ORLANDO, Fla. — Organizers expected as many as 1,500 people in downtown Orlando Saturday afternoon. Instead closer to eight hundred people showed up. It was another Tea Party to protest what they see as out of control government spending and higher taxes.
It was cold Saturday afternoon, but that didn't stop revolutionary war hero look-a-likes Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross and hundreds of others from gathering outside City Hall for the Orlando Tea Party Hob Nob and Straw Poll.
"I think this is a good way to send a message to those in Washington. I love it. I'm going back to Washington again this summer with a tea party," attendee Peter Weldon said.
Named after the iconic Boston incident back in 1773, this Tea Party is a part of a new wave of protests that have been coordinated in the U.S. since 2007. Most participants said they opposed big government, President Barack Obama, and the stimulus package, which they argue is wasteful government spending.
There were about two dozen local, state and federal candidates for office taking part in the event. They setup booths and handed out fliers.
Vying for political power, they also spoke to the crowd.
Alexander Snitker, the Libertarian Senate candidate, was there.
"I don't believe that government is truly listening to the people and it's not a left or a right issue, it's more of a big government issue versus those looking for a more limited federal government," he said.
Matthew Falconer, the Republican candidate for Orange County mayor, was also in attendance.
"I think government today is taxing people out of all their disposable income. The government is largely the cause of depth of our recession," he said.
They did have some opposition
William Turnbull Jr. practiced his first amendment right across the street.
"President Obama's doing the best he can. If we don't cooperate and pull together as a nation we're going to perish," he said.
The event ended with a straw poll, which organizers say allowed the candidates to measure the political pulse of the Tea Party movement.
WFTV
