The Coffee Party. The Washington Post reports that a lot of progressives are frustrated with the widespread success of the Tea Party movement across the country (and about to debut in Great Britain) and have started their own movement in answer to us. From their home page:
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.
Also on their home page is a poll of their members for the top issue of the day. Currently the runaway winner at 68% is…health care! Not spending, or the federal deficit, or taxes, or terrorism, or energy independence. In fact, none of those issues even made the list. This poll tells you everything you need to know about where these people are coming from.
The Washington Post article talked about the Coffee Party being a major nationwide movement, so I searched the Internet for evidence of a presence in Richmond. Couldn’t find anything. In the Coffee Party’s own listing of local groups, the highest number of members is currently found in San Francisco (shocking, I know) coming in at a full 15 people. We’ll have to wait and see if this movement takes off on a scale anywhere close to that of the Tea Party, but for now the Richmond Tea Party is comfortably leading the Richmond Coffee Party.
