It's tea time.

The first tea party, the Boston Tea Party, was a protest against the British Government imposing the Tea Act. Now, 200 years later there is a new tea party being held in America.

Emerging in early 2009, the Tea Party Patriots have used social media, as well as other traditional media to mobilize Americans in the fight against taxation.

As David Brooks, New York Times columnist, explains in the Toronto Star’s article, Tea Party rattles America, the Tea Party is comprised mostly of members from the educated class.

To learn more about the Teat Party, check out Katie Couric’s @katiecoutic interview with the leaders:



There is a consensus that the Tea Party is a political wild card in the American system and there is a real possibility that it could become a third party. If only they could decide on a leader.

The Tea Party held the first National Tea Party Convention in Nashville at the beginning of February. Sarah Palin, the favourite to unite this party was a keynote speaker. Her speech was highly criticized for her use of crib notes written on her hand.

Joy Behar and a panel discuss the controversial Q&A on CNN below:



Having a heavy social media based campaign has allowed citizens to voice their ideas and concerns in a way that has never been done. The Tea Party Patriots have a strong presence on Facebook, Twitter, Ning and Youtube, as well as a standard website.

We in Canada saw the outrage to Harper’s proroguing of Canadian Parliament on Facebook two months ago. Is social media the new political tool? How is a consensus to be reached using the social media platform? How is a leader chosen? How does a group move forward after gathering such a following? How can these groups unite and mobilize further to make significant change?