Face The State Staff Report
For the third time since President Barack Obama came to Denver to sign the nation's $787 billion stimulus bill three weeks ago, conservatives rallied Sunday on the steps of the state Capitol in Denver, this time announcing the creation of a new organization they say they hope will unite free market organizers in lobbying efforts over the next four years.
CU Regent Tom LuceroFTS Staff Photo
About 75 people attended the nearly two hour rally organized by members of the Gadsden Society, where speaker after speaker rallied against the nation's loss of economic and personal freedom. Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier, a Republican, brought raves from the crowd as he intertwined his own personal story with a call to action for attendees. "We should be giving a hand up, not a hand out," he said. Both before and after he spoke, many in the crowd chanted, "Run, Ryan, run!" and "Run for senate!" Frazier, just 31, is currently exploring a 2010 bid for U.S. Senate.
Also speaking was state Sen. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, who spoke passionately about the need for government transparency in the state's special districts. "It is core to property rights," she told attendees. According to Carroll, more than $18 billion of taxpayer money is currently unaccounted for in special districts - an amount greater than the annual state budget. She asked attendees to support Senate Bill 87, a transparency measure designed to bring more accountability to the districts. The bill is expected to come up for a vote on the Senate floor Friday.
The Gadsden Society is named after Sons of Liberty member Christopher Gadsden, the original designer of the yellow "Don't Tread on Me" flag that become a symbol of liberty during the revolutionary era. The society was founded by Dave Williams, legislative director for the Libertarian Party of Colorado, as well as members of the People's Press Collective, an online media group.
As Williams previously told Face The State, organizers are hoping to fill an existing void for a pro-liberty voice at the Capitol by provide testimony on bills moving through the legislature. "The Gadsden Society is going to focus on trying to change policy on the state level," Williams told Face the State on Feb. 17. "A lot of the statewide organizations like the Independence Institute are prohibited from lobbying because of tax rules. We are filling that void as a non-partisan, non-profit, public advocacy group."
On Friday, about 300 activists also took part in a Colorado "tea party," part of a nationwide day of protest. That event followed a Feb. 17 "pork roast," where more than 500 participants took to the Capitol steps as Obama signed the stimulus bill just blocks away at the city's nature and science museum. Fox News commentator Michelle Malkin, who recently moved to Colorado, served pork sandwiches to attendees after speeches concluded.