Adding to what Brownhouse said,
Just look how the MSM has treated the Tea Party. Sure, some wore funny clothing to mimic the period, but their main impetus was LESS government, LESS taxes, LESS regulation, LESS spending, LESS debt, more FREEDOM.
Since it was a movement and not a "party" there were of course wide variations, but the general concept, I believe, was as I stated above.
But how did the media and general public react? Much as Brownhouse stated. Are you crazy? Less government? Are you crazy? Less taxes? It seems that more regulation is welcomed by the great majority of the people, but the opposite is suspect.
The government and MSM is doing a great job at perpetuating this divide, and continue to consider such people as "the fringe".
The Occupy Movement, on the other hand, seemed much more accepted by the MSM even with their violence and demands for more spending.
Mac