Coffee Party Reports
[Guest post by DRJ]
Reporting from a Wisconsin coffee party, Phil Boehmke notices there were no minorities but a novel conspiracy theory: “I heard a woman talking about how the Oil Companies were spreading lies about the Prius because it was too fuel efficient!”
There were also arts and crafts:
“Finally the end was in sight. Emails were collected and initial plans for another meeting were discussed, then each group was to make a poster (it is always a relief when there is an artist in the group) for the 1st coffee party picture.”
Plus duplicate “grassroots” press releases from Chicago and Kansas City.
H/T Instapundit.
— DRJ
The crowds were overwhelming as well, weren’t they?
daleyrocks (718861) — 3/14/2010 @ 5:18 pmTo me, it is endlessly interesting how the progressive Left kept insisting that the TEA parties were all astroturfed from RNC people.
But these “Coffee Party” meetings…well, they seem to have been, um, astroturfed, big time.
It follows the pattern I have seen many times over the years: the progressive Left seems to be addicted to accusing the Right of doing things that they themselves do.
Oh well. I’m sure that the MSM will cover all the astroturfing going on. The backgrounds of the organizers. Kind of a compare and contrast thing.
Because the press is about reporting the truth, right? No matter where it leads them?
Eric Blair (e9dd87) — 3/14/2010 @ 5:28 pmAre these the coffee parties being organized by that Anabel Park from Organizing for America, Barcky’s permanent campaign arm?
JD (06f82d) — 3/14/2010 @ 5:32 pmWhy, JD! That doesn’t mean that she is astroturfing!
http://bigjournalism.com/fross/2010/03/03/ny-times-washington-post-hide-phony-coffee-party-astroturf-roots-at-the-ny-times/
You know what? I am happy to see any astroturfing, regardless of party affiliation, exposed. But it seems to me that all astroturfing is created equal, but some is more equal than others.
Eric Blair (e9dd87) — 3/14/2010 @ 6:11 pmDo they really use the name CPUSA? Because that’s kind of stepping on the toes of the Communist Party of the USA.
DWPittelli (2de73b) — 3/14/2010 @ 6:20 pm#5,
Machinist (9780ec) — 3/14/2010 @ 6:28 pmThey save on letterhead.
And the the MSM bamboozle beat goes on:
Looking for change, but not quite ready for a revolution? Disappointed in President Obama and Congress, but not ready to turn your back on Washington? Prefer a double, non-foam latte over a cup of Earl Grey? The Coffee Party might be for you.
Months after the Tea Party erupted onto the national scene at health care town halls, an alternative, more pro-government group of citizens is emerging to say they’re angry, too — they just want less yelling and more talking.
Just as the Tea Party organized to remind the Republican Party what its conservative base stands for, the Coffee Party movement is organizing to represent citizens who believe in government solutions for national problems but aren’t necessarily enthralled with Democratic leadership. After gaining steam online over the past few months, the Coffee Party is launching its first national event this Saturday: National Coffee Party Day.
What is the Coffee Party, and How Did it Start?
The Coffee Party is a loosely organized movement that has yet to adopt a platform — but it has a message that its members feel is resonating across the country.
It started with a Facebook note from Annabel Park, a documentary filmmaker from the Washington area, who felt like venting about the Tea Party. She was inundated with feedback from people who agreed that the Tea Party did not represent the America they knew. The sentiment snowballed into a Web site that attracted 170,000 visitors in its first week and Facebook page that as of Friday morning, had more than 110,000 fans — just beating out the number fans of the Tea Party Patriots page.
Park explains the movement in an introductory video on the Web site: “We object to obstructionism and extreme political tactics that are, I think, are fear based, not reality based and in many ways just deliberate misinformation,” she says. “So we’re organizing. We want people to understand that we’re voters… We need everyone engaged in the political process. That is the only way our government can function, as an expression of our collective will.”
The Coffee Party is about open discussion and deliberation for the purpose of solving common problems. The group welcomes everyone and embraces diversity — ethnic, geographical and even political diversity. There’s one caveat Park gives in her opening statement: “If you don’t believe the government has any role, than yeah, you should join the Tea Party.”
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 3/14/2010 @ 6:35 pmUnbelievable, Bradley. Just unbelievable.
SPQR (26be8b) — 3/14/2010 @ 6:37 pmCovering for the left is in their DNA. It’s as basic a function to them as breathing.
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 3/14/2010 @ 6:42 pmWell, yah … but that’s beyond “covering” for them. That’s propaganda that is so crudely false, you can still see the lipstick on their genitals.
SPQR (26be8b) — 3/14/2010 @ 6:46 pmOh, and Frances Lappe, identified in the CBS article just as a “best-selling author,” is a long-time left-wing activist.
But as Eric Blair says, “That’s Different!™”
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 3/14/2010 @ 6:46 pmThe group welcomes everyone and embraces diversity — ethnic, geographical and even political diversity.
Shouldn’t it be a given that *anybody* can join? Why the need to clarify?
If they have to clarify who’s welcome and *show* me how open and tolerant they are, then I’m going the other way.
From the Tea Party Facebook:
Dana (1e5ad4) — 3/14/2010 @ 6:48 pmWHO? – Tea Party Patriots is a coalition of ordinary American citizens from all political affiliations that believe in free-market values who are concerned about the direction of this country’s fiscal policy.
Coffee Party sounds awfully – how do you put it? RACIST!
Dmac (ca1d8c) — 3/14/2010 @ 6:53 pmThe big lie in all the puff-piece Coffee Party articles, such as the CBS one I quoted, is that it somehow stands apart from Obama and the Dems, when they’re orchestrating it.
The same reporters who look for any speck of evidence linking Tea Party operations to the GOP won’t report on the most obvious Coffee Party ties to the Dems, in fact, as SPQR points out, the MSM positively disinforms on that point.
Strain at a gnat, swallow a camel …
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 3/14/2010 @ 6:54 pmReporting from the Dallas area, the Coffee Party klatch was the lead item on the local ABC affiliate last night.
Here’s a link:
http://www.wfaa.com/news/politics/C-87604377.html
I would like to reiterate: That was the lead story on the No.1 station in the DFW area on a Saturday night, which I will grant is a traditionally a slow news time. But, the anchor seemed excited.
Twenty-five people attended.
I sense a groundswell in newsrooms all around America.
Ag80 (f67beb) — 3/14/2010 @ 7:00 pmHere’s another link from the same station. I’m not sure when it aired. I did not see it when it aired. The headline to the link on the WFAA site is:
“‘Coffee Party’ seeks cooperation, solutions”
And the link:
http://www.wfaa.com/news/politics/Coffee-Party–87429312.html
Ag80 (f67beb) — 3/14/2010 @ 7:07 pmAg80 – That makes it among the larger gatherings. Heh!
daleyrocks (718861) — 3/14/2010 @ 7:07 pmEric Blair #2 – the “Progressive Left” has actually been the “Projective Left” for decades …
Projection is what they seem to do best and most consistently …
Alasdair (205079) — 3/14/2010 @ 7:20 pmHey, JD…another organizer who sprang, Athena-like, from the brow of nonpartisan discontent:
http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2010/03/olympic-organizer-edwards-political-director-behind-ill-coffee-party-movement.html
Hmmmm
Eric Blair (c8876d) — 3/14/2010 @ 8:16 pmThis week they will be making posters, next week they will start fighting with each other, the third week they will be defunct.
Patricia (e1047e) — 3/14/2010 @ 9:37 pmand the downside is?
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 3/14/2010 @ 10:57 pm21, that they’ll not end up like the Clinton 43.
PCD (1d8b6d) — 3/15/2010 @ 5:36 am# 20–no, this week they’ll make posters, next week macrame plant hangers, and the week after that, tie-dyed t-shirts. And then they’ll play coffee bean bingo.
Rochf (ae9c58) — 3/15/2010 @ 3:07 pm