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Get Ready for a Tea Party Surge

Activists taking their message to Capitol Hill

By Matthew Stawarz

| Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 | Updated 9:16 AM EDT

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Another "Tea Party" is planned today in Washington.

Some are calling it a surge. Others say it's a storm. Whatever you want to call it, know this: the Tea Party movement is headed to D.C. today to oppose health care reform.

A rally is being organized for today at the Cannon House Office Building with hopes of swaying Congress not to pass President Barack Obama’s health care plan. According to the FreedomWorks Web site, the event is called “The People’s Surge Against Obamacare 2.0.”

At 9 a.m., they will “storm” the three House office buildings. The group is planning to meet at Cannon Building, and they will disperse from there. According to the site, the event is expected to last until 6 p.m.

The Heartland Institute said it is holding a rally "to kill Obamacare" at Taft Park at 10 a.m., with numerous speakers, including Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.).

All of this is just a build-up to a much bigger Tea Party event in D.C. next month. A Tax Day Tea Party will be held April 15 at the Washington Monument from 7-10 p.m.

But if you're not into tea, elephants might be more to your liking. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's elephant parade will stroll through Capitol Hill this afternoon.