Politicians, 'Joe the Plumber' Deliver Conservative Perspectives at Tea Party Rally

Tea Party rallies are not for the faint of tongue.

On Sunday, roughly 3,500 conservative folks poured into to attend the and express their views on everything from tax reform and deficit issues to domestic oil drilling and restricting the government's reach in free markets.

People waved signs, dressed in their best red, white and blue duds and cheered for each politician who hit the main stage. Several local right-wing groups set up tents and spread their messages as well.

"We're here to retire President Barack Obama, (Sen.) Sherrod Brown, (Rep.) Betty Sutton and others who are running this country into the ground," said Akron Tea Party member Tony Ziehler. "It's about changing the direction of this country and we want people old and young to get involved."

Here's what the politicians had to say:

Ohio Rep. Kristina Roegner (R-42)

• Talking points: fiscal responsibility, constitutionally-limited government and free markets.

• When elected in 2010, Roegner and peers faced an $8 billion budget deficit, a 9.6 percent unemployment rate and dismal job creation (48^th in the nation).

• In two years, Ohio leaders worked to balance the $8 billion deficit without raising taxes and pulled unemployment below 8 percent. 

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ohio now ranks ninth in job creation and is first in the Midwest.

Ohio Sen. Frank LaRose (R-27)

• Touted the elimination of Ohio Estate Tax.

• Push for limited government: “When we talk about limited government, when we talk about personal freedom, we’re talking about regulatory reform,” he said.

• Proponent of the Common Sense Initiative (CSI), designed to make Ohio’s business rules and regulations make sense while lowering the tax burden on companies.

• Referenced his involvement with the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, which analyzes proposed rules and regulations to decide whether or not they pass a cost benefit analysis established by the CSI.

U.S. Congressman Jim Renacci (R-Ohio)

• Overriding message: Ensure President Barack Obama loses on Election Day to avoid deeper federal deficits.

• By the numbers: $45.4 trillion in federal spending proposed by Obama Administration from fiscal year 2013-2022; $25.9 trillion projected federal deficit in 2022; support drastic cutting to overcome current $15.6 trillion national debt.

• “We do not have a tax problem (in Washington), we have a spending problem," he said. "And shame on anybody asking anyone, and I mean anyone, to send any more money down to Washington till Washington learns that they just can’t spend (wastefully).”

Ohio House Republican candidate "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher

• Federal government disrupted automobile industry through “overregulation.” Keep government out of private markets.

• “I don’t know about you, but I drive a Dodge 4x4 pickup truck, and I love leaving a carbon footprint wherever I go,” he said in reference to Obama’s push for production of the eco-friendly Chevy Volt.

• Vying for limited federal government and strong state rights.

• Regarding oil production: “If (environmentalists) want to save the world, they’d want us drilling here in America because we’re going to do it cleaner, we’re going to do it safer, we’re going to do it better.”

Ohio Treasurer and U.S. Senate Candidate Josh Mandel

Click here for the Patch video clip of Mandel’s speech.