Tea Bag Terror: Protests Causing Scares, Evacuations At Congressional Offices

HuffPost has comprehensive coverage of the Tax Day Tea Party protests. Click here for the latest photos and video.

A recent email to hundreds of thousands of conservatives exhorted them to "Send a Tea Bag to Washington, D.C. for $1." Other activists have organized local efforts to mail tea bags to the offices of their members of Congress.

It's all part of the anti-Obama, anti-tax "tea party" movement, backed aggressively by corporate-funded "astroturf" organizations like FreedomWorks. But now one of their symbolic protests is drawing attention for the wrong reasons.

Local reports indicate that the practice of mailing actual tea bags to legislators has repeatedly raised security concerns, and sometimes forced the evacuation of congressional offices in anthrax-like scares.

Brian Sperry, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service, told the Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune that tea bags in the mail "cause us some concern. ... They could pose a problem if the tea bag is mailed in a regular envelope instead of a padded bag."

The Chicago Tribune reports:

In Boulder, Colo., the district office of U.S. Rep. Jared Polis recently called for help after a lumpy white envelope with no return address arrived in the mail. The Boulder County Hazardous Materials Response Team found a tea bag and a note reading "We the People, 1773."

Earlier this month in Manchester, N.H., a hazmat team descended on the office of U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter after employees opened an envelope marked "tax protest" and found a bunch of tea leaves.

And two days later, the office of Rep. George Radanovich in Modesto, Calif., was evacuated "after an intern in the mailroom came upon a suspicious package that was later found to contain tea." A haz-mat team and the FBI were were called in.

About 20 people from the building, including those in the congressman's office and two mortgage firms, were evacuated as a precaution.

Modesto Fire Battalion Chief Rich Sasser said the envelope held a granular substance. It did not have a return address.

About 3 p.m., the Stanislaus County Hazardous Materials Response Team went into the office. Sasser said their monitors showed there was nothing dangerous, so the hazmat team double-bagged the sealed envelope and turned it over to the FBI.

"We can't control who mails what to wherever," Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a Capitol Police spokeswoman, told the Salt Lake Tribune. "At all times, [United States Capitol Police] will investigate and take the appropriate police action in response to any calls to us for any suspicious items that congressional staff might be concerned about."

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Comments

[iala]

I wonder if these tax miser tea baggers have stopped to think about the millions of tax dollars are being wasted on their silliness. So many police and security personell that should be employed in the tax of protecting our communities are distracted by the fools that don't even understand what they are protesting and can't define the words and phrases they keep shouting and putting on their signs. What a collasal waste of everyone's time and tax dollars. Way to go.

[StL]

We named it the tea party. I guess the democrats added the anti-obama part......­interestin­g, very interesting....We didn't know you all felt this way.

[AlexNYC]

You can call it whatever you want, but that's what it is, and anti-Obama rally.

The main fclaims of these "tea parties" seems to be increases in taxes. Unless you are earning more than $200,000 you have already received a reduction in federal taxes for 2009. If you earn more than $250,000, the Obama Administration plans to allow the Bush Tax Cuts (for the upper 2% of earners) expire at the end of 2010, meaning they will be paying 39% as opposed to 35% in taxes.

The other focus seems to be the stimulus spending and the bail-outs of the Banks, Insurance Companies, and Auto-Makers. This financial crisis was inherited by President Obama in January 20, 2009 and is a direct result of the Bush Administration policies of the last 8 years. Obama has been working furiously to direct the economy from sinking further down into an actual depression. If that's what you prefer, that's your prerogative.

This is an obvious anti-Obama rally, not a "tea party". Since your are represented by your elected officials, you cannot claim taxation without representation.

[jhallbo]

Corporate backed outrage. Thats a good market to get into, that "angry dollar"... a very good market to get into.

[Clevername2]

I can't help but laugh and laugh over the term "tea-bagging"--I can't help it---it's too funny!! please. I beg you...next time you want to protest, please, please, pick a different name and know ALL it's definition AND meanings..­..cuz...LO­LOLOL....m­y side really really hurts...LO­LOLOLOLOLO­LOL.......

[mike42nola]

A person with bad intentions can take any name and make a play on it to turn it into a different meaning. If people weren't so malicious you would not have to heed your advice and try to pick as bland a name as possible so bad people wouldn't turn it into something that has a sexual or malicious meaning.
I don't really think that the people who are exercising their rights of free speech and protesting in an attempt to make America a better place for our children and grandchildren really care about all of the malicious thugs that are out there trying to slur and dimutize their efforts.
Just as you have to deal with a bully, we have to deal with all of the mean and malicious people that are doing nothing to improve our world, but, instead resort to juvinile name calling which everyone knows, hurts no one.

[lunaticphilosopher]

For all those who are not involved in these tea parties, myself included, this is just a polarizing event. No different than the Hope and Change tour that is still ongoing. Those who do not like these events and belittle them do not understand that they are bringing people together and focusing them against the current administration and their goals. You can make fun of them but they are moving people. The question now is how far will it move people?

[mike42nola]

The intent of the protest is not to polarize people. That has already been accomplished by both political parties and they have done a very good job of it.
We, the common people, need to unite together against both political parties whether we agree with the tax and spend protests or not and send our congressional representatives a clear message that we will not stand for their nonesense anymore. Every elected congressman and senator vows to work with the other party in a bipartisan fashion while they are campaigning. Once elected they never cross the aisle and, again, both parties share blame, never extend a hand of friendship. The only extension is the middle finger directed at us. Once elected they only care about reelection and work more hours of the day towards that goal, pointing fingers across the aisle, to show why they didn't accomplish what they promised to do.
I could give thousands of examples of this behavior exhibited by both parties. The entire scope of it only hurts the American people, while they claim to want to work together to make things better.
Vote the incumbents out of office. They have amassed way too much power. Keep the same party affiliation if you wish but vote in a new representative. Get these bums out of office and put people in that respect the common person and will heed our wishes and desires.

[margardner]

The problem is they're moving the "wrong" type of people. Many who are dangerous and want to harm other Americans who don't look like them.

[hoobit]

I do not recall, however, those organizing any "Hope and Change" gatherings, calling for (potential) participants to -literally- "take up arms."

Calling on people to peacefully join together for a common goal, is one thing; exhorting them to arm themselves and forcibly overthrow the government, is something entirely different. The more radical of the TeaBaggers (and related 'movements') are doing just that.

There is danger -*extreme* danger- in enciting people to "arm" themselves against the government and against people *within* that *elected* government. At least a few of the more (shall we say) "unstable" and/or easily led, amongst them are bound to actually *act* on that call and carry out an unspeakable and horrific act of violence (against a person in gov't).

No, the two (the Hope and Change movement and the TeaBagging -and associated- movement(s)) are entirely different. The one does NOT advocate violence; the other, palpably, DOES.

[Robinsong]

Republicans and neocons, America's terr0rists!

[dimplesmile7]

Well here in NJ it is raining on their tea party and I am glad!

[judgejay]

OH MY GOD TEABAGS ARE A BIOLOGICAL THREAT????

Got to love all the liberal babies posting who seem to want to reign in other peoples rights to free speech. Its okay when its ACORN or other liberal groups protest but not those who want limited government. FREEDOM OF SPEECH CAN NOT AND WILL NOT BE MUZZLED> PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST THE PURPOSED SPENDING IN THE LATEST BUDGET OUT OF WASHINGTON!!!!!

[Hope Lives]

They got you to vote for them, they took all of your money, (that's why you have so little left after taxes) and now you want to go out and represent them. You've been had. All that's left to know is how many times.

[lcdbsez]

judge --

OMG!!!!! The top tax bracket is going to have their tax rate restored!!!! to 10% Less!!! than they were paying under St. Ronnie!!!!!

OMG!!!! This is terrible!!! -- Imagine!! being taxed at a rate HIGHER than those poor, unwashed masses that make a fraction of what the top wage-earners make!!!!! How democratic!!!! This will not stand!!!!

What this country needs, is a good, old-fashioned society -- like they had back in the 14th century (complete with compulsory church attendance -- evangelical, of course!) -- and with a Confederate States of America-style government . . . where one pays taxes only if one "chooses" to -- unless one is poor, then, it's mandatory -- it's either that, or physical servitude.

Yeah, there's nothing like a weepublica­n-engineer­ed country . . . our nation's history is littered with examples of dismal weepublican governance.

[mike42nola]

It doesn't have a whole lot to do with tax brackets per se. Don't you think that increasing the debt service that we have to pay to our bond holders (creditors) should be as little as possible? Who, in their right minds, thinks that enormous amounts of debt is good for your economy?
In my way of thinking we should not run deficits. We should only spend money that we have. We should pay our bills as we go. We should not keep the money that is paid into Social Security in the general fund and allow congress to spend that money on anything but what it is intended for. Fiscal responsibility has always been a way of measuring a managers ability to manage. If our congress exhibits lack of fiscal responsibility they should not, in any form or fashion, be considered good stewards of our economy.
Further, we should demand term limits for our elected officials. We currently have people in office that feel they are entitled to hold that office for as long as they wish because the representatives, from both parties, have polarized the American voter to the point that we are too divided to make a stand and throw them out of office. Democrats vote for Democratic representatives no matter what. Republicans are doing the same.
We need to wake up and unite for the good of the country and impose term limits on these people, no matter which party they are affiliated with.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

Judgejay, in case you don't know it we know freedom of speech is a protected right. What is going on with the tea parties is NOT grass roots. Its pay for by Conservative billionaires. Yet you republicans yell and say that Soros runs the democratic party. Why is your billionaires can contribute to your tea party and Soros who is a millionaire contributes his funds to who he wants. Your tea party will not be successful because it isn't from the ground up. Its from the billionaires down and Fox News pushing it. If there is any rioting and police have to be called out I would send the bill to Fox Corporation for leading this party. They should be held accountable. Why are you whinny about taxes. You are all complaining about taxes that are still Bush's taxes. Obama's wouldn't come in til next year. You all don't know what you are crying about.

[babyboomerorig]

It's their perceived idea that this whole mess is Obama's fault. That's what the corporate bigwigs are telling them and they're sticking to their story.

Just ask Rush, Glenn, Michelle, Boehner and the rest of them.

I want to see pics of the real number of people showing up for this big, historic event that students will study in 30 years.

[SurrealPumpkin]

Judge, are you willing to guarantee personally that there is no harmful substance in all those lumpy envelopes with no return addresses?

[surfcitysteven]

He probably thinks it is funny when white powder is sent to targets and it turns out to be harmless. He doesn't get it, trolls usually don't.

[SurrealPumpkin]

By the way, it's "rein" not "reign" and we aren't muzzling anyone's right to free speech, we're having too much fun laughing :)

[AlwaysRightLeftist]

NO TAXATION WITHOUT WHITE REPRESENTATION

[Hopeington]

I said it once an I'll say it again, we, the tax payers, have to pick up the tab for this "little prank"!!!!!? There goes some more useless spending of our tax dollars brought on once again by the irresponsible Rushthuglicans and Focks News!!!! Some how this just became the "last straw" for me!!! This has really made me mad that we have to pay for this nonsense!!! Hazmat teams don't work cheap!!!

[Donut44]

It is unfortunate you care so little about what "we the tax payers" really pick up the tab for. This little stunt is tiny compared to what we pay for in this country. Your money is being swindled, but all you care about is getting your cute little jingles out.

[mados123]

So true. I would like to see the total cost for the HazMat responses exposed, but sure enough, when discussed as an important topic, "some people will say," well Obama made us protest.

[mike42nola]

You said it and refer to the exact reason we are protesting. "MORE USELESS SPENDING". We are tired of all of the useless spending that has been going on for years. There has been no fiscal accountability from our government since President Reagan was in office and before that God knows when.
Social Security is in the red again 3 years earlier than projected. Why pay into programs when all you get out of congress is "useless spending"?

[EasyZee]

It's all rhetoric and ideology. I have not heard of a single fact or truth these right wing nuts are tea bagging about. And if it is simply an ideological difference they are tea bagging about; we tried it your way for 8 years because you won the elections. Now we won the elections so we will try it our way. It's called democracy. I've checked out some of the tea-baggers discussion boards, very scary. The rhetoric, hypocrisy, and lack of facts is out of control, and I'm not even talking about the complete loony bins on the fringe. I have a bad feeling about this.

[Robinsong]

St0le the elections!

[mike42nola]

Your post, EasyZee, is very demonstrable of what is wrong with us today. We are living in an "us" and "them" society instead of living in a collective "us" or "we" society. What is good for you should be good for me. What is bad for you should be bad for me. There should not be this polarized divide among common working class Americans who are only trying to better themselves through effort and work ethic.
I don't care who won the election deficit spending is bad for all of "US". I don't care what party you choose to belong to, rapidly increasing our national debt is bad for all of "US". I don't care if you vote or choose to sit it out the financial burden that has been placed on all of "US" is bad for "US", bad for our economic future, bad for employment and bad for the value of our currency.
If we take a more united view of the country and look at what is good for "US" and what is bad for "US" I don't think we will have this great divide that is allowing an inept Congress to grab more and more power by grabbing more and more of "OUR" money.
If you think the amount of taxes you pay are fair and if you think that the methods, means and nature of the Congressional spending is good for us than I am having a meaningless discussion with someone who doesn't understand.

[Zach Davis]

Comparing the current bailout plan to the original Boston tea party is absurd. These are our elected officials, not a Monarch. Using our money for different projects is what taxes are for, this is not a new concept.. I don't remember any tea parties when our tax dollars were going to support Halliburton in Iraq?

Fox News is best consumed in moderation.

www.zrdavis.com

[bmunzz]

Ok 1st your using the Boston tea party as a theme is repugnant!!! Those great men of the Boston tea party had did so because they had NO representation therefore they were taxed with no say.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATION, whether you like the way your representatives are voting or not. As I say to the prop 8 people, the system worked, the people of California voted now live with it or move to another country. I’m telling you the same thing. If you are protesting the economical problems then choose another theme, you are disgracing or founding fathers.
Next, Thomas Payne???? A drunkard, and an anti Christian???? How about you research the founding fathers before you use one of them. Most of you are supporting the Christian right. Thomas Payne was effective twice in his life, both of them during the war. After the war he became a drunkard and push antichristian pamphlets. I will also venture to say Payne would be more opposed to your being Christian than support you cause. When he came back from Paris he was and embarrassment to the Jeffersonian and Madison Republicans who brought him over.
DO SOME RESEARCH AND USE YOUR MIND THAN GOD GAVE YOU. Most of you are fellow republicans and you are embarrassing us republicans who know their history.
Please, please STUDY and THINK in the future.

[mike42nola]

I didn't elect representatives to tax me at the rate that I am being taxed at when the money is wasted. We pay for public education at the federal, state and local level. Our public education system, for the most part, runs a very distant third tier to other countries such as Cuba, China, Japan, etc. WASTED MONEY
We pay taxes at the federal, state and local level for police protection and we have an extremely high crime rate, especially violent crime. WASTED MONEY
We pay taxes at the federal and state level for good highways, roads and bridges. Our highways are full of potholes, bridges are in a state of disrepair or actually collapsing. WASTE OF MONEY.
The government cannot do anything more effectively nor as efficiently as the private sector can do. People claim that the government is a "multiplier of money". If that were true I could give them $500 and get back $750. I haven't ever witnessed someone getting more out of government than what someone else paid in.
In order to give me money, the government first has to take it from someone else. Then they have to pay the givers and takers before I get anything. WASTE OF MONEY.
We don't have good representation even though they were duly elected. They have been elected by camoflaging the issues and using us against them arguements when all of the political hacks are the enemy of the people.
Throw the bums out of Congress.

[aznurse]

I just makes me angry to know that these stupid parties will receive a lot of news coverage, when there were protests against the war, that did have thousands attend, hardly made the news.

[mike42nola]

I saw war protestors on Fox almost everyday. You want to deny advocates of responsible spending of our money one day a year of coverage? That is pretty lopsided and narrow minded.

[bonum]

have you noticed how the Conservatives will confuse tyranny with losing