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[[File:TeaPartyByFreedomFan.JPG|thumb|Tea Party protest in Washington D.C. on September 12, 2009.]]The '''TEA Party Movement''' (TEA is a backronym for '''Taxed Enough Already''', but also means '''Tyrannized Enough Already''' for many<ref>[http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a38867/open-carry-texas/ http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a38867/open-carry-texas/]</ref><ref>[http://northcentralflorida912project.org/our-blog/2012/04/12/the-taxation-that-our-founders-hated/ The Taxation That Our Founders Hated]</ref><ref>[http://www.meetup.com/Orlando-Tea-Party-Movement/about/?name=About_this_Meetup&chapter_analytics_code=UA-16358365-1 Orlando Tea Party Network]</ref>) is an ongoing, nationwide mainstream movement of [[grassroots]] protesters, encompassing millions of individuals and thousands of self-organizing groups, all united in accomplishing a single goal: returning [[Conservative|fiscal responsibility]] and limited government to the [[United States]] through the exercise of political [[activist|activism]].<ref>[http://blog.heritage.org/2009/04/15/morning-bell-the-tea-party-movement/ Morning Bell: The Tea Party Movement], [[Heritage Foundation]], April 15th, 2009.</ref> The main focus of the TEA Party Movement is a rebuke of outrageous mandates, overspending and a [[radical]] agenda by an out of touch federal government with values similar to [[King George III]] (see [[Boston Tea Party]]).<ref>[http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/24073/ What the Tea Parties Are About], April 16, 2009, [[Glenn Beck]]</ref> <br />  As of 2016, the movement is largely non-existent. Organizations are not holding protests. It's not a political movement or a political party. No single leader emerged. Yet the principles behind the grassroots movement live on due to the fact that the changes sought have never taken root. You will still hear opponents cite the movement and you'll hear media pundits describe a candidate as Tea Party aligned.

On December 16th16, 2007, supporters of [[Ron Paul]] staged a re-enactment of the [[Boston Tea Party]] as a fundraiser event, and to promote Paul's bid for the presidency.<ref>[http://www.ronpaulforums.com/content.php?909-Who-Started-The-Modern-Day-Tea-Party-Movement-%28video%29&s=2b6ae18ef5615484bda67fa3c01678d6 Who Started The Modern Day Tea Party Movement? (video)], ronpaulforums.com, (Accessed August 19, 2011).</ref><ref>Warner Todd Huston. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110805120631/http://bigjournalism.com/wthuston/2011/05/14/ap-tars-tea-party-movement-as-grandfathered-by-ron-paul/ AP Tars Tea Party Movement as ‘Grandfathered’ By Ron Paul], [[BigJournalism.com]], May 14, 2011.</ref> Paul's GOP campaign received a "moneybomb", which broke the record for 24 hour fundraising.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/17/nation/na-paul17 Paul collects $6 million in a single day], [[Los Angeles Times]]</ref><ref>[httphttps://www.cnet.com/news/ron-pauls-tea-party-a-bigger-money-bomb/ Ron Paul's Tea Party: a bigger money bomb], 2007.</ref> This event coincided with the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.<ref>Kenneth P. Vogel. Associated Press. [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-12-17-ronpaul-fundraising_N.htm 'Money bomb': Ron Paul raises $6 million in 24-hour period], [[USA Today]]</ref> This was seen as a major upset to the Republican GOP [[establishment]].<ref name=huffington>[httphttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/will-palin-and-the-neocon_b_456824.html Ron Paul vs. Sarah Palin for the Soul of the Tea Parties], [[Huffington Post]] (2010)</ref> Paul's youthful, libertarian -minded, supporters created a divide within the Republican Party.<ref>[[PBS]]. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3NtysJ5WI0 The Ron Paul Phenomenon], [[YouTube]]</ref> <ref>[httphttps://thefederalist.com/2014/08/13/the-libertarian-moment-cant-just-be-a-moment/ The Libertarian Moment Can’t Just Be A Moment]</ref>Juan Williams, a commentator at Fox News, commented that the Tea party emerged "from the ashes" of Paul's 2007-2008 presidential campaign.<ref> Williams, Juan (May 10, 2011). [httphttps://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/05/10/juan-williams-surprising-rise-rep-ron-paul/ "Juan Williams: The Surprising Rise of Rep. Ron Paul"], [[Fox News]]</ref> David Weigel at slate.com said, "The first modern Tea Party events occurred in December 2007, long before Barack Obama took office, and they were organized by supporters of Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas..." <ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2010/08/five_myths_about_the_tea_party.html Five Myths About the Tea Party]</ref>

The tea party movement grew exponentially in magnitude in February 2009; however, while [[Rick Santelli|Rick Santelli's]] 's famous impassioned speech on CNBC was perhaps the most visible spark that ignited Tea Party gatherings across the nation, the movement's genesis was in progress long before that notable day.<ref>Tea Party Arose From Conservatives Steeped in Crisis. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304173704575578332725182228.html Birth of a Movement], ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', October 29, 2010.</ref> The movement was in gestation for years, in the hearts and minds of American citizens concerned about the path down which [[progressive]] policies have been taking the United States of America. The emergence of the Tea party Movement has been called [[Main Street]] America's indictment against the ruling class.<ref>Doug Mainwaring. [httphttps://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/13/tea-partys-inception-a-rebirth/ MAINWARING: Tea Party's inception a rebirth], ''[[The Washington Times]]'', August 13, 2010.</ref>

On February 9, 2009, a Cape Coral woman named Mary Rakovich led a small protest outside President Barack Obama's townhall meeting in Fort Myers, [[Florida]].<ref>[http://www.news-press.com/article/20090211/OBAMA/90210068 Those outside Harborside in Fort Myers had plenty to see, say], ''The News-Press'', February 11, 2009.</ref><ref>Dick Armey, Matt Kibbe. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704407804575425061553154540.html?KEYWORDS=tea+party+movement A Tea Party Manifesto], ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', August 17, 2010.</ref> Then in late March of 2009, faced with the prospect of heavy fines from the city for not having the proper permitting or insurance, Mary Rakovich moved forward with future protests but with the backing of national organization ''FreedomWorks''. Rakovich said ''FreedomWorks'' offered to provide the insurance per the city's rules.<ref>[http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/504707.html?nav=5011 Tea party finds new life, broadens cause], cape-coral-daily-breeze.com, March, 31, 2009.</ref>

The Tea Party Movement gained support when on February 19, on live [[Television|TV]], [[CNBC]] reporter [[Rick Santelli]] argued about the [[bailout]]s and shouted, "The government is promoting bad behavior."<ref>[http://freedomeden.blogspot.com/2009/02/rick-santelli-tea-party.html Transcript of Rick Santelli's speech], February 19, 2009.</ref><ref>[httphttps://www.cnbc.com/id/29283701 Rick Santelli's Shout Heard 'Round the World], [[CNBC]], February 19, 2009.</ref> Standing in the middle of the Chicago Stock Exchange, Santelli declared that America needed "a new kind of tea party," so that citizens can express their discontent with "the government's support of fiscal irresponsibility."<ref>Jennifer Rubin. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/mr-president-turn-back-while-theres-still-time/ Mr. President: Turn Back While There’s Still Time], ''[[Pajamas Media]]'', February 20, 2009.</ref><ref>[[Matt Drudge]]. [http://www.streetinsider.com/Insiders+Blog/Rick+Santelli+-+The+Rant+Heard+Round+the+World/4419854.html Rick Santelli - The Rant Heard 'Round the World'], streetinsider.com, February 19, 2009.</ref><ref name=myfoxchicago>Andy Roesgen. [http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/TeaParty Protesters Gather for Self-Styled Tea Party], myfoxchicago.com, February 27, 2009.</ref>

Americans across the country gathered in 50 cities to protest the newly-passed Stimulus Bill of 2009.<ref>[http://www.tcotreport.com/Talking_Points.htm Talking Points and Theme for the Nationwide Chicago Tea Party], ''[[The TCOT Report]]'', February 24, 2009.</ref> Over 30,000 people made it to this event.<ref>Teri Christoph. [http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/video/video/show?id=2488056%3AVideo%3A24070& SGP.TeaParty], ''[[Smart Girl Politics]]'', February 27, 2009.</ref> Many at the event were upset over the economic stimulus packages and [[bailout]]s for [[Wall Street]] pushed through by both [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] and [[Barack Obama|President Obama's]] administrations.<refname=myfoxchicago/><ref name="raleigh3.com">[http://www.raleigh3.com/default.asp?sdetail=1849&sc=2724 Raleigh Holds 'Tea Party' To Protest Government], ''Raleigh Telegram'', March 25, 2009.</ref><ref name=myfoxchicago/>

| [[Chicago, Illinois]] || Don'tGo<ref>[http://www.dontgomovement.com/blog/2009/02/19/chicago-tea-party/ Don'tGo Movement: Pledge to Have a Representation at Chicago Tea Party], February 19, 2009.</ref> || Approximately 300 people braved the 25 degree cold and wind in Chicago.<ref name=myfoxchicago/><ref name="illinios">[http://www.foundingbloggers.com/wordpress/2009/02/breaking-chicago-tea-party-pictures/ BREAKING - Chicago Tea Party (Pictures) UPDATED Now With Video!], February 27, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.dontgomovement.com/blog/2009/02/27/the-birth-of-a-new-revolution/ The Birth of a New Revolution], February 27, 2009.</ref><ref name=myfoxchicago/>

| [[Houston, Texas]] || TBD || Large groups, not entirely made up of Republicans, tried to create a modern -day version of the Boston Tea Party.<ref>[http://houstontps.org/?page_id=163 Houston Tea Party Society, In the News, Audio, Video], February 27, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.khou.com/video/topstories-index.html?nvid=352345&shu=1 Houston's Tax Day tea party], February 27, 2009.</ref>

| [[Washington, D.C.]] || Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Young Conservatives Coalition, The Heartland Institute || The American Tea Party made some noise outside the White House.<ref name="dc_examiner">[httphttps://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/New-American-Tea-Party-40442172.html DC Tea Party thrown at the White House], ''The Washington Examiner'', February 27, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.freedomworks.org/petition/iamwithrick/index.html 2009 Taxpayer Tea party], February 28, 2009.</ref> Several hundred taxpayers showed up at the DC Tea Party protest in Lafayette Park,<ref name="michellemalkin">[[Michelle Malkin]]. [http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/27/scenes-from-the-tea-party/ Scenes from the D.C. Tea Party], February 27, 2009.</ref><ref name="dcfreedomworks">[http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/bstein80/video-from-the-dc-tea-party Video from the DC Tea Party], ''[[FreedomWorks]]'', February 28, 2009.</ref> including "Joe the Plumber."<ref name="hotair">[httphttps://hotair.com/archives/2009/02/27/joe-the-plumber-at-dc-tea-party-no-one-on-the-hill-gives-a-rip-about-you/ Joe the Plumber at D.C. Tea Party: No one on the Hill gives a rip about you], ''[[Hot Air]]'', February 27, 2009.</ref>

Success from the Chicago Tea Party protests, as part of a concerted nationwide effort, led to the first of many scheduled Tea Party rallies. Following the February 27th Tea Parties, a group called ''Americans for Prosperity'' of [[North Carolina]] began implementing plans for a "Tax Day" Tea Party rally in Raleigh on the tax filing deadline.<ref>[http://www.name="raleigh3.com"/default.asp?sdetail=1849&sc=2724 Raleigh Holds 'Tea Party' To Protest Government], ''Raleigh Telegram'', March 25, 2009.</ref> Leading up to the Tax Day Tea Parties, the events were organized and promoted by volunteers, activists, and [[Political action committee]]s across the [[United States]].<ref>[http://www.freedomworks.org/press-releases/freedomworks-co-sponsoring-taxpayer-tea-parties-ac FreedomWorks Co-Sponsoring Taxpayer Tea Parties Across Oregon], [[FreedomWorks]]</ref> By taking advantage of online viral [[marketing]] to get the word out,<ref name="investorsnews">[http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=470054&Ntt=tea+party 'Tea Party' Protests In 35 Cities], March 2, 2009.</ref> the speed and scope with which the Tax Day Tea Party protests were organized can be attributed to the use of [[Twitter]] [[TCOT Report|#TCOT]] feeds,<ref>[http://tcotreport.com/ TCOT Report], ''[[The TCOT Report]]''.</ref> on [[blog|blogs]]s,<ref>Marc Ambinder. [http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/02/tea_parties_pajamas_and_mediaevent_symbiotics.php Tea Parties, Pajamas, and Media/Event Symbiotics], ''The Atlantic'', February 25, 2009.</ref> and the social networking Website [[Facebook]].<ref name="facebook">[http://michellemalkin.com/2009/03/04/going-galt-and-the-next-tea-party-wave/ “Going Galt” and the next Tea Party wave], [[Michelle Malkin]], March 4, 2009.</ref>

[[File:9.12 tea party in DC.jpg|thumb|Tea Party protestors in Washington D.C. on September 12, 2009.]]The Tea Party Movement held its first scheduled nationwide protest on April 15, 2009, a day that became known as the [[Tax Day Tea Party]].<ref name="WSJ">[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123975867505519363.html Tax Day Becomes Protest Day], ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', April 15, 2009.</ref><ref>[httphttps://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/15/thousands-anti-tax-tea-party-protesters-turn-cities/ Thousands of Anti-Tax 'Tea Party' Protesters Turn Out in U.S. Cities], [[Fox News]], April 15, 2009.</ref> In the spirit of the [[Founding Fathers]] [[Boston Tea Party]], the rallies used themes from the [[American Revolution]] and also adopted the "American Tea Party Anthem," a song first performed during a March 21, 2009 Orlando, Florida Tea Party that drew over 4,000 people.<ref>Michelle Malkin. [http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/21/tea-party-usa-the-movement-grows/ Tea Party U.S.A.: The movement grows], February 21, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://newsblaze.com/story/20090323074552zzzz.nb/topstory.html "Tea Party" Song Becomes YouTube Hit]. ''Newsblaze'', March 23, 2009.</ref><ref>Andrea Shea King. [http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/asking/2009/04/14/american-tea-party-anthem-singer-lloyd-marcus-this-whole-thing-is-rush-limbaughs-fault/ American Tea Party Anthem Singer Lloyd Marcus: "This whole thing is Rush Limbaugh’s fault."], ''Big Hollywood'', April 14, 2009.</ref> [[Dick Armey]] of [[FreedomWorks]] became one of Washington's principal supporters of the Tea Party movement.<ref>[httphttps://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,516136,00.html Dick Armey to Speak at Atlanta Tea Party], [[Fox News]], April 15, 2009.</ref> [[Glenn Beck]], [[Rand Paul]], [[Michele Bachmann]], [[Sarah Palin]], and many others encouraged and even participated in aspects of the movement.

[[File:TeaPartyRally - Searchlight, Nevada.jpg|thumb|A Tea Party rally in Nevada on March 27, 2010.]]The Tea Party Patriots<ref>http://www.TeaPartyPatriots.org</ref> announced a milestone in the Tea Party movement: 2 million people attended the April 15 Tea Party events across the country in 2010, and 2,000 groups are now voluntarily affiliated with the Tea Party Patriots through its [[Web site]].<ref>PR Newswire. [httphttps://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=xprnw.20100429.DC96062&show_article=1 Tea Party Numbers Released: 2 Million, 2 Thousand], ''[[Breitbart.com]]'', April 29, 2010.</ref><ref>Greta Van Susteren. [http://gretawire.blogs.foxnews.com/tea-parties-on-tax-day/ Tea Parties on Tax Day], ''GretaWire'', April 16, 2010.</ref> Recent polls have shown that 48% of voters believe their views are reflected more closely in the values of the Tea Party movement than in the views of President Obama.

The same organizations decided to repeat their performance on [[United States Independence Day|Independence Day]] (July 4, 2009). Even more people attended; the largest such rally was held on the grounds of the Southfork Ranch (scene of the [[television]] series ''Dallas '), in [[Plano]], [[Texas]], which drew 37,000 attendees. The themes that organizers and participants sounded at these events were much the same as were those at the Tax Day events: advocacy of limited government, decrying of high levels of taxation, and refusal to countenance plans for [[socialism]] and especially socialized [[medicine]].

[[File:Gadsden_snake.jpg|250px|right]]The largest TEA Party event thus far has been the September 12 March on [[Washington, DC]]. This was an event organized initially by the FreedomWorks Foundation, but nearly all Tea Party organizations decided to participate in this event, primarily by chartering buses and registering people for transportation to Washington. FreedomWorks estimates that 600,000 to 800,000 persons attended, and they base that estimate on the number of persons who responded when their Master of Ceremonies asked all attendees within earshot to send the text message "Freedom" to a designated five-digit telephone number. However, the [[London]] ''[[Daily Mail]]'' estimates attendance at as many as a million persons, on the basis of eyewitness accounts and aerial-photographic evidence.<ref name=dailymail>Gardner D, "[httphttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1213056/Up-million-march-US-Capitol-protest-Obamas-spending-tea-party-demonstration.html A million march to US Capitol to protest against 'Obama the socialist']," ''[[Daily Mail|The London Daily Mail]]'', September 14, 2009. Accessed September 16, 2009.</ref> Estimates of total attendance are difficult to obtain, primarily because the size of the crowd far exceeded the estimates by the event planners, with the result that many attendees were never able to get within earshot of the stage or even the sound system, and the temporary sanitary facilities were hopelessly jammed, with fifty persons standing in line to use each portable "necessary."

TEA party demonstrations have targeted local and national media outs across the country to oppose massive government spending. In a press release, the movement was led by FaxDC in about 100 cities across the U.S. on September 17th17. <ref>[http://www.lookingattheleft.com/2009/10/tea-party-movement-denounces-media-corrupton/ Tea Party Movement Denounces Media Corruption], Lookingattheleft.com, October 19, 2009.</ref> [[Rush Limbaugh]] has previously spoke for the need for such media targeted TEA protests.

''{{Main Article: [[|Pink Slips campaign]]''}}

As of November 2009, 8 million pink slips have been sent to Congress at a cost of $29 each <ref>[httphttps://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=117136 True grass-roots effort? The 'pink slips' campaign], [[WND]], November 25, 2009</ref>

This is an incomplete list of Tea Party victories in elections: * The first Tea Party activist to win a special election for a state assembly seat was [[Dean Murray]] in Long Island.<ref>[httphttps://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,586821,00.html Meet the First Tea Party Activist to Be Elected Into Office], ''[[Fox News]]'', February 19, 2010.</ref> * The most stunning victory credited to the Tea Party Movement, specifically to the [[Tea Party Express]], was the surprise nomination of [[Sharron Angle]] over the establishment favorite [[Sue Lowden]] as the Republican candidate for the Senate seat of [[Nevada]]. * In addition to Sharron Angle in Nevada, [[Rand Paul]] ([[Kentucky]]), [[Mike Lee]] ([[Utah]]), [[Ken Buck]] ([[Colorado]]), [[Joe Miller]] ([[Alaska]]), and [[Christine O'Donnell]] ([[Delaware]]) all defeated more moderate opponents in their respective Republican primaries for U.S. Senate.

* They also won several Senate seats, electing [[Rand Paul]], [[Marco Rubio]], [[Pat Toomey]], [[Ron Johnson]], and [[Mike Lee]] to the Senate in the 2010 elections.* [[Conservatives]] picked up a total of 63 seats in the [[House of Representatives]] for the 2010 Midterm Elections, including [[Joe Walsh]], [[Allen West]], and [[Justin Amash]].

* Republican Majority Leader, [[Eric Cantor]], loses primary to Dave [[David Brat]], a TEA Party candidate, in June 2014. <ref>[httphttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/eric-cantor-faces-tea-party-challenge-tuesday/2014/06/10/17da5d20-f092-11e3-bf76-447a5df6411f_story.html Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor succumbs to tea party challenger Dave Brat], [[Washington Post]], June 11, 2014.</ref>* In the 2014 elections in [[Texas]], the Tea Party made large gains, with numerous Tea Party favorites being elected into office, like [[Dan Patrick]] as Lieutenant Governor,<ref name="Holdssway">{{cite news | last1=Fernandez | first1=Manny | title=Lieutenant Governor Loses Texas Runoff as Tea Party Holds Sway | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/28/us/politics/tea-party-favorite-beats-lieutenant-governor-in-texas.html | date=May 27, 2014 | publisher=[[The New York Times]] | accessdate=April 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>Koppel, Nathan (January 21, 2015). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-lt-gov-dan-patrick-moves-quickly-to-advance-conservative-agenda-1421883867 "Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Moves Quickly to Advance Conservative Agenda"]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved April 2, 2015.</ref> [[Ken Paxton]] as Attorney General,<ref name="Holdssway"/><ref name="Grissom">Grissom, Brandi. [http://www.texastribune.org/2014/05/28/tea-party-conservatives-win-top-gop-runoff-contest/ Tea Party Conservatives Win Top GOP Runoff Contests], ''[[Texas Tribune]]'', May 28, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2015.</ref> in addition to numerous other candidates.<ref name="Grissom"/>*In the 2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election, [[Matt Bevin]], a Tea Party favorite who challenged [[Mitch McConnell]] in the Republican primary in the 2014 Kentucky Senate election,<ref>{{cite news|last=Trinko|first=Katrina|title=Kentucky's Ted Cruz?|url=http://nationalreview.com/article/354652/kentuckys-ted-cruz-katrina-trinko|accessdate=November 5, 2015|newspaper=National Review|date=July 29, 2013}}</ref> won with over 52% of the vote, despite some fears by the GOP [[establishment]] that he was too extreme for the state.<ref name="Sweat">https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/31/us/politics/gop-eyes-kentucky-governorship-but-candidate-is-making-the-party-sweat.html</ref><ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/05/us/kentuckys-next-governormatt-bevin-rode-in-on-outsider-status.html?_r=0</ref><ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/04/us/republican-wins-governors-race-in-kentucky.html</ref> Bevin is the second Republican in 44 years to be [[Governor of Kentucky]].<ref name="Sweat"/>

* The Tea Party Movement has exposed the [[progressive]] agenda and its significant correlation with the failings of higher education in America.<ref>''Our universities haven't taught much political history for decades. No wonder so many progressives have disdain for the principles that animated the Federalist debates.'' [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704631504575531913602803980.html Why Liberals Don't Get the Tea Party Movement], by Peter Berkowitz, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', October 16, 2010.</ref> {{Cquote|Neither [[professors]] of [[political science]] nor of [[history]] have made a priority of instructing students in the [[Founding Fathers|founding principles]] of American [[Constitutional Republic|constitutional government]]. Nor have they taught about the contest between the [[Socialism|progressive vision]] and the [[Limited government|conservative vision]] that has characterized [[American Government Lecture Two|American politics]] since [[Woodrow Wilson]] helped launch the progressive movement in the late 19th century by arguing that the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] had become [[obsolete]] and hindered [[democratic]] reform. ... They do little to teach about [[Federal republic|self-government]]. They certainly do not teach about the [[virtue|virtues]]s, or [[quality|qualities]] of [[mind]] and [[character]], that enable citizens to shoulder their political responsibilities and prosper amidst the opportunities and uncertainties that [[freedom]] brings. Nor do they teach the beliefs, practices and associations that foster such virtues and those that endanger them. ... [America's] [[University|universities]] have produced two [[Generation|generationsgeneration]] s of highly educated people who seem unable to recognize the spirited defense of fundamental [[American]] [[Principle|principlesprinciple]]s, even when it takes place for more than a year and a half right in front of their noses.}}

[[Rick Santelli]] specifically cited the mortgage [[bailout]] policies of early 2009 as a prize example of the government doing special favors for certain classes of voters, in return for their continued support, and also of the "moral hazard" in which such policies inevitably place anyone who "buys on time," i.e., buys any sort of asset, from a home appliance to a parcel of [[real estate]], using borrowed money.

Most organization of Tea Parties and similar events is local. Typical of the movement is the Morristown Tea Party Organization ([[Morristown]], [[New Jersey]]), which has a five-member board of trustees and about fifty dedicated volunteers who handle operations, communication, and logistics without assistance or direction from any regional or other organization. State-wide Statewide coordinating bodies do exist (for example, New Jersey Tea Parties United), but local organizations are responsible for most of their activities, fund-raising, and legal functioning. In this regard, the Tea Party Movement is similar to the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America, which never seeks to dictate to individual churches how they must conduct their affairs.

Some of the signs that have been seen and photographed at these events have provoked cries of outrage from Tea Party Movement opponents, alleging bad taste, e.g. a picture of Barack Obama with the square mustache affected by [[Adolf Hitler]] and bearing the caption "I've Changed," and a sign bearing the message "Bury ObamaCare with [[Edward M. Kennedy|Kennedy]]." After the liberal Mainstream Media quickly blamed conservatives and even [[Rush Limbaugh]], some research was done to find the true source of the Hitler poster. It was later uncovered that the provocative Hitler signs were from a group of [[Leftist|far-left]] [[Lyndon LaRouche]] supporters, as they were infiltrating the Tea Party rallies as a means to spread their extreme visions.<ref>Seton Motley. [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/seton-motley/2009/08/12/nbc-cnn-msnbc-all-assign-communist-larouches-obama-hitler-poster-conse NBC, CNN and MSNBC All Assign Communist LaRouche's Obama-Hitler Poster to Conservatives, Limbaugh], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', August 12, 2009.</ref>

A [[Quinnipiac polling|Quinnipiac Poll]] conducted in March 2010 found that thirteen percent of American voters say they are part of the Tea Party movement, a group containing more women than men. 49% told pollsters they voted for [[Barack Obama]] in 2008, while only 44% voted for [[John McCain]].<ref>[http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1436 Quinnipiac Poll, Question 50e, March 2010.], [[Quinnipiac polling]]</ref> Despite these findings, the [[White House]] has been linked to efforts to label the Tea Party as [[racist]].<ref>[httphttps://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2010/07/obama-administration-linked-to-fraudulent-racist-tea-party-video/ White House Linked to Fraudulent Racist Tea Party Video], [[Gateway Pundit]]</ref>

Several news anchors working for [[CNN]] and [[MSNBC]] used uncivil language to describe Tea Partiers and coined the phrase "teabaggers," which is a crude term used to slur conservatives. Additionally, President Obama used the crude term as an off-color connotation attempting to mock Tea Party Movement organizers and participants across the nation. During an interview with the ''[[New York Times]]'', Barack Obama described the people of the Tea Party Movement as "the teabag, anti-government [extremists]."<ref>Michael Patrick Leahy. [http://www.tcotreport.com/obamaslur.html In Pep Talk to Democrats Yesterday, Obama Used Crude Term to Slur Conservatives], ''[[The TCOT Report]]'', November 8, 2009.</ref> [[Vice President]] [[Joe Biden]] accused Tea Partiers of having "acted like terrorists" in a fight over raising the nation’s nation's debt limit, according to several sources in the room with him, as reported by ''[[Politico]]''.<ref>[httphttps://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60421.html Sources: Joe Biden likened tea partiers to terrorists], ''[[Politico]]'', August 01, 2011.</ref><ref>[httphttps://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/01/biden-criticized-for-calling-tea-party-republicans-terrorists-over-their-debt/ Tea Party Group Calls on Biden to Apologize for 'Terrorists' Remark], [[Fox News]], August 02, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_081611/content/01125108.guest.html Ryan Rhodes Calls the Program], [[Rush Limbaugh]], August 16, 2011.</ref>

Confronted with an epidemic of joblessness in her home state of [[California]], liberal-[[socialist]]<ref>[httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUaY3LhJ-IQ&feature=related Maxine Waters threatens to nationalize U.S. oil industries], [[YouTube]], (Accessed August 22, 2011).</ref> [[House of Representatives|House]] representative [[Maxine Waters]] tried deflecting blame by telling a group of supporters that the "Tea Party can go straight to hell."<ref>[httphttps://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/22/rep-waters-tea-party-can-go-straight-to-hell/ Tea Party Group Slams Rep. Waters Over 'Straight to Hell' Outburst], [[Fox News]], August 22, 2011.</ref> She then threatened: "And I intend to help them get there."<ref>[http://www.bluegrasspundit.com/2011/08/liberal-msm-omitted-maxine-waters-overt.html Liberal MSM Omitted Maxine Waters Overt Threat to Tea Party], ''Bluegrass Pundit'', August 22, 2011.</ref> At a [[Labor Day]] speech with Barack Obama in attendance, right before the president spoke, James P. Hoffa declared war against the Tea Party Movement. He offered to a cheering Obama, "President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. Let's take these sons of bitches out."<ref>[httphttps://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2011/09/06/teaparty/jimmy-hoffa-bring/ Jimmy Hoffa, bring it on!]</ref><ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/09/06/don_hoffa_goes_to_the_mattresses Don Hoffa Goes to the Mattresses], [[Rush Limbaugh]]</ref> In a show of the same attitudes that several liberal leaders have expressed in graphic and ugly form, anonymous liberals created a Tea Party murder game, called "Tea Party Zombies Must Die."<ref>Tiffany Gabbay. [httphttps://www.theblaze.com/stories/tea-party-zombies-must-die-new-online-lets-you-murder-beck-bachmann-palin/ ‘Tea Party Zombies Must Die’: New Online Game Lets You Gun Down Beck, Bachmann, Palin...], ''[[The Blaze]]'', September 6, 2011.</ref>

Tea Party organizers are not controlled or funded by the Republican Party or any established interest group. However, ''[[FreedomWorks]]'' and [[Dick Armey]] are well known supporters of the Tea Party Movement, and thus receive dozens of threatening and harassing calls and E-mails each day. ''FreedomWorks'' provided ''U.S. News & World Report'' with some of the recordings of the threatening calls, which include physical threats and profanity aimed at the group, Tea Party spokesmen and even [[conservative]] talkers. ''"You guys better watch it,"'' says one caller. ''"Now, we are going to destroy and obliterate [[Rush Limbaugh|Rush [Limbaugh]]] and [[Sean Hannity]],"'' said another. ''"Those two guys are dead."''<ref>Paul Bedard. [http://politics.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2010/08/25/tea-party-group-hit-with-death-threats Tea Party Group Hit With Death Threats], ''U.S. News & World Report'', August 25, 2010.</ref>

In late 2009, the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showed 41% of Americans had a positive view of the tea party movement and 24% had a negative view . By contrast, 35% of Americans had a positive view of the Democrats and 28% had a positive view of the Republican Party.<ref>[httphttps://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/12/16/wsjnbc-news-poll-tea-party-tops-democrats-and-republicans/ "WSJ/NBC News Poll: Tea Party Tops Democrats and Republicans,"] ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' Dec. 16, 2009</ref> By the beginning of 2013, the percentage of people saying they have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party had dropped to 30% with 49% saying they had an unfavorable opinion.<ref>[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/january_2013/just_8_now_say_they_are_tea_party_members Just 8% Now Say They Are Tea Party Members], [[Rasmussen Reports]]</ref>

==See Alsoalso==

* [[9/12 Taxpayer March on Washington D.C.]]

==External Linkslinks==

* [httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2H8xHFXC8U&feature=player_embedded American Tea Party Anthem], by Lloyd Marcus* [httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT54cGEv7Nk I am America], by Krista Branch* [httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwvuimX2bjI&list=QL Rise Up], music by Jeremy Hoop from ''[http://www.teapartymovie.com/film.html The Tea Party Movie]''* [httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfH46DTAkxo When You're Holding a Hammer (Everything Looks Like a Nail)], by Kyle Hill and Bryan Glover * [httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3CIPnQUOK0 Tip of the Spear], music by Phil Cuomo and Phil Valentine from the motion picture ''[http://philvalentine.com/AnInconsistentTruth.htm An Inconsistent Truth]'' * [httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG38P92wQlc Don't tread on me], by the band ''[[Metallica]]'' ([http://www.sing365.com/music/Lyric.nsf/Don%27t-Tread-On-Me-lyrics-Metallica/1F9C85C5B25CB6FF4825688D0034190D Lyrics])* [httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qygtToan0Ko&sns=em You Picked a Fine Time .... Obama (sung by OSU Students)], Song by OSU Students: "You Picked a Fine Time To Lead Us Barack"* [httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7xPMq45p6Q We Ain't Goin' Away] by Bruce Bellott

[[categoryCategory:Libertarians]]