Rep. Michele Bachmann (R., Minn.) will be delivering a speech in response to President Obama’s State of the Union speech Tuesday night.
Bachmann’s response will be aired on the Tea Party Express website.
Republican congressional leadership announced earlier today that Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wisc.) would be delivering the official GOP response to the President’s SOTU speech.
UPDATE: Levi Russell, communications director for the Tea Party Express, says that Bachmann’s response will not be on the Tea Party Express site until after Ryan’s remarks have been given.
“We planned this event several weeks ago, long before we knew that Rep. Ryan would be giving the official Republican response,” wrote Russell in an e-mail to National Review Online. “We wanted a tea party champion to represent us and give a response, and so were thrilled when Rep. Bachmann accepted the invitation. Out of respect, her response will go live shortly after Rep. Ryan finishes his comments.”
Okay, but I'd much prefer Bachmann be scheduled a day later.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseShould be interesting. Does she have any POTUS ambitions?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is just idiotic.
Why give the media an excuse to talk about something other than Paul Ryan's SOTU response? Instead, they'll gladly talk about the Tea Party's need to give a separate response, which will then allow them to discuss the "fractured" Republican party withering against the advances of a "resurgent" Barack Obama and his "soaring" approval numbers (as they were described on NBC earlier this week).
The media script writes itself.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuseditto Scott Wilson. I love Bachmann, but we need to be unified.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is silly. First, I agree we need to be unified. But second, just how many people will actually see the video? Very few. So what's the point?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseVery unhelpful. Makes her look like a real publicity hound. SOTU and the opposition party's response are part of a long tradition. Other members of Congress pontificate by giving interviews. I strongly support the Tea Party movement, but this just isn't a good idea. It should not have ANY member of Congress as a primary spokesperson for the movement itself.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's a little ridiculous to claim that this was planned "long before" they knew of Ryan's response, as if they're shocked to learn of it. They may not have known that he was giving the response, but of course they knew that some Republican would. Is the implication that if it had been someone they liked less they would've run Bachman's speech at the same time?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI have no problem with Bachmann giving an online response for the Tea Party considering the importance that block of voters represents in keeping Republicans inline with conservative principles.
Surely you guys understand the MSM will find a way to praise Obama & the democrats and demonize Republicans after the SOTU whether or not Bachmann has an online reponse.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNot too bright of the Tea Party Express folks. Should be left to the next day - let's not dilute the message here. Just because Russell planned it "several weeks ago" before Ryan was selected doesn't make his idea any smarter.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHer audience will be the Tea Party people. What's the big deal?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Her audience will be the Tea Party people. What's the big deal?"
Exactly.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThere's no win for Ryan. He just became Bachmann's pre-game show.
She'll be receiving a large gift container (pretzels?) from laughing Dems thanking her for the favor.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFoolish idea. There is no better spokesman on fiscal policy than Paul Ryan in the Republican caucus in the House or Senate. By definition having anyone else speak will dilute his message. She should decline the invite.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWow, a Friday full of self-aggrandizing among the GOP 2012 second-tier. First Santorum, now Bachmann... is Newt on Fox tonight?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBachmann has been a strong supporter of the Tea Party early on. She has spoken many times at events, especially in DC at the rallies. I imagine that is why the Tea Party Express invited her to give her take - they like her, respect her, appreciate what she has done and want her take on what is happening. If people are watching TV they can see and hear Obama and Ryan, and then turn in if they want to hear Bachmann. I see nothing wrong with that. I would certainly rather hear her than the pundits blah-blah-blah recap and critiques of the speeches.
And why would they wait until the next day? That evening is when people are interested and want an initial response.
I like and admire Paul Ryan, but the proof is in the pudding. There is still a lot of distrust with what the GOP will do,
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSettle down everyone: Impact over the next two years or on 2012 ZERO!
No one watches the official rebuttal let alone a webcast.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm really starting to dislike Bachmann. I'm sure this was, indeed, planned weeks ago, and I don't believe Bachmann just graciously accepted an unsolicited invitation one bit. She's an ambitious loose cannon, cp-opting the Tea Party brand in Congress, and now piggy backing on Ryan and the SOTU to boot. The general public may not watch either one of them, but they'll be seeing video of Bachmann on the news -- especially if she thoughtfully provides anything that can possibly be framed as an embarrassing faux pas.
All those Dems who were flipping out over the choice of Ryan to offer the official response are probably high fiving each other right now.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBachmann is such a pushy harpy, and crazy anyway. Who does the Tea Party think they are, acting like they are independent and have their own ideas.
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