Tea Party protesters rally against big government, massive spending

This Independence Day, many Beaufort County residents found themselves relaxing at the beach, noshing on burgers and watermelon and enjoying the hot, sunny weather.

But a group of about 500 who packed the Hilton Head Island High School Visual and Performing Arts Center spent the afternoon another way -- protesting against taxes.

They were a part of the island's Fourth of July Tea Party -- one of two tea parties held in Beaufort County Saturday. The events were among the 1,900 tea parties held across the country on the holiday, according to organizers.

Paul Boland, a resident of Macon, Ga., who is vacationing on Hilton Head, found details of the event online. After having participated in a tax day tea party in his hometown with his 11-year-old daughter, Amelia, earlier this year, Boland was eager to attend Saturday -- even if it meant being inside on a beautiful day.

"We wanted to show our disapproval of what the federal government is up to these days," he said as Amelia stood by. "I'm concerned about the accumulating debt that my daughter is going to have to pay."

The father and daughter were among throngs of others with similar sentiments who held signs and chanted in opposition to big government spending.

At the center of particular scorn Saturday were the recent cap and trade legislation in Congress and the debate over health care reform.

Patriotically-clad protesters with tea bags strung around their necks marched around the high school theater with signs that read "No career politicians and no socialized medicine" and "Give me liberty -- not debt," among dozens of other home-made placards.

Local politicians echoed the opinions of the protesters.

"The government has raised taxes to an unsustainable level," state Rep. Richard Chalk, R-Hilton Head, said.

Among the day's other speakers were state Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, Beaufort County Republican Party vice chairman Tom Hatfield and local television personalities Ed McCullough and Mary Amonitti.