Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

“Coffee Party” Accepts Invitation to Tea
New Patriot Journal ^ | March 3, 2010 | Walter Scott Hudson

Posted on 03/03/2010 3:03:12 PM PST by Walter Scott Hudson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A citizen activist group antagonistic to the political goals of the Tea Party movement has nonetheless indicated a willingness to converse. In what may be characterized as “the sincerest form of flattery,” video documentarian Annabel Park weeks ago created the “Coffee Party Movement.” Despite its relatively brief existence, it has already garnered significant media attention, most notably in recent articles by the New York Times and Washington Post. Over the weekend, an open letter was addressed to Park by a member of the Tea Party movement (this writer) welcoming “civility and inclusiveness in political discourse,” a nod to one of the Coffee Party’s stated goals. Alongside public replies from Coffee Partiers, Park responded privately, indicating a desire to bring tea and coffee drinkers together for debate and discussion.

The Coffee Party is a product of the new media. Park, in her own words, “kinda lost it” and “started ranting” in her Facebook profile regarding her frustration at the perception of the Tea Party as being representative of the majority of Americans. The Washington Post reported the status update which started it all:

let’s start a coffee party . . . smoothie party. red bull party. anything but tea. geez. ooh how about cappuccino party? that would really piss ‘em off bec it sounds elitist . . . let’s get together and drink cappuccino and have real political dialogue with substance and compassion.

The primary gripe emanating from Park is her perception of the Tea Party movement, and conservative legislators in Washington, as “obstructionist.” In a YouTube video introducing the Coffee Party to the world, Park says, “We want to see cooperation among people in Congress, in government. And we want to see people who are representing us move towards solutions to the problems, instead of strategically obstructing any form of progress.”

Park concurs with the sentiment expressed by liberal commentators like Stephanie Miller and Bill Press, who accuse Republicans of opposing President Obama’s progressive agenda only as an electoral strategy, excluding the possibility there may be fundamental principled disagreement. Park indicates a desire to “hold people accountable for obstructing progress in government.” She sees a dichotomy between “cooperation” and “obstruction,” holding the former to be necessary for government to work for the People. She calls for “everyone to be engaged in the political process” and makes reference to government as an instrument of the “collective will.” At the same time, she defiantly pleads for certain “people to get out of the way.”

In the open letter to Park, her perception of the Tea Party movement was challenged:

This idea that the Tea Party is against progress is untrue, if by “progress” we are referring to positive change in the conduct and quality of life. We simply disagree regarding the origin of progress. The Coffee Party seems to think it comes from government. The Tea Party believes progress can only derive from people, and too much government obstructs it.

We can negotiate. We are willing to achieve consensus. There is, however, a clear framework within which such consensus must be bound – the Constitution of the United States.

Response to the letter from self-identified members of the Coffee Party has been mostly gracious. “I’m a member of the Coffee Party and I appreciate your letter,” wrote a commenter identifying himself as Marvin. “If we could have more civil debate I think this country could move forward.” Jim Yost wrote, “I don’t agree with a lot of the [Tea Party]’s stances on many critical issues, but I do agree that Washington is broken, and I do think that we all can and should work together to change as much in our system as we can so that our differences can be worked out productively.”

To that end, tentative arrangements are being made for a meeting in the Twin Cities area between members of these disparate activist groups. Potential points of consensus include the imposition of term limits, a desire for citizen legislators as opposed to career politicians, and a general call for accountability among public officials.


TOPICS: Local News; Politics
KEYWORDS: acorn; annabelpark; astroturf; coffeeparty; communistfront; coopted; drinkthekoolaid; interference; teaparty; usefulidiots
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

1 posted on 03/03/2010 3:03:12 PM PST by Walter Scott Hudson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson

The Coffee Party was created for the sole purpose of supporting Obama.


2 posted on 03/03/2010 3:04:41 PM PST by GeronL (Political Philosophy: I Own Me (yep, boiled down to 6 letters))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson

Standard issue astroturf. Lavish MSM attention aside, they won’t be able to caucus in a phone booth, mainly because there are no more phone booths.


3 posted on 03/03/2010 3:06:17 PM PST by sinanju
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson

How about a Latte Liberal Party? Supply straws because commies suck.


4 posted on 03/03/2010 3:06:44 PM PST by TigersEye (It's the Marxism, stupid! ... And they call themselves Progressives.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson; Slings and Arrows; an amused spectator
From her facebook: "...let’s start a coffee party . . . smoothie party. red bull party. anything but tea."

Red "bull" Party sounds about right.


5 posted on 03/03/2010 3:07:37 PM PST by a fool in paradise
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson

TOTAL B.S. This is an astroturf op and Anabel is a rabid hater of the tea party who left a considerable online trail to prove it.


6 posted on 03/03/2010 3:08:39 PM PST by the Real fifi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson

>>instead of strategically obstructing any form of progress<<

liberal code for “interfering with our Big Government Masters.”


7 posted on 03/03/2010 3:09:18 PM PST by freedumb2003 ( Tagline lost -- anyone seen it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson

I think I need to attend a Scotch party.


8 posted on 03/03/2010 3:09:37 PM PST by GoforBroke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson

The Tea Party is wasting their time talking to these people. They should remain focused on reducing taxes. The progressives and RINOs will never agree to that.


9 posted on 03/03/2010 3:10:18 PM PST by HarleyD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson

If the MSM likes it then it is our enemy. Plain and simple.


10 posted on 03/03/2010 3:10:48 PM PST by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

As someone here put it...COFFEE

Covert Operation For Fascist Enterprise Expansion


11 posted on 03/03/2010 3:12:22 PM PST by TribalPrincess2U (demonicRATS ... taxes, pain and slow death. Is this what you want?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: TribalPrincess2U

lol


12 posted on 03/03/2010 3:15:00 PM PST by GeronL (Political Philosophy: I Own Me (yep, boiled down to 6 letters))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: HarleyD

The Tea Party is wasting their time talking to these people. They should remain focused on reducing taxes. The progressives and RINOs will never agree to that.

Here's the thing though. In order to actually do something like reduce taxes, we have to come out ahead in the public discourse. We have to make the argument. I am a firm believer in the notion bad ideas evaporate in the light of day. To the extent this effort exposes them, that's a good thing.

13 posted on 03/03/2010 3:21:35 PM PST by Walter Scott Hudson (fightinwords.us)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson

Sounds like somebody wants to drop a turd in the tea pot to me.


14 posted on 03/03/2010 3:23:24 PM PST by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

The Coffee Party are clearly KoolAid Drinkers acting as surrogates for Oblahblah. I wouldn’t get into the same room with them, ever, for any reason.
In fact, if they were to volunteer coming into a room with me, they’d have to pass a written test first/


15 posted on 03/03/2010 3:24:58 PM PST by supremedoctrine ("I'm flattered that you wanted me, I'm bitter that you got me" --Dick Powell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson
I heard coffee grounds make good worm food!
16 posted on 03/03/2010 3:25:52 PM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran ((B.?) Hussein (Obama?Soetoro?Dunham?) Change America Will Die From.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson
"...New York Times and Washington Post..." .... both of which are libtard progressive mouthpieces.... Coffee Party is astroturf....Pelosi is where on proclaiming such? Thought so.
17 posted on 03/03/2010 3:27:03 PM PST by cranked
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson
Someone needs to explain a little American History to this group of Gen X and Generation.com know-nothings.

Hey, dipsh**s! It's called "The New American Tea Party" to pay homage to and rekindle the spirit of a little historical event called the Boston Tea Party...ever heard of it? Maybe if a group of patriots seized your shipment of i-Phones, Red Bull and doobage, and dumped it into Boston Harbor, would that get your attention, you stupid slackers?

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

18 posted on 03/03/2010 3:31:41 PM PST by wku man (Who says conservatives don't rock? Go to www.myspace.com/rockfromtheright)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson

Coffee Party is a bunch of wannabee Marxists, funded by far-Left ideologues and purely astroturfers...

Why would anyone with a job or a sense of national pride want ObamaCare to end their freedoms and close the window on the best healthcare in America?

Do people not understand that the care will diminish when 30,000,000 are added with no additional staff and AA requirements for doctors?

Has anyone been to London or Toronto recently?

Kill this bill, F Obama’s Marxist madness.


19 posted on 03/03/2010 3:38:18 PM PST by wac3rd (Felipe Calderon supports the public option.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Walter Scott Hudson

I think the wind is at our backs. People understand taxes. They understand debt. What has to be managed is the scare tactics like you won’t end up with health care or social security.


20 posted on 03/03/2010 3:38:30 PM PST by HarleyD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson