Tea Party Attendees Optimistic About November Election

The mood was optimistic, sometimes celebratory, other times angry, during Saturday's Tea Party rally at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.

Some of the participants said they were there because they feel the United States is going down a dangerous path. They say it's the values of the Tea Party that can help save it.

Government intrusion, rising taxes and repealing health care reforms were just some of the issues on the minds of rally participants.

On Nov. 2, Tea Party supporters say they're hoping to see some changes at the national level.

"I joined the Tea Party a couple of years ago because I'm really ticked off at our federal government," said Ron Spencer, a Livermore resident and construction manager.

He conceded there's not much of a difference today compared with before President Obama took office in 2009.  But Spencer said the ideal would be going back to the days of President Reagan.

Spencer said he hopes Republicans take control of both houses in Congress this election and stop the "radical agenda."

"The major thing is lowering the taxes," he said. "The Democrats just want to constantly raise more taxes and get more from the consumer."

The rally was a family affair for some. Mike and Rizza McCarthy attended with their daughter Amanda. McCarthy takes issue with government policy that he said is against small business owners, who hire employees and create the jobs.  

McCarthy, a counselor at a local county hospital, said he's wary about the reforms to the health-care system.

"You give 30 more million people insurance, someone is going to have to pay," he said.

Pleasanton mom Mary Pacheco, who was at the rally with her two kids, said she is alarmed by the major changes she is seeing in politics and American society. Pacheco said she knows people are worried about health-care coverage and unemployment.

"We have to do something now or it's too late," she said, adding that she hoped more people this election are informed about the candidates and, specifically, Democratic incumbents.

Pacheco said there are those in office who are elected simply because their names are familiar on the ballot.

"I want people to be involved," she said.

A counter-protest by Moveon.org members took place outside of the fairgrounds, but the group had left by 3 p.m.

Pleasanton police who were at the fairgrounds estimated there were 1,000 people ­­at the peak of the event and 2,000 throughout the day.