Tea Party Signs Land Jacksonville in National News

Network news anchor and pundit Keith Olbermann labeled the Duval GOP as "Worst in the World" on his MSNBC show, 'Countdown' Monday night.

Olbermann was referring to signs held up at the July 2nd First Coast Tea Party' at the Jacksonville Landing.

The handful of signs in question depicted President Obama as Hitler, and his administration as Nazis.

On his television program, Olbermann cited the Duval County Republican Party as having paid for the Tea Party, and therefore, promoting the signage.

Chairman Lenny Curry says that is completely false.

"The Republican Party had nothing to do with the planing and organizing of the event. We simply used our email database as a service to our members to inform them of that," Curry said.

It all began when a local blogger spread word of the controversial signs online.

Curry, who attended the event, says he did not see any of the signs in person.

He says he does not mind having his name splashed on network T.V.; what bothers him is the GOP being tied to images of hate.

"We completely will not tolerate racism or anti-semitism in any shape or form," Curry said.

Curry hopes the purpose of the Tea Party does not get overshadowed by the few images highlighted by Olbermann.

"The sad part is there were hard working Americans at this party that care about this country who, like me, don't dislike President Obama, have no problem with the Democratic Party, but have a problem with the policies and want to debate the facts and issues," Curry said.

Billie Tucker, with the First Coast Tea Party says the organization does not condone the personal attacks and statements depicted by the signs.

Tucker says the signs were brought in by people that attended the event.

Had she seen the signs, Tucker says she may have asked the holders to put them down, but she says that creates a discrepancy with freedom of speech.