What’s a “Tea Partier”?

I’m starting to think that ‘Tea Partier” has become a largely brain-dead epithet for mainstream media, much as “fundamentalist” has long been.

Jim DeMint is “The hero of the tea partiers” and believes that “the market is freedom incarnate; an institution of superhuman goodness.”

Rand Paul’s primary win is a “Tea Party Victory,” but he conspicuously believes in austerity and peace – a very Front Porch Republic kind of guy. I read that about him and felt very friendly, though I have no association with the Tea Party (beyond being fed up with both major parties, as they are rumored to be as well).

I have no idea what the Tea Party is supposed to stand for and how one can reliably be indicted for being a Tea Party kinda guy.