Tea Party gets official caucus
By Molly K. Hooper & Jordan Fabian
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) a favorite of the Tea Party movement tweeted on Monday that the House Administration Committee had signed off on her request to form the Tea Party Caucus. A House committee has approved the creation of an official Tea Party Caucus triggering praise from an outspoken Republican but creating a dilemma for some of her colleagues.
Kyle Anderson a spokesman for the panel headed by Rep. Robert Brady (D-Pa.) confirmed that it cleared Bachmanns paperwork.
Later on Monday House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) said he would be joining Bachmanns group. Seizing on the potential political volatility of the House Tea Party Caucus a Democratic leadership aide on Monday said We hope that all members of the Republican Conference will join the Tea Party Caucus starting with John Boehner."
But House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) will not be signing up. Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith told The Hill As a personal policy Boehner is not a member of any caucus other than the House Republican Conference."
Boehner has reached out to members of the Tea Party however. The Ohio Republican has participated in several Tea Party rallies and in a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference Boehner said While the other side is busy mocking the Tea Party movement were going to listen to them were going to walk amongst them were going to stand with them."
It is unclear if House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) will join the Tea Party Caucus. His office did not comment by press time.
Earlier this year Cantor endorsed state Sen. Robert Hurt over Tea Party activist Jeff Clark in the GOP primary to face targeted Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.). Hurt subsequently triumphed over Clark who is now on the November ballot as an Independent.
House Republicans in tough races this fall could face criticism if they do or dont join the Tea Party Caucus. The NAACP this month denounced the movement as racist and Democrats in Congress have worked to portray Tea 
Party officials as extremists.
The National Tea Party Federation last weekend expelled conservative commentator and Tea Party Express spokesman Mark Williams for a blog post about the NAACP that many deemed racially insensitive.
The lone Democratic incumbent endorsed by the Tea Party Express Rep. Walt Minnick (Idaho) rejected the groups support in light of Williamss statements.
Campaign spokesman John Foster explained however that Minnicks rejection of Tea Party Express does not alter his great relationship" with local Tea Party groups. Foster left open the possibility that Minnick would join Bachmanns group. Foster noted that that he had not spoken with Minnick as of press time.
candidates who have raced to the far right and outside the mainstream will agree to join Michele Bachmanns Tea Party caucus if elected."
Democrats are targeting Bachmann this cycle but she is favored to retain her seat. Bachmann was elected in the Democratic sweep of 2006 and reelected two years later during another blue-wave election.
In a July 16 letter Brady informed Bachmann that his committee determined that the purpose of the organization … and registration information … appear to be in full compliance with the applicable regulations."
Bradys letter warned Bachmann in bold type that the caucus couldnt use funds to pursue a legislative agenda.
Claremont College political science Professor John Pitney said Republicans who join Bachmanns caucus would give them a talking point when they go before Tea Party groups. Mere membership in itself probably wouldnt be a liability."
Yet Democrats say they will reap benefits from the movement claiming it has forced some GOP candidates to adopt far-right positions that will boomerang on them in the general elections.
There is no Tea Party Caucus in the Senate but Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul (R) has floated the creation of a similar group in the upper chamber.
