Who actually started the TEA Party is debatable. Some say is was CNBC reporter Rick Santelli on February 19, 2009. Others say it Ron Paul back in 2007. Still others credit a user on tickerforum.org that went by the handle Gmak that posted an article on January 19, 2009 calling for people to mail teabags to members of Congress and the Senate. No matter who started it, the movement turned into the largest grassroots uprising in modern history in the United States.