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Following the election of several "Tea Party" Republicans in the 2010 mid-terms, the Tea Party Patriots stood out in the mail with two efforts that made it clear that their role in the process, in the words of co-founder Jenny Beth Martin, "did not end on Election Day." The first mailing was a clever folded 5-3/4" x 7-3/4" self-mailer that, with its tabs opened, revealed a separate letter, a reply form, a CRE, and on one panel, a hub holding a DVD with a 7-minute video. "Tea Party" protest images are all over the other folds, and are likely to remind the prospect of the power of their movement.
But the focus of the letter and video is to "keep the 112th Congress on notice" that the changes supported by the group, like rolling back federal spending or banning earmarks and corporate bailouts, must be acted on.
The second campaign, which began in January 2011 and mailed throughout the year, has a much simpler design. It's a 9" x 12" envelope dominated only by the Gadsden "Don't Tread on Me" flag on the front. The letter is largely the same as the previous effort, but provides a more substantial focus to the efforts of the group's supporters by directing the donor's attention to the "Congressional Accountability Petition" included on the order form. The petition lists the Patriots' priorities and warns Congressmen that "we will be watching closely".
"We rest on our laurels at our own peril," Martin writes in both packages, advising supporters of the other side of the equation — any gains (influence, legislation, etc.) will be merely temporary if the new Congresspersons don't feel the threat of losing their jobs. As both Republicans and Democrats deal with the tea party groups and other competing pressures, the effect of this Tea Party organization will be felt well into the 2012 election cycle.
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