All it took for Tea Party members to become completely energized at a morning immigration rally was a few children, a little singing and a lot of Michele Bachmann.
Tea Party protesters gathered outside of the Capitol at the all-day immigration press conference — hosted by U.S. Reps Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and Steve King (R-Iowa) —because, as Bachmann (R-Minn.) said, there hasn’t been much of an immigration conversation inside of Congress.
The rally’s purpose — which was to raise concerns over the current immigration legislation — was met in full when the Minnesota congresswoman promised the audience that their large gathering was surely a sign that their concerns would be heard.
“Very quickly we are observing a nation that we no longer recognize,” Bachmann said. “And by that I mean it has nothing to do with the color of anyone’s skin, it has nothing to do with anyone’s ethnicity. It has to do with our American creed.”
Further cementing herself into the hearts of Tea Party members gathered, Bachmann called for all children under the age of 18 to accompany her onstage, with the Capitol building looming behind her. When talking about immigration legislation, especially in reference to amnesty, Bachmanm reminded the crowd to think about America’s youth.
“Let us too look into the face of the future,” Bachmann said. “They’re beautiful and they’re here and they’re among us and we love them. Out of a heart of compassion and love, don’t we want for them what every prior generation wanted for us and gave us — a better future, a higher standard of living?”
Holding a baby in a yellow onsie, Bachmann asked the crowd, “Is it compassionate to ask Baby Tara in the future to potentially pay what some experts are estimating as much as 75 percent of her future income to keep this welfare state going?”
With the current economic state of the country, Bachmann said that not supporting open borders isn’t a sign of lack of compassion. Instead, she said that the nation’s financial status is at the worst place in time to take on the expensive task of granting complete amnesty.
“Amnesty costs a fortune,” Bachmann cried. “Amnesty could also cost more than just money. It could cost a nation.”
Even Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had a little hand in helping to power up the Tea Party at the Immigration Rally. Bachmann read part of an article in which Reid promised to push the Gang of Eight’s immigration bill through the Senate by the end of the week. Reid’s plan —and mere name— invited a strong chorus of boos from the crowd.
But before Bachmann could speak to Tea Partiers gathered at the Immigration Rally — and lead them in a sole chorus of “God Bless America” — Capitol Police were attempting to detain members at a separate rally at the front of the Capitol.
King’s six-hour protest coincided with the Tea Party’s “Audit the IRS” rally held on the West Lawn of the Capitol, and as attendees from the immigration rally attempted to move to the IRS gathering, Capitol Police tried to stop them — without success.
