What I meant is that she embodies, in a very popular and recognizable persona, the values of the Tea Party movement. Of course she is not the movement in its entirety or even its leader, but she is the most visible embodiment of its values and thrust.
In the end the Tea Party movement will need leaders and representatives if it's to express political power in action, no matter how broad its orbit.
This thread was about why Palin is hated by the Left. She is, rightly or wrongly, viewed by the Left in America as the EveryWoman of fly-over values, and to them that is both scary and offensive. She opposes abortion, likes guns, hunting, the NRA, is a strong Christian, and isn't an Ivy League wonk. Any one of those disqualifies her as a member of today's political elite.