Well, it’s really the Tea Party movement, not the Tea Party Party. I’m not sure I get your point.
There is an Independence Party in New York State, and it has two functions: to allow Democrats to vote for the Republican running on both the Republican and Independence lines without having to touch the Republican lever, and to confuse the voters who would like to be unaffiliated so that they pick the Independence Party in ignorance.
My point is that the Democrats, RINOs and the MSM can use the term: TEA PARTY - as if it is an organized entity with State, local and national leadership with power players in DC.
The TEA movement is comprised of citizens who adhere to the Constitution. Many Americans don’t even know they are TEA people and the MSM is determined to keep it so.