Appearing on CNN's "Newsroom," Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minnesota, rejected any suggestion that the GOP and Tea Partiers are at odds during this midterm election year. Instead Bachmann said the established political party and the growing conservative grassroots movement are unifying under the principle of fiscal conservatism.
"It's really merging into one single, solitary unit," Bachmann said.
She added, "A number of Tea Party groups from around the country are coming together, unifying under the umbrella of economic, fiscal conservatism because Americans, quite simply, feel like they're taxed enough already."
Related: Tea Party movement attempting to unite?
The Republican lawmaker, who is herself a favorite of the Tea Party movement, pointed out that the phrase "taxed enough already" is the basis for the acronym "Tea" that has become the moniker for the grassroots movement that opposes the spending and deficits of the Obama administration.
Bachmann described concerns about the possibility of higher taxes as an "energy boost going forward."
"And I think conservative candidates are going to benefit greatly," she continued, "by latching onto the theme of stopping the spending, stopping the deficits, and getting our financial house in order. "
Bachmann also weighed in the GOP's prospects during the next presidential race in 2012.
The Minnesota lawmaker said she is not thinking of running for the White House. Instead, she is focused on her 2010 re-election bid which she described as "a very difficult race."
"I don't know that we've even necessarily seen who our candidate will be yet for president," Bachmann said. But she predicted the next GOP presidential nominee will be the person who "articulates the case" for the party on the issues of energy independence, fiscal responsibility, national security, curtailing spending and deficits, and creating jobs.
Follow Martina Stewart on Twitter: @MMStewartCNN
From CNN Politics
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This will better know as the "we only like spending when we are the majority" party.
A single solitary unit of looney tunes! What is this world coming to?
I wasn't aware that they were ever seperate. So much for "grass roots" movement. The tea party was just a way for the GOP to gain publicity and to appeal to the American public that they have become so out of touch with.
Looking at this lady's picture reminds me of how even the unbalanced can look normal. Minnesota can do this country a big big favor by voting Ms. Bachman out of office as soon as possible.
I think the merger is an advantage for everyone, except the GOP.
Conservative candidates may benefit from campaigning on fiscal responsibility, but when have conservatives actually been fiscally responsible. Take a look at history, people. Three presidents have been the cause of the bulk of our national debt and deficit spending since WW2. Those three presidents were Reagan, Bush, and Bush. Look it up! Every Democrat president and all other GOP presidents since WW2 oversaw a drawdown of our debt, but in the last 3 decades, Republicans in control have been the ones to overspend us into oblivion.
The Tea Party was orchestrated into existence by the GOP elite and its corresponding media to convince voters to vote for Republicans under the old guise of fiscal responsibility. If Tea Partiers knew their history and really believed in fiscal responsibility, they wouldn't vote for the GOP.
The real question is whether this "one solitary unit" can merge with the reality of America as it is, how it became that way and who is responsible for it. That means that you cannot take the position that facts such as seven years of needless wars, corporate welfare and bailouts and the causes of budget deficits are somehow wiped away by chanting "no more taxes" and "we want our America (of the 1950's) back".
The Republicans need to understand that the country is much more diverse than it was 50 years ago and we need to EVOLVE with the pace of the free world. America is no longer Chevy and Apple Pie... its now Toyota and McDonalds! There is no American market just the world market that we are a part of! Don't be afraid of change... because fear only holds us back as a race. We need solutions to theses 21st century issues and stop worshiping Regan as some kind of prophet. Lower taxes and less government doesn't work!!! That leads to less oversight and more greed and corruption which got us to where we are today!
Merging under the banner of fiscal conserva what? Surely the GOP has no familiarity with fiscal conservatism. The national debt tripled under Reagan and doubled again under the recent Bush Administration.
Bill Clinton is the only recent politician to be able to claim the mantle of fiscal conservatism having led us to three consecutive balanced budgets a feat quickly undone by Bush, Rove et al with their 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.
Tea Partiers beware, the GOP wants your vote but the evil of tax and spend is only outdone by the evil of spend and charge it on the nation's credit card. This is where the GOP's behavior is comes down. Don't be fooled, they will tell you they have reformed but where is the proof?
Fiscal responsibility? Really? I recently attended a meeting where a number Tea Party supporters had quite a lot to say. Cut taxes! Cut government spending! No government health care – well, except don't touch my Medicare! Oh, and I lost my job so I need an extension of unemployment benefits, subsidies for my rent, more funding for job training, and don't forget farm subsidies! Did I mention the ones who are employed with companies that work on Interstate and State highways – "we need more stimulus funds for that!"
Who are these people kidding? Only themselves!
Many Americans do not care for extremes on any side. Consequently, it becomes even less appealing as the GOP continues to push farther to the right by merging with teabagger groups and having wide-eyed Bachmann as a "prominent conservative" lawmaker. No thanks.
Buh bye you dumb democrats in Congress.
She is more of a loon than I originally thought! Even more reason for this former resident of MN to contribute to her opponent. She has to go!
Well this is certainly an answer to the Dems prayers.
If Bachmann&Palin become the spokespersons for the Republican party I'd bet that the Dems will do much better in the mid terms than was expected.
Recent Gallup and Rasmussen polls both show that an overwhelming majority of independent voters view Palin as "unqualified" to hold national office and these are the voters who decide every close election.
I'm sure the Dems are thinking...how lucky can we get!!!!
Go ahead.
Pull the GOP that much further to the extreme right.
Let me know how that works out for ya'.
(idiots)
the GOP and the TEA Party people want to getogether.... i wonder what they have in common... oh yeah, they are both groups of angry white people... and they feel like there chances are better as one... just like they were during the election. Hate will never learn.
talk about manipulation.....oh Palin, Bachmann, and romney, all out there trying to spin the tea party movement to their advantage. Good luck cause i'm sure the tea partiers will soon realize they are being used. "your enemies enemies are your friends." Think for yourselves tea partiers don't let the GOP or Dems tell you what to do or who's merging with who. I think this movement is great just make sure both parties stay out of it and use you strength in numbers to choose your own candidates. I hope the tea partiers realizes that the GOP is afraid of them which is why they want them to join them so bad so they don't take vote away from their GOP candidate.
Christ, speaking of Right-wing Psychos! This "thing" that passes for a woman is the bottom of the barrel for American morals.
Don't let the "Christian" crap fool you. Even the Catholic Churches priests have turned out to be pedophiles.
The Tea Party (and yes, I'm a fan) is so decentralized it's difficult to see how they could "merge". If the Republicans truly will come back to fiscal conservatism they have this independent's vote, but I want to see them walk the walk. A good start would be a balanced budget amendment, immediately putting all government employee salaries and benefits on par with the private sector, and making every law enacted applicable to all goverment and union employees, no exceptions.
It is not a movement. It is a group of people with one thing in common – racism. Let's call it what it is.
Good grief – Bachmann has no more creditionals that a 2 year old. Her ideas offer no substance, but strictly fearful tactics. If she feels this way about our government, then I suggest she foregoes her salary, government health benefits, perks, social security and of course, her future pension. Perhaps that will offset some of the deficit. Someone, please tell me what she has to offer to the overall population and certainly her constitutients? If I lived in her district, I would be working full time to vote for the Democratic candidate. Also, I would like to see what member of the Tea Party would voluntarily give up their medicare and social secrurity benefits. If you are willing to do so, please raise your hand.
How do I join. Live in Anchorage, AK
"Uniting"... don't make me laugh. The Tea Party has always been part of the GOP, funded, organized, and promoted by Fox News. At least now they're dropping the pretense.
This woman is even crazier than Palin! Running for the White House? You've got to be kidding!!!!!!!
If the so-called "tea party" wants to have some credibility, then it needs to stay independant of the Republican Party. Has everybody already forgotten that it was several years of Republican blundering and self-serving deregulation that almost destroyed America? The Tea Party should have better sense than to align themselves with such a rancid group of political opportunists.