NEW YORK (March 13) -- In coffee shops -- and at least one bar -- people fed up with the Tea Party movement gathered Saturday to discuss issues and launch what they call the Coffee Party.
Inspired by a late February rant on the Facebook page of Annabel Park, the Coffee Party (not limited to coffee drinkers alone) declared March 13 National Coffee Party Day, and on the group's Web site invited individuals to organize in coffee shops across the country in hopes of eventually growing into an influential political movement.
Park -- a documentarian and former Obama volunteer -- said in a video on her Web site that she wants to "stop the shouting" and replace "obstructionism" with action.
"Their name is brilliant," said Ann Morris, "because it captures patriotism."
Morris, a psychologist, was one of the 20 people who gathered at the Bleecker Street Bar in Manhattan Saturday.
Coffee, Morris noted, became America's beverage of choice after the tax revolt that is now known as the Boston Tea Party.
Morris usually leaves the city every weekend for her upstate home. She chose to stay, rather than make her usual journey, because she is concerned the Tea Party movement is growing too influential. "[They] are not interested in discourse," she said. "They think different than we do."
The Bleecker Street Coffee Party meeting was originally scheduled to meet at the NoHo Star, an eatery that serves coffee. The gathering had to shift to a bar next door because the crowd was too large.
Organizer Amanda Martinez chose to hold the event near New York University in the hope of attracting young people. The Tea Party, she said is populated "by a lot of older people."
On that measure, Martinez was disappointed. Only a few of the attendees appeared to be under 50.
As the meeting began, Martinez read Coffee Party "ground rules," asking participants to "listen and respect everybody's opinion." Then, participants broke into groups of five or six to talk about the issues that concerned them most.
Anne Miller told her group that campaign finance reform is key. "To me," said Miller, "that's the most important issue. We've got to get money out of campaigns."
Bob Pargament, a hypnotist from Harrison, N.Y., drove more than 40 miles through heavy rain and wind to attend. He said he "is concerned about the shift to the right" and the "know-nothing mentality bent on shutting down and interrupting the debate needed in a democracy."
Citing what he sees as a growing anti-science movement across the country, Pargament said "it's time to start thinking like 21st century citizens."
Also among the participants was a gentleman who identified himself only as Tyler, an anthropologist who says he's been studying the Tea Party movement for months.
In group conversation, Tyler asked fellow members how they felt about taxes -- an issue at the heart of the Tea Party fervor. The others agreed taxes were important to them as well.
Lamar Bennett, a university researcher from Brooklyn, who describes himself as being from the left wing of the Democratic party, pointed out that "while everyone wants lower taxes, everyone wants services, too." Everyone in that group nodded their heads in agreement.
Jean Stevens, a writer also from Brooklyn, said she felt after the campaign of 2008 that too many Obama supporters sat back and waited for him "to do all the work." Stevens says she now realizes that she and others will need to do more if they want to see the change they voted for in the last presidential election.
Martinez said the gathering produced a wide spectrum of opinions. "Everything from no government to the government is the people," she said.
Martinez agreed with the sentiment that Obama supporters had grown complacent, but she remains hopeful.
"Things will happen," Martinez said. "Obama is staying behind the curtain and when the time is right he's going to mobilize his army and get it done."
"It was great," Stevens said as she got up to leave, calling the day inspiring and hopeful.
"People are concerned," she said. "They want to break the logjam."
But when asked if she might take the lead and organize a future Coffee Party gathering in Brooklyn, she said, "I don't know."
Inspired by a late February rant on the Facebook page of Annabel Park, the Coffee Party (not limited to coffee drinkers alone) declared March 13 National Coffee Party Day, and on the group's Web site invited individuals to organize in coffee shops across the country in hopes of eventually growing into an influential political movement.
Park -- a documentarian and former Obama volunteer -- said in a video on her Web site that she wants to "stop the shouting" and replace "obstructionism" with action.
"Their name is brilliant," said Ann Morris, "because it captures patriotism."
Morris, a psychologist, was one of the 20 people who gathered at the Bleecker Street Bar in Manhattan Saturday.
Coffee, Morris noted, became America's beverage of choice after the tax revolt that is now known as the Boston Tea Party.
Morris usually leaves the city every weekend for her upstate home. She chose to stay, rather than make her usual journey, because she is concerned the Tea Party movement is growing too influential. "[They] are not interested in discourse," she said. "They think different than we do."
The Bleecker Street Coffee Party meeting was originally scheduled to meet at the NoHo Star, an eatery that serves coffee. The gathering had to shift to a bar next door because the crowd was too large.
Organizer Amanda Martinez chose to hold the event near New York University in the hope of attracting young people. The Tea Party, she said is populated "by a lot of older people."
On that measure, Martinez was disappointed. Only a few of the attendees appeared to be under 50.
As the meeting began, Martinez read Coffee Party "ground rules," asking participants to "listen and respect everybody's opinion." Then, participants broke into groups of five or six to talk about the issues that concerned them most.
Anne Miller told her group that campaign finance reform is key. "To me," said Miller, "that's the most important issue. We've got to get money out of campaigns."
Bob Pargament, a hypnotist from Harrison, N.Y., drove more than 40 miles through heavy rain and wind to attend. He said he "is concerned about the shift to the right" and the "know-nothing mentality bent on shutting down and interrupting the debate needed in a democracy."
Citing what he sees as a growing anti-science movement across the country, Pargament said "it's time to start thinking like 21st century citizens."
Also among the participants was a gentleman who identified himself only as Tyler, an anthropologist who says he's been studying the Tea Party movement for months.
In group conversation, Tyler asked fellow members how they felt about taxes -- an issue at the heart of the Tea Party fervor. The others agreed taxes were important to them as well.
Lamar Bennett, a university researcher from Brooklyn, who describes himself as being from the left wing of the Democratic party, pointed out that "while everyone wants lower taxes, everyone wants services, too." Everyone in that group nodded their heads in agreement.
Jean Stevens, a writer also from Brooklyn, said she felt after the campaign of 2008 that too many Obama supporters sat back and waited for him "to do all the work." Stevens says she now realizes that she and others will need to do more if they want to see the change they voted for in the last presidential election.
Martinez said the gathering produced a wide spectrum of opinions. "Everything from no government to the government is the people," she said.
Martinez agreed with the sentiment that Obama supporters had grown complacent, but she remains hopeful.
"Things will happen," Martinez said. "Obama is staying behind the curtain and when the time is right he's going to mobilize his army and get it done."
"It was great," Stevens said as she got up to leave, calling the day inspiring and hopeful.
"People are concerned," she said. "They want to break the logjam."
But when asked if she might take the lead and organize a future Coffee Party gathering in Brooklyn, she said, "I don't know."
