(CNSNews.com) – The U.S. State Department recently asked a New York Times reporter who has criticized the tea party movement to discuss the the tea party and its role in the midterm election with foreign reporters who are covering next week's contests.

Kate Zernike, who spoke at the Foreign Press Center in Washington on Friday, Oct. 22, has authored a book that is critical of the conservative grassroots movement. "Boiling Mad: Inside Tea Party America" was published by her own employer. Times Books is a partnership between the New York Times and Henry Holt and Co.

CNSNews.com asked the State Department why it would choose a journalist who has criticized the tea party to “brief” foreign reporters on the movement...