In what promises to be a bizarre pairing, CNN and the Tea Party Express are joining forces to co-host a Republican presidential primary debate in September 2011.
The Tea Party Express’ hits have been no stranger to TPM’s pages. Over the summer, for example, Tea Party Express’ Mark Williams said the NAACP’s use of the word “colored’” makes the organization racist. Williams, who was an occasional guest on CNN, was eventually forced to resign from the Tea Part Express.
The Tea Party Express played a key role in some of the most surprising GOP primary wins in 2012 — showering early support on Sharron Angle, Christine O’Donnell and Joe Miller.
[TPM SLIDESHOW: Tea Partiers Storm DC For Second (And Smaller) 9/12 Rally]
CNN’s political director Sam Feist said in a statement that the event will showcase the “diverse perspectives” within the Republican Party, calling the tea party movement a “fascinating, diverse, grassroots force.”
Should be quite a show.
Correction: Mark Williams was a frequent guest on CNN but not a CNN “contributor” as this post originally stated. We regret the error.
David Taintor
David Taintor is TPM’s News Editor. He contributes to TPM’s Livewire coverage, among other areas. David is from Chanhassen, Minnesota, where, yes, it gets very cold. Reach him at taintor [at] talkingpointsmemo.com
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