Book: Obama Calls Tea Party 'Tea-Bagger'

(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - A new book about President Obama alleging that he used the term "tea-bagger" has sparked a controversy with the Tea Party Movement.

In Newsweek columnist Jonathan Alter's " The Promise: President Obama, Year One ," to be released May 18, according to The Washington Post , the President is quoted as saying that Republican opposition to the stimulus "helped create the tea-baggers and empowered that whole wing of the Republican Party where it now controls the agenda for the Republicans."

"Tea-bagging" is a derogatory term for the Tea Party movement that has sexual connotations.

The Tea Party sympathizers were quick to respond. In a statement Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform fired back: "It is insulting to have him lecture on civility while being the least civil participant. Obama, get out of the gutter, wash your mouth out with soap and grow up."

The Washington Times equates the use of the term with using the 'n' word. Adam Brandon, a spokesman for FreedomWorks, tells The Washington Post : "If he is sincere in what he said about civility in political discourse, he should apologize for his mean-spirited and derogatory comments."

The term 'tea-baggers' has been used by liberal commentators Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann on their MSNBC shows for the Tea Party movement. Senator John Kerry and Senator Chuck Schumer have used the term in campaign mailings according to The Washington Examiner .

Even CNN's Anderson Cooper used the term in an interview with David Gergen on his show. But most politicians have avoided using it publicly.

Interestingly, The New York Times report that a congressman recounted that Obama used the term on November 9th, which is earlier than the interview in Alter's book. The report quotes Representative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, who said the President asked: "Does anybody think that the teabag, anti-government people are going to support them if they bring down health care?"

In response to that quote, some Tea Partyers had buttons made that said "Proud to be a TeaBagger, according to The Washington Independent .

Fox News' Neil Cavuto also used the term last May in an article called "Score One for the Tea Baggers."

The White House has issued no statement on the controversy.