Dissenter
Lisa Wheeler, an accountant and small business owner from Seminole, Florida, attends a Tea Party protest against the current administration in Tampa, Florida, as President Obama addresses a nearby crowd. Wheeler said she became part of the Tea Party movement "to represent conservative Christian values." Wheeler added, "not everyone that disagrees is a nut or a radical, just a red blooded American."
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Designs
Dr. Rick Scarborough leads the crowd in prayer at The National Tea Party Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.
Crowd
Partiers attend the Nashville convention.
Entrance
Some Tea Partiers balked at the $549 ticket price, criticizing the organizers of profiteering. Nevertheless, some 600 people, mostly white and older, attended the full convention.
Star Power
Sarah Palin addresses the crowd during the banquet on the final night of the Nashville event.
Old School
Several convention attendees, including William Temple, a pastor in Brunswick, Georgia, came in historical costume.
Flair
Nancy Hiser poses with her Sarah Palin bag at the convention.
The Youth
These students, (from left) Connor Kythas, Blake Reynolds, Perry Atchley and Logan Frost, came in support of Steve Tarvin, a candidate in the 9th congressional district of Georgia.
Satire
A deck of political caricature playing cards are offered for sale at the convention.
Generations
Kris Gionet, a nurse from St. Petersburg, Florida, attends a protest against the current administration in Tampa, Florida. Largo said that she was involved in the Tea Party movement "to guarantee constitutional rights to my children and grandchildren."
Party
Marco Rubio addresses a packed house at the Sun City Chamber of Commerce in Sun City Center, Florida. Rubio, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, spoke to the crowd of his staunchly conservative values and political ideology. If elected, Rubio would be the first U.S. Senator with strong ties to the grassroots Tea Party Movement.
Protection
Chuck Shockles, a manufacturing company owner from Cherry Valley, California, came to the convention to "support the movement of eliminating government from taking our rights."
Address
Angela McGlowan, a former Fox News analyst, speaks at the convention. The keynote speech was delivered by former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. It attracted an audience of 1,000 people, some of whom waited outside the ballrooms for two hours before it began.
Goals
Eddie Adams Jr., an architect and Tea Party candidate for Congress in the 11th district of Florida said he was involved in the Tea Party movement "because the country is circling the toilet. The Bible and the constitution are missing from Congress and I'm gonna take them back."
Deep in Thought
Convention attendees listen to a prayer delivered by Dr. Rick Scarborough during the Nashville gathering.
Outside Perspective
Helena Rodriguez, an immigrant who came from Cuba at the age of 14, attends the protest against the current administration in Tampa, Florida. "Big government enslaves people," says Rodriguez, explaining her involvement in the Tea Party.
SOURCE: TIME Magazine
