Video: Bachmann introduces the new House Tea Party Caucus
posted at 4:56 pm on July 21, 2010 by Allahpundit
CNN’s got the membership roster; scroll down and take a gander. Interestingly, despite all the press the movement’s gotten for being populated by women, there’s only one woman on the list right now aside from Bachmann herself. Also, shockingly, no Ron Paul, who’s not only considered a godfather of the movement by some but whose own son has been talking up the idea of a similar caucus in the Senate. (Perhaps indicative of GOP candidates wanting to distance themselves from the brand a bit, Marco Rubio seems lukewarm to the idea.) Maybe Paul’s playing the role of the indie band that refuses to join the big corporate label because he doesn’t want to “sell out.” Authenticity.
Here’s the presser, which is light on congresscritters and heavy on actual grassroots tea partiers. Enjoy the attention, Bachmann, because the RINOs are coming to getcha. Exit question via Powerline: Are tea partiers perhaps a little too, er, “authentic” in their choice of primary candidates? (Exit answer via PPP: Maybe!)
Blowback
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Mama Grizzly Bachmann
Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmm
UltimateBob on July 21, 2010 at 4:58 PM
Maybe we should take the house first.
rob verdi on July 21, 2010 at 4:59 PM
News to me.
Bee on July 21, 2010 at 5:00 PM
To be forever referred to as the “Teabag Caucus” by MSLSD/NBCBSBCLIB channels in 3…2…1…
portlandon on July 21, 2010 at 5:01 PM
Now we just sit back and let the mfm and the leftys (but I repeat myself) define us…again….
ornery_independent on July 21, 2010 at 5:02 PM
If there are problems with the Caucus voting correctly then she owns the problem.
Oil Can on July 21, 2010 at 5:03 PM
Wow. After the Daily Caller and Andrew Breitbart, this is about as exciting as reading the obituaries.
DaydreamBeliever on July 21, 2010 at 5:04 PM
Ron Paul was the what?
What are you people smoking? Seriously, puff puff pass.
upinak on July 21, 2010 at 5:04 PM
What is the natural progression of the Tea Party movement?
Assume the movement helps to elect fiscal conservatives. Presently these candidates are virtually all Republicans. REstoring Republicans to power is the only way to stop the Democrats mind-boggling spending.
But if Republicans are restored to power, yet fail to adhere to policies of fiscal restraint and responsibility, what then?
novaculus on July 21, 2010 at 5:05 PM
Oh, no Ron Paul’s NOT, my friend. And we spell “NOT” “NO. EFFIN’. WAY.”
I wouldn’t have had a single thing to do with it EVER if that nutjob was front and center.
NEH-VER.
tree hugging sister on July 21, 2010 at 5:05 PM
I wish Bachmann would call it by the original name – TEA Party – acronym for Taxed Enough Already.
Brat on July 21, 2010 at 5:06 PM
AMEN Sista!
upinak on July 21, 2010 at 5:06 PM
ALLAH.
ARE YOU NUTS?
JEEZ.
tree hugging sister on July 21, 2010 at 5:07 PM
Back atcha, babe!
tree hugging sister on July 21, 2010 at 5:07 PM
Good press conference, until rep. Burton opened his mouth and pointed out the racial diversity of the speakers.
Does he not think we’re intelligent enough to see that for ourselves?
UltimateBob on July 21, 2010 at 5:07 PM
OK, I am not understanding this. So the “tea party caucus” won’t represent the tea parties? Then what the heck is it’s purpose supposed to be? To “listen to the people” and cut spending and taxes?
Congress should be doing that as RULE 1.
JetBoy on July 21, 2010 at 5:08 PM
Give me a heart attack, sh*t like that.
tree hugging sister on July 21, 2010 at 5:08 PM
I’ve heard the same about Paul. That’s as screwy an idea as he is a politician.
This move by Bachmann is a bad one. It’s going to provide fodder for the left to use against both the GOP and the movement. The label ‘Tea Party’ is being thrown around like candy at Mardi Gras, but each time, the meaning is being diluted.
madmonkphotog on July 21, 2010 at 5:10 PM
She did say that was one of the three fundamental principles of the Tea Parties (plural. There is no central Party, there are hundreds if not thousands of grassroots groups, some of which disagree on other issues.)
The Monster on July 21, 2010 at 5:11 PM
I am going to co-opt the women’s lib movement. They are like a ship without a rudder. A big old ship with a burnt up bra without a rudder.
borntoraisehogs on July 21, 2010 at 5:11 PM
Really? I mean, I’m no Paulnut, but he’s not that bad. I certainly wouldn’t let his presence influence my decision to join or not join the Tea Party movement.
And let’s face it, he’d have made a much better president than McCain or ANY Democrap!
UltimateBob on July 21, 2010 at 5:11 PM
Hmm so you are giving us women crap about our opinion concerning Paul?
And we were going off the Allah “Paul is the ‘God-Fatha’ of the Tea Party”.
upinak on July 21, 2010 at 5:13 PM
Bachmann seems to be far more attractive on camera than in her publicity photos.
fiatboomer on July 21, 2010 at 5:14 PM
Ummm, really….try to keep up AP.
melachiro on July 21, 2010 at 5:15 PM
Oh, PUH-LEEZ. When you can lump something the President of the United States said with Rosey O’ Donnell’s blitherings and can’t tell the difference, that’s ALL I’m sayin’ about that.
He’s a LOON. So NO. I won’t face it. EH-vah. And I hope to God you read a little deep, deep, deeper before you vote.
tree hugging sister on July 21, 2010 at 5:15 PM
You’re joking, right? Does my comment really sound to you like I’m giving anyone crap? Just making a statement.
And it has nothing to do with your sex.
UltimateBob on July 21, 2010 at 5:19 PM
From reading the comments on the CNN site, about 90% of them are leftards that hate Bachmann and all Republicans. Yet the Republicans lead the generic ballot by 4 points in an average of 8 polls (including Gallup’s skewed poll). Does CNN really represent the American people?
Bachmann and the Tea Party Caucus need to write down and present a set of principles / issues / agenda items which the Tea Party Caucus is prepared to defend and promote. Bachmann has taken the first step–she’s willing to listen to the Tea Party, but now we need a Tea Party Contract with America, version 2010.
Steve Z on July 21, 2010 at 5:19 PM
Actually, although most here hate him, Ron Paul’s supporters did have the first “tea party” in December 2007:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/04/ron-paul-tea-party-tea-parties-income-tax.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG_OwTthS-E
Firefly_76 on July 21, 2010 at 5:20 PM
I never said he was the BEST candidate, Just that, given the choices I mentioned, he would have been the best one.
Please “read a little deep, deep, deeper” my comments before you swing into attack mode. We’re on the same team here, with a few minor differences of opinion.
UltimateBob on July 21, 2010 at 5:21 PM
The why give both Tree Hugging Sister and I crap (which you did0 about a man we both think is loony and we were both stating that Allah was wrong… though I think he knows it?
upinak on July 21, 2010 at 5:21 PM
you’re entitled to your opinion, but not your own facts. Just because most conservatives don’t know that Ron Paul’s campaign held the first tea party in 2007 doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Firefly_76 on July 21, 2010 at 5:25 PM
So saying “really?” in a post is your idea of giving someone crap?
I’ll try to keep that in mind next time I respond to one of your posts. Sheesh.
UltimateBob on July 21, 2010 at 5:25 PM
I said he’s considered a godfather of the movement by some, which is entirely true. There are plenty of Paulnut/libertarian tea partiers who see the movement as the ideological progeny of his last campaign. Mainstream conservatives bristle at that idea since they think Paul’s a nut, but it is what it is.
Allahpundit on July 21, 2010 at 5:27 PM
most conservatives like myself don’t deal with people who want believe in Aliens.
Oh and that Pork thing gets on my nerve too.
upinak on July 21, 2010 at 5:27 PM
Not by all, and far from it. Ron Paul’s “cut-and-run” policy on Iraq was opposed to all other Republicans, including McCain, and General Petraeus, who was hired by OBAMA to win the war in Afghanistan. Ron Paul is often the lone dissenting vote in no-brainer resolutions passed otherwise unanimously by the House. How is he the “godfather” of the Tea Party movement?
The TEA Party means “Taxed Enough Already”, and its main goal is lower taxes, spending, and deficits. Lots of Congressmen, including some who didn’t join the Caucus, can agree on this. The TEA Party has bigger fish to fry than Ron Paul.
Steve Z on July 21, 2010 at 5:28 PM
And you did say he would make a better president than McCain or any Democrat, causing me to gasp (!) in BOTH horror and amazement before typing like a madman with my rejoiner.
You really did say that.
You did.
tree hugging sister on July 21, 2010 at 5:31 PM
I hear ya, dude, but it’s gotta be like talking to a brick wall sometimes.
UltimateBob on July 21, 2010 at 5:31 PM
By who? No conservative in their right mind would support Paul, nor would they want him in this movement. Paul is no conservative, he is a pork-meister, and his foreign policy positions are a prescription for disaster for the US.
Vashta.Nerada on July 21, 2010 at 5:32 PM
Let’s wait on a Tea Party President
faraway on July 21, 2010 at 5:32 PM
Yes, I did. And I stand by that statement.
Now calm down and take a deep breath.
UltimateBob on July 21, 2010 at 5:33 PM
It didn’t happen.
Ron Paul is only claiming to be the “godfather of the tea party” because he wants to ride its wave of popularity and share its claim to stand by the Constitution.
The Tea Party movement was born after Rick Santelli’s rant in early 2009, not because of something Ron Paul did (or didn’t do, but claims to have done) in 2007.
That being said, I stand with Michele Bachmann, whom I trust and who has been at the forefront of Tea Party demonstrations in Washington trying to stop Congress passing the most awful legislation in American history like ObamaCare.
Jenfidel on July 21, 2010 at 5:33 PM
Really?? You might want to tell that to Walter Jones, R-NC, who just happens to be a member of the TEA Party Caucus.
JohnGalt23 on July 21, 2010 at 5:35 PM
Okay “best”. WHAT eh-vah.
Still a big, FAT. NUH-UH. Not way, not no how.
Aliens, Truther, Birther, his freakin’ Moonie-like followers, beat even a loser like McCain…how?
tree hugging sister on July 21, 2010 at 5:36 PM
yeah… and the reason why I rethink about the loons aka brick walls in here.
upinak on July 21, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Yeah, there’s a disgrace just in his own right. Never voted for him when I lived there.
tree hugging sister on July 21, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Uh, Ron Paul isn’t making that claim. Allahpundit is making that claim, or rather the claim that some consider him the godfather of the movement.
There is a difference.
JohnGalt23 on July 21, 2010 at 5:36 PM
You come up with 1 other guy and this is supposed to represent a valid voting faction inside the GOP House membership?
Jenfidel on July 21, 2010 at 5:36 PM
help me obe one… Paul was our only hope.
upinak on July 21, 2010 at 5:37 PM
Yes, my darling, if you listen to them.
I think I’ll just declare me and my girl upinak to be…well…I’ll get back to you. We’re something.
But MARK MY WORDS, it’ll be definitive when I do!
tree hugging sister on July 21, 2010 at 5:39 PM
You should see her in person. *ahem*
Bishop on July 21, 2010 at 5:39 PM
Yeah, news to me too. The Tea parties started across America independent of anyone. The idea was sparked by that economist on one of the networks, ( I forget his name at the moment) who went onto a rage over taxes and shouted into the camera “We ought to have a Tea Party.” He was one of the first mainstream people on the networks to stand up and openly criticize Obama.
Within days Tea Parties started springing up everywhere. Ron Paul had nothing to do with it.
JellyToast on July 21, 2010 at 5:40 PM
Newt Gingrich/Bachmann ’12
Narutoboy on July 21, 2010 at 5:40 PM
Ron Paul, as is his wont, is letting others (particularly the MSM) make that claim for him while he sits back and enjoys the demagogic love and cash wash over him.
Why AP should go along with this narrative is beyond me, although he will buy the MSM’s cant.
In addition, he loves to try and present Republicans as disunited, divided and even at each other’s throats (his favorite).
Too bad we don’t all march in lockstep like the Democrats, all committed to abortion on demand, homosexual “rights,” higher taxes and bigger and bigger government.
Jenfidel on July 21, 2010 at 5:40 PM
How about John Derbyshire? Is he not in his right mind?
Derbyshire sounds like pretty level-headed guy to me.
JohnGalt23 on July 21, 2010 at 5:40 PM
Bwahahahhaha! If this cabal is considered “conservative”…god help us all.
SouthernGent on July 21, 2010 at 5:40 PM
Why do you continue to insist on painting the Tea Party as a bunch of lunatics Allah?
Are YOU a member of journolist?
Look – Anyone can say “some in the movement”. Hell, “some in the NAACP” voted for John McCain in the last election – I wouldn’t say that MOST of the NAACP voted for him – I wouldn’t even say that a significant number voted for him. Come on, this is just lazy analysis Allah.
I’m in the Tea Party – I’m an activist. Let me tell you this – most of us like a lot of Ron Paul’s libertarian ideas but most of us don’t like his effort to disband the Fed and return to the Gold Standard and most of us don’t agree with his stance on the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq.
It’s interesting to me how journolists – including yourself, keep bringing up RAND Paul and RON Paul together as if they were the same person. They are NOT. Rand has taken positions contrary to his Dad.
Do the views of the father project to the son? Can we safely say that your father doesn’t like the Tea Party nor Sarah Palin the way YOU seem not to like them?
I don’t think so.
Please.
HondaV65 on July 21, 2010 at 5:42 PM
all you are looking for is someone to make Pot legal. Go to CA, if you aren’t already there.
upinak on July 21, 2010 at 5:43 PM
This, plus gag me.
Connie on July 21, 2010 at 5:44 PM
OK, you’re talking about those freaky guys in the costumes talking about infowars and the R-word. There’s been, like, three at the rallies I’ve been to…and they seem to be the same dudes. :) I’m not denying their existence, I simply haven’t heard anyone claim that, outright.
Bee on July 21, 2010 at 5:44 PM
Exactly correct – and “some” people consider Al Gore to be the inventor of the internet. He’s no more the inventor of the internet than Ron Paul is considered godfather of the Tea Party movement.
I’d like a credible source on exactly where Allah got that information.
But that’s the one problem with the tea party – it’s so diverse that even a guy like Allah can paint it to look like anything they WISH it to be.
Still – I wouldn’t change it one bit!
HondaV65 on July 21, 2010 at 5:46 PM
How about Howard Coble? I guess he isn’t a real conservative either.
How about Jimmy Duncan? Does he qualify?
You really don’t think before you hit the Submit button, do you?
JohnGalt23 on July 21, 2010 at 5:46 PM
Exactly.
Bee on July 21, 2010 at 5:46 PM
Huh? That’s gonna come as one heck of a surprise to most of the TPers I know – even the ones in his district. Who is this ‘Some’ person?
Well what the hey, maybe Ron Paul can stick just one more of his world class earmarks into the budget so the rest of us can have whatever drugs ol’ ‘Some’ is having. LOL!!
leilani on July 21, 2010 at 5:47 PM
Great! Just what the GOP needs about 10 to 20 Allahs running around winning about Palin.
taney71 on July 21, 2010 at 5:47 PM
You know as well as I do, if that’s all I was looking for, the first place I would go is Alaska.
Funny that.
JohnGalt23 on July 21, 2010 at 5:47 PM
Derbyshire is one of the squishiest “conservative” pundits that there is: he taught David Frum everything he knows.
He’s English and thinks about public policy issues like a member of the Labour Party in the U.K.
I think he was asked to leave the editorial staff of The National Review because he’s too muddle-headed and squishy even for them and that’s saying something.
Jenfidel on July 21, 2010 at 5:47 PM
Quick Oakland is calling you.
upinak on July 21, 2010 at 5:48 PM
which is stupid because you don’t know the laws. Hmmm
upinak on July 21, 2010 at 5:48 PM
How about a conservative running it ?? Just an idea !
cableguy615 on July 21, 2010 at 5:48 PM
And I say that FDR was considered by SOME to be a GOD.
And that’s entirely true. How many are “some” Allah? Well … ONE can be SOME – and in a nation of however many million people we have – you can always find ONE.
That doesn’t mean using that is honest analysis though.
And it looks to me like not too many HA readers consider him to be the godfather so I’m still looking for the guy you got this impression from.
HondaV65 on July 21, 2010 at 5:49 PM
Really??? Possession in AK is a misdemeanor. In California, it is a felony.
Who doesn’t know the law?
JohnGalt23 on July 21, 2010 at 5:52 PM
Well this has become a lively thread.
Bishop on July 21, 2010 at 5:52 PM
That should be possession of over an ounce.
JohnGalt23 on July 21, 2010 at 5:52 PM
Yep.
a capella on July 21, 2010 at 5:52 PM
No, neither of them qualifies.
Love those Leftist propaganda websites, too–Antiwar.com and CommonDreams.org!
The fact remains that aside from the 4 Chamberlain-like loons you cited who claim to be “Republicans,” Congress voted for us going to war in Iraq.
Gee, JG23, you really never stop trying to brainwash us about what a “patriot” Ron Paul is, do you?
Not to worry!
Storm Front and David Duke are listening!
Jenfidel on July 21, 2010 at 5:53 PM
No. You really don’t.
JohnGalt23 on July 21, 2010 at 5:54 PM
One quibble with the guy who spoke at the end – they were not ethnic “groups.” They were individuals of various ethnicities. America and the tea party movement is about individuals, not groups.
Connie on July 21, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Um….What’s the purpose of the TPC? “We’re not a mouthpeace for the Tea Party….but we’ll bear its name?”
CynicalOptimist on July 21, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Ooh, withering!
The guy shilling for Ron Paul who worked on his campaign thinks I don’t think.
I’m devastated!
Jenfidel on July 21, 2010 at 5:55 PM
RINO.
Allahpundit on July 21, 2010 at 5:57 PM
I think we should concentrate on the House this year and move forward with the Senate, to be taken over in 2012. Not only does the House hold the purse strings, but the Senate GOP are too wishy-washy. The House will be able to better hold Obama in line.
ladyingray on July 21, 2010 at 5:58 PM
putting your fingers in your ears and shouting “lalalalalalala” doesn’t work beyond the second grade.
I provided two links already that showed his campain had a 2007 tea party; here’s another. If you google Ron Paul 2007 tea party you get 430,000 results.
No denying that today’s tea parties include a variety of groups from the conservative and libertarian spectrum.
JohnGalt – love ya, but no denying that Paul’s campaign has taken some credit for starting the tea parties:
Firefly_76 on July 21, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Uh-huh. Howard Coble who gets a lifetime rating of over 89 from the American Conservative Union isn’t a conservative.
Once again, take 30 seconds and think these things through before hitting Submit.
JohnGalt23 on July 21, 2010 at 6:02 PM
Thank you. I think it’s more divisive than otherwise and unhelpful to the movement.
Bee on July 21, 2010 at 6:02 PM
Why would that be?
Just stating that it’s “divisive…and unhelpful” isn’t really saying anything.
Jenfidel on July 21, 2010 at 6:05 PM
Behold 2 Ron Paul shills in full spin mode.
Jenfidel on July 21, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Moreso than most, RP’s campaign staff has some loose cannons on it. Ron Paul has, as far as I know, never made that claim. In fact, he has rather explicitly denied it.
That being said… love ya too!!
JohnGalt23 on July 21, 2010 at 6:07 PM
Sorry I’m late (no fruit cup, I guess) but it doesn’t surprise me a bit that AP wants to weld the Tea Party movement to Ron Paul. As others have pointed out, he’s as negative to the Tea Party as he is to Sarah Palin. He might explain why someday…or not…doesn’t matter.
Extrafishy on July 21, 2010 at 6:09 PM
yep
cmsinaz on July 21, 2010 at 6:09 PM
great comeback. I’m not a Paul shill; only agree with him about 80%, but the character assassination of him and his supporters on here really gets my goat sometimes.
Firefly_76 on July 21, 2010 at 6:13 PM
Wait till they start jostling for leadership power within the caucus.
a capella on July 21, 2010 at 6:14 PM
Well when the characters of some are only for the benefit of themselves. I don’t want to bother with them.
upinak on July 21, 2010 at 6:22 PM
Given his pro-Arab, anti-Semitic and basically anti-American position on the salient issues, he deserves “character assassination.”
As for his endorsement by Storm Front and David Duke, that is historical fact and not “lies” to assassinate his character.
His supporters are on their own: they know who and what they’re backing.
Jenfidel on July 21, 2010 at 6:22 PM
Wait…isn’t his outfit pretty much an American Flag??
They gonna tone that down??? Maybe make it look like he just got done rolling around in a fire place or something???
BigWyo on July 21, 2010 at 6:24 PM
How in the Hell did that happen??
BigWyo on July 21, 2010 at 6:25 PM
Given that I’d spent entirely too much time on here today already and my kids were screaming for their dinner, I did a hit and run.
Divisive: I don’t want to fracture the GOP any more. I’d like to look at each candidate/record individually and I feel like there will be some artificial inclination to join.
Unhelpful: as you’ve aptly stated, the tea party movement has no leadership. While Bachman, et al, maintain they aren’t, why the name? The TPM has benefitted from their freedom. The fact that they aren’t specifically tied to any party or politician has afforded it much more credibility than we could ever hope for from the MSM in a perfect world. If it seems like a republican operation, and that operation were to struggle or be exploited by the MSM, it could tarnish the movement
I don’t think it’s necessarily detrimental. Just…why?
Bee on July 21, 2010 at 6:26 PM
Anyone of the mama grizzlies have more balls than the male caucus combined.
Hooray for mama grizzlies, The Rosy The Riveters of our time.
tarpon on July 21, 2010 at 6:27 PM
Of course.
Bee on July 21, 2010 at 6:27 PM
I don’t know what that means. I’m not trying to be rude, but legitimately asking… I don’t think you’d include regular people who’ve worked hard, giving volunteer time and $$ for the last few years for causes generally aimed at restoring our constitutional republic.
I don’t disagree that most politicians are unscrupulous and in it for themselves. You obviously feel Paul is in that category and in good faith, I disagree. I’m much more leary of some other establishment GOPers trying to hitch their wagon to the tea party movement.
Firefly_76 on July 21, 2010 at 6:34 PM
portlandon the tea bag for you to swallow.
lilium on July 21, 2010 at 6:42 PM
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