I don't know the history of the term precisely, but I do know it has clear racial connotations. And once again, I have to repeat myself that I DO NOT BELIEVE the Tea Party, as a whole, to be a racist movement. You simply asked for an example, and I provided one.
And beyond that, I'm not a Tea Party bigot. I respect their right to have their own views, and I have friends and parents of friends who are Tea Party supporters, believe it or not. I simply wish to have an honest discussion about who they are and what characteristics they exhibit.
Slinging around terms like "bigot" is just as idiotic as doing the same with the term "racist." It obscures honest discussion, which happens too little these days. You criticize the President, you're called a racist. You wish to call racism out, you're accused of "playing the race card." You criticize the tea party, and you're a "bigot." Hold pro-choice views, you "hate babies." Hold pro-life views, and you "hate women." Critical of Israel, you're called an anti-Semite. Critical of Palestine, you're called a Zionist. It's just more of the same bull****.
I simply wish to have an honest discussion about who the Tea Party is. I have already made it clear that I don't believe them to be racist. If attempting to have an honest discussion about it makes me a "bigot," then Vance, ****ing take a chill pill and we can have a reasonable discussion.