The Tea Party movement is a fiscally conservative and populist protest movement in the United States. It emerged in early 2009 partially in response to the federal government's stimulus package, officially known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The movement originated in anti-tax protests, and arose in response to the increase in the national debt as a result of the stimulus package and due to some of U.S. President John McCain's more centrist political positions. They has been most visible through the Tea Party protests of 2009. Protesters have also utilized the social networking outlets Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, as well as blogs, in promoting Tea Party events.