CNN will be the only cable news channel to carry the Tea Party response to the State of the Union live this evening. Rep. Michele Bachmann is scheduled to deliver the response after Rep. Paul Ryan delivers the official Republican Party response.
MSNBC will be covering the Tea Party response after the fact, but neither it nor Fox News Channel plan on carrying it live.
“The Tea Party has become a major force in American politics and within the Republican Party,” said Sam Feist, political director and vice president of Washington-based programming in a statement. “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.”
CNN is also partnering with the Tea Party Express for a GOP primary debate later this year.