Two tea party groups took radically different approaches to stop health care Tuesday.

At an event near the Senate reminiscent of last year's major rallies, activists listened to Republican firebrands such as Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.) and held signs that said things like "Obama bin lyin' again." A handful wore colorful costumes.

Across the Hill, a much smaller group of well-dressed activists drilled on talking points while they navigated the labrynthine halls of the House in attempts to meet with their representatives.

Both groups shared a common goal: Stop the Democratic health care overhaul that will likely come up for a vote before the end of the week. But their radically different strategies reflected a growing split among organizers of the grassroots conservative movement on how to move forward.

The Tea Party Express, a small group of radio personalities and entertainers, set up the more colorful rally as a way to draw the faithful to Washington this week.

It arranged for Republican lawmakers, including Bachmann and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), to rouse dozens of activists with fiery speeches before marching to the offices of Democratic leaders.

"It's just a matter of doing whatever it's going to take to get people to stand up and pay attention," said Angela Desrochers of Arlington, Va.

Though much smaller, the event had clear parallels with last year's rallies on April 15 and Sept. 12, with some protesters wearing colonial-era hats and tights, holding signs that said "Say no to socialism" and chanting "kill the bill" at times.

A handful of Lyndon LaRouche supporters stood on the outskirts with signs that showed President Obama with a Hitler mustache.

At the same time, a separate event organized by the D.C.-based advocacy group FreedomWorks and the Tea Party Patriots was much more restrained. Activists had been told to wear "normal clothes" and be polite as they tried to meet with wavering House Democrats in small groups.

"We will treat them with the respect they have not (yet) shown us," a blog post promoting the event read.

After driving or taking chartered buses from Georgia, Pennsylvania and other states late Monday and early Tuesday, the activists showed up at 9 a.m. to pick up talking points, maps, and lobbying tips before going to their Members' offices.

Sisters Laura Shifflett and Jessica Hayes of Martinsburg, W.V., said they weren't expecting to have much luck with their elected officials.

"I'm sure they're conveniently not in," Hayes said.

The duo said they came out to demonstrate to the nation that people still oppose the health care plan, and that they will continue to do so.

"Nationwide everybody is paying attention," said Shifflett. "The lawmakers aren't — but they will in November."

The door-to-door approach of the event came close to lobbying, a tactic many tea partyers criticize because of its associations with the special interest groups they dislike. But organizers said it's one of the most effective ways for a grassroots movement to influence the debate.

"This is an important part of the strategy," said Jenny Beth Martin, a national coordinator of Tea Party Patriots. "We may not like it all the time but at least we have these rights and we're able to make a difference in our government."

Rob Jordan, an organizer with FreedomWorks, was troubled by the more theatrical protests going on across the Hill. He lamented that signs making comparisons to Hitler would end up getting more news coverage, crowding out his event.

Some of those activists, he said, "muddle the message just by trying to get your sign on T.V."

But O.P. Ditch, a Tea Party Express member who attended the more theatrical rally and also tried to meet with his representatives, said that both approaches have a place in the movement.

"You need publicity for the rallies and then you need to see the whites of their eyes by going into their offices," he said.

Ambreen Ali writes for Congress.org.

Become a fan of Congress.org on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.