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<!-- The editors have agreed BY CONSENSUS that the word "populist" should appear in the first sentence definition of the Tea Party movement. We have further agreed that the word "grassroots" should NOT appear anywhere in the first PARAGRAPH above and, in the future, if anyone includes "grassroots" anywhere within the lead section below, they must also include the controversy about grassroots versus astroturfing in the same paragraph. See "Consensus on Grassroots or Populist" in the talk section. If you disagree, you MUST go through another consensus process on the talk page before you insert "grassroots" or remove "populist" here. Posted by RoyGoldsmith, Feb 21, 2010 at 16:45. --> <!-- The editors have agreed BY CONSENSUS that the word "populist" should appear in the first sentence definition of the Tea Party movement. We have further agreed that the word "grassroots" should NOT appear anywhere in the first PARAGRAPH above and, in the future, if anyone includes "grassroots" anywhere within the lead section below, they must also include the controversy about grassroots versus astroturfing in the same paragraph. See "Consensus on Grassroots or Populist" in the talk section. If you disagree, you MUST go through another consensus process on the talk page before you insert "grassroots" or remove "populist" here. Posted by RoyGoldsmith, Feb 21, 2010 at 16:45. -->


These folks think obamas a socialist, democrats will take away your fucking ak47s and that they might take away the money that george bush took away and gave to the rich.
The '''Tea Party movement''' is a ]<ref>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123137382</ref> ] protest movement that promotes ]. The movement emerged in early 2009, partially in response to the ]<ref name=peter>{{cite news|title=The Tea Party Revolution|url=http://spectator.org/archives/2009/04/15/the-tea-party-revolution|accessdate=June 18, 2009|publisher=]|first= Peter |last=Ferrara|date=April 15, 2009}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|first=Jeff |last=Seleny | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/politics/13protestweb.html |title=Thousands Rally in Capital to Protest Big Government|accessdate=Sept 28, 2009|date=September 12, 2009|publisher= New York Times}}</ref> as well as the ]<ref>http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09067/954066-454.stm</ref>. It has been most visible through a series of ], which began in early 2009. Protesters have utilized the social networking outlets ], ] and ] as well as ]s and conservative media outlets<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0206/As-counter-media-fuels-tea-party-movement-main-stream-media-catches-on |title=As counter-media fuels tea party movement, main stream media catches on |author=Patrik Jonsson |date=February 6, 2010 |work=www.csmonitor.com |publisher=The Christian Science Monitor |location=Boston, MA |accessdate=March 8, 2010 |quote=The rise of conservative media outfits...tells the stories that the mainstream media won’t tell Americans...via blogs like...}}</ref> in promoting Tea Party events.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/14/tea-party-protestors-gird-possible-backlash/ |title=Tea Party Protesters Gird for Possible Liberal Backlash |publisher=FOXNews.com |date=2009-04-14 |accessdate=2009-04-19}}</ref>

The name "Tea Party" is a reference to the historic ] of 1773, a protest by American colonists against taxation by the British government when the colonists had ] that pre-dated but laid the ground for the ].<ref name="FOXNews.com">{{cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/05/tea-party-convention-gives-boost-aspiring-elected-officials|title=Tea Party Convention Gives Boost to Newcomer Politicians|publisher=FOXNews.com}}</ref> Tea Party protests have sought to evoke similar images, slogans and themes to this period in American history.<ref name=rebel>{{cite news | first=Michael | last=Oneal | coauthors= Janet Hook | title=Anti-Obama rebellion poses risk for the GOP | date=2009-04-16 | url =http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-tax-day_thuapr16,0,2440162.story | work =] | accessdate = 2009-04-21}}</ref><ref name="cbs">, Jonathan V. Last, ], March 4, 2009</ref><ref>. '']''. Published March 16, 2009.</ref>

==Positions and goals==

The Tea Party Movement supports ]ally ] generally,<ref>{{cite news|title=It's a Tea Party in Omaha|url=http://www.omaha.com/article/20100401/NEWS01/100409944/0|date=2010-4-2|quote=Limited government is our only solution, our only foundation should be our Constitution.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tea Party Draws Thousands|url=http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/89748232.html|date=2010-4-1|quote=I'm disgusted with government and the takeover of everything.}}</ref> and more specifically is anti-stimulus,<ref>, Watertown Daily times, March 28, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-30</ref> anti-deficit,<ref>, North Platte Telegraph, March 28, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-30</ref> anti-bailout<ref>, Fox Business, March 4, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-30</ref> and anti-health reform.<ref>, CBS News, March 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-30</ref> Some demonstrators have also opposed ].<ref name="deseret">{{cite news|first=David |last=Servatius | url=http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705289328,00.html |title=Anti-tax-and-spend group throws "tea party" at Capitol|accessdate=2010-03-30|date=March 6, 2009|publisher= ]}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|Tax revolt}}
{{See also|Tea Party protests|List of Tea Party protests, 2009|List of Tea Party protests, 2010}}

===Background===
] Tea Party on February 27, 2009.]]
The theme of the ], an ] event of American history, has long been used by anti-tax protesters with ] and conservative viewpoints.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref> It was part of ] protests held throughout the 1990s and earlier.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref> The libertarian theme of the "tea party" protest was previously used by ] Congressman ] and his supporters as a fundraising event during the primaries of the ] to emphasize Paul's fiscal conservatism, which they later claimed laid the groundwork for the modern-day Tea Party movement.<ref>http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090415005738&newsLang=en</ref><ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/12/16/ron_paul_raises_millions_in_todays_boston_tea_party_event/</ref><ref>http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view.bg?articleid=1051232</ref><ref>http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/12/ron_pauls_tea_p.html</ref>

=== "Porkulus", tea bags and early mention of tea party ===

<!--Regarding a series of anti-stimulus protests in mid-February 2009 which sources have since attributed to what would become The Tea Party movement-->The dominant theme seen at some of the earliest anti-stimulus protests was "pork" rather than tea.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/freedomworks-long-history-of-teabagging.php |date=4/19/09 |title=FreedomWorks' Long History Of Teabagging |accessdate=3/4/10 |quote="but they didn't have an explicitly tea-based theme. If they had a theme of any kind it was "pork" and government waste." }}</ref> The term "porkulus" was coined by radio talk-show host ] on his January 27, 2009, broadcast<ref>{{cite news |author=Tom Kuntz|url=http://ideas.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/porkulus/ |title=Idea of the Day: ‘Porkulus’|date=2009-02-08 |accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> in reference to both the 2009 "stimulus" bill, which was just introduced to the House of Representatives the day before, as well as to ] spending and ]<ref>{{cite web|author=Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.|url=http://www.heritage.org/research/budget/wm608.cfm |title=Is Pork Barrel Spending Ready to Explode? The Anatomy of an Earmark |publisher=The Heritage Foundation |date=2004-11-10 |accessdate=2004-11-10}}</ref>. This proved very popular with conservative politicians and commentators<ref name = McGrath>{{cite web |title=The Movement - The Rise of Tea Party Activism |author=Ben McGrath |work=www.newyorker.com |publisher=The New Yorker |date=February 1, 2010 |accessdate=March 30, 2010
|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/02/01/100201fa_fact_mcgrath?currentPage=all}}</ref>, who began to unify in opposition against stimulus spending after the ].

Even earlier, on January 19, someone on FedUpUSA posted an invitation "to a Commemorative Tea Party" protest in Boston on February 1.<ref></ref><!--After the page loads, search for "Commemorative Tea Party"--> On February 11, talk radio host and ] personality ] appeared on '']'', waving tea bags and saying, "It's time for a Tea Party."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/21856284/homebuyer-helper.htm</ref><!--citation note: quoted material is available both in the written transcript as well as the video, approx 2 minutes in--><!-- Is there a date in the video? Can't get the video to initialize, can't see it in the transcript.--><!-- Google-search for: "new deals for home buyers" site:foxnews.com. Link will display Feb 11, 2009. -->

=== Precursor protests in Fort Myers ===

According to ] state and federal campaigns director Brendan Steinhauser<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freedomworks.org/press-releases/freedomworks-members-protest-president-obama-in-fo |title=Members Protest President Obama in Fort Myers |publisher=FreedomWorks |date= |accessdate=2009-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Steinhauser |first=Brendan |url=http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/bstein80/cape-coral-tea-party-is-on |title=Cape Coral Tea Party is ON! |publisher=FreedomWorks |date=2009-03-29 |accessdate=2009-10-18}}</ref>, activist Mary Rakovich<ref>{{cite web|last=Steinhauser |first=Brendan |url=http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/bstein80/freedomworks-plans-to-protest-obama-in-fort-myers- |title=plans to protest Obama in Fort Myers, Florida Tuesday! |publisher=FreedomWorks |date=2009-02-09 |accessdate=2009-10-18}}</ref> was the organizer of a February 10, 2009 protest in ], calling it the "first protest of President Obama's administration that we know of. It was the first protest of what became the tea party movement."<ref>{{cite news |title=Woman's year-ago protest launched tea party movement in Florida |author=George Bennett |newspaper=Palm Beach Post |date=February 10, 2010 |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/womans-year-ago-protest-launched-tea-party-movement-224494.html }}</ref>

=== Keli Carender, Seattle Blogger ===

'']'' journalist Kate Zernike reported that leaders within the Tea Party credit Seattle blogger and conservative activist Keli Carender with organizing the first Tea Party in February of 2009, although the term "Tea Party" was not used.<ref name="Zernike">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/us/politics/28keli.html/ |title=Unlikely Activist Who Got to the Tea Party Early |author=Kate Zernike |date=February 27, 2010 |publisher=New York Times |accessdate=March 28, 2010 |quote=But leaders of the Tea Party movement credit her with being the first. }}</ref> Other articles, written by Chris Good of '']''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/02/is-palins-tea-party-speech-a-mistake-tea-partiers-have-mixed-opinions/35360/ |title=Is Palin's Tea Party Speech A Mistake? Tea Partiers Have Mixed Opinions |author=Chris Good |date=February 4, 2010 |publisher=The Atlantic |accessdate=March 28, 2010 |quote=Keli Carender, 30, of Seattle, who is credited with hosting one of the first ever Tea Party protests in February of 2009 }}</ref> and ]’s Martin Kaste<ref name="Kaste">{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123229743 |title=Tea Party Star Leads Movement On Her Own Terms |author=Martin Kaste |date=February 2, 2010 |publisher=National Public Radio |accessdate=March 28, 2010 |quote=Keli Carender...organized some of the earliest Tea Party-style protests — before they were even called Tea Party protests.}}</ref>, credit Carender as "one of the first" Tea Party organizers and state that she “organized some of the earliest Tea Party-style protests”.

Carender first organized what she called a "Porkulus Protest" in ] on ], February 16, the day before President Obama signed the ] into law<ref name="Seattleprotest_KIROtv">{{cite web|author=KIRO Tv|url=http://www.kirotv.com/video/18727718/index.html |title=VIDEO: Dozens Gather At "Porkulus" Protest |date=2009-02-16 |accessdate=2009-03-29}}</ref>. Carender said she did it without support from outside groups or city officials. "I just got fed up and planned it." Carender said 120 people participated. "Which is amazing for the bluest of blue cities I live in, and on only four days notice!! This was due to me spending the entire four days calling and emailing every person, think tank, policy center, university professors (that were sympathetic), etc. in town, and not stopping until the day came."<ref>http://taxdayteaparty.com/2009/03/meet-keli-carender-tea-party-organizer-in-seattle-washington/</ref>
<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/us/politics/28keli.html/</ref>

Carender also contacted conservative author and ] contributor ], and asked her to publicize the rally on her blog.<ref>http://taxdayteaparty.com/2009/03/meet-keli-carender-tea-party-organizer-in-seattle-washington/</ref> Carender then held a second protest on February 27, 2009, reporting "We more than doubled our attendance at this one."<ref name="Zernike"/>. On Tax Day, six weeks later, 1,200 people gathered for a Tea Party protest.<ref>http://taxdayteaparty.com/2009/03/meet-keli-carender-tea-party-organizer-in-seattle-washington/</ref>

===Rick Santelli, the "Rant Heard Round the World"===

On February 19, 2009,<ref name = McGrath/> in a broadcast from the floor of the ], ] Business News editor ] criticized the ], which had just been announced the day before. He said that those plans were "promoting bad behavior"<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/15/politics/main4946264.shtml</ref> by "subsidizing losers' mortgages". He suggested holding a tea party for traders to gather and dump the derivatives in the Chicago river on July 1. <ref>http://www.cnbc.com/id/29283701/Rick_Santelli_s_Shout_Heard_Round_the_World</ref> <ref name="cnbc">
], March 2, 2009</ref><ref name="chicagotribune2">{{cite web|date=February 23, 2009 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-santelli-cnbc-video,0,4962596.htmlstory |title=CNBC: Rick Santelli goes off |publisher=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=2009-03-02}}{{dead link|date=March 2010}}</ref> A number of the derivative traders around him cheered on his proposal, to the apparent amusement of the hosts in the studio. Video of Santelli's 'rant' went ] after it received a "red siren" headline on the news aggregation website, ].<ref>http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2009/02/19/20090219_164153.htm</ref>

In response to Santelli, websites such as ChicagoTeaParty.com (registered in August 2008 by Chicago radio producer Zack Christenson) were live within twelve hours.<ref name="cbs"/> About 10 hours after Santelli's remarks, reTeaParty.com was bought to coordinate Tea Parties scheduled for July 4 and, as of March 4, was reported to be receiving 11,000 visitors a day.<ref name="cbs"/>

According to '']'' writer Ben McGrath<ref name = McGrath/> and '']'' reporter Kate Zernike<ref name="Zernike"/>, this is where the movement was first inspired to coalesce under the collective banner of "Tea Party." By the next day, guests on Fox News had already begun to mention this new "Tea Party." <ref>http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/21911279/worst-case-scenario-no-3.htm</ref>

As reported by ], a Facebook page was developed on February 20 calling for Tea Party protests across the country.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/a-teabagger-timeline-koch_b_187312.html</ref> Soon, the "Nationwide Chicago Tea Party" protest was coordinated across over 40 different cities for February 27, 2009, thus establishing the first national modern Tea Party protest.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/09/modern-day-tea-parties-taxpayers-chance-scream-better-representation/</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Roesgen |first=Andy |url=http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/TeaParty|title=Protestors Gather for Self-Styled Tea Party |publisher=myfoxchicago.com|date=2009-02-27 |accessdate=2009-02-27}}</ref>

==Views of the movement==
Dan Gerstein, a former ] political advisor, argued in '']'' that the protests could have tapped into real feelings of disillusionment by American ] but the protesters had too many incoherent messages being put forth.<ref>, Dan Gerstein,'']''.</ref> Bridgett Wagner of ], a conservative ], has compared the protests to the ], which included the successful ] in ] that capped ].<ref name=today>. By Oren Dorell. '']''. Published April 13, 2009.</ref> Jeremi Suri, a history professor at the ], viewed them as "not dissimilar from what we had in 2003 with the anti-war protests, where a lot of people were uncomfortable with the war, but also uncomfortable with the anti-war position, recognizing there are terrorists out there."<ref name=csm>. By Patrik Jonsson. ]. Published April 18, 2009. Accessed June 16, 2009.</ref>

], President of ], an organization which offers training for many Tea Party activists, believes this movement is not about political parties stating, "It's very much anti-establishment at both parties....They don't care about party labels." He has also said that "I think we're getting to the point where you can truly say we're entering a post-party era. They aren't going to be necessarily wed to a certain party -- they want to see leadership that reflects their values first.....They don't care what party you're in; they just want to know if you reflect their values -- limited government, fixing the economy."<ref name=CNN>. By Ed Hornick. '']''. Published January 21, 2010.</ref>

An article by ] in '']'' concludes that the findings of ] that diversity has resulted in a withdrawal of many from varied community life provides valuable insight into the Tea Party movement's "explosive growth".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/ghost-story|title=Ghost Story|last=Edsall|first=Thomas B. |date=January 20, 2010|publisher=The New Republic|accessdate=22 February 2010}}</ref>

==Composition of the movement==
According to political correspondent Liz Sidoti of the ], the Tea Party movement "an ideological mix of ]ism and ] with the common denominator being lower spending and smaller government."<ref name=ap20100205>, Liz Sidoti, ], 2010-02-05, accessed 2010-02-06.</ref> The general consensus within the Tea Party is that "big" government, along with big spending, is to be avoided.<ref name=ap20100205/>

The tea party movement also includes several more formal entities<ref></ref>, with slightly different approaches to their advocacy:

* The ] are a national organization that claims to have over 1000 local chapters, run with the help of ], a conservative nonprofit led by former Republican House Majority Leader ].<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref name=autogenerated1></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>

* The ] is a national bus tour run by ], a conservative ] created by ]-based GOP consulting firm ].<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref name="tpmmuckraker">{{cite web|url=http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/majority_of_tea_party_groups_spending_went_to_gop.php?ref=fpa|title=Majority Of Tea Party Group's Spending Went To GOP Firm That Created It|last=Roth|first=Zachery |date=December 28, 2009|publisher=TPMMuckraker|accessdate=22 February 2010}}</ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>

* ] held a ] February 4–6, 2010. The event featured ] as keynote speaker, but was criticized for charging $549 per ticket,<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/us/politics/26teaparty.html | work=The New York Times | title=Tea Party Disputes Take Toll on Convention | first=Kate | last=Zernike | date=January 26, 2010 | accessdate=April 1, 2010}}</ref><ref></ref> as well as the fact that Palin was apparently paid $100,000 USD for her appearance.<ref></ref> In the face of criticism by Tea Party activists, Palin has said she plans to donate the fee to unspecified conservative causes.<ref name="nytimes 02-06-10">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/us/politics/08palin.html?hp|title=Palin Assails Obama at Tea Party Meeting|last=Zernike|first=Kate|date=February 6, 2010|publisher=New York Times}}</ref> Former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo at the Tea Party convention in Nashville stated to applause, "People who could not even spell the word 'vote' or say it in English put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House..his name is Barack Hussein Obama."<ref></ref>

The Tea Party movement has also attracted some followers of fringe organizations such as the ], the white separatist ], and the ].<ref name="reut">{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62H2YW20100318|title=Brewing tensions between the Tea Party and GOP|accessdate=March 27, 2010}}</ref>

Spotting a fringe protester with an anti-Obama sign at a Washington rally, Diana Reimer, a Philadelphia housewife who is now the National Coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots, told the '']'', "That's what gives us a bad name."<ref>http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/03/27/us/politics/1247467461883/why-i-joined-the-tea-party.html</ref><ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/us/politics/28teaparty.html?pagewanted=1</ref>
In a February 19, 2010, column in the ''Wall Street Journal'', Republican strategist ] suggested that, to improve its effect on policy, the Tea Party movement dissociate itself from the ], ']', ], cranks and conspiracy nuts.<ref name="reut">{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62H2YW20100318|title=Brewing tensions between the Tea Party and GOP|accessdate=March 27, 2010}}</ref>

==Responses==
] ] speaking at the April 15, 2009, ] Tea Party.]]
===Politics===
Former ] ]'s political activist group ] supports the protests, saying on its website that they are "our chance to communicate our anger and opposition to the irresponsible policies of politicians in Washington who have failed to solve problems." Gingrich spoke at the New York City protest on April 15.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldmag.com/webextra/15293 |title="New York Tea Party," '&#39;WORLD Magazine'&#39;, April 16, 2009 |publisher=Worldmag.com |date= |accessdate=2009-10-18}}</ref>

Republican ] governor ] attended a Tea Party rally in ], Texas. He has also discussed the protests on ].<ref> '']''. Published April 12, 2009.</ref> Perry fielded a question at the rally about Texas ], answering: "There's a lot of different scenarios. We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that? But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot."<ref>{{cite web|author=By W. Gardner Selby, Jason Embry |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/04/17/0417gop.html |title=Perry stands by secession comments |publisher=Statesman.com |date= |accessdate=2009-04-19}}</ref>

The Tea Parties also drew the praise of some Republican officials. Congressman ] (R-GA) said the protests showed that "this land is still owned by the people." Congressman ] (R-TX) called the Tea Party movement "helpful" and "genuine."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/54_151/news/36213-1.html |title="Anti-Tax Groups Reprise Tea Parties," '&#39;Roll Call'&#39;, June 24, 2009 |publisher=Rollcall.com |date=2009-06-24 |accessdate=2009-10-18}}</ref>

Talk show host ] has remarked, in reference to the original Boston Tea Party, that "You have to look at our history. The reason these people revolted is they didn't want to pay taxes that were not presented by elected officials... Last time I checked, Obama's not taxing you to death&nbsp;— he is spending to stimulate the economy and he is an elected official."<ref name=move>. By Judson Berger. ]. Published April 13, 2009.</ref> Political commentator ] commented that "your neighbor's mortgage is your problem. Just watch your property values plummet as soon as there's just one foreclosure on your block." Historian ], a former ] official in the Bush administration, argued in '']'' magazine that higher taxes may not be as bad as they seem, writing that "Higher taxes may pay for services that people value and thus are not as burdensome as they might appear at first glance."<ref name=time> By Bruce Bartlett. '']''. Published April 10, 2009.</ref>
] Tea Party on April 18, 2009.]]

Many political candidates who are outside of "establishment" politics are gaining traction in their campaigns due to support from the Tea Party movement. US Senator from ] ]'s support from the Tea Party movement made him a contender in what turned out to be an upset election.<ref></ref> Many politicians in the 2010 election cycle are riding on grassroots support from the Tea Party movement, including Republican Pennsylvania gubernatorial contender ], Texas gubernatorial contender ] and US Senate candidate ].<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>

===Organized labor===
The leaders of ] ] such as the ] and ] have labelled the Tea Party protests as corporately funded ] operations and have advocated for nonviolent counter-protests against Tea Party protest events, particularly during the string of townhall events at which many of the protests took place.<ref>, Sam Stein, ], August 6, 2009</ref>

===Public opinion polls===
A December 7, 2009 poll made by Rasmussen found, in a three-way generic ballot test featuring a hypothetical "Tea Party" candidate, Democrats attracted 36% of the vote, the Tea Party candidate picked up 23%, and Republicans finish third at 18%. Among independent voters, the Tea Party bested both Democrat and Republican candidates, with 33% of all independent voters preferring the Tea Party candidate.<ref></ref> In a December 16, 2009 '']''/] poll, the Tea Party movement fared better than both the Republican and Democratic parties, with 41% of respondents saying they had a "favorable" or "somewhat favorable" view of it.<ref></ref>

A late-January 2010 poll made by ]/] found that "one-third of Americans have a favorable view of the Tea Party movement," while "26 percent of the public has an unfavorable view." 40 percent either "have not heard of the movement or don't know enough to form an opinion."<ref name=cnn20100205>
, '']'', 2010-01-05.</ref> A ] poll of 900 registered voters from early February 2010 showed that 35 percent of voters view the Tea Party movement favorably, 22 percent view it unfavorably, and 42 percent don't know or have never heard of the movement.<ref></ref>

A poll by ]/] taken Feb 5-10, 2010, found that only 2% of Tea Party supporters were aware that President Obama had cut taxes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/12/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6201911.shtml|title=Poll Reveals Most Americans Don't Know They Got a Tax Cut|date=February 12, 2010|publisher=CBS News|accessdate=22 February 2010}}</ref>

A CNN poll<ref>{{cite web|url= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/17/rel4b.pdf |title= CNN / Opinion Research Poll | date= Released February 17, 2010 | work= cdn.turner | publisher= Opinion Research Corporation}}</ref> of 1023 adult Americans (with a sampling error of +/- 3%), conducted on February 12–15, 2010, found that:
* 35% of the sample either strongly or moderately supported the Tea Party
* 19% strongly or moderately opposed the Tea Party
* 16% would vote for a Tea Party candidate for Congress
* 2 to 7% participated in or gave money to the Tea Party movement

In surveying only those who had participated in Tea Party activities (with a sampling error of +/- 9%), the CNN poll found that:
* 80% were ]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-ds_name=ACS_2008_1YR_G00_&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=ACS_2008_1YR_G2000_B02001&-redoLog=true&-geo_id=01000US&-format=&-_lang=en&-SubjectID=15233308|title= Data Set: 2008 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates|work= Survey: American Community Survey|author= U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate= 2009-11-07}}</ref>, compared to 71% of all respondents
* 60% were men, compared to 50% of all respondents
* 40% were college graduates, compared to 28% of all respondents
* 4% described themselves as Democrat, compared to 32% of all respondents.

A ] poll found that Tea Partiers are not against increased government action in all cases. Seventy percent want the federal government to aid in job creation, although this may be more a reflection of a desire for the government to help by helping less than any sort of government program. Also, nearly half think the government should limit Wall Street bonuses, according to the nationwide poll which was conducted between March 19 and March 22, 2010.<ref name="bloomberg 03-2010">{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aLBZwxqgYgwI&pos=8|title=Tea Party Advocates Who Scorn Socialism Want a Government Job |last=Przybyla|first=Heidi|date=March 26, 2010|publisher=Bloomberg News|accessdate=March 28, 2010}}</ref>

===The Obama Administration===

On April 29, 2009, Obama commented on the Tea Party protests publicly during a townhall meeting in ], saying:
"(When) you see folks waving tea bags around, let me just remind them that I am happy to have a serious conversation about how we are going to cut our health care costs down over the long term, how we're going to stabilize Social Security ... But let's not play games and pretend that the reason is because of the Recovery Act, because that's just a fraction of the overall problem that we've got. We are going to have to tighten our belts, but we're going to have to do it in an intelligent way. And we've got to make sure that the people who are helped are working American families, and we're not suddenly saying that the way to do this is to eliminate programs that help ordinary people and give more tax cuts to the wealthy. We tried that formula for eight years, and it did not work, and I don't intend to go back to it."<ref>CNN, April 29, 2009 |publisher=Politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com |date=2009-04-29 |accessdate=2009-10-18
</ref>

On April 19, 2009, Senior White House Advisor ], asked about the Tea Party protests on ], said "I think any time that you have severe economic conditions, there is always an element of disaffection that can mutate into something that’s unhealthy." and "The thing that bewilders me is this President just cut taxes for ninety five percent of the American people. So I think the tea bags should be directed elsewhere, because he certainly understands the burden that people face."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/FTN_041909.pdf|title=April 19, 2009 Transcript - Face the
Nation|date=April 19, 2009|work=Transcript|publisher=CBS News|accessdate=22 February 2010}}</ref>

==Controversy==
{{Criticism section|date=March 2010}}

===Claims of bias in media coverage===
The news networks have covered the Tea Party movement in vastly different ways. Journalist ] commented that "much of the media seems to have chosen sides." He says that ] portrayed the protests "as a big story, ] as a modest story, and ] as a great story to make fun of."<ref name=world/>

The protests have been derided by commentators such as ],<ref name =frat/> ],<ref name =frat/> ],<ref name =frat>, FOX News. Published April 16, 2009.</ref> talk show host ],<ref name=move/> '']'' columnist and Nobel prize winning economist Paul Krugman,<ref name="paul"/> conservative author ],<ref>. Published April 10, 2009.</ref> liberal ] advocacy group ],<ref name=today/> political satirist ],<ref></ref> and ].<ref name="frank">, ], March 4, 2009, '']''</ref> Conversely, the protests attracted support from and been promoted by conservative commentators such as ], ], ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/23831/ |title="Glenn Beck: Tea Party" |date=2009-04-09 }}</ref> and ],<ref name="sfexaminer">{{cite news|url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/Tea-parties-are-flash-crowds-Obama-should-fear-41547632.html |title=Tea parties are flash crowds Obama should fear|date=March 19, 2009|publisher=]|first=Mark |last=Tapscott|accessdate=June 16, 2009}}</ref> former House Majority Leader ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,516136,00.html |title=Dick Armey to Speak at Atlanta Tea Party |accessdate=2009-04-15|date=2009-04-15 }}</ref> rock guitarist and political activist ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1609280/20090415/story.jhtml |title=What's A Tax Day Tea Party? |accessdate=2009-04-15|date=2009-04-15 }}</ref> country musician ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,3034,GAC_26063_5942336_01,00.html |title= John Rich Attends a Tea Party |accessdate=2009-04-14|date=2009-04-15 }}</ref> Former Arkansas Governor ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0409/Hucks_grievances.html |publisher=]|last=Smith|first=Ben|title=Huck's grievances |accessdate=2009-04-15|date=2009-04-16 }}</ref>
and conservative radio host ].<ref name="MH">{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/233/story/666428.html |title= Supporters of national sales tax gather in SC |accessdate=2009-04-15|date=2009-04-16 }}</ref>

Prior to the Tax Day protests, Fox News ran 20 or more segments about the protests, over 100 commercial promotions of its coverage, directed viewers to a "virtual tea party" on FoxNation.com, and repeatedly described the protests as "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties" in their television coverage.<ref>http://mediamatters.org/research/200904170028</ref><ref>http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/30/entertainment/et-onthemedia30</ref> '']'' reported that the nature of the coverage of the protests has become part of the story.<ref name=world/>

On April 12, ] said on CNN's '']'', "Fox News gets on board in a big way with this week's tea party protests" and "The folks at Fox News ... are firmly in favor of tea parties."<ref name=kurtz>{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0904/12/rs.01.html |title=CNN.com&nbsp;— Transcripts |publisher=Transcripts.cnn.com |date=2009-04-12 |accessdate=2009-10-18}}</ref> On April 15, he said, "I don't think I've ever seen a news network throw its weight behind a protest like we are seeing in the past few weeks with FOX and these tea parties."<ref name=kurtz/> Political commentator Rachel Maddow said, "The unofficial Republican Party media outlet, Fox News Channel, has explicitly endorsed these events."<ref>{{cite web|author=12:24 p.m. ET |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30192870/ |title='The Rachel Maddow Show' for Friday, April 10, 2009 - Rachel Maddow show- msnbc.com |publisher=MSNBC |date=2009-04-13 |accessdate=2009-04-19}}</ref> Political commentator Keith Olbermann said, "Despite claiming neutrality on those policies and the ] movement itself, FOX has whipped up excitement for the parties, recruiting viewers to come out, guaranteeing huge outdoor gatherings, spilling into the streets, choking off traffic with all their ]."<ref>{{cite web|author=9:57 a.m. ET |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30226451/ |title='Countdown with Keith Olbermann' for Tuesday, April 14 - Countdown with Keith Olbermann- msnbc.com |publisher=MSNBC |date=2009-04-15 |accessdate=2009-04-19}}</ref> On April 14, ] described the protests as "heered on by Fox News and talk radio".<ref name=world>{{cite news|date=April 16, 2009|publisher=]|title='Tea Party' Rallies Protest Obama Policies|accessdate=June 13, 2009|url=http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_090416.htm}}</ref> ] reporter ] echoed this during the ] in ] when she said, "I think you get the general tenor of this. It's anti-government, anti-CNN, since this is highly promoted by the right wing conservative network, ]."<ref name="kurtz">{{cite web | last =Kurtz | first =Howard | title =Reading the Tea Leaves | publisher ='']'' | date =2009-04-16 | url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/16/AR2009041601364.html | accessdate =2009-04-16}}</ref><ref name="CNNtp">{{cite web | last =Roesgen | first =Susan | title =CNN Newsroom Transcript of Tea Party coverage | publisher ='']'' | date =2009-04-15 | url =http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0904/15/cnr.06.html | accessdate =2009-04-18}}</ref><ref name="carpenter">{{cite web | last =Carpenter | first =Amanda | title =Hot Button | publisher ='']'' | date =2009-04-17 | url =http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/17/hot-button-96533248/ | accessdate =2009-04-18}}</ref>

James Rainey of '']'' said MSNBC's attacks on the tea parties paled compared to Fox's support, but Olbermann, Maddow and Matthews were hardly subtle in disparaging the movement.<ref name="Los Angeles Times"/> ] has said that, "These hosts said little or nothing about the huge deficits run up by President Bush, but Barack Obama's budget and tax plans have driven them to tea. On the other hand, CNN and MSNBC may have dropped the ball by all but ignoring the protests."<ref name=kurtz/>

], president of ], a self-described ] media watchdog organization, wrote an open letter to '']'' host ] asking him to "publicly address recent actions by Fox News personalities that unambiguously cross the line separating news and legitimate commentary from political activism and demagoguery." The Los Angeles Times noted that both Fox News hosts and MSNBC hosts had "prejudged the tea parties."<ref name="Los Angeles Times">{{cite web| title =Fox News, MSNBC prejudge 'tea parties'| publisher = Los Angeles Times | date =2009-04-15 | url = http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-onthemedia15-2009apr15,0,189873.column| accessdate =2009-04-17 }}</ref>

On the April 16 edition of '']'', ] observed, "So, in our new world order, Fox are the hippies and CNN is ]. What does that make MSNBC?" He then played a montage of clips of MSNBC anchors using the "teabagging" terminology and concluded, "Hours of scrotum-based humor. Oh my God! MSNBC is us! They're ''The Daily Show''! Well what the fuck am I supposed to do?"<ref>http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-april-16-2009/nationwide-tax-protests</ref>

On July 28, Fox Nation posted a promotional ad for the ] using the headline, "Will You Join the Tea Party Express?"<ref>http://www.thefoxnation.com/culture/2009/07/28/will-you-join-tea-party-express</ref> ] was the field reporter for Fox's coverage of the Tea Party Express tour. Greta Van Sustern clarified for viewers that Jenkins was not part of the bus tour.<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-brantzawadzki/anatomy-of-the-tea-party_b_380691.html</ref>

Following the September 12 ], ] then ] <ref>{{cite web|last =Krakauer | first =Steve |title =Internal Fox News Email Addresses “Standards” After 9/12 Flap| publisher =Mediaite | date =2009-09-21 | url =http://www.mediaite.com/tv/internal-fox-email-addresses-standards-after-912-flap/| accessdate =2010-03-08 }}</ref> claimed it was the only cable news outlet to cover the emerging protests and took out full-page ads in '']'', the '']'', and '']'' with a prominent headline reading, "How did ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, and CNN miss this story?" CNN news anchor ] disputed Fox's claim pointing to various coverage of the event.<ref name="politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com">{{cite news| url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/18/networks-respond-to-false-fox-ad/ | work=CNN | accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref><ref>http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0909/WaPo_defends_running_Fox_ad.html</ref><ref name="mediabistro.com">http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/in_full_page_ad_fox_asks_where_were_other_media_on_912_the_answer_they_were_there_136133.asp?c=rss</ref> CNN, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, and CBS Radio News provided various forms of live coverage of the rally in Washington throughout the day on Saturday, including the lead story on CBS Evening News.<ref name="politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com"/><ref name="mediabistro.com"/><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/09/18/nr.sanchez.on.fox.news.cnn | work=CNN | title=Log in & let's get started! | accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref><ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/18/fox-news-newspaper-ad-mak_n_291494.html</ref>

Following the election of ] in the January 19, 2010 ], the British magazine '']'' said "America’s most vibrant political force at the moment is the anti-tax tea-party movement."<ref>, '']'', 2010-01-21.</ref> In January 2010, '']'' columnist ], after reciting a number of recent opinion polls and other sources, suggested that the coming decade of 2010-2019 has the potential to become "The Tea Party Teens" in ].<ref name=nyt20100104>, ], 2009-01-04</ref> Brooks has also characterized the Tea Party movement as "radically anticonservative."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/opinion/05brooks.html|publisher=New York Times|author=Brooks, David|title=The Wal-Mart Hippies|date=March 4, 2010}}</ref> In an interview several months after his "rant", CNBC news editor ], credited as source of inspiration for the Tea Party movement,<ref name="Zernike"/> said "I think that this Tea Party phenomenon is steeped in American culture and steeped in American notion to get involved with what’s going on with our government. I haven’t organized. I’m going to have to work to pay my taxes, so I’m not going to be able to get away today. But, I have to tell you — I’m pretty proud of this."<ref>http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2009/20090415092104.aspx</ref>

===Humor===
{{See also|Teabagging}}<!-- Do not remove until merge talks are complete -->
] Tea Party reads: "Teabag Washington? They have way too many NUTS Already!"]]

The ] emerged after protesters displayed placards using the words "tea bag" as a verb.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://washingtonindependent.com/31868/scenes-from-the-new-american-tea-party|title=Scenes from the New American Tea Party|last=Weigel|first=David|date=February 27, 2009|publisher=Washington Independent|accessdate=22 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://mobile.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/04/14/teabagging_guide/index.html|title=Your guide to teabagging|last=Koppelman|first=Alex|publisher=Salon.com|accessdate=22 February 2010}}</ref>
The label has prompted ]s by both commentators and protesters<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2009/12/18/what-are-you-doing-for-jesus-today|title=What are YOU doing for Jesus today? |publisher=The Portland Mercury|accessdate=2010-02-16}}</ref><!-- See also image file above, April 15 Hartford, Connecticut --> based on pre-existing use of the word to denote ]. Tea Party activists have stated that they find the term to be dismissive and insulting.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/16/cable-anchors-guests-use-tea-parties-platform-frat-house-humor/</ref>

===Astroturfing allegations===
Allegations of "]" appeared in a '']'' editorial<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/opinion/13krugman.html | work=The New York Times | title=Tea Parties Forever | first=Paul | last=Krugman | date=April 13, 2009 | accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref> as well as a '']'' article by ] and Yasha Levine in February 2009. The article was removed after libel claims, but no legal action materialized. The authors repeated and elaborated their allegations elsewhere—that the tea party protests were a "carefully organized and sophisticated PR campaign . . . for some of the craziest and sleaziest rightwing ] clans this country has ever produced," including the Koch family, ] and ].<ref>''Alternet'', 3 March 2009, </ref><ref>''Alternet'', 15 April 2009, </ref> On October 3, 2009, ] said the tea party protests fulfilled "the vision" of the board of directors of the conservative political advocacy group ] when it was founded in 2004.<ref>"The Washington Independent" 5 October 2009, </ref>

On April 9, 2009, the liberal blog ] claimed that most of the 2009 protests were conservative ] "astroturf" projects and not spontaneous ] protests. They argued that the protests were nationally coordinated and organized by conservative lobbyist organizations ] and ].<ref name=thinkprogress>''Think Progress'', 09 April 2009, </ref> The story was picked up in a '']'' op-ed column by liberal ] ], writing that "the tea parties don't represent a spontaneous outpouring of public sentiment. They're AstroTurf (fake grass roots) events, manufactured by the usual suspects. In particular, a key role is being played by FreedomWorks, an organization run by ]."<ref name="paul">. By ]. '']''. Published April 12, 2009.</ref> On April 15, Speaker of the House ] agreed, saying "it's not really a grassroots movement. It's astroturf by some of the wealthiest people in America to keep the focus on tax cuts for the rich instead of for the great middle class."<ref> By ]. ]. Published April 20, 2009.</ref> On the same day, liberal ] pundit ] commented, saying that "corporate-funded PR shops and lobbying groups have done a lot of the organizing and promotion for these events. That's controversial because it's astroturfing. It's disguising a formal top-down organized paid for things as if it's some spontaneous grassroots event."<ref>{{cite web|author=2:07 p.m. ET |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30249515/ |title='The Rachel Maddow Show' for Wednesday, April 15 - Rachel Maddow show- msnbc.com |publisher=MSNBC |date= |accessdate=2009-04-19}}</ref>

A December 28, 2009, article in the liberal ] detailed that Our Country Deserves Better (OCDB), the political action committee (PAC) behind the Tea Party Express, directed almost two thirds of all its funding to the Republican-affiliated political consulting firm that created the PAC in the first place. According to FEC filings, from July through November 2009, OCDB spent around $1.33 million, and of that sum, $857,122 went to a Sacramento-based GOP political consulting firm named ], or people associated with it. The article went on to detail that ], a rival faction of conservative activists denounced Tea Party Express as a creature of Republican political professionals that lacks grassroots authenticity, with one TPP member, who had examined the FEC filings asking: "What would the true grassroots people think if they knew their money is being spent in this manner?"<ref name="tpmmuckraker"/> The '']'' later confirmed the money paid to ] went mostly to vendors and advertising, with about $100,000 going to the political consultants for fees and salary.<ref> By Kathleen Hennessey. ]. Published Jan. 25, 2010.</ref>

Participants vehemently deny the astroturfing charge. According to '']'', the three main groups that provide guidance and organization for the protests ], ], and ] state that the demonstrations are an organic movement.<ref name=who>
By Chris Good. '']''. Posted April 13, 2009.</ref> Law professor and conservative commentator ], best known as author of the ] political blog, argued in '']'' that: "These aren't the usual semiprofessional protesters who attend antiwar and pro-union marches. These are people with real jobs; most have never attended a protest march before. They represent a kind of energy that our politics hasn't seen lately, and an influx of new activists."<ref>. By ]. '']''. Published April 13, 2009.</ref> Conservative political strategist ], now head of ], has remarked that the Republican Party is "too disorganized and unsure of itself to pull this off."<ref name=rebel/>

===Marvel Comics===
In February 2010, an outcry from Tea Party activists erupted when a Tea Party protest sign, based on a photo<ref>{{cite web|url=http://washingtonindependent.com/31868/scenes-from-the-new-american-tea-party/|title=Scenes from the New American Tea Party |publisher=The Washington Independent|accessdate=2009-02-27}}</ref> taken by journalist ], was added to a comic panel proclaiming "Tea Bag the Libs before they tea bag you!" in an issue of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24784|title=Cup O' Joe: Political Controversy and The Heroic Age |publisher=Comic Book Resources|accessdate=2010-02-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://io9.com/5469987/why-captain-america-hates-america-apparently|title=Why Captain America Hates America, Apparently|last=McMillan|first=Graeme |date=February 12, 2010|publisher=io9.com|accessdate=22 February 2010}}</ref> The comic drew criticism from Tea Party leaders, and Marvel Comics editor ] later apologized for specifically identifying characters as associated with the Tea Party movement. Quesada said the edition will be changed in further printings and the trade paperback.<ref></ref><ref></ref>

==See also==
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]

==References==
{{Cleanup-link rot|date=February 2010}}
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat-inline|2009 Tea Party protests}}
* , '']'', February 4, 2010
* , by ], '']'', March 5, 2010
* , David Barstow, '']'', February 15, 2010 with '

{{Subprime mortgage crisis}}
{{2008 economic crisis}}

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Revision as of 21:21, 7 April 2010

This article is about the Tea Party movement as an ongoing issue or cause. For the series of nationally coordinated protests since 2009, see Tea Party protests.
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The Taxpayer March on Washington in Washington, D.C., September 12, 2009.

These folks think obamas a socialist, democrats will take away your fucking ak47s and that they might take away the money that george bush took away and gave to the rich.

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