The Tea Party Express makes a stop in Boston today, and North Shore residents from across the political spectrum plan to be on the Common to meet the politically charged tour.
"I'm going because no one represents the average citizen anymore," said Danvers resident Anthony Mirabito, who will carpool with three others to the event.
The tea party, whose Web site rails against "higher spending, higher taxes and government intervention in the lives of American families and businesses," will have former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin headline today's event on the Common.
The group's national bus tour hit the road in Searchlight, Nev., on March 27, and over the past 19 days has snaked its way across the country, according to the group's Web site. Boston's stop is the second to last before the final destination tomorrow in Washington, D.C.
David Beaupre, who's particularly interested in getting a glimpse of Palin, said he will be there to send a message to Congress.
"I just want to show Congressman John Tierney, with all due respect, we don't agree with everything he's doing," said Beaupre, who served in the Marines and the Army Reserve.
On the other end of the political spectrum, Salem resident Art McDonald will attend the rally in peaceful protest.
"I want to make sure people hear the other side of the message," said McDonald, a member of the North Shore Coalition for Peace and Justice.
The tea party is expecting thousands of supporters at its rally, but many North Shore Republicans — either in or seeking office — will be noticeably absent.
Citing work conflicts, Danvers' Dan Bennett and Keith Lucy and Beverly's Brett Schetzsle said they aren't attending the rally.
State Rep. Brad Hill, R-Ipswich, said his legislative duties will keep him from leaving the Statehouse.
"As minority whip, I need to be in the chamber at all times," he said.
Hill said a number of his constituents have grown frustrated with Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill. The tea party has given them a voice.
"People right now are irate with their government," he said.
Beaupre can definitely relate.
"I want my country back," he said. "Nothing against (President Barack) Obama. With all due respect, I don't recognize him as my president."
He worries that decisions by Obama's push for health care could affect generations of Americans to come.
"It's not about me; it's about my kids' future," Beaupre said. "They're spending my great-great-grandkids' money."
But McDonald, an Army veteran from the Vietnam era, said he wonders where all the people opposed to taxes were when Congress approved funding for the latest wars.
"We think taxes are very, very important," said McDonald, a pastor at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Essex. "We want taxes to go into infrastructure and meeting human needs and not ill-conceived wars."
He also described Palin as a "lightning rod for anger."
"Sometimes she says volatile things," he said. "We want to be a counter-presence to that whole spirit."
Though Mirabito wants to make contacts within the tea party movement, he's no Palin supporter.
"I don't think she should be affiliated with the tea party," the Danvers resident said. "I'm looking forward more to the people actually there than the people trying to corral the movement."
Jasper Swiniuch, who lives in Manchester, said she's attending the rally as a fan of Palin's and not necessarily because she's a tea party member.
"I'm just excited to hear her speak," said Swiniuch, who plans to wear an American flag pin and her Palin button. "She's a straight shooter."
But Swiniuch, who describes herself as an independent, does think the country is moving in the wrong direction, especially on health care.
The tea party seems to be the group leading the charge, she said.
"I definitely think the tide is changing," said Swiniuch, who supported Hillary Clinton for president. "The tea party isn't necessarily a party like the Republicans and the Democrats, but they're swaying support for the Republican party."
As the political winds have shifted toward the right, Swiniuch said she's become more interested in politics again. Though she knows not everyone agrees with the tea party movement, she hoped they would keep an open mind.
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