It’s normal for the opposition party to deliver a rebuttal address to the State of the Union. Last night Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin was given that responsibility. But further-to-the-right Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota delivered the “Tea Party” response to the State of the Union, which was initially scheduled to air on the Tea Party Express website.
That is, until CNN decided it would air it on television. Which meant, as Washington Monthly‘s Steve Benenput it, CNN broadcast “the president’s address, followed by a speech by a far-right Republican, and then followed by another speech by a different far-right Republican.”
In response toCNN‘s justification–that the Tea Party is a “major political force”–he wonders:
Would CNN be inclined to air a SOTU response from the AFL-CIO? Labor unions are a major political force.
I think we know the answer to that one.
The Washington Post, meanwhile, voiced an odd concern about all this in a news article today, wondering whether the GOP message would get lost in the shuffle:
This year, the dueling responses probably made it even harder for either Republican to be heard.
Would viewers remember Ryan, using only his expressive face to convey worry about the debt? Or would they remember Bachmann’s screen, which showed bar graphs and patriotic images behind her? At one point, she showed the iconic photo of Marines raising an American flag over Iwo Jima in World War II.
I don’t think many people would worry about their own political point of view getting too much uninterrupted TV time.
Doug Latimer
“At one point, she showed the iconic photo of Marines raising an American flag over Iwo Jima in World War II.”
Maybe the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima or Nagasaki would have been more appropriate?
Dana Franchitto
yes, nobody should worry about the GOP not getting enough air time in TV or radio. ‘NPR,National ‘Publican Radio will take good care of them.
Big Em
Mr Hart – Please note that per last November’s election results (US Senatorial & WI gubernatorial, especially), “Wisconsin” will now be referred to as “Northern Mississippi”. We expect to be annexed by the proud state of Mississippi shortly and the name change to be a mere formality. Adjust your spell-checker accordingly. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
DF
Tea party is a joke
J.S.Livacich
It seems that CNN might have missed its bet, not very many people seemed to watch the two right wing Republicans.
TimN
Well, that doesn’t matter, does it, J.S. Livacich? It’s like golf back in the day–about the only people who watched it were network executives–but boy, it sure got airtime no matter what. The benefit here of course is the absolute craveness and stupidity on display by the Republicans, especially the execrable Mr. Ryan. Did you think it was possible that his imbecile message of more tax hikes for the poor and massive cuts for the super rich could be topped by the jabbering, stoned, glassy-eyed Bachman, with her American anti-history and utterly witless delivery? We all got to see just how craven, stupid, and intellectually shallow the Right is in this country. Not pretty, but great and good fun to watch, and informative. Thanks CNN, for showing us your desperate need to suck up to the Corporate Right, and for accidentally showing us the true face of the numbskulls who want to finish their job of running the country into the ditch.
Loren Frantz
Neither Republican gave any way the recession of 2008 following could have been handled without the billions of stinulous dollars from then U.S.Fed.
Carol Crown
If we didn’t have overkill on what repubs think what kind of place would this be to live? And even as we report every word out of their mouths, they claim the media is a biased left wing appendage. They are such a misunderstood species.
michael e
The presidents Speech could be synthesized down to one idea that makes no sense.We have no money,so lets take out a huge loan to build a bullet train that will be the biggest boondoggle in history according transportation specialists.During a time where you just had your ass handed to you by a population that wants you to stop spending.
The republicans gently said he really does not get it does he?The tea party said he definitely doesn’t get it in a very classy soft soap way.I think the night was stolen by the wonderfully plain spoken Sarah Palin who said “the night was filled with WTF moments”.Oops she must not of got the memo on civility.Kind of like 99% of all the comments from the left regarding her
Helen Bedd
That comment about the Wassilla wingnut makes sense if “wonderfully plain spoken” means stupid and vulgar…
TimN
Yes, Helen, she certainly is a person of low and unseemly character . . . right at home in the Tea Party (right-wing know-nothing branch of the GOP). Her twin sister in insipidness and stupidity, the awful Bachman, made a complete fool of herself that night, in a knock-out comic performance that had the hatde liberals and all other sensible folks howling with laughter. These unintentional comic moments just come naturally to these fools,Ms. Bedd.
michael e
Helen and Tim Im trying to listen to you i swear.Im trying to absorb your calling her vulgar.Guys she said WTF.Not the heaps of curse words spread like fertilizer by Mr Rom Emanual on a daily basis.Ever read any stories that the F bomb is one of Obamas favorite expletives.Well known friends.Or are you saying he only says it where the press misses it?I feel so much better for the phony.It was howlingly funny.And i heard the left made a big deal out of Mrs Bachmans TV feed being different in focus than her tea party feed.Guys guys guys….Obama cant poop unless he looks straight ahead and the idiot box tells him to….POOP.Stupid vulger…fools? Well All those” unintentional comics” who actually believe in the rag Obama took his oath on are going to be waiting at the polls 2 Novembers on- with a bag of jokes for you. Here is one…..What did we once get, when we crossed a crooked politician with a crooked lawyer?Barrack Obama!
Hey maybe you can accuse Mrs Bachman of being a witch.Maybe she is.Maybe she will wave her arms(and her constitution)and turn Obama into something.Maybe she will turn him instantly into a private citizen.Deeemoted.De fanged.De throned.Departing on his way to his million dollar homes and a life of golf ,and helping his daughters in their homework.On there way to a career in social work(just as mom wanted).What a bunch of schlamiels.