Beck rally hails Tea Party independence

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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Republicans took their lumps along with President Obama from speakers and attendees at a raucous weekend Tea Party rally near Chicago headlined by Glenn Beck.

The outspoken conservative talk-show host told the crowd at "Right Nation 2010" at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., the Tea Party was "in the position where it is the beginning of the end for the establishment.

"We've had enough. We're going to set things right," Beck told the crowd, which the Chicago Sun-Times said numbered 5,400.

The newspaper said other speakers condemned illegal immigration and government spending and warned that there was a likelihood of vote fraud coming out of Chicago in the upcoming November election.

There was also little concern about predictions the Tea Party might actually boost Democrats by splitting the Republican vote.

"If a Democrat wins, at least we know what they're about," Paul Wheeler, Indianapolis, told the Chicago Tribune. "It's better than having somebody who betrays their principles -- who claims to be a conservative but is mostly opposite."

A crowd of about 200 protesters rallied outside the Sears Centre and got into some heated shouting matches with the Beck fans, but the Sun Times said no punches were thrown.