the cuts we should be making.”

Marilyn Hall of Bothell came to the counter-rally to protest the Tea Party.

“I feel really strongly about showing that the Tea Party isn’t a group promoting American ideals,” she said. “There are ways to help out families through this recession that don’t involve eliminating services.”

She also said that McKenna’s presence at the Tax Day rally may hurt his chances for future voter support with people who are politically moderate. McKenna has been in elected office since 1995, starting with the Metropolitan King County Council, and has some support by some Republicans to run for governor in 2012.

“He says he is a moderate, but aligning himself with the Tea Party shows otherwise,” Hall said.

After the speech, McKenna spoke to reporters, saying in response to a question about whether he plans to run for governor that he will decide after the legislative session ends.

Coverage of the second rally, organized by the Issaquah Sammamish Tea Party, is at .