University Star

Brad Schmidt fittingly quoted Texas hero Davy Crockett.

“‘A government big enough to give you everything, is also big enough to take it away,’” Schmidt said. “That quote is the focus of this rally.”
He, along with about 20 other members of the Young Conservatives of Texas and the College Republicans, gathered Wednesday at the San Antonio Tea Party. The rally was held to protest government spending and taxes. The crowd assembled in front of the Alamo to exercise its First Amendment rights.

Kristopher Infante, Young Conservatives of Texas’ vice president, said there was not a better place to hold the rally.

“It was very symbolic in the way the Alamo was used in the 1800s to protest the way their government was run,” Infante said. “I think we share that, except ours was peaceful.”

The San Antonio Express News estimated the crowd to be in the thousands. Speakers at the protest included radio and TV personality Glenn Beck, who broadcasted live from the event, and rock singer Ted Nugent, who played the national anthem. Both drew a crowd. A Jumbo-Tran TV was placed at Hemisphere Park for the crowd in the back.

Infante, who worked his way to the front, said it was a moving experience.

“It was probably one of the best experiences I’ve had,” Infante said. “A lot of the speakers were motivational and passionate about politics.”

Other cities across the nation held Tea Parties, including Austin. Schmidt said the Young Conservatives of Texas chose San Antonio because it was authentic.

“Politician Rick Perry and others were speaking at the one in Austin,” Schmidt’s said. “That takes away from the idea of the event. I don’t like politicians using this event to improve their campaigns.”

Dylan Matthews, Campaign for Liberty at Texas State leader, and others held a Tea Party in The Quad Wednesday. The crowd of 18 gathered in front of The Stallions to protest the stimulus package and bailout.

“The government doesn’t tell us where our money is going,” Matthews said. “They spend all this money on our banks. We just want to know where it’s all going.”

The Texas State Tea Party had an interesting plan for the protest.

“We are going to march down to the post office and hand out tea bags that people can staple to their income tax envelops,” Matthews said.
Brice Loving, former ASG presidential candidate and declared Democrat, considers the government spending necessary, despite the criticism.

“It’s not fair that we have to bail these businesses out, but if we don’t, then we just stay in a recession,” Loving said. “As far as people protesting, if the companies don’t have money, then the people don’t have jobs to make money to spend it on products, which in turn give the companies money. It is just a huge circle that is lagging momentum. We have to take steps to medicate it, such as the stimulus bill.”

Schmidt said the president was brought in during a tough period.

“I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes right now,” Schmidt said. “But with the bills they are passing through, there is a lot to disagree with. Capitalism allows people to chase the American dream. The more of these policies that go through, the more socialistic environment we will witness.”