Convention Hits it Big with Supporters

MYRTLE BEACH — Just in time for the GOP presidential debate, the inaugural S.C. Tea Party Convention concluded Monday.

One organizer called "phase three" of the tea party: "Making our presense known again," Myrtle Beach Tea Party Chair Joe Dugan said. Phase one was rallying and phase two was educating and building infrastructure, he said.

The convention featured more than 30 speakers, all talking on a range of topics now familiar to the tea party, at the waterfront Springmaid Resort Hotel. Topics included Sharia law, Agenda 21, national security and holding politicians' feet to the fire. . 

The convention drew from all corners of the state, even bringing in some out-of-state tea partiers. 

"These people you see here in this room, they're not your typical rally-goers," Dugan said. "These people in here are activists."

Carol and Bo Olek of the Bluffton Tea Party came up and attended both days of the event.

"We were excited about the candidates," Olek said, adding that they sat through every speaker. "It was tremendously worthwhile."

Phase two of the tea party was education, according to Dugan, and now that's the status quo at any gathering. 

"You always come with the expectation of learning," Bo Olek said. 

Tea party member Dr. Ira Williams drove in from Greenville, and came to the convention for the camaraderie and to network his ideas for fixing health care in the state. 

"I'm taking away that this is just another big step in an on-going process in getting more and more people involved," Williams said. 

Whether or not the convention will meet quarterly or semi-annually in the future, organizer Dugan wasn't sure, but he knew they would be meeting more often. Sunday and Monday's convention was just the start, he promised. 

He also promised more scorecards for legislators, to help voters make informed decisions that fall in line with tea party values. 

Here are the headlines from the convention: