Picnic roasts pork spending, rallies party WQOW 8.12.2009

Eau Claire (WQOW) - A political park looks to send a message one sandwich at a time. Sunday, a "Roast the Pork" picnic was held at Mt. Simon Park. The event was put on by the Eau Claire County Republican Party. "Obviously it's a play on words with the unnecessary government spending that exists across the board," says Brian Westrate, Eau Claire County Republican Party Chairman. Both in state and on a national level. And not by any one particular party. "It's just pork, be it the bridge to nowhere, which everyone's heard of or $500,000 in the last state budget going towards an opera house," says Westrate. The idea is similar to the one of the Fair Tax tea parties, but more on a local, conservative line. "Limited constitutional government, the free enterprise system, person responsibility, lower spending, lower taxes," says Westrate. "Wisconsin can have smaller government, we can spend less and we can deliver vital services to all the residents of this state," says Dave Ross, candidate for Wisconsin Lt. Governor. And even though the next general election is more than a year away, it's also a way to rally the party base after a few disappointing elections. "The vast majority of people are not really focused on politics, God bless them for that, but those folks that do have a 24-7 awareness of the political landscape, this is an opportunity to bring them and get them on board with us early on," says Westrate. Organizers were hoping to feed between 200 and 300 people at Sunday's event.

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