Janeane Garofalo

There are more than a year since the Tea Party Tax Day on the town of Boston, an event that proved to be the kickoff of an exciting and powerful movement here and across the country. For me personally it was my first foray into political activism. I chose to get involved because I felt it was vitally important for our country. In recent years, I watched our government become more expansive, more powerful, more corrupt and more intrusive in our lives than ever before. Something had happened to our checks and balances.

The arrogance of the Obama administration has castrated our Constitution cry in the corner. But the question of redistribution of wealth was more than I could take. Like millions of others, I'm tired of yelling at my TV and decided to find an outlet for my growing frustration. Attending my first Tea Party was almost a religious experience (relax, I said almost). The most profound for me was the feeling that I was not alone. I had never been so outspoken about politics before. Although I often disagree with my friends and colleagues about certain issues, I usually just my tongue rather than risk alienating me. At meetings of the Tea Party I felt at ease among a diverse group of like-minded, passionate people. I finally could "be out" as a conservative without being marginalized.

As I emerged to my chrysalis conservative, I quickly discovered that the defenders of the welfare state would not go quietly. However, nothing could have prepared me for malice and slander that would follow. I am now convinced that when the Liberals can not debate an issue on the facts they use their signing of the movement of personal attack. True to form, the Obama administration - and the mainstream media do their bidding - began relentless denigrating and demonizing the Patriots Tea Party. Let's recap: we have been called an angry mob, domestic terrorists, radical right wing extremists, Astroturf (to Nancy Pelosi) and birthers. Oh, and stop me if you've heard this one before-racist. And do not forget, be labeled tea bagging "the foul-mouthed Janeane Garofalo. Nice, Janeane. Real classy.

I was a little puzzled. Were they not the same liberals who espoused tolerance, compassion and diversity? However, they were downright bad, those who exercise their first amendment. Is this tolerance ends when you disagree with them? They behaved like the bully pushes you down and takes your lunch money. The tactics they have used the right rules for radicals, left on how to organize the community. Their mission is to isolate and ridicule the opposition. If they thought that by doing so, they would discourage others from joining our movement, they were sadly mistaken. Much to their dismay, the opposite proved true. The American people have continued to wake up and came out of nowhere to join our ranks.

On September 12, 2009 I attended (at my expense) the huge rally called to Washington in March. I remember thinking: "How could they ignore us today?" I was incredulous when the mainstream media, posting the equivalent of journalistic misconduct, reduces our numbers and impact. The media reported a number from "tens of people" to tens of thousands. False. I am not a judge of the crowd, but I do not be. There are formulas for estimating the size crowd. Based on aerial photographs of the event and the Park Service reports, it was determined that there were between 1 and 1.5 million people. Thank you FOX News.

Incredibly, with this great crowd, there was no arrest. The Metropolitan Police said that we were the most polite demonstrators they have ever met. When we leave, there was scarcely a piece of trash left on the Gro.