A Manhattan Tea Party
Inspired by recent posts by Diane and Emily, among others, I went last night to a Tea Party event -- my first -- in Manhattan. It was, of course, dominated by fringe lunatics like these --
Oh no, wait, those are delegates to the 2008 Democratic Convention. My bad. The Tea Partiers were delightful. The crowd was, as Maureen Dowd warned me, "mostly white." Mostly, but certainly not 100%. Of the 60 or so attendees, there was a mix of young and old, blue collar and white collar, men and women. I met a City sanitation worker and a banker. I spoke to a college student who was fed up with campus liberalism that was, in his words, veering to fascism.
I got a pocket Constitution when I arrived, and, once I revealed myself as a lawyer, I also got lots of earnest questions about challenges to Obamacare, etc. A few of the people I spoke to had been in involved in NY Republican politics, but most of them were new to active politics. The whole vibe was, as Kenneth said of a gathering he went to in San Francisco "totally amateurish, endearingly so."
By the way, the group gathers in a midtown bar not far from the NY Times and other major media outlets. There is no security check, absolutely nothing to stop an intrepid reporter from stopping by, grabbing a beer, and listening to the conversations. So why don't they?
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Aug '10
Re: A Manhattan Tea Party
You reveal yourself as a lawyer? I try not to reveal myself at all, much less as an attorney. At supper on Sunday night, my daughter, six years old, informed me that a lawyer was a "community helper," like a fireman or policeman and she said she was glad I was a lawyer. My son, four, piped up, "Daddy's a liar!"
Aug '10
Re: A Manhattan Tea Party
That's very encouraging, Adam. New York City still is the center of the world in many respects, and is a revelation for me every time I visit. It would be powerfully significant if the Tea Party took root there.
How badly have we gone off the rails? A hundred years ago the Tea Party probably would have begun there.
May '10
Re: A Manhattan Tea Party
Adam Freedman:
By the way, the group gathers in a midtown bar not far from the NY Times and other major media outlets. There is no security check, absolutely nothing to stop an intrepid reporter from stopping by, grabbing a beer, and listening to the conversations. So why don't they? ·
Because they might be seen by their employers or co-workers and thereby be "outed" or at least be suspected as being a closeted tea partier.
It is also possible that a few have attended and then wrote an honest account of what they experienced, but such stories don't make it into the paper.
Jul '10
Re: A Manhattan Tea Party
Adam, where at? I'd love to check out the next one.
Re: A Manhattan Tea Party
Ditto! I'm in DC right now, but if these individuals get together regularly, I'd love to meet them.
May '10
Re: A Manhattan Tea Party
I live in suburban Philadelphia and my experience at the Tea Party meetings has been similar. The make-up is incredibly diverse. Not racially; I'd say 85% were white. But that aside there's a little of everything: white collar, blue collar, bikers, country club, young, old. It's almost as if central casting had ordered one of each. And friendly - but not creepy friendly. In fact, I have to start conversations & I like it that way.
I've attended 2 Tea Party meetings in the past 9 months & I'm going this month. I went on one bus trip to protest Obamacare in December. I agree with some of their initiatives, disagree with others; petitions for these are available so you're free to pick & choose.
It's been an overwhelmingly positive experience. Although some members seem over-the-top, most do not. Partial engagement suits me perfectly and I get much more out of it than I put in.
Since I've spend my career in insurance, I would NEVER, EVER mention what I do even though I'm looking for a job. It is an instant conversation killer.
Re: A Manhattan Tea Party
Adam, was there any discussion of my new favorite candidate in all of America, Carl Paladino? (Paladino's the tea partier who won last week's New York GOP gubernatorial primary.)
Re: A Manhattan Tea Party
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed. : Ditto! I'm in DC right now, but if these individuals get together regularly, I'd love to meet them. · Sep 21 at 10:39am
The event was at the Pig & Whistle, on West 36th, but I think they sometimes do different venues. The group is "Tea Party 365" and if you sign up at their website, you can get email alerts for events around the City.
Re: A Manhattan Tea Party
There was some discussion, generally positive. Paladino supposedly turned off a lot of tea partiers when he suggested that he would use eminent domain to seize the Ground Zero Mosque site (and I personally disagree strongly with that tactic). But I didn't hear anybody mention any ideological disagreement with Paladino, just recognition of the uphill quality of his candidacy. As for me, I'll vote for him -- and I sure hope Cuomo takes the bait and debates him.
May '10
Re: A Manhattan Tea Party
Sooo... on the topic of NYC conservatives. Will Ricochet have any spies at Homocon? Or foreign correspondents?
http://www.goproud.org/homocon-2010/
Ann Coulter headlining... sold out... in some rich guys private home?? I can't tell if this is something real or mockworthy.
Will Carl Paladino show up to shill for donations?
Jonathan? Your scene?