Taxpayers unhappy with all things Obama, including the health care bill and the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, took their cries outside Thursday in a Tea Party tax day protest in front of the federal building in Anchorage, the largest city in Sarah Palin's home state.

Three protesters we spoke with would not identify themselves as members of the Tea Party, instead variously describing themselves as conservative, libertarian or independent. The Tea Party movement appeals to them, though, they said, because they feel America is headed in the wrong direction, the U.S. Constitution is being undermined, and though taxes this year were overall "fair," they're displeased with Obama-era tax changes that will take effect next year. They're passionate. They're unhappy. And they want President Barack Obama out of office.

But that doesn't mean they won't support Democrats. Travis Cox, a federal worker in Anchorage, said he would have voted for Hilary Clinton over John McCain in the last presidential election, had Clinton won the Democratic Party's nomination. Clinton is conservative, Obama too radical, Cox said. He voted for McCain in part because of Sarah Palin, who Cox thinks is a good number two but not ready to be the leader of the free world.

Judy Wingert, on the other hand, isn't as positive about Palin. Palin isn't strong enough to withstand the heckling that comes with high-level political position, she said. Leadership at that level requires strength, a positive attitude and the ability to set a good example, Wingert said, adding that Palin "wasn't an exceptional governor."

Tax day protester Tammy Wells identifies with Palin's message, but agrees Palin may experience more heckling than she can effectively handle. Still, Wells is convinced Palin's intent is pure and her political influence has staying power. She also identifies with the desire to shape and restore America as a great, Christian nation. But Wells says it's too early to tell whether she'd be willing to cast a vote for a potential Palin presidency. That depends on what the candidate field looks like in 2012, she said.

Although our Alaska Dispatch crew didn't spot them, tea party supporters said there were infiltrators in the crowd -- "party crashers" who showed up with their own signs. Wells said for the most part, even if the interlopers were off message, they were welcome.

"We support their right to come out," she said, "because we care about America and each other."

Contact Jill Burke at jill(at)alaskadispatch.com.