Michele Bachmann's Roy Blunt Endorsement Sparks Tea Party Fury

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) is facing fire from supporters of the Tea Party movement over her decision to endorse Republican Congressman Roy Blunt in his primary fight for Missouri's GOP Senate nomination.

In the wake of news that Bachmann plans to campaign alongside Blunt in St. Louis, Mo. this coming weekend, a coalition of Tea Party groups issued a statement expressing their dissatisfaction with the conservative congresswoman over her impending trip.

"We were shocked," explained the Missouri Tea Party alliance. "We believe she has been grossly misled if she understands him to be a Missouri Tea Party candidate."

At issue for the anti-tax groups is the fact that they have "NOT" endorsed Blunt in his primary pursuit against State Sen. Chuck Purgason.

"Tea Party participants believe the spending in Washington has to STOP," the Tea Party groups asserted. "Roy Blunt voted for TARP and Cash for Clunkers. For Michele Bachmann to come to Missouri and give the impression that all the Missouri Tea Parties support Roy Blunt is an abomination of everything we have been standing up for."

But this isn't the first time that Bachmann -- who has achieved rock star status in the Tea Party -- has sparked controversy in the conservative movement by deciding to stand behind a particular candidate.

Last month, Bachmann saw palpable backlash after she recorded a robo-call for New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith in his primary campaign against Tea Party-backed candidate Alan Bateman. Bateman charged that Bachmann "betrayed the Tea Party movement" with her endorsement and added that it "showed her true colors in that she is nothing more than a politician using the Tea Party movement for her own advancement."