State of the Union

CNN to Air Bachmann’s Rebuttal

Irking liberals and Republicans alike.

It’s not infrequent that the mainstream media annoys Republicans, but here’s a new twist: GOP staffers are complaining that one conservative is getting too much attention. They say CNN’s decision to broadcast a speech by Rep. Michele Bachmann, a Tea Party favorite, could overshadow Rep. Paul Ryan’s official rebuttal on behalf of the party, marring Republican attempts to respond with a unified front and making the party look divided and fractious. “It’s not responsible journalism,” one aide says. The network is defending its decision, saying the importance of the Tea Party in contemporary politics justifies the airtime.