American Morning
Watch out Tea Party, 'Coffee Party' gaining steam
(CNN) – We've heard a lot about the Tea Party movement recently. It's been spreading like wildfire with tens of thousands turning out for rallies and protests. Now, there is a new political movement also gaining some steam. It is called the Coffee Party USA.
While the two share similar names and a frustration with gridlock in Washington, the similarities may end there. The founder of the Coffee Party USA, Annabel Park, spoke with John Roberts and Kiran Chetry on CNN’s “American Morning” on Wednesday. Below is an edited transcript of the interview.
John Roberts: The question many people might have right off the bat is the Tea Party has got some historical context to it, so why the name the Coffee Party, and why the need?
Annabel Park: First of all, I love coffee. Although at times I definitely like tea as well. But there is actually a historical reference as well. During the American Revolution, after they dumped tea into the harbor, they actually declared coffee the national drink. That was the solution to the problem. So I associate coffee not only with solutions, but also with people working, working hard. Because we need to wake up and work hard to get our government to represent us.
Kiran Chetry: What are some of the principles? What do you guys stand for? What do you want to see change in Washington?
Park: Well, we basically, just like in the American Revolution, are looking for real representation. We don't feel represented by our government right now and we don't really feel represented well by the media either. So it's kind of a simple call to action for people to wake up and take control over their future and demand representation. And it requires people standing up and speaking up. That's what we're encouraging people to do by getting together and start the conversation going.
Roberts: We should point out that all of this started on your Facebook page, which now has 64,000 fans. It's just been around for a few weeks as well. We also noticed, too, there's a little survey on there. 61% of people who have responded to the survey say that health care is their number one issue. Is this a political movement that could be built around health care as an issue?
Park: Well, I think what's happening is people are responding to what happened in the past year with the health care debate. Because it was something that is obviously very important to many Americans, and it was reflected in the 2008 election. And since we feel like [the] health care debate showed not only that we are very divided country, but there's something really wrong with our political process. We kind of got to see the innards of the political process and realize there's something very broken. I think that's what we're responding to. Not only the negativity that we see in the rhetoric and the discussions, but the fact that it's just something very wrong with kind of the system, the entire political system. So we want that change. We want that addressed, because it doesn't matter what issue it is, we can't make progress if we can't even talk to one another. We want to really focus on the political culture.
Chetry: The Tea Party movement really, in some ways, has been a challenge to Republicans to move more toward fiscal conservative ideals. Are you aligned with a party? I mean, as we know, passing health care reform has been a huge goal of liberal Democrats for decades. Are you aligned with the Democrats, trying to get them to move more to the left when it comes to health care?
Park: No. I wouldn't say we're aligned with the Democrats or Republicans or any party. In fact, think most of us feel that kind of that two-party system is an incredibly outdated system. It encourages people to think of politics as a kind of game, like a football game, in which there are two sides, and it's a zero sum situation. If one person wins, the other person loses. That's really not a healthy way to conduct collective decision making. That's not a democracy. Democracy should start with the sense that we're a community, we share common goals and values, and that there's such a thing as a common good that we're all working towards. And the two-party system really doesn't encourage that way of thinking about it. It is about winning and losing, and we're really tired of it.
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lets get this thing rolling. It is time to take action to protect and preserve our beloved qym, the USA/American way. What can we do?
The Coffee Party is a brilliant idea. Please send me an e-mail when you plan a Coffee Party for Seattle, WA.
Dell
It is a good thing for people to get involved but be careful what you are proposing. The two party system is the only system that let's the majority rule. The more parties involved, the more you shift over to a minority rule government. Do you want a government run by a 34% win? That is certainly a possiblilty in a tight 3 way election. Even a minor third party lost the election for Al Gore in 2000 though he got the majority of popular votes. I encourage everyone to select the party that most represents their views and opinions, then go to work within that party. Learn about the candidates running during primaries, vote in the primaries or caucuses, then vote, in every election. Vote every election from city council up to Presidential. That is what it takes to change things.
If you want unity, reduce the federal government back to it origins. Give the individual states and its citizens the liberty to self-govern upon which the nation was founded. You cannot tax a person to a better state of life! The original tea party was about taxation without representation. The current tea party began in similitude to the original tea party. Stop taxing us and telling us what to do. The coffee party seems from information available to be a movement about promoting 'being heard' whereas the original tea party was about being 'listened to' not just heard. No matter what you call it, the majority of citizens want to be listened to not just allowed to express themselves.
The key quote to the whole thing is: "In fact, think most of us feel that kind of that two-party system is an incredibly outdated system. It encourages people to think of politics as a kind of game, like a football game, in which there are two sides, and it's a zero sum situation. If one person wins, the other person loses."
I've been saying this for years. We're trying to beat each other instead of find common ground. Voting out one party and voting in another won't stop them from trying to beat each other - and that's more of a problem than politicians simply being crooked (which is also a problem).
By the way, the original Tea Party did not oppose taxes – just taxation from what they saw as an occupying power that did not grant them representation. We may not like who's representing us, but we are represented in the manner that our system allows.
Alfred89: Spoken like a true Tea Pary loudmouth. So what if she backed Obama? I've voted for Dems and Reps, which side does that put me on? You loudmouths just love shouting "liar" at anyone with whom you disagree. The intent here is to have civil discourse. Not shout "liar!" Grow up, we're trying to unite America, not divide.
Nice try – this woman has been exposed as an Obama operative. Worked heavily on his campaign. Bla
The Coffee Party has to be the silliest thing I ever heard. If you think you can do better why don't you impeach the President and the Coffee Party collectively becomes President?. Then let us see how you run the country. You people are a bunch of idiots with way too much time on your hands. Just to think I thought Sarah Palin was an idiot. I think President Obama has done an outstanding job seeing what he had to work with. This country was left in shambles by the former administration. Give the man some credit. He is trying. He can't please all of you whinners. There is no utopia society. Get over it!
What an absolute joke.
And Carol M.: This is NOT a democracy, it is a REPUBLIC.
This is a great idea! Politicians, corporate America keep your hands off the coffee party we don't need you! Tea baggers are idiot republicans!
Got news for you, people. This isn't the American Revolution. The government monitors, tracks and records all your silly moves and if any of you think there is not a big file on you then you are a fool. If you are really going to make change, screaming from a tree stump is not the best way to do it. Actions speak louder than words but if you want that audit flag, a denial in legit benefits or all of your phone calls and web traffic tracked then by all means keep on making a ruckus.
"Democracy should start with the sense that we're a community, we share common goals and values, and that there's such a thing as a common good that we're all working towards. "
The issue is that we aren't a community. We don't share common goals and values, nor do we all define the "common good" in the same way.
Nathan Ealy:
"Actually, I think the government represents us perfectly. We continually ask for new entitlements and services without having to pay for it. The government has been doing that very well."
Sadly, right on.
I am so sick of hearing how the Tea Party is all white, racist, blah blah blah. I'd beg one person to back that claim up with something other than ones own ignorance.
Let's see, that last Tea Party I went to was in Aug. in Sacramento. It was for the Calif. farmers. 3/4 of those there were Hispanic. The MC on stage was black, and the musician who wrote and sang the Tea Party Anthem is black, so tell me again about that whole racist thing....
Like they say, when your arguement has no merit, just scream racism....seems to be a liberal default!
When people say the Tea Party has leaders and is organized by whoever, again, back it up with one bit of proof. They don't, because they can't. Again, those who state that show their ingorance and just how misinformed they really are.
Coffee Party, is astro turf in it's purest form, why hide behind your true origins? Why not come up with your own idea instead of riding the coat-tails of another group? I'm not saying others can't or shouldn't organize, more power to you. I' just want to let the Coffee Partiers know that Axelrod called and he wants his bad idea back!!!
LMAO!!!!
hahahah! What a joke. Have another sip of Koolaid, sheeple... The Coffee Party is most definitely NOT grassroots, it was put together (and funded) by progressives from the Obama for America group. Not only is Annabel a previous liberal writer for the NYT, she also was employed by the democratic party and worked to promote the Obama campaign as a leader in the Obama for america group. A simple Google search is all it takes to connect the dots.
If anything is contrived and "astroturfed", this is it. Nice facebook page..."not affiliated with any party".... riiiiiiiiiiight.
MISSION: The Coffee Party Movement gives voice to Americans who want to see cooperation in government. We recognize that the federal government is not the enemy of the people, but the expression of our collective will, and that we must participate in the democratic process in order to address the challenges that we face as Americans. As voters and grassroots volunteers, we will support leaders who work toward positive solutions, and hold accountable those who obstruct them.
We do not need this, as it seeks to legitimize federalization of governance beyond the designs of the Constitution. What we really need is to return more localized governance which would negate 'party powers' and governance against the wishes of the people. The more local the decisions, the more personalized they are and more representative of the parties effected. More federalization brings unnecessary troubles to the 'essentials' of government. The wider the net cast, the more variance we encounter. Barring a few items specified in the Constitution, we need no federalized activity of government. At best, it is a costly and unnecessary expense of duplicating governing bodies. City, County, State, and federal governments each have a role in the overall government essential to preserve the freedoms cherished by our forefathers, but each has a distinct purpose not a hierarchical rank. It may be quite difficult to find finite unity on a national level, but locally needs and cultures are much more aligned. Consider Massachusetts where a government health care plan exists, the citizens thereof could apparently agree they desired such, whereas we know quite vividly citizens of many other states do not. Federalizing this removes the 'liberty to self-govern' from the states regardless of which viewpoint wins at the federal level. If Californians want to lump together for a cause, they have the right to do so, like with emission control. They have the right as a state, and exercised such right, to by self-governance impose regulation upon themselves to control emissions. The LA basin, for example, needed such due to the volume of emitting activity in the area, however, Fargo, GA has little need for similar legislation due to the rural nature and limited emitting activity. Likewise, legislation regarding use of the Suwanee River would serve no purpose in the LA basin. Yes, health care effects us all, but not always similarly. My premiums went down this year without reduction of benefits. Passing a federal health care bill will alter this, passing more cost to me without any gain.
I cannot support the ideals of this movement, as they are sponsors (according to their mission statement) of federalization of government on a broad spectrum. The movement seems to be constructed to capture the unsuspecting 'good-willed' citizen, who buys into the notion Tea Partiers and othera seeking less federal government are a 'hatred' based group. A 'middle-of-the-road' 'peacekeeper' image that really is a supporter of liberal agendas pressed through a growing federal government.
The problem with thinking of this country as either a republic or a democracy is that republicans think they are for our republic and democrats think they are for our democracy. Yeah right!!
So far every one has been in it for themselves, I doubt if the change from tea to coffee is gonna make it taste any less bitter to us. We have to reach into a different candidate pool if we want to get somewhere, because seriously if we vote out all incumbents we'll just end up with the same republican majority who started the class warfare to begin with. Then what? Vote out all incumbents again and end up with what we have now? Its political ping pong folks.... You need new representation that doesn't align itself with the traditional big business allegiances both of these parties have sold their souls to.
The problem with all of this is that ALL of these parties want to be the dominant party, which kind of defeats the purpose of changing from a 2-party system. If the Coffee Party, or Tea Party, or Crystal Light Party simply replaces one of the two incumbent powers, what is the gain? It's just the New Ideology on the Block. Do we want watered down government via back room coalition building? What happens if we send an anti-abortion govenment into power, and they broker away gun rights to get their way? What if we send a pro-healthcare reform government into power, and they borker away gay & lesbian rights? I seriously doubt that the devil we know is any worse than the devil we don't know.
Wow.... so America is NOT a democracy, and the "tea party" is not a corporate sponsored "astro-turf" movement?
You know, conservatives, we are ACTUALLY on a news site, where you can find actual FACTS, and links to FACTS. Not the ones you would like to be facts, like "the tea-party is not all white", but real facts, like the corporate-funded "Freedom Works" organization's founding of the "tea party" courtesy of Dick Armey.
P.S. We live in a democratic republic. That's a DEMOCRATIC republic.
As a registered independant, I have been saying for years that we need to move away from a two party system. We need choices!!! We need to think out of the box for crying out loud. A long long time ago, a great man once said "To find yourself, think for yourself". Man oh man, did Socrates hit the nail on the head there.
RobMN, love how you support the 1st amendment of the Bill of Rights.
For those that call Annabelle a "liar": Yes she may have supported Obama and the democratic party in the past (and maybe she does still), but that does not make her a liar. The coffee party is a new entity whose goals is to create a system that fosters cooperation and communication and healthy debate. She is probably sincere in her statments. Anyone can create such an entity whether they are Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent or anything else. Please, just try to take it at face value until proven otherwise.
It is such emotionally charged biased rhetoric that creates such problems in the first place. Just becuase someone is a Democrat doesn't mean they are involved in some consipiracy to control the world and just becuase someone is a Republican doesn't mean they are gay hating, gun toting, anti-government pundit. We need to get over the stereotypes first.
@Bruce, the first modern era Tea Parties were not in 2009, but in December 2007 to support Ron Paul's campaign, and to protest the neocon agenda of illegal wars, and the deficits and piling up of debt they were causing, as well as the Patriot Act and other creeping police state measures they were pushing.... though Ron Paul is conservative (in the true, non-neocon sense of the word), the original Tea Party was as much against the GOP as it was the Democrats.
Such a shame so many will take the coffee party seriously as a grassroots alternative to the Tea Party, when in reality its founder Ms. Park is an Obama campaign operative... so if you think Obama has delivered on his promise of "change" so far and want to see a continuation of what he has been doing... then by all means join the coffee party.
Tea Party = Fascism and Bigotry. Do we really need another?
A fundamental problem is presented in this quote; "That's not a democracy. Democracy should start with the sense that we're a community, we share common goals and values, and that there's such a thing as a common good that we're all working towards." America is not a democracy, but in stead a republic. The difference is worth studying. If America is compared to various democracies around the world, we will appear dysfunctional as a democracy, and well we should, but we are not broken in this regard. The absence of a pure democracy is a gift from our forefathers, who being well aware of the various forms of government chose to create a republic with elements of the various forms embedded therein. This conglomeration is a prime reason we have maintained our individual 'liberties' to the envy of the world. Make us a democracy, and we rapidly unravel the fabric by which we are held together. America does not need a 'new' way, but to return to the origins and better understand and pursue the form of 'limited' government accountable to its people (citizens) that was formed in our beginning. There is, and has been for years, a strong push by a few to push America to a democracy under the pretext that by not being a pure democracy, we are out of alignment. Not so, to become one is to be out of alignment with our Constitution and the founding principles upon which our unprecedented liberties are based. Drink your 'tea' or 'coffee', but before you start tampering with the form of government upon which America, do some homework... Do not assume we are a democracy; we only have some attributes thereof, and purposefully so.
I believe in everything Anabel said, let's drop the negativity, lets engage in conversation, lets find a common ground. most of all let's get the name calling morons off the radio, TV and out of Washington!!!
D in NE– thanks for pointing that out. You are absolutley right - we are not a democracy. And I do not feel represented by either party. I say vote them all out at the next election. Vote no incumbents! regardless of your party preference, no incumbents in Washington at the next two elections. Get rid of all of them.
Those who forget the mistakes of the past are doomed to repwat them. Until we do we can expect the same results with the same problems and will still be in the same place as we are now. It doesn't matter who is in office or how many "parties" there are representing the voters.
Outstanding! Brilliant! Annabel for president (not running under either party, of course).
FB is blocked at work. As soon as I get home, I'm joining the Coffee Party!
Clarifications
1) the "Tea Party movement" was certainly NOT started by Dick Armey or any other leading Republican. (Where exactly did you get this information?) To repeat that "understanding" without solid support is itself thinly veiled politicking. That leading Republicans might come out in support is scarcely surprising in light of its central concern about massive new spending - at the time (early 2009) being pushed by a Democratic administration & opposed by almost all Republicans.
Interesting thing is there is a lot of DEBATE about the precise origins of the Tea Parties, since several events sprang up in various locales in Feb. 2009 that think they were the first. In fact, that the details of the formation of a more spontaneous movement should be unclear is not surprising. (Contrast that with this "Coffee Party" effort, which it seems has one very simple, clear point of origin.)
2) most of us criticizing Park's forthrightness are NOT saying she has no right to organize and work for the ideals she espouses. She absolutely does! What we are questioning is her telling her misrepresenting the WAY she got started as almost accidental and spontaneous, not organized... apparently to try to mimic what actually DID happen with the various "Tea Parties".
So why invent a story about HOW you organized? Perhaps to cover your strong partisan roots –that you were not just 'in the middle' wanting everyone to work together, but have a long history of Democratic activism, not to mention virulent attacks on Republicans as well as the Tea Party movement? But if you are dishonest at that basic level, just why should I be trusting you??
3) "Tea Party" does NOT necessarily imply the folks involved in these various groups (and there is NOT one central organizer here.. but many distinct groups) are seeking to create a separate political party with its own candidates, etc. The name might mislead, but since it's based on an actual historical incident, that could hardly be helped.
As for the concern about fracturing into a "multi-party" system - in fact, the two major political parties are THEMSELVES coalitions, and always have been. How in a country of this size with so many disparate groups & interests could it be otherwise? "Tea Party movement" people will seek, like other groups, to gain a hearing and influence the positions & candidates chosen by the major parties. THAT is how American politics works!
I saw a comment saying that young women started these movements...my understanding is that Dick Armey started the Tea Party movement. That is a thin veil for the Republican party. This Coffee Party sounds more like someone with brains is behind it.
I'm founding the "Bachelor Party"...
I'd just like to point out we are NOT a democracy. We are a representative republic.
They sound like a great group!
It is one thing to say that the two party system is broken, but it is another to move to a multi-party system. Would we want coalition governments that collapse when groups pull out of the ruling majority? It seems like the governments that are multi-party (like Italy or Israel) are always collapsing because some vested group pulled out of the coalition over some issue.
This is stupid just reading this artical, and I have not visited the site. To have a belief that parties should be elimated regardless of their name is unrealistic. If this is a true democracy then there will be always a different view, and someone will always disagree and have a different opinion than another person. To only have one party is well...kinda like communist russia. I do believe that people to jump to conclusions when one person chooses another, they are accused of being one extreme or the other. I choose someone based on who I think have the better policies. I am pro choice and pro gay marriage, but I am a registered republican. I disagree with the new "Healthcare reform" bill that Obama is pushing down people's throats and I was against bailing out any major company because it put us in the hole even worse. I voted for the republican party this last election because I agree with the most important issues and there were more issues that I ultimately agreed with from the republican canidate. It doesn't mean I am some extreme conservative, just means I voted for who I thought was the best man, and frankly, looking at where Obama is headed, I still think the best man didn't win the election.
I keep reading all of these comments about "Progressivism", as though progress is a negative thing. I don't understand. Can someone please explain to me why moving forward is a bad thing, and what they're basing that logic on? What are we supposed to do? Freeze everything the way that it is right now like we're living in some kind of giant time capsule? I just don't get it. The world is changing – always. Adaptability (through PROGRESS) is necessary to our survival – as a species, as a civilization, as a COUNTRY. If we don't keep up with the changing world, our extinction is inevitable, one way or another. That's how the world works. (Of course, I do also believe that evolution is real, so maybe that's where I'm getting my crazy ideas...) No matter how much some people don't like it, things are going to change in the US and the rest of the world, and our government will need to adapt to the changes to avoid becoming obsolete. This is not 1980. Until you find a way to travel through time, it will never be 1980 (or 1990, or 2000, or whatever ideal era that you seek to remain locked in forever). If you don't like living somewhere that changes with the rest of the world, I understand that there's a primitive tribe in South America that's all about that. Maybe you can move there, assuming they still exist.
I think that we need to push very hard for National referendums on major issues affecting the nation as a whole. We are not represented by Congrees; it is largely corrupt or intimidated(we all know this). Complaining to them will NEVER get us anywhere. We need to unite on a national level, regardless of ideology. A national union of Americans for democracy. LET US VOTE.
That interview did a really great job of not giving me any clue what the Coffee Party is or what it stands for. All I know about them is that their name's a reference to the Tea Party. I give them two weeks.
I would like to clarify that I am the !st person that brought the Coffee Party to light as a 1/2 jokingly jesture on a CNN tea party site.
Because I was becoming disilluioned and disenchanted with both parties. The acronym Community of family friends & employers engaged was the one I used on CNN.
I wanted to bring to the forfront that anyone can start a group.
The Idea for my group and if Anna is to take it over that no Groups of Militants, Republicans or democrats, abortion sides, bible thumpers in there zest to push their agenda was getting in the way of what I believed most of us were seeking; truth of what our country needs, truths to the resolve, and the good of the working class, our understanding of government, and the keeping of our constitution: without hijacking it for a miligned purppose.
Now if this is not Irony, I am from St. Louis Missouri, my husband and I were heading for Grafton Illinois to look at the Eagles on the bluffs when I looked at the CNN page to get a quick look. I hope you print this and I will check it out as we are late in our trip to have a picnic, wine, and enjoy the beautiful eagle, because I can. Check U Later.
The fact that the director of this movement worked for Obama is not necessarily suspect to me. Both the Tea Party and Coffee Party movements are movements of change and Obama was clearly the candidate of change in the last election. If you were in any way involved in the political process, you had to come down on one side or the other.
The Tea Party movement, essentially started by followers of Ron Paul, NOT by party shills like Sarah Palin, has become more mainstream as it has moved forward and lost much of what gave it its initial appeal, at least to a lot of people. The platform of the Coffee Party is to support candidates that are moving America forward, regardless of party affiliation. It's really what this country needs. I guess we'll see if they can maintain those ideals as they continue to grow, or if they will eventually just become the more out spoken wing of one of the two existing parties as the Tea Party has done.
Altruistic & Supportive -
I think the ideas put forward by Annabel Park are "spot on": At present, this country is too entrenched in our "win-loose" culture and "me" mentality to get back to the work of "promot[ing] the general welfare" our founding fathers had in mind when they founded this country and it's political system. While I can think of no solution to this problem, it is certain that it must include a collective effort if it is going to grow. Please understand that I love this country, and have served in it's military, and whether we subscribe to the constitution as a living document intended to adapt to our present culture or a black and white listing of our rights and responsibilities, I relish the fact that an idea such as this can take hold and grow. Put aside the politics, distrust and underlying assumptions of what is driving this discussion and join together to look at this problem, and it's solution, in terms of what those brave men had in mind when they crafted these document: The best for our county and the general welfare of all of it's citizens.
I joined the Coffee Party March 1st,2010. The stated goals of the movement and the pledge are what made me interested. Unlike the Tea Party, CIVILITY in our discourse is a key ingredient for democracy to work. I encourage all citizens to get involved to protect OUR government from the hatred and violence so publicly displayed, expressed and promoted recently. If we allow the Teabaggers and other right wing fringed groups to disrupt or destroy our goverment; THEN WHAT, MOB RULE?
The Coffee Party is a welcome alternative to this MADNESS. Americans working to solve America's problems. Not to DESTROY ANYTHING, but rather to build a better future for all !
Shouldn't this have been titled "Coffee party gaining ground(s)"...get it? Coffee grounds? LOL.
It's about time! Wake up and smell the coffee America! Putrid tea-baggers are no one's friend except those people who already have tens of millions of dollars. Republicans want to redristribute the wealth in our country so we have the super rich and the rest of the majority in poverty! They have been actively doing this since the 1970s under the rallying cry of "cutting taxes". If you are middle class, poor, a woman, or some non-white ethnicity you might as well just slit your throat if you consider yourself a Republican!!!
our representatives are able to see our comments, receive our mass emails, and read the varied polls taken by numerous media outlets...and yet...they hear us not.
all this communication has shown me how unwilling our representatives are to communicate.
Elected officials function like an army. Orders come from above..not from below. Jefferson, Madison would hardly understand why we have two parties today and what good could come of such division.
Why do we need congressmen/senators. We could have direct voting in america and have simple state committees to handle issues to be set for a vote. we vote once a week or a month...debate can be open prior to voting and polls can be taken. we dont need others "speaking" for us anymore.
Looks like the coffee party is just another front for the communist party. Wolves in sheeps clothing. Google: communist in the white house video
Sounds great. Sign me up. God bless all.
I joined – and at 75 have a lot of time for reading. The most interesting are the comments to opinion articles. Annabel Parks – a refreshing and logical mind was an early booster for another logical mind who is now our President. I admire intelligence and people that use this gift wisely. I suggest people posting comments mentally place them on a bell curve. Label the curve with the IQ range – be honest to yourself before pressing the send button with your name attached.
The "tea-party movement" is an attempt at manufacturing public support and acceptance for reactionary, religious extremist, socially outdated, and economically anachronistic policies that fell out of mainstream support by the time of the second Nixon administration.
Ironically, some of the uneducated people who have bought into this John Birch/Lyndon LaRouche garbage are the ones whose lives and families will least benefit from the policies they have been duped into supporting.by fear tactics
Having the "opposite" of the "tea-party" is not a good idea. Since the "tea-party" gets all their thought from Fox News, who will indoctrinate it's "opposition"? The opposite of the "tea-party" concept is getting an education, developing critical thought, and thinking for yourself based on facts and principles.
I'll start with this: I refuse to live in a country that pays lip service to my individual rights to freedom and pursuit of happiness while shoving an awful, extremist, repressive version of christian dogma down my throat.
The tea party stands for T-axed E-nough A-lready. The name says it all!! If you can't relate to that then maybe the party you now align with is the party for you. Those that like to talk about the Boston Tea Party and think that somehow the "Tea Party" of today is the samething just isn't getting it. We the People are TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY!! If the government can't manage the money we send them now, we need to stop sending them more.
I thought the Coffee Party was pretty much dead-on-arrival when it was revealed that Annabel Park actually worked on Obama's campaign and, contrary to her comments in interviews that she didn't see the Coffee Party as opposed to the Tea Party, her comments on Twitter and elsewhere belie her agenda. Park is not the nice, friendly person simply trying to establish an open conversation. She is actually quite nasty in her comments about the Tea Party movement, and her Coffee Party is an attempt to derail a legitimate grassroots populist reaction to government excesses with an astroturfed organization with a leftist, progressive agenda.
Park does not represent middle American; quite the contrary, she is far left in the political spectrum, and her agenda in the Coffee Party is to push the Democrats' agenda in Washington, D.C. This is not an open conversation, but partisan banter.
Add to this that Park really only appeared on the national scene thanks to coverage by the New York Times, which failed to mention that Park previously worked there. Park has since had herself deleted from LinkedIn, but her entry there showed "Strategy Analyst" at the NYT as her only private sector work, and then a long list of activist organizations that she had worked for. The Coffee Party is just Park's latest activism, and, it seems, leftist activism is really the only thing that she knows how to do.
Hallelujah! It is high time and lets all speak up.
Re: The Tea Party: during the revolution, the tea party was not a protest against taxation, but taxation without representation. Let's put it in context.
Also, it appears to me that the fight against health care reform is all about protecting the huge profits of insurance companies. Is that for the welfare of the country?
This lady has some excellent points–especially about the two-party system. Based on what is expressed here, I support her ideas and those of the movement. However, I would like to see who the major contributors to the Coffee Party are in order to make sure they are not a front for some corporation, lobbyist, or other organization that wants to manipulate the people into supporting legislation that benefits their own ends. I really hate to be cynical. What she says is very much what I want to hear. But the last few decades have taught me to be very wary about whom I support. Remember the Bruce Springsteen quote: “Blind faith in your leaders, or in anything, will get you killed.”
So true ... since Reagan (the republican hero/national disaster) and the conservatives have sown the "fear of government" seeds, people have forgotten that "We, the people" ... ARE government.
Have you ever wondered about our politicians going to Washinton relatively modest (poor). Within no time they are gathering amazing wealth. Yes, it is the dishonesty of our representatives and lobbyist filling their pockest. It must stop!
Mark Olav
Too little, too late. The coffee and tea parties would have been a glorious idea – back in the eighties. Now? It's pointless... The people who are purportedly the elected representatives of this country put on a great show for the idiot masses the people of this country have become. Everyone realizes that more time and money is spent catching and incarcerating marijuana users than catching murderers and rapists, right? The loss of rights and responsibilities of all people in any country begins when one segment of the population is painted as an enemy of the state – that was what happened in the 1930's. And all you want to do is throw a party?
When you tea party people are able to separate yourselves from the extremist, and the likes of Rush and Beck, then we can have a civil discussion based on mutual respect for each others views.
Annabel needs to go back to school. She implies that the US is a democracy. It is NOT a democracy. It's a REPUBLIC., set up as one so that the rights of minorities could be protected against a majority rule. That's why the line in the Pledge of Allegiance is "and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands...."
Are we going to see the "Oranger Juicers" having a party soon.
I believe the colonists switched to hot chocolate after they swore off tea. The Spanish discovered xocolatl in what is now southern Mexico and Guatemala and brought it back to Europe where milk and sugar were added for flavor. No cows or sugar cane (native to India) in the New World. So I propose a Chocolate Party with a much more global view. And less caffeine than coffee or tea!
And what does Kiran Chetry say, she says Health Care is a "Liberal" idea, Jezz ya think the Media is part of the problem? YUP
Where do you even start with a group like this one? Are you people kidding me? Gosh, you don't even have to dig to see the basis of this one..this is not a positive "come together" group. They are hear to paint the Tea Party racist. That's it folks! Push the liberal radical lefts agenda through to be crammed down the throats of Americans. We won't let it happen. Make up all the silly fake groups you want. You will capture the radicals and all the uninformed. You can have them. the rest of us Americans are too smart, too engaged, and too movtiated to let anyone stop us. Not gonna happen! But keep on trying-the more you do the better and stronger we get. See you in Nov!!
i belong to neither the tea party nor the coffee party but it's curious that a "group" that hasn't done anything except set up a facebook page has gotten major media attention about a nano-second after "forming". Yet a group that's been around for over a year, that has held hundreds of rallies where thousands have shown up, and has had at least a modest but demonstrable impact in local elections has only grudgingly gotten media attention and that generally only derisively. Does the media have to agree with something to report on it? I thought that was limited to the editorial pages.
Annabel is clearly motivated by good thoughts and ideals. Unfortunately, she isn't a good spokesperson for this or any other movement. She could be successful only if she learned to speak in simple and convincing phrases with which people could agree and conform.
hey Coffee party! Your utopia already exists, move to Canada, France, or China..
Get the hell out of th eUSA
if they are anti -TEA then they are for :
bigger government
no fiscal responsibility
and more taxes
mmmm, sounds more like Baracks' fan club.... lol
Becoming the "Coffee Party" is just another liquid, easily disolvable bowel aiding function. This idea is being touted as the next cure for extremists to join the Conservative Republicans with the Conservative Tea Party.
How about Concerned Americans to Aligned Civilized People. [Period deliberate].
Please review the data gathered on the Southern Proverty Law Center Web Site in order have a balanced focus.
Great! Now we've got another group of crybabies who can't stand watching the sausage being made. The " Coffee Party ", the " Tea Party "; a better name would be the " Whiner Parties ". A flash in the pan. They'll both be gone as soon as the economy recovers.
" Working toward the common good" equals communism?
"This woman's movement clearly sounds more socialistic than a movement that says big government is not what our founding fathers wanted."
Please pick a label and stick with it. Otherwise, it would appear from the Tea Party's protest signs, which also included Marxism and fascism (Nazi) accusations - often on the same sign - that the group really has little grasp of the concepts they are using as talking points.
Also, there is a great distance between supporting the Tea Party or being a "far-left liberal" seeking revolution or anarchy. This is where the vast majority of the nation mentally resides - somewhere near the middle, not clinging to the wing tips. Those are the only ones we hear from, though.
Final thought... The "liberal media" that I keep hearing about seems to completely ignore or downplay anything that might forward a progressive viewpoint - anti-war protests (prior to the start of the Iraq War and after), protests objecting to the treatment of "illegal" immigrants in Arizona, more recently, a pro-healthcare march across the Brooklyn Bridge, to minimizing and downplaying them (this week's protests supporting education in California). I'm certain there are many more examples, but since we didn't see it, we don't know. But if 50 conservatives with misspelled signs gather, it's the pulse of public opinion.
There is one glaring difference between the coffee party and the tea party. The coffee party is started by someone looking for civil discourse. The tea party was started and built by a right wing media conglomerate, you know, fair and balanced and catering to the unbalanced.
It would be nice if there where a media source not catering to the right wing, lock step, do what we tell you to do or we will call you a liberal network, crowd.
One early poster said; "We are ordinary people, living in ordinary communities, with ordinary needs: food, money, health, education, and homes. Please give us what we need." My request of this USA Government."
The US government has no constitutional mandate to give you food, money, health, education, and a home. In order to do that, they have to take the money for those things from somebody else and then give it to you. They can't just print money to do it. You have already missed the point.
We simply need the "smart" government, not big or small government. Smart government could include police, fire, health care, defense, etc. Makes sense?
Viva la caffeinated revolution!!
Well, it seems the Tea baggers feel threatened that a reasonable movement has arisen to challenge their idiotic stances of 'no guvmint'. Thank you Annabel, you may be the next Dolly Adams!
Basically, I think we need a party to address the needs of people who are not technically heterosexual.
I whole-heartedly endorse the coffee party mantra............our elected officials have consistantly overlooked the fact that they work for us.........we are their employers...........it doesn't make sense for employees to have better retirement, health, etc. etc. etc. benefits than their employer...............term limits should be a top priority for future elections.............politicians should NOT be allowed to become so entrenched in the process that their very presence prohibits the process from working...............our system should somehow make it possible for an average Joe to run for elected office, which would include equal media time..............our current elected officials are so out of touch with the realities of everyday Americans that it's embarrassing to associate with either side of the political aisle.........while I watched the last State of the Union address by President Obama.......it became obvious to me that "Respect for our Commander in Chief" was a thing of the past.............smug-faced politicians in silk suits with absolute disdain written on their faces was proof positive that compromise and working for the common good of everyday Americans wasn't and isn't going to happen any time soon..................AND, why aren't our elected officials on Social Security like us..........WE need another choice to truly represent the will of the people............Donkey's and Elephants are the wrong animals.........I think a Border-Collie type candidate, who could lead us in the right direction, motivated only by common interests of the people, who also appreciates how wonderful it is to manufacture "STUFF".............to allow people to work with their hands, not only on computers, but in the trades.........welders, electricians....glass blowers.....artisans all...................sorry for getting long-winded, but we need to "Start Over"............and we must learn from our past mistakes..................OH, and what is wrong with every American serving their country for a mandatory two years after High School graduation................it doesn't have to be in the Military, although that is an option, but the Youth Conservation Corps was very effective in the Depression era, but by having to contribute to the common good of us all, we EARN our FREEDOM, it's not something you get for free..........this service will build character and we might not take things for granted as we have in the past.................our motives shouldn't be dollar driven only..........there has to be more to life than what's in it for me..............we must rebuild that sense of community where diversity is the common thread which historically has made our country the great land that it was and is and OOOOPS, I have to get back to work.......later America!!!!!!!!!!
I agree w/ the "game" mentallity that the two party system creates. Most people who are political do have the I won or I lost attitude and most forget that we all lose with that kind of attitude. I wish more people on BOTH sides could compromise more to accomidate each other. I am very liberal..but that TO ME means that I am able to compromise to be around many people..how can I have a dialoge with someone who AUTOMATICALLY shuts me down for being open to others? And on top of that..how are we as a society suppost to accomplish ANYTHING at all if this win or loose mentalitly. Until we can all let go of labels and trully appreciate each and every person as EQUALS NOTHING will change. The world IS changing all around us and if we as a collective don't change with the rest of the world, we WILL be surpassed and left behind!!
Park states, "During the American Revolution, after they dumped tea into the harbor, they actually declared coffee the national drink" What history is she reading? Boston Tea Party was in 1773, an association was formed in 1774, the revolution started in 1775, Independence was declared in 1776, the states became league or union of states under the Articles of Confederation 1781, formed a more perfect Union in 1787 under the Constituion of the United States. So when did coffee become a "national" drink?
TEA, COFFEE, Juice – what next. The more options we have the better
Jawahar
Next up the beer party, the slumber party and then finally the toga party!
Let's start a "Beer Party". That's American, too. Our platform could stand for term limits, which Congress will never impose on its own members regardless of party affiliations. Our job is easy; all we need to do is choose the best non-incumbent for each position. And then we must make sure the new office holders understand that "cleaning house" is a condition of their employment, which includes abolishing the special medical and retirement benefits our privileged governing class enjoys. The $$ saved would go a long way toward mitigating our debt. WE are the employers, but both the voters and the office holders seem unable to comprehend that. The strongly-held opinions expressed in our "beverage party" dialogues show that our citizens are staging a revolution. Fortunately, we are generally a law-abiding nation and can resolve our differences in a bloodless manner. Our country's leaders should consider themselves lucky as they read the handwriting on the wall.
Wow – did a little background check on her...she is pushing the immigrants agenda.
"Producer and co-director of 9500 Liberty, a feature documentary about America's battle over immigration."
We need more quotas LOL.
Dang. I like tea and I like coffee. Now, I'm just going to have to come up with my own drink.
This just seems to be the Dems answer to the Tea Party. Almost every opinion on this article seems to agree that the Coffee Party is the opposite to the Tea Party and if so, well they are in. Doesn't that sound like the system we have now!!! On one hand everyone decries the two-party system but that is what they are talking about creating, a new two party system; isn't that the definition of insanity, doing the same thing and expecting different results. And as to BO being able to lead an impartial discourse, put down the crack pipe!! He has shown over and over again that he is a political thug, why else does he need "The Rahm"? Having said that, I think that this lady should join with the Tea Party folks to temper them a bit because between them both they can probably come up with something that would look like a solution.
Why is it that when conservatives protest it is patriotic but when liberals protest we are either commies or anti American?
Why does someone who supports more liberal causes always get lumped into some "vast socialist conspiracy to destroy America?
Why can conservatives who have supported the Republicans for years and years join the tea party and it's some great new political movement but when a group with more liberal leanings springs up it is always considered to be under some kind of secret direct control of the democratic party?
I support and oppose some ideas and values from both major political parties AND from several other 3rd parties. I have no idea if I would support this coffee party movement or not as I have not read all that they are about, but I can tell you that it is probable that like most movements I would agree with some and disagree with others.
One thing that I agree 100% about is that it is our 2 party system that is causing a great deal of our political problems and breeds corruption on both sides.
Sign me up!! Whatever it takes (a coup? a revolution? coffee??) to get the senate's collective head out of its own arse long enough to start actually REPRESENTING us I'm for. It really is all gamesmanship in Washington; hooray for Ms. Park for using the word! Trouble is, we all know who the ultimate losers are, don't we.
"we're a community, we share common goals and values, and that there's such a thing as a common good" sounds basically like a community communist. Country already is rejecting them because they're rejecting Obama.
get rid of both parties and form a united we stand party and be sure there is lots of coffee to go around. Time for REAL CHANGE;
Americans are soooo dumb. You should know that Annabel was part of the Obama campaign management team. A professional spin merchant. Her job with the coffee party is to make you like government again, so they can continue with the same old game without the people demanding government for the people and by the people. Well you get what you deserve and if Americans are determined to be so dumb, they will all end up in a fema camp and thank their governments for the pleasure of being mere numbers and servants to the wall street gang.
I don't care for Republican or Democrats...I don't care if the mechanism is the tea party or the coffee party. Most of these social issues we debate are interesting but don't threaten our nation. The only 2 issues that immenently threaten our nation are our war on terror and our Deficits. Probably our deficit spending is the more critical. President Bush and the Republicans were crazy overspenders, President Obama and the Democrats even worse. We need candidates that can make tough choices and cut spending to balance our budget. We need everyone in this country to work. Stop this welfare, disability and early retirement nonsense. We need to stop taxing the hardest working Americans to give free stuff (housing, food, healthcare) to our laziest Americans. We need candidates that aren't beholden to special interests and can cut the budget by as much as 15% across the board and as much as 50% in selected programs in order to balance the budget. We need people who will buy american products. We need workers who will take pride in their work and students who take pride in their education. Does that make me a coffee or tea guy? Who knows, who cares...
You "forgot" to mention in your article that Annabel Park is an Obama agitator!
Looks like a movement to push an agenda towards more quotas. Can't wait to see how this all plays out.
lemmings UNITE....!!
under yet another veil of a misleading, misunderstood, misrepresented, self-interest movement agenda.
"oh...because i LOVE coffee..."
how pathetic!
This concept souns good. If the Coffee Party is the opposite of the Tea Party, then I am in. If this group calls for sound government without being too leftist, I think it will gain popular momentum. We need something besides Dems/Reps. They are the "old parties."
Progressive thinking is critically needed at this time. It can no longer be business as usual. The first thing I would like to see go is the lobbyist. All the money they spenf to push their agendas could probably reduce the deficit. And for the Congress & the Senate to accept their "bribe" is appalling. We have strayed so far from the original intent of our founding fathers.
We are a floundering nation in need of a boost of new ideas and new people. Let the change begin!
"The Tea Party leadership is Republican Professional Political Operatives working out of a Republican Office"
Evidence?? none at all! This is just another made-up attack line of the Left (which, as I recall, I first heard from Dem Party leaders!!). If you DO have evidence, please feel free to provide it.
Park's activist credentials, on the other hand, are very clear, evidenced, for example, on her removed LinkedIn page– why?? and Twitter feed. Note that I'm not saying she has no right to these views or to promote them.. just asking why she, with the help of major press outlets, MISREPRESENTS her background.
"without the negativity" - yep, she fooled you!
In fact, if you follow Annabel Park's "Tweets" they are filled with the typical far left venom against those she disagrees with on the Left, and particularly nasty toward the Tea Party ... helping to feed the caricature, smearing & hatemongering... don't be too quick to just believe her major media press
This is a astro-turf movement organized by Obama supporters.
Finally, some refreshing ideas without the negativity towards one party. Love it!