Washington (CNN) - Few groups have the clout to convince senators and members of the House to leave Capitol Hill, for a few hours, to personally address their concerns and gripes.
But as the Tea Party movement flexes its political muscle, it appears it has sway with some lawmakers - even as some Americans express reservations about the movement.
On Tuesday, Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah will join Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and Iowa Rep. Steve King in what is being billed as a "first-ever Tea Party Town Hall." All four lawmakers are members of their chambers' version of a Tea Party caucus.
The event will put the four Republicans in front of an audience that is expected to be largely friendly, but one that will certainly be very demanding.
In a statement, the Tea Party Express said it is teaming up with TeaPartyHD.com for the event. The lawmakers will talk to, and take questions from, activists sitting in a live audience and from others participating via social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook.
"The issues we'll be discussing are primarily the tea party ideals of Constitutionally limited government, support for private enterprise, lower taxes, and fiscal responsibility," Tea Party Express Chairman Amy Kremer said in the statement.
According to a recent Gallup poll, only 47% of Republicans have a positive view of the Tea Party movement, with 42% saying they do not like it. But the same poll also revealed that nearly 90% of Republicans want lawmakers like Paul, Lee, Bachmann, King and others to give significant weight to Tea Party ideas.
