Take Charles Johnson, a jazz musician and software programmer who is best known for his Web site, Little Green Footballs. Although an independent himself, for years Johnson's LGF has been one of the most popular blogs on the right, focusing mostly on national-security issues and the war on terror. It's also been a magnet for criticism from the left and even denounced by some as a "hate site" for its strident criticism of radical Islam.

Caswell, a registered Democrat who said she's a social liberal and fiscal conservative, said she decided to organize the tea party in response to a fairly recent interest in politics.

"I watch (Fox News personality) Glenn Beck every night," she said. "He's really motivating, that people can make a difference."

Brad Cummings, chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party, said his organization is involved as a way to give a voice to some of its members who oppose the government bailouts of businesses and President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus package. But he said the tea party shouldn't be thought of as a partisan event.

Howard Kurtz: Well, the Fox folks leading the tea party charge are Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Neil Cavuto and Greta Van Susteren -- all commentators who are paid for their opinions. It makes me a bit uncomfortable the way the channel has turned these April 15 protests into something of a crusade, complete with the drumbeat of advance publicity and the above-named hosts planning to attend various tea parties. But it's not fair to say that Fox's reporters are jumping on this bandwagon, although we'll see how much coverage it gets on Thursday.

On your other question, if Gingrich has criticized Obama on family values, I don't recall hearing it.