Conservatives rally in Raleigh

RALEIGH -- In a political rally that at times seemed like a religious revival, more than 400 demonstrators marched at the State Capitol on Saturday to protest higher taxes and Democratic federal health care legislation.

Between patriotic and Christian tunes, conservative activists complained that America is going in the wrong direction because it's departed from the Christian values they say the nation was founded on. Rampant federal spending and a loss of personal liberty, they contended, would result from the potential passage of a health care reform bill supported by the Obama administration.

"Freedom is a gift given to mankind by the lord almighty and it's the duty of the government to protect that freedom," said former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who helped create the Republican Party's Contract With America plan in 1994. "That's the first duty of government."

Armey now leads a small-government advocacy group called FreedomWorks that helped organize Saturday's rally. The group has participated in the Tea Party movement, in which conservatives across the country are protesting the spending the Obama administration and the Democrat-controlled Congress.

During the rally, protesters were urged not to pause on the phrase "one nation under God" when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was a frequent target of ridicule on Saturday.

"Speaker Pelosi, you have a responsibility for my liberty, not my liver," Armey told the crowd. "I'll take care of my liver myself."

A man who identified himself as Hust USA rallied protesters marching from the Halifax Mall behind the legislative building to the Capitol building. He drew cheers as he repeatedly asked the crowd whether they thought Pelosi was psychotic and President Obama was a liar.

Activists held up signs with messages such as "If You Voted For The Bailout We'll Kick Your Tail Out" and "Stop Spending My Kids' Future."

Some signs had more religious overtones: "Jesus makes the right Change not Obama" and "Islam Let's Go On Their Record."

Many protesters were upset when the State Capitol Police said they couldn't march with signs on sticks or flags on poles if there were counter protesters. The state Department of Administration bars such displays because the sticks could become weapons. Lenora Mitchell, deputy chief of the State Capitol Police, said authorities were making a concession to allow the group to carry such flags as long as there was no threat of confrontation.

Frank Nichols of Wilmington was reluctant to give up the American flag he was carrying. Protesters frequently took Nichols' picture as he was dressed in an American Revolutionary War uniform.

"If I inspire people, I've done my job," said Nichols, 55, who has been at nine anti-tax rallies this year. "That's what we have to do, inspire people to speak."

In the end, protesters were able to keep their signs and flags because no opposition protesters were present.

Local Democratic political strategist Perry Woods, who biked by the event, noted that the only minorities he could see at the rally were journalists.

Rob Jester, 42, who lives near North Raleigh, was pleased to see so many people at the rally who shared his fears about the direction of the country.

"It's quite encouraging to see so many other people who are concerned about liberty."

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