Chicago Tax Day Tea Party Rally
Speech by Joel B. Pollak
Republican Nominee for U.S. Congress
9th Congressional District of Illinois
Chicago Tax Day Tea Party Rally
Daley Plaza, Chicago, IL
April 15, 2010
12:30 p.m. CDT
Hey Chicago!
Welcome to everyone from the Tea Party!
And welcome to everyone who is crashing the Tea Party!
You know, a year ago, I did not know much about the Tea Party.
But I heard that my representative in Congress, Jan Schakowsky, had attacked the Tea Party.
She said you were tools of the “Republican lobbyists and politicians.”
She said you were being “promoted by corporate interests.”
She said you were “cheapen[ing]…American history.”
She said you were “shameful.” She said you were “despicable.”
And I say: wait a minute.
These are Americans exercising their–our–constitutional rights.
Congress might not like the message. But Congress gets paid to listen!
And if you don’t listen–you leave!
I’ve been to a couple of Tea Party rallies now. And I have learned more about what you stand for:
More freedom, and less government.
Higher jobs, and lower taxes.
Stronger allies, and weaker enemies.
And most of all, you stand for the U.S. Constitution. And I respect that!
Let me tell you–I would have nothing to do with this group or any other group if it were racist or homophobic or antisemitic or anything like that in any way.
And neither would you!
So be proud of being here today. And keep holding politicians–like me–accountable.
I do think there is one thing the Tea Party needs, though:
The Tea Party needs a new song!
Every great American protest movement has had a folk song or two.
So I took the trouble to write you a little tune.
You know, they say if you play a country song backwards, you get your wife back, your job back, and your house back.
I think what America needs is a backwards country song!
So that’s what I wrote for you. I call it “The Ballad of the Tea Party.”
Let me teach you the chorus–repeat after me:
Hey, hey, what do we say?
American freedom is here to stay!
Hey, hey, what do we say?
Don’t tax our freedom away!
(Song)
Thank you, Chicago!
My name’s Joel Pollak, and I’m running in the 9th district.
Let’s roll!
The Ballad of the Tea Party
by Joel Pollak (R)
Nominee for Congress – 9th District, Illinois
On a cold night in Boston, three ships in the dock
With their valuable cargo still waiting to stock
But the colonists won’t pay the duty on tea
And the governor won’t let the ships out to sea
(Chorus)
Sing – hey, hey, what do we say?
“American freedom is here to stay!”
Hey, hey, what do we say?
“Don’t tax our freedom away!”
Now the Crown has been adding new fees by the score
And the people don’t think they can bear any more
Yet they don’t have a vote, so they don’t have a say
And they’re starting to talk about breaking away
(Chorus)
Now the people have gathered ‘round the Old Meeting House
If the governor listens, they’ll still hear him out
But Sam Adams, he reads the report with a frown
So the people decide that the tea must do down
(Chorus)
So they don their disguises and clamber aboard
And the governor’s tea is soon tossed overboard
And the news spreads throughout the thirteen colonies
That our country’s new motto is “Don’t Tread On Me.”
(Chorus)
Now today we have gathered–young, old, black, and white
And we’ve all got the vote, so we don’t need to fight
But if Washington taxes our future away
Then we’ll throw them all out on Election Day!
(Chorus)
