Tea Party rally in Searchlight, NV draws 8-10 thousand

The Las Vegas Sun reports:

SEARCHLIGHT — Sarah Palin told thousands of tea party activists gathered in the Nevada desert that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will have to explain his votes when he comes back to his hometown.

The wind whipped U.S. and Alabama flags behind Palin as she stood on the makeshift stage, holding a microphone and her notes as she spoke to the crowd.

Palin says the big government, big debt spending spree of Reid, President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is over, and “you’re fired.” She told the crowd that Reid is “gambling away our future.”

“Someone needs to tell him, this is not a crapshoot,” Palin said.

She says those protesting the health care overhaul aren’t inciting violence, but says they shouldn’t sit down and shut up.

Palin was the main attraction at the rally about 60 miles south of Las Vegas. It kicks off a 42-city bus tour that ends in Washington on April 15.

Thousands gathered on a dirt lot in Reid’s hometown for what organizers are calling the “Showdown in Searchlight.”

The Tea Party Express had expected between 5,000 and 10,000 people. About 8,000 people were at the event as of 2 p.m., according to an estimate from Metro Police spokesman Jay Rivera. Traffic was backed up about five miles from Searchlight.

Make sure to click that same link for photos and video from the rally.

There are reports that Harry Reid supporters literally egged Tea Party buses en route to Searchlight. Gateway Pundit has more, including news that conservative publisher and icon Andrew Breitbart was attacked and threatened as well.

Last but not least, W. James Antle, III at AmSpec destroys a despicable column by WaPo columnist Colbert King in which King compares Tea Party activists to … racists who shouted down black students attending school for the first time during the desegregation era.