TEMECULA ---- Some of the people lining the corners of the Rancho California and Ynez roads intersection during a tax protest Saturday afternoon said their beef isn't only with President Barack Obama.
"I don't think anyone here will tell you it's a Republican versus Democrat thing. It's an American thing," said Mike Horan of Poway. "It isn't so much politically motivated. People want to make sure they're being heard."
A crowd estimated by organizers to have topped out at 1,000 stood on all four corners of the intersection near Duck Pond Park in Temecula, some holding signs critical of the government and others waving flags. They elicited many thumbs up and honking horns of support from drivers who passed by.
Signs showed messages such as "Congress stay out of my wallet," "No Bama, No Boxer, No Bono" and "You can't fix stupid, you can only vote them out."
"We're just out here trying to get our message out," said Rick Reiss, one of the organizers. "A lot of people are frustrated with the government. ... People want government to leave them alone. They don't need government to come in and do everything for us."
Ben Cossart of Rainbow said protests such as the one Saturday can make a difference.
"This kind of thing did a lot in the '60s," he said. "Now, it's mainstream America (protesting). It's mom, pop and grandpa."
While there was criticism of the final year of George W. Bush's presidency, and a lot of anger with U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack being one of eight Republicans in Congress to vote in favor of the "cap and trade" energy bill, most of the negativity was aimed at Obama. The economic stimulus plan, energy policies and the unemployment rate drew the most ire.
"It's going to bankrupt our future generation," Reiss said. "Look what this generation is going to leave behind, it's an absolute disgrace."
In the sea of conservatives stood four local men who showed up in support of Obama.
"I'm a liberal," Britton Stackman of Murrieta said. "I felt my voice needed to be heard as much as their voice needed to be heard."
The four drew some friendly banter from their Republican counterparts, and some not-so-friendly personal insults, they said.
Horan, who delayed a family surfing trip to participate in the rally, said he's not so worried about his future, but that of his five sons and seven grandchildren.
"We want to see if we can get some semblance of our country back from the White House and those nuts in Congress," Horan said.
He said he came to the rally because people can't expect change if they don't let their voices be heard.
"You can't sit back and wait for things to happen," he said. "You have to take the initiative."
Horan said he is hoping that Obama has a successful presidency.
"If he fails, what kind of country are we going to have left?" Horan asked.
Debby Cossart donned stars and stripes as she joined her husband, Ben, at the protest.
"We want our country back," she said. "We're more desperate. Things get scarier by the moment."
Reiss helped organize a tax protest at Duck Pond Park on April 15, which he said drew more than 2,000 people on a day similar protests were held around the country.
He was happy with Saturday's turnout, considering it was a holiday and the protesters came out even though the mercury neared 100 degrees.
"You have got to be kind of nuts to come out here on a day like this," Reiss said. "It shows they're very dedicated."
Reiss said there currently are no plans for another rally, although he's eyeing April 15, next tax day, for another event.
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