Gingrich Addresses Tea Party Rally in Austin

By: April Castro, The Associated Press

Flag-waving tea party activists gathered at tax-day rallies around Texas on Thursday, denouncing big government while cheering on former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and other politicians.

Gov. Rick Perry wasn’t set to address any of the rallies where thousands were expected from El Paso to Tyler, but he did warn organizers to watch their backs for liberals trying to make them look bad.

About 300 turned out to hear Gingrich and watch him sign a tea party pledge at an Austin hotel — chanting “Newt!” when a moderator asked about his political plans. Gingrich dodged the moderator’s question but later told reporters he didn’t know if he’d run for president 2012.

Gingrich, well-known for his support of the Contract With America that helped Republicans recapture Congress in 1994, drew loud applause and hoots when he signed a pledge called the Contract From America, in which tea partyists ask those seeking elected office to adhere to 10 core conservative principles.

Gingrich praised the movement as crucial to conservatives’ chances of taking back Congess and the White House.

“I would be very concerned if the tea party movement drifted into a third party because if we split our side, we re-elect Pelosi and Obama,” he said to cheers. He drew applause from the crowd when he predicted a balanced budget amendment would emerge as a major issue this summer and when he repeatedly called for the repeal of President Barack Obama’s health care legislation.

Gingrich got a rock star greeting at the event, drawing a prolonged standing ovation and repeated applause throughout his speech. As the event concluded, throngs of people followed him out of the room, seeking his autograph and snapping pictures.

Although Republicans are ideological allies of many tea partiers — and GOP operatives are involved in some of the organizations — they are also part of the establishment that many in the movement want to upend.

At other tea party rallies across the country, Republican participation drew opposition. In Wisconsin, a half dozen tea party groups from around the state decided to boycott Thursday’s rally in Madison because former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson was among the speakers.

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