While the sentiments behind many in the Tea Party movement are genuine....the movement itself is hardly a populist, grass roots movement.
Consider the money behind the Tea Party movement.... the organizations funding the events, the bus tours, etc.
They are astro-turf organizations - presented as grass roots, but fronts for Washington insiders and special interests.
Washington insider/lobbyist/former Congressman Dick Armey and
Freedom Works
Washington inside/lobbyist Grover Norquist and
Americans for Tax Reform
Americans for Prosperity funded by the Koch Industries and the
Koch Family Foundation, with former ties to the John Birch Society, but now libertarian business interest org.
These are the powers behind the Tea Party movement.