CNN's airing of Bachmann's SOTU response irks Democrats and Republicans

[RamboLiberal]

The decision by CNN to air Rep. Michele Bachmann's personal response to President Obama's State of the Union Speech has created that rarest of political animals ... bipartisanship:

Originally, Bachmann's response was going to be available for viewing only on the Internet. But CNN has announced that her speech will be shown in full in addition to broadcasting the speech from GOP Rep. Paul Ryan, who was picked for the official response by the Republican leadership.

GOP aides are unhappy with the decision, because it risks making the opposition look conflicted -- as if the two are trying to upstage one another -- muddling GOP efforts to offer a unified response. <...>

CNN's decision to air Bachmann's speech, interestingly, is angering liberals and Republicans alike. Steve Benen notes this morning that Bachmann's Tea Party brew could end up making Ryan's speech look moderate and reasonable in comparison. Both Benen and Atrios also point out that it could create a fundamental imbalance -- two Republicans responding to one speech from Obama -- and that there's no way CNN would allow a liberal Dem to offer a response from the left, as Bachmann is doing from the hard right.

So everyone agrees, if for different reasons, that CNN's decision is irresponsible, unfair, and journalistically speaking, ludicrous -- but did you expect anything else from today's traditional media? So let's take those lemons and make some lemonade.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2011/1/25/938753/-CNNs-airing-of-Bachmanns-SOTU-response-irks-Democrats-and-Republicans

[DrDan]

1. would love to see the ratings in the tank for this spectacle

she is as loopy as they come and deserves no airtime

[bushisanidiot]

2. As far as I'm concerned, the MSM created the tea party.

they are a small, loud mouthed minority, who would be NOTHING without the MSM, which has always leaned right, pushing their agenda.

CNN's airing of Bachmann's response, which will give the republicans TWO responses to the SOTU, is more evidence of their desire to see the tea party become more relevant and "powerful" than they actually are.

[jenmito]

3. On Morning Joe I heard all 3 cable news networks will air her response. n/t

[northoftheborder]

4. NOW I'M ANGRY

Does anyone have a quick list of emails for the networks and others who might be airing Bachmann also? We need to bombard them with protest!!!!!!!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. not at all. Think of it from a national perspective

The more that America gets to see Ryan and Bachmann try to outdo each other with whacked out ideas, the sooner that these crazies will be relegated to that windowless room with nice, soft walls, no door handle on the inside, and no sharp objects.

[Billy Burnett]

7. Like Glenn Beckkk?

I heard many right here on DU say the same thing about GB. He's mainstream now.

Glenn Beck Shoot Them In The Head Video Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQcvbw6ExTQ

[ChairmanAgnostic]

25. but Beck has lost many advertisers, and is losing

radio outlets. That trend is accelerating. (as we knew it eventually would)

[barbiegeek]

26. I agree. Split the Repug party & we win

[craigmatic]

19. Don't be. She's underminding her own side's message.

[golfguru]

21. If they get a lot of emails, that will mean higher interest

and higher interest means higher ratings & advertisement income.
The cable operators could'nt care less which side the issue
is being reported so long as ratings are high.

[Robbins]

6. CNN

Anyone who pretends they are a Liberal network and biased towards Democats Is known now to be full of It.Are they giving Pelosi
or Sanders time to respond.When Bush was giving his state of the unions did they give antiwar Liberals time to respond.This Is
complete BS.

[zulchzulu]

8. She's nuts. It only helps Democrats and Obama... so let her yap

She's going to be a fruitcake zombie and will make an ass out of herself. Tomorrow, she'll have to walk back half or all of her gibberish. The RNC will not take too kindly her messing up Ryan's response.

[yellowcanine]

10. I agree. The more that she becomes the face of the Republican Party the better for Obama and

the Democrats.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. she is one of them from the Raving Loony Party

[Beaverhausen]

15. that's my take, too. I'm sure Stewart and Colbert will have fun with it

[Ratty]

17. Agreed. Better to make a complete ass of herself

by airing the whole thing than Fox who will probably only broadcast the most flattering bits and soundbites.

[Patsy Stone]

24. I'm only upset I have to wait so long for it.

I mean, really, it's hardly a "response" and I'm sure it's been written for days. They could show it now. I want my dessert first, dammit.

[onenote]

9. given as much attention as the crazylady's speech has gotten here

you could make a case that journalistically speaking it is a news event that warrants coverage. Nonetheless, I think its pretty silly to do anything more than report on it, although if its upsetting some repubs, I guess that's a small silver lining.

[Phx_Dem]

11. Finally, something we can all agree on -- CNN sucks. n/t

[Brother Buzz]

12. Bachmann pissed off Palin, too

Usurped by a usurper.

[Thrill]

13. This pretty much tells you about the Media's Agenda

I can't believe this shit gets a national platform. Disgraceful.

[progressoid]

16. CNN?

Is that some sort of news channel?

[craigmatic]

18. So dow it'll be a Dem giving the SOTU and a repig and an idiot rebutting.

[msanthrope]

20. President Obama is lucky in his enemies. n/t

[ProSense]

22. So the Republicans get two SOTU responses

Michele Bachmann is a Republican.

Steve Benen: CNN'S WEAK RATIONALE FOR DUELING SOTU RESPONSES....

[NorthCarolina]

23. Bachmann's SOTU ... Should be a hoot. nt

[avebury]

27. I hope they include her history class

I would love to see all the networks play the clip where she claims:

1. The founding fathers worked really hard to do away with slavery
2. John Quincy Adams is elevated to founding father status (he is the son of a founding father)
3. It didn't matter what economic/social/ethnic/religious background people came from - once they arrived here they were all equal.

Bachmann is another Palin who will only appeal to her fringe element. I would like to think that the rational majority of Americans will not buy into her.

People need to send her a copy of the US Constitution and a book on American history.

[GoCubsGo]

28. I don't know why Dems are mad.

The repugs put out two different rebuttals of the same speech. If that doesn't illustrate how screwed up their party is, I don't know what does. And, having a "liberal" response from the Dems would make the Dems look just as bad.