Posted on 01/26/2011 10:29:25 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann's decision to give a second response to President Obama's State of the Union -- after the official GOP response -- draws fire and revives talk of Republicans as split into mainstream and 'tea party' factions. CNN's decision to televise her critique also is criticized.
If Michele Bachmann had hoped to introduce herself to America as a potential candidate for the White House -- well, it could have gone better.
First was the small controversy the Minnesota congresswoman sparked by accepting an invitation from a "tea party" group to provide a second response to President Obama's State of the Union address, which made it appear she was delivering an alternative Republican viewpoint.
The official GOP response was given by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). Bachmann's remarks came afterward, about an hour after the president finished speaking. The conservative, known for her unapologetically inflammatory rhetoric and her strong ties to the tea-party movement, reportedly is considering presidential bid and will make a second trip to Iowa next month, CNN said Wednesday.
In terms of substance, there wasn't much of a difference between Ryan's critique of the president and Bachmann's -- Ryan's was more conciliatory and Bachmann's more aggressively negative -- but that didn't quell widespread media coverage Tuesday that revived talk that the Republicans were again divided into a mainstream wing and a tea-party faction. It served as distraction on a day when the GOP sought to portray itself as firmly united against much of the president's agenda.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) told reporters Wednesday that he didn't watch Bachmann's response. ""I had other obligations," Boehner said.
Then, after Obama finished his speech and Bachmann departed the House chamber, she got stuck in a traffic jam caused by the presidential motorcade, forcing her speech to be delayed.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
That’s like saying a shotgun is divided because it has a double barrel. Duh.
“The conservative, known for her unapologetically inflammatory rhetoric.....”
When are these people going to begin citing to justify their bias? Just askin....
OOHHH they are scared. No longer in control of the news. Michelle and Sarah are being heard now and people are interested and listening to something new. I love it.
Dream on A-holes.
LOL. CNN's goal was to further the myth of a divided Republican Party. That is the only reason they put Bachmann on. If you are interested in seeing what a divided party really looks like then just hold your nose and venture over to DU. They are very unhappy with their fearless leader.
I’m reading the comments at the link now. They’re delusional!
At this point thete may well be more conservatives than moderates in t both parties , so go, Bachman!
You better watch that violent speech.
The false unapologetically inflammatory rhetoric
is from James Oliphant, previously of the Boston Globe,
and writer for DNC candidates.
Ops a gun reference. Some deranged leftist may take this literally.
The MSM can talk all it wants about GOP divisions. The Obama agenda is still dead.
Very good, or like a rose bush with more than one rose with lots of thorns for Democrats.
... or a one-two punch is divided because it’s from two different fists...
Listen Boehner, you dumb cluck, you better listen to the better educated as to constitutional affairs than you are. You had better realize that that was the dumbest thing so far and you sure are looking real sad now. You are beginning to look like another Republican mistake. Get with it.
Or a piece of stereo music is divided because it comes out of two speakers. Double duh.
It’s not about any party...It’s about an idea of less government, less spending and liberty. If you can’t focus on ideas like that than get off the train.
Tell the LA Times we also had multiple theaters of war when fighting the Nazis and the Japanese. Rep. Bachmann is just commanding another theater of war in the battle with our country’s common enemy, the left.
A friend made this comment: when you are on the front page of CNN.com several times a week you are no longer obscure. And all the articles are trying to “Palinize” her.
(I loved that new word. Palinize: to smeer or belittle without recourse to facts in an attempt to retain power for a competing political faction).
It’s not working.
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