Tea Party backers excited about Palin at convention

Tea Party supporters interviewed across Long Island on Friday had nothing but good things to say about Sarah Palin, the star speaker at this weekend's National Tea Party Convention in Nashville.

"Sarah Palin has been the only one carrying the conservative message nationally and was someone for us to rally around as a voice - but not as a leader," Michael Aneiro of Baldwin said.

"I don't know what they're convening for in Nashville. Hopefully, it is not to endorse any candidate," Aneiro added.

The convention, put together by a for-profit group, has drawn criticism for charging a $549 ticket price, with an additional fee of $9.99.

But Tea Party supporter Francis McQuade of Long Beach did not bat an eye at the reported cost of the Nashville bash.

"Hey, the Nassau GOP is already up to $500, and you only get two hours with food and a drink. That nearly $560 event fee in Nashville also includes part of the cost for the honorarium for Palin," he said.

"The cost is part of the ideology. Paying for what you want is consistent with the movement's ideology," McQuade said.

Bryan Korman, a co-organizer of the Rockville Centre Tea Party Patriots, called Palin "a force" in the Tea Party movement. But he expressed no strong feeling about the convention.

Greg Barry of West Islip called Palin, "a good representative of the Tea Party movement."

Barry, who had worked in information technology sales, said he was not going to the convention because he's unemployed, but the cost didn't faze him.

"I think it's comparable to other political conventions of their size and scope," Barry said.

McQuade said Tea Party people liked Palin because, "she embodies a frontier feeling that captures the letter of what we believe and her spirit captures who we want to be."

"As for the Tea Party party movement leaders discussing candidates with the Republicans, I think it's the Republicans who will have to go to them," said McQuade, who has run for office unsuccessfully several times as a Republican.

Aneiro said he was also cool to the idea of supporting Republicans. "People are suggesting we must move into the Republican Party. If we do that, we will lose our independence," Aneiro said. "We should support those who support our values and ideals, no matter what their political party."