The birth of the T.E.A. (Taxed Enough Already) Party was totally an informal gathering of Liberty loving Patriots. We changed the political scene in a big way in 2010 and ever since, the left have been SKEERED of us because we've become a formidable political force. ANYONE who becomes a direct threat to their left wing agenda become fair game for destruction by any means possible. Hence the demeaning 'teabagger' tag.
The newest batch of legislatures in DC are mostly TEA Party. Cruz, Paul Ryan, Rand Paul, and others.