Not even members of the tea party movement say they want to shut down the federal government.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R., Minn.) addresses the tea party “Continuing Revolution Rally” on Capitol Hill Thursday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

But many tea partiers attending a small rally Thursday across the street from the U.S. Capitol showed little patience with the idea of negotiating with Democrats, who have offered to cut $33 billion from discretionary spending for the rest of fiscal 2011, well below the $61 billion in spending cuts the Republican controlled House passed last month. If Democrats don’t offer more cuts, many said, so be it.

“I say shut it down,” said Rep. Mike Pence (R., Ind.), as the crowd launched into a chant of “cut it or shut it.” “Nobody wants a government shutdown, but if we don’t take a stand we’re going to shutdown the future for our children and grandchildren.”

The current stopgap spending package for the government runs out April 8.

Conservative activists and lawmakers who addressed the rally said Democrats are trying to blame the tea party for stalling negotiations. Democrats say they’ve already met Republicans half way, and they say the GOP, which controls the House but not the Senate, is acting stubborn.

The event, hosted by the Tea Party Patriots, attracted fewer than 200, unlike the thousands that have descended on Washington for similar events over the past year. Despite a cold drizzle that likely damped participation, one man showed up in a Captain America costume carrying a giant American flag. Others waved “Don’t Tread on Me” flags—a staple at tea party rallies.

“I am a little disappointed,” said Cathy Schaefer, a stock trader who drove down from Pennsylvania with friends. “I hope we’re not becoming complacent.”…