I have read the Coffee Party Movement's agenda and I just don't get it as other than a quick gag on the Tea Party Movement.
Here's my take on this. The Tea Party is mostly made up of the extreme right wingers who don't want to be called Republicans, but in reality are the most hard-core of the extreme right who would never vote for a moderate or Democrat regardless of their positions. Calling themselves part of a Tea Party Movement rather than a Republican allows them to rail against all government but still vote Republican. Their positions match more to the skin-head, white-supremacy movements of the past rather than any reasoned approach to smaller, more limited government.
The Tea Party includes the worst of the Republicans, including the racists, the homophobes, the very dangerous anti-government militia movement crowd, the pay-no taxes crowd and every other loony extreme right wing position you can think of. I think the catalyst for the coalition of these individuals was the election of a black president. They will never admit to this, but anyone with a functioning brain can see this.
So now what about the Coffee Party? What is the purpose of this "movement"? What in their agenda is not already part of the Democratic Party's position on issues? For the life of me, I cannot see any compelling reason to fracture Democrats further. Other than as a joke against the Tea Party by having an opposing Coffee Party, why should I waste my time giving any effort to this movement?
Is the Coffee Party going to start promoting candidates in Democratic races? What would be the criteria that would distinguish a Coffee Partier from a Democratic? I just don't see the difference.
At least in the past when there have been movements in the party it has been around organizing those in the Democratic Party around a set of principals not being adequately addressed, such as promoting anti-war positions or pushing for rights for minorities, women or gays and lesbians. What is the purpose of Coffee Party other than as a joke against the Tea Party?
Here is their mission statement:
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.
How is this different than what the Democratic Party is doing? Is it the cooperation in government that is bothering the Coffee Partiers about the Democrats? Does the Coffee Party really believe that the problem over the last year has been that the Democrats have not tried to work with the Republicans? I'm sorry, but my personal opinion, is that the Democrats have been trying too hard for bi-partisanship rather than not enough. The Obama administration bent over backwards to get Republican issues into the bills and look where it got them. Do I want to support a movement that is promoting more of this?
In the "About Us" section of their website we get:
We demand a government that responds to the needs of the majority of its citizens as expressed by our votes and by our voices; NOT corporate interests as expressed by misleading advertisements and campaign contributions.
Who wouldn't agree to this? The problem is how to go about achieving this and I see nothing that provides even an inkling of how they think their movement will change this dynamic.
I can see some arguing that it is more than a 15 minute joke, but rather a serious attempt at getting some more media attention to the issues on the left since right now the media attention is getting split between Democrats, Republicans and the Tea-baggers. Does this really make any sense though? It seems the Coffee Partiers are positioning themselves in the middle or center-right than in promoting any so called "left" or "progressive" ideals.
Look, it is a good joke. It has the sort of symmetry (Tea vs. Coffee) that the media will eat up. But other than the 15 minutes of fame, what is the purpose? I understand the Tea Party purpose, it is the home to the frightened white haters in this country who see their days of "ruling from the white" coming to an end and don't like it one bit. Throw in some plain crazies, some conspiracy theorists and anarchists who hate any form of government and you've got a Tea Party. What makes a Coffee Party?