CNN to carry Bachmann’s tea party response live, MnIndy to liveblog

CNN announced Tuesday afternoon that it will broadcast both Rep. Michele Bachmann’s reaction to President Obama’s State of the Union address live and the official Republican response by Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. Bachmann’s speech will be given through the group Tea Party Express. The Minnesota Independent will be live-blogging Bachmann’s response this evening.

“The Tea Party has become a major force in American politics and within the Republican Party,” CNN said in a statement on Tuesday. “Hearing the Tea Party’s perspective on the State of the Union is something we believe CNN’s viewers will be interested in hearing and we are happy to include this perspective as one of many in tonight’s coverage.”

Bachmann took some heat from local tea partiers who say she doesn’t speak for the movement. CNN has become a target of left-leaning bloggers and commentators who question the wisdom of allowing two Republican responses to Obama’s address, and Republicans have attempted to quash rumors that there’s a schism developing between the Bachmann/Tea Party faction and establishment Republicans.

But, the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent notes the coup Bachmann has scored for her career.

“There is one clear winner in all this: Bachmann herself. By granting her such a large platform, CNN is generously enabling her efforts to cement her national status as a kind of Tea Party GOP leader-in-exile, and is basically rewarding her for her stunt.”