Congressman Rejects Tea Party Endorsement

Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick would rather do without the distinction of being the only Democrat ever endorsed by the Tea Party Express. In the wake of the flap over a racist blog post by group spokesman Mark Williams, Minnick is rejecting the Tea Party Express endorsement he grudgingly accepted in April. "The reprehensible blog post by your spokesman was clearly in poor taste," Minnick wrote to the group. "Since the Tea Party Express refuses to reject and rebuke Mr. Williams, I have no choice but to decline your endorsement."

Minnick, a fiscal conservative from Boise, appeared relieved to have a reason to rid himself of the endorsement, the New York Daily News reports. "Being on a list with Joe Wilson and Michele Bachmann is not something we are embracing," Minnick's spokesman said. (More Walt Minnick stories.)