LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Cheered along by "Joe the Plumber," 4,000 people from across Michigan protested against financial bailouts and taxes Tuesday at the state Capitol in a mock rendition of the Boston Tea Party revolt.

They waived signs exclaiming "Stop the Fiscal Madness," ''Read My Lipstick! No More Bailouts" and "The Pirates Are in D.C." Children held banners objecting to the rising national debt being passed along to them.

"I'm really opposed to spending the way out of our problem," said Deborah Mourray, a 56-year-old business administrator from the Detroit suburb of Troy who participated in her first demonstration.

Her friend Patty Fish, a 49-year-old executive recruiter from Troy, said it was her first protest, too.

"I'm tired of sitting back and watching this happen. I needed to do something," said Fish, who fears higher taxes.

President Barack Obama and Gov. Jennifer Granholm, both Democrats, drew the ire of many protesters, though others vented anger at both major political parties. One sign declared "It's Tea Time! Fire All Politicians." Others simply carried American flags.

"How I run my home is I don't spend more money so my situation improves," Mourray said. "Save and conserve."

The event's featured speaker was Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher, the Holland, Ohio, resident who made news during the presidential campaign when he asked Obama about tax increases.

Wurzelbacher, who signed copies of his book before the protest, urged "commonsense" tax and spending policies. He said he is a hardworking American, and people just want to put in a good day's work and come home.

"You don't expect the government to rape you when you're done," Wurzelbacher told the crowd.

The "tea party" was one of many held around the country on the last day to file federal income tax returns. Protests occurred in 29 Michigan communities, according to the state Republican Party.

Several dozen placard-waving protesters greeted Granholm in Traverse City, where she held a town hall meeting to discuss what the Obama administration's economic stimulus plan means for Michigan.

Granholm told reporters she didn't believe the protests represented a genuine grassroots uprising.

"I think they're orchestrated by a certain slice of the far right. And it's been well documented that they've been paid for by certain folks who have an interest in doing that," she said.

"People are much more concerned right now about getting this economy on track and making sure that people get jobs and that is what the recovery act is all about."

Steve Benkovsky, the Capitol's director of facility operations, based his crowd estimate of 4,000 by measuring how far demonstrators extended from the Capitol steps. He said it was the largest gathering at the Capitol in recent years.

The Capitol protest was organized by the Michigan chapter of Americans for Prosperity, Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, Michigan FairTax Association and the New Patriot Revolution.

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Associated Press Writer John Flesher in Traverse City contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Americans for Prosperity: http://www.americansforprosperity.com/michigan?page=3

Michigan Taxpayers Alliance: http://www.mitaxpayers.org

Michigan FairTax Association: http://www.mifairtax.org

New Patriot Revolution: http://newpatriotrevolution.blogspot.com