Facing criticism from both Democrats and Republicans over their decision to air Rep. Michele Bachmann's unofficial GOP response to President Obama's State of the Union address, CNN is defending themselves -- and failing miserably:
The Tea Party has become a major force in American politics and within the Republican Party. 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.
Of course it has nothing to do with the fact that:
... CNN has a longstanding romance with the Tea Party Express, the PAC that's putting on the Bachmann speech. Later this year, the network and the PAC (and potentially other Tea Party groups) are co-sponsoring a presidential debate between Republican candidates.
... because viewer interest and "perspective" sounds so much more high-minded, and makes it easier to pretend that the tea party is a movement rather than the Republican Party dressed up in tricorn hats.
But as I pointed out earlier, Republicans should be more upset than Democrats at this journalistic malpractice, because after all:
... the last thing the GOP establishment wants is the lunatic fringe that controls their party's agenda to be front and center on the national stage.
Need proof? Fox News isn't carrying it.