There were two Republican responses to President Obama's State of the Union on Tuesday: one direct from the GOP leadership in Congress, and another that the tea party requested.

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, offered the official response, while Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann delivered a response for the Tea Party Express.

Ryan recognized Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who is recovering in Houston from a gunshot wound to the head, but Bachmann didn't mention it. Otherwise, both of their remarks were focused entirely on fiscal matters.

The big difference was in tone.

Via Ryan, the Republican leadership took some ownership of the nation's fiscal troubles and vowed to do more to reshape the economy. Bachmann, however, launched immediately into an attack on Obama's actions since taking office.

In response to Obama's address, Ryan began by noting that the president rightly focused on the debt and the deficit and said some of his words were reassuring. He also signaled a willingness to work with the White House.

Ryan continued, "Our debt is the product of acts by many presidents and many Congresses over many years. No one person or party is responsible for it. There is no doubt the president came into office facing a severe fiscal and economic situation."

The Wisconsinite did point out some of Obama's spending initiatives that he did not agree with, but he also listed some of what House Republicans have done on the spending front since gaining control of the lower chamber in November.

Bachmann, by contrast, offered a litany of criticisms of Obama's economic measures and made a passing mention to "unacceptably high" deficits under President Bush. She then offered a few broad suggestions for changes Obama can make.

Bachmann's spokesman was careful to note to RealClearPolitics on Tuesday that "Congresswoman Bachmann is not speaking for the tea party." He explained, "The Tea Party Express, which is one part of the tea party, asked her to give a response, so she is giving her own response via their website. She has often made the point that even as chair of the House Tea Party Caucus, she is not a spokesman for the tea party, but is focused on listening to the American people and having the Tea Party Caucus be a listening tool."

Bachmann is toying with a presidential bid in 2012 and has traveled to the first caucus state, Iowa. Ryan may consider a bid for the seat Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl now holds. A few Republican operatives said Ryan came across as a bit robotic; Bachmann's delivery, some noted, was decent.