Bachmann received approval for her caucus group today, after filing the paperwork to establish the group last week. She said that the goals of the coalition would be to promote “fiscal responsibility, adherence to the Constitution, and limited government." But let me translate this from Conservatard language in to real English. The goals of the caucus would thus be to undermine teh black President, promote tax cuts for the rich, and vote “NO” on everything brought to the floor by Democrats.
Today, during a press availability, Republican Conference Chairman, Mike Pence, announced his intention to join Bachmann's caucus. Yet MORE proof that the Tea Party is part and parcel of the Republican Party. Via Talking Points Memo:
"You betcha," Pence said when asked if he'd join.
"I come out of a background -- I was chairman of the Republican Study Committee, I was chairman of...the House Conservative Caucus," he added. “My hope is that this Tea Party caucus...will be an avenue for bringing “ome of the energy and the enthusiasm and the focus that I've seen, from the National March on Washington where I spoke on 9/12, to traveling around Indiana and all around the country, deeper into the well of Congress.”
Pence has been solicitous of the Tea Party movement in the past -- the 9/12 Tea Party in DC was promoted heavily by conservative groups like FreedomWorks and right wing radio and TV host Glenn Beck. But his enthusiasm for joining the new caucus is a reminder that GOP leaders continue to flirt with the far right flank of their base.
