GOP Leaders: Bachmann’s Speech Is Not the Party’s Response

Wall Street Journal ^ | January 25, 2011 | Danny Yadron

[ejdrapes]

GOP Leaders: Bachmann’s Speech Is Not the Party’s Response

By Danny Yadron

Republican congressional leaders say they have no problem with Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann giving a response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night. But they point out she’s not delivering the party’s official reaction

That privilege was given to Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, one of Congress’s biggest budget hawks. House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Mr. Ryan on Friday, and hours later, Ms. Bachmann, a favorite of the tea party crowd, said she would give her own response, live-streamed on the Tea Party Express website.

The Bachmann speech won’t start until Mr. Ryan finishes, a Tea Party Express spokesman said. Still, Ms. Bachmann’s address underscores the division between the Republican establishment and the party’s activist wing.

“We at the Tea Party Express felt that the tea party movement needed a strong voice in Washington, and to know that our views are being heard no matter what President Obama says in his address,” the group’s spokesman, Levi Russell, wrote in an email. At least parts of Ms. Bachmann’s speech will be carried on network television.

[ejdrapes]

I love Michele, but I think this is a mistake. And quite honestly I think it's more about Amy Kremer and the Tea Party Express wanting attention than anything else. I'm sorry but Tea Party Express doesn't speak for or represent all tea partiers. They're just one of many tea party type groups.

It's not like the GOP put up John McCain or Lindsay Graham to give the response. It's Paul Ryan. Budget chairman. About as conservative as you can get. I'd love to know what the Tea Party Express thinks Paul Ryan won't say that Michele Bachmann will? And I'd also like to know why the Tea Party Express thinks their views are not being heard by Paul Ryan? That he's not a strong voice for them in congress? According to ontheissues.org, Ryan is very conservative. I would think he'd be the perfect representation of the tea party.

[Doogle]

RINO WEASELS......

[ejdrapes]

Obligatory pic

I see Bachmann is trying to walk this back now saying she's just speaking to a tea party group, that it's not necessarily a response to the SOTU. Of course it't not. It's just a coincidence she's giving it the same night as the SOTU. Nice try.

[ejdrapes]

Paul Ryan is a RINO? Care to back up that statement?

[screaminsunshine]

Ryan seems pretty good. Cantor is a little bit of a babbler to me.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Bachmann can say what Ryan won’t.

[Carley]

Was reading on another site that Gov. Christie of NJ had been asked to give the Republican response.

If Congressman Bachmann made her decision in response to that request I agree with her decision.

To deflect attention from Ryan and on to herself is a selfish idea. She could have waited a day.

[Dem Guard]

The more conservative responses the better. We want them ALL to SPEAK UP!!!!

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

After a couple more elections and it will be.POS RINOS

[StarFan]

I'm sorry but Tea Party Express doesn't speak for or represent all tea partiers. They're just one of many tea party type groups

You are spot on and someone should caution Michele that too much foot stomping for the sake of cameras may backfire royally!

[BigSkyFreeper]

Her speech or talk or whatever the hell you want to call it is a case of sour grapes. Her own perceived popularity has gone to her head in brief amount of time.

I recall she said that she wouldn't support Boehner for Speaker if he ran. Well, he ran and she voted for him. She also acted as though she was entitled to be Speaker of the House.

[Earthdweller]

I'm just going to wait to see who gives the better speech. Trying to decide who has "rights" to speak is a no-starter for me.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

I love Michele, but I think this is a mistake. And quite honestly I think it's more about Amy Kremer and the Tea Party Express wanting attention than anything else. I'm sorry but Tea Party Express doesn't speak for or represent all tea partiers. They're just one of many tea party type groups.

HUH?

WTF?

Guess you must have somehow missed the "Hand-holding-Kumbaya-Date-Nite" Dog and Pony show that many Republi-Tards have been snookered in to partcipating in so as to benefit the Demo-Rats and the FASCIST, PHONY, MESSIAH?

Did you also somehow miss how Rubio (who would NOT have won without Tea Party support, and I mean from all over and not just Florida chapters) has declined to join the Tea Party Caucus?

What ALL (and though I belong to no organized Tea Party Group/Chapter, I consider myself "one" as well) Tea Party People want--and WILL DO--is to hold the "Establishment" Ruling Class (of which there are MANY "R'S) feet to the fire and though Ryan is no doubt a good Conservative, I will BET he won't "Unload" (oops sorry, very inciteful and "non-civil") on Dear Leader like Michelle will.

"WE" did not return control of the House to "Go along and git' along;" but to fight the Dems (and evil, though I repeat myself) and the R's had better wake up to that fact, sooner, rather than later!!!

[caver]

You sound just like the Republican congressional leaders too. Bachman or the Tea Party just don’t represent your views, do they, nor do they speak for you?

[yldstrk]

She got backstabbed on the speaker deal. Politics is so nasty. Integrity is last

[LibLieSlayer]

It no longer matters to me what these cretins in the repubic party leadership say... I AM AS OF THIS MOMENT... NO LONGER A republican IN ANY WAY. I am and have always been a Conservative. I will vote for Conservative republicans if there ever are any.

I didn't leave the party... the party officially left me... with this new tone crap and the constant berating of the Tea Party and its people... because WE in the Tea Party won this election... these repubics won NOTHING... they do not appreciate what they did not earn themselves... just like the welfare pimps that have become their masters. Bachmann speaks for me... and you and your party have lost that privilege.

LLS

[ejdrapes]

Paul Ryan is very conservative.
Paul Ryan on the issues

So is Eric Cantor based on his positions and voting record.
Eric Cantor on the issues

ACU rated Cantor 100 and Paul 96 in their 2009 congressional ratings.
2009 ACU ratings

Paul Ryan was graded higher than Michele Bachmann from the National Taxpayer Union
NTU congressional ratings

[GlockThe Vote]

Agreed. I’m with MB.

The GOP really stinks.

[Doogle]

I’m talking RINO’s, Ryan jumped on board the Tea Party after voting for the bail outs......

[ejdrapes]

What is she going to say that Ryan won't? From a policy standpoint she can't contradict the official GOP response can she? And where do she and Paul Ryan disagree anyway?