Bristol Palin Backlash: Is the Tea Party Stuffing the 'DWTS' Ballot Box?

Nov. 16, 2010— -- Bristol Palin pasa-dobled her way to her highest scores of the season on "Dancing With the Stars" Monday night, and now she is in the final three, but her journey, like most things Palin, has not been without controversy.

The daughter of political powerhouse Sarah Palin, has consistently landed at the bottom of the leader board, yet still managed to earn a coveted spot in the finals. There's a debate brewing over whether Bristol Palin is being kept alive on "DWTS" by her pluck and charm, or by way of her famous mom's political pull with Republicans and the Tea Party.

Is the Tea Party stuffing the ballot box?

"There are people on the political blogs who are saying vote for Bristol as part of your allegiance to the Palin brand," said Matt Roush, senior television critic at TV Guide Magazine.

In an interview with Barbara Walters over the weekend, Sarah Palin addressed the controversy.

"What do we do? Call every Tea Party person? I haven't got the time," Sarah Palin told Walters. "Bristol has the greatest work ethic of any person I know. I knew that she would do well. And when 'Dancing With the Stars' called her and wanted her to be on the show, I said, 'Bristol, you know you're going to open yourself up to criticism just because of your last name. And Bristol said, 'Mom, you know it doesn't matter what I do. They're going to criticize me, so I might as well dance.'"