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Tea Party and CNN to Host 2011 Republican Presidential Debate in Florida

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The Tea Party Express, one of several grassroots conservative groups with similar names that sprung up in the last two years, is teaming with CNN to stage a Republican presidential debate next September in Tampa, site of the 2012 Republican National Convention.

It's an unusual marriage between political activists and a news organization. A joint announcement said the pairing of the Republican-leaning outfit with the straight news cable network would produce "a first-of-its-kind presidential primary debate." It is set for Labor Day week in 2011, but an exact date or venue was not disclosed Friday.

CNN Political Director Sam Feist called the "tea party movement a fascinating, diverse, grassroots force that already has drastically changed the country's political landscape." The movement's impact on the political balance is indisputable. Tea party-backed candidates, assailing President Obama's policies and calling for smaller government and less spending, had considerable success in the Nov. 2 election. The tea party and allies like Sarah Palin can rightly claim credit for playing a significant role in the GOP takeover of the House of Representatives.

Tea Party demonstrationBut In Florida, the Orlando Sentinel called the tea party and CNN "strange bedfellows." CNN, the first all-news network, strives for objective news coverage, falling between Fox News, which has trumpeted tea party successes, and MSNBC, which has a liberal bent.

A number of groups use "tea party" in their title, but the Tea Party Express is believed to be the largest, and probably the most prominent. Its members helped energize the Republican base with tours and rallies, but also got tagged by critics as anti-government extremists, fixated on bringing down Obama. High-profile tea party-backed candidates such as Sharron Angle in Nevada and Christine O'Donnell in Delaware were defeated in races for Senate seats that the GOP had hoped to claim.

"We've proven ourselves in this last campaign, election cycle of 2010," said Tea Party Express Chairman Amy Kremer. Tea party activists want to hear the candidates' ideas, Kremer said, "their thoughts on turning this economy back around . . . paying down some of our deficit, getting a balanced budget and reining in spending."

Although not a single Republican has yet declared as a candidate for president, the Florida debate is one of several already on the charts, with the focus on early primary and caucus states like New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina. Palin, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich appear to be veering toward national campaigns, but have not made formal announcements.

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, told ABC's Good Morning America that she is giving a possible candidacy "prayerful consideration," but won't decide for "some months."

Follow Tom Diemer on Twitter http://twitter.com/tomdiemer

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61 Comments

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tplapper

I wonder why FOX isn't hosting the debate? Their ratings are very high among the 60+ crowd.

December 19 2010 at 1:59 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to tplapper's comment
Ron

You have to understand........keep your friends close....but keep your enemies closer......Tea Party know who is friendly and who is not.......generally they can say what they want, however, with them being with the Tea Party this could be interesting.

December 21 2010 at 5:35 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
habuplt1

CNN is going to hold a Republican Presidential Debate ?? So they can pick the next Republican Candidate like they did with John McCain ?? We need to learn to no longer pay any attention to CNN and the other TOTALLY LEFTIST controlled Media outlets, and give them NO CREEDENCE any longer.

December 18 2010 at 7:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Leo

hi ravrgal... Libertarians are atra - conserverative. Where a conservtative would say I believe in paying some tax, Libertarians say no tax. I earned the money to provide for me and my family. The government should get none of it, only what I spend on items like gas, property, imports, and the like. Where a conservertative would say government should help poor people with food, housing, and healthcare, Libertarian say its not the government's job, it is the indivdual's responsiblity. There are lots of organization to help people in need. And, they will do a better job then the government. Where a conservertative would say trade or defend other countries. A libertaian says trade freely and fairly with all countries alike and not be the policeman of the world. Keep out of other countries buinsess.

December 18 2010 at 8:48 AM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Leo's comment
conservgirl8

Conservatives do not want the federal government providing poor people with food, housing, or health care. Conservatives believe that the states, if they can afford it, could intervene, however for a short term only, we believe that local communities get in and give to their fellow man in trouble. Conservatives will pay their fair share of taxes, however, want to change the entire tax system with a flat tax which makes it fair for all people. Conservatives believe in defense of our country as is stated in the Constitution of the United States and we believe that the federal government stay out of our business, period.

I can't help it if Republicans who call themselves Conservatives have lost their way and have lost their core values, but, I have lived my entire life as a true conservative. I'm looking forward to seeing Rand Paul, and other tea party electees get in and do the job some of the establishment have failed to do for many years. Libertarians and Conservatives (true)should stand together.

December 18 2010 at 11:50 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
Leo

I agree, this is a good thing. The tea party started before Ron Paul decided to run for President in 2008. I went to a tea party meeting in 2006. It was run by Republican people even thru most were Libertarian mined. I supported Ron Paul in 1988 and 2008 and I will support him in 2012, if he runs. But, I do not think he will run. He has a big following in his 'Campaign for Liberty" group, maybe that will press him to run. We need someone that will follow the US Constitution and do away with the tax systm we have now and get government off our backs. Vote Libertarian !

December 18 2010 at 8:26 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
ryedekok

CNN as an honest broker? Prepostereous! This is just another of thier daily scams to co-opt the Tea Party movement. Every muscle, every thought, every bone in their propagandist body is far left, if not outright Socialist. This is just another plot and ploy by the anti capitolist propaganda gang.

December 18 2010 at 8:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
leroy

The only people out there that thinks that Sarah is the GOP choice to run in 2012 are liberals, AND THEY ARE SCARED TO DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 18 2010 at 8:21 AM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to leroy's comment
christierandall

I am a liberal...and you just made me laugh...I know of no one who is afraid of Palin. Her ignorance is beyond belief. The people who do not want her around are all of the blue dog conservatives. Look at what Barbara Bush said about her recently...that is the sentiment of most of the GOP. Dems are not afraid of her the repubs are because they know she will drag their party down.

December 18 2010 at 11:20 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
ohiomusclebear63

cnn objective and in the middle politically??? where has this writer been living for the past 20+yrs. its so far left it should be headquartered in havana. im disappointed with the tea party. they certainly dont need the likes of cnn to pull them down. just remember the coverage cnn gave them last year. they painted the tea party as a bunch of far rigth nazi leaning bigots. and look at them now...

December 18 2010 at 8:20 AM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
tom

The older tea party people will end up eating cat food. When republicans backed by them ,the but financed by the wealthiest, cut their social security for more tax breaks! But they can have tea with their catfood......

December 18 2010 at 8:17 AM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
mimsysc

A LIberal news organization,, lets be honest, lol, love the bias.

December 18 2010 at 8:16 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
Danny

wow did you really call CNN straight leaning they are as left as you can be, often called the communist news network

December 18 2010 at 8:14 AM Report abuse -4 rate up rate down Reply

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