CNN and Tea Party Express to host first-of-its-kind Tea Party presidential primary debate

By: CNN Political Producer Shannon Travis

Washington (CNN) – CNN is teaming up with the Tea Party Express for a first-of-its-kind presidential primary debate, both organizations announced Friday. The Tea Party debate, featuring 2012 Republican presidential candidates, is scheduled for Labor Day week 2011. It will take place in Tampa, Florida – the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention.

Since the spring of 2009, the Tea Party movement has been increasingly vocal in advocating for less government spending, lower taxes and shrinking the deficit. The Tea Party debate will place specific emphasis on those issues.

Tea Party Express Chairman Amy Kremer talked to CNN about what activists hope to hear from Republican presidential candidates. "We want to hear what their ideas are – what their thoughts are – on turning this economy back around and getting us on a sound economic footing, paying down some of our deficit, getting a balanced budget, and reining in the spending," Kremer said.

I think it obvious that there should have been a TPX-CNN Dem primary debate for balance.

But good luck anyway...

Hmmm, this will be the biggest audience of the year for CNN, if any of that advertising moola goes to the Tea Party that will be a plus.

In your picture, Charlie Brown represents the candidates and Lucy the TPX.

If the candidates don’t stay on the ball, it will be pulled out from under them.

Really really stupid idea. CNN will control the production and do their best to make sure candidates look as stupid as possible. CNN will provide the moderator, not the TPE, and CNN will ask the questions, invariably of the format, "When do you plan to stop starving innocent children, now or after you deprive thousands of deserving young immigrants of their civil rights? "

What do these idiots think "partner with CNN" means, anyway? It's the same as "reaching across the aisle."

Every serious candidate and would-be candidate should boycott this disaster in the making.

The CNN announcement doesn’t speak of ‘jointly made decisions’ between itself and the TPE about the debate. Hope they don’t dominate on things like choosing the ‘moderator’ and/or panel of (biased, snarky) journalists.

It’s a setup and a trap. They won't be able to help themselves even if they were sincere.

That's what it is all about.

TPX is involved to make sure the candidates are sincere and find those that are willing to see the USA as a Constitutional Republic and toe the line accordingly.

Hey Syncro!

Can't wait for you and the crew to get in to town!

We'll have to visit Ybor City and burn a few fat ones!!!

You want the truth?

Quoting a great actor from a great movie:

You can't handle the truth!

: > )

SUCKERS all they are going to do is ask Questions such as why are you so extreme ,way out of the Main stream?
They will do nothing but make you look mean ,Hard hearted looney tunes. BIG MISTAKE

First, you assume too much. :)

Secondly, CNN will never (nor will ANY LEFTIST MEDIA outlet), provide an objective forum for conservative candidates. NEVER. I would love to be wrong on this. But I fear I am not. It will be a hit job. They can’t help themselves.

Really really stupid idea. CNN will control the production and do their best to make sure candidates look as stupid as possible. CNN will provide the moderator, not the TPE, and CNN will ask the questions, invariably of the format, "When do you plan to stop starving innocent children, now or after you deprive thousands of deserving young immigrants of their civil rights? "
What do these idiots think "partner with CNN" means, anyway? It's the same as "reaching across the aisle."
Every serious candidate and would-be candidate should boycott this disaster in the making.

Thank you for your insightful and brilliant analysis of this proposal.

I will forward your instructions to the TPX and let you know when they cancel this.

Letting CNN do it themselves would be much better, with out any input from those involved with the TPM.

CNN is going to screw the TPX.

I'm sure you will continue to do all you can to make that happen.

David was laughed at when he said he would take on Goliath.

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