[gogeo]

Now when I hear Ron Paul called the founder of the TEA Party, I find it repulsive and the natural thing is to distance myself from them...

I suspect the closest to an actual founder would be Rick Santelli, the CNBC analyst who exploded with a wonderful rant on air.

[NavyCanDo]

I think the spirit of the Tea Party really goes back to 1994 when Hillary Clinton trying to sell Hillary Care was booed out of Seattle. A local conservative radio station called on listeners to drive to this Leftist mecca and tell her we don't want her Health Care plan. They came by the hundreds, maybe thousands, and out shouted her supporters.

Sounds of the First Tea Party

http://www.mysocialnightlife.com/index.php?pg=searchvideo&v=T8RYoKjbOZA

[Finny]

"Now when I hear Ron Paul called the founder of the TEA Party, I find it repulsive and the natural thing is to distance myself from them..."

I suspect the closest to an actual founder would be Rick Santelli, the CNBC analyst who exploded with a wonderful rant on air.

Yep, In my book, the ONLY person who deserves anything close to the title of "Founder" for the Tea Party is Santelli. Any self-respecting politician, if credited by fans as being its founder, would immediately and politely thank them for the intended compliment but make it very clear that THE PEOPLE, fired up by Santelli's remarks, founded the Tea Party.