Politics & Government

Lehigh Valley Tea Party Will Fight After Obama's Win

President of Lehigh Valley Tea Party says organization will still tackle issues despite presidential election outcome.

The presidential election is over and despite the outcome, the president of the Lehigh Valley Tea Party said her organization will "keep on keeping on."

For the past two Saturdays, Tea Party members were out rallying the troops in Allentown and Bethlehem to get people out to vote.

Barb Walters, the chairwoman of the 800-member Lehigh Valley Tea Party, said she was disappointed by the turnout at the polls, despite criticism and concerns that the country wasn't improving in the past four years under President Barack Obama's tenure.

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"I was surprised at the numbers. They were down for the country," she said. "It was really shocking, coming from both sides."

The Tea Party movement gained national recognition during the 2010 midterms in terms of advocating the principles of the U.S. Constitution and calling for a reduction in government spending and taxes.

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Polls show that most Tea Party members tend to be Republicans.

But the Tea Party is not a political party. And, Walters said, the Lehigh Valley Tea Party does not endorse candidates.

"We are non-partisan. We don't endorse candidates," Walters said. "Our position hasn't changed. We're still issue-oriented in wanting to limit the government and have more fiscal responsibility and individual rights."

Walters said issues will still be brought before the group.

"The Tea Party has gone from being out there to working behind the scenes," Walters said.

Walters said she believes the party will be more active when elections are more local, when school board and municipal seats are on the line.

"That's what we're going to stick with," she said. "We like having educated voters who don't go by their feelings, but are armed with the knowledge to make the best decisions."

For now, though, Walters worries about the country's future.

"It's a very interesting time. Interesting, but scary," she said. "We're going to be working to make sure we all don't go over the cliff."


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