Do not capitalize "tea party"

[_ed_]

I saw this in the latest print version of Mother Jones. The tea party is not an official, registered political party in any state in the union. Capitalization should be reserved for registered parties: Democrats, Republican, Green Party, Libertarian, etc. It's like I can say that I'm a libertarian, but not a Libertarian.

The tea party is just Republicans. Let's stop allowing them to pretend otherwise.

If the "tea party" really is a new political force, then they should register as a political party.

[NoNothing]

1. Capitalization has nothing to do with "official status"

Proper nouns are capitalized, general nouns are not.

If you are talking about a thing that is, literally, a member of the class "tea party," then you do not capitalize. If you are talking about a specific thing that is *named* "Tea Party," then you capitalize. Maybe a compromise would be to use the term "tea party movement," which would not need to be capitalized.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

2. What about 'Mad Hatter'?

[formercia]

3. I prefer tea bagger cult, myself, methinks.

Astroturf is what it is.

[_ed_]

4. But,

there are several "tea party" organizations. Which one is "the tea party?" And, if it's the one led by the former Republican majority leader, wouldn't "Republican" just be more accurate?

[guardian]

8. Thank you.

very instructive

[Javaman]

5. I prefer...

corporate ball lickers.

[MrScorpio]

6. How about "Teabaganistas?" nt

It would apply to proper nouns, right?

[Ron Green]

7. I think the Koch brothers have already done that.