The tea party is naturally made up mostly of social conservatives, and is more social conservative than the GOP rank and file.
The 1964 Goldwater was a different politician from what he aged into.
Back in 1964 I passed out literature and buttons for Barry. I was a 15 year old and proud to support him.
In his later years, I heard Goldwater say that no one needed a semi automatic rifle to hunt deer.
I was taken aback...but realized he was just old and tired and possibly senile by that time....
Daughter Joanne had an abortion in 1955, an event of which Barry Goldwater was proud. She became a director of Arizona Planned Barrenhood.
A number of family members are active homosexuals. Barry Goldwater was defiantly supportive of them. Goldwater was a Libertarian and NOT a conservative and his track record in public life illuminates that distinction.
When religious conservative Doug Wead was nominated by the GOP in 1992 against abortion-loving UCal Berserkley trained Demonrat AZ State Senator Karan English for the newly created 6th District of Arizona, Goldwater endorsed her because of his objections to Wead's campaign expressions of his religious commitment. English had established a state legislative track record of thorough liberalism on every issue and Wead was conservative across the board but English's dedication to baby-killing obtained Goldwater's endorsement for her against pro-life Doug Wead. J. D. Hayworth beat her two years later.
The impetus was economic. I'd say the Tea Party is more conservative in every way than the GOP Establishment, but pretty much in tune with grassroots Republicans.