It's impossible to give a definitive answer. Certainly Americans for Prosperity may have amplified a pre-existing phenomenon.
motherjones.com/politics/2012/…
billmoyers.com/2014/07/04/jul…
Those who have examined the beliefs of the Tea Party closely concluded that there was *much more* focus on racial anxiety and racism than pure economics.
scholar.harvard.edu/files/williams…
depts.washington.edu/uwiser/racepol…
nojargon.libsyn.com/episode-32-cha…
This episode reminded me of @Prof_EOB's excellent work on Voter ID. She was another guest on this podcast.
The value of empirical studies is they cut through mere opinion.
prri.org/research/2013-…
This poll suggests there was significant crossover membership between the two, which would contest and even overturn the notion that it purely about economics
thedailybeast.com/how-the-tea-pa…
newyorker.com/magazine/2010/…
I've followed debates about the 1619 project so I'm aware that Wilentz's views have come under criticism. Still, it's worth considering his point of view here.
thedailybeast.com/the-tea-partys…
historianstevecampbell.com/blog/the-probl…
historianstevecampbell.com/blog/the-probl…
Ask yourself how many Tea Partiers would support poll watchers?
huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/05/pol…
rawstory.com/2018/04/black-…