(Jake Turcotte)
Oops! Bachmann regrets anti-Obama statement
By Jimmy Orr | 10.22.08
After generating tremendous financial support for her opponent with her appearance on MSNBC’s “Hardball” last Friday, Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann backed away from the comments she made on the show.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” she said. “I regret saying that. I don’t question Barack Obama’s patriotism. I do question his ideas. I don’t think his ideas are good for the United States.”
What?
What’s all the fuss about? As we discussed yesterday, the freshman Congresswoman was relatively assured to keep her seat in the House — that is until she appeared on the show and started talking.
When discussing Barack Obama’s relationship with Weather Underground co-founder Bill Ayers, Hardball host Chris Matthews asked Bachmann, “You believe Barack Obama may - because of this relationship - have anti-American views?”
“Absolutely. I’m very concerned that he may have anti-American views,” she replied.
Fundraising machine
In one sentence, she became the largest political donor to her opponent’s campaign. Like Adam “Pacman” Jones at a nightclub, donors are throwing money at Elwyn Tinkleberg at a dizzying pace.
Over $1 million has been raised since Bachmann’s TV appearance. That’s more than he brought in during the entire third quarter.
Of the 20,000 donors contributing to the cool mil, 16,000 of them are from out of state.
How’s the campaign going?
“You know what, it’s going pretty damn well,” Tinklenberg said to one Minnesota newspaper.
No longer a lock
Not only does he have an infusion of cash, but political watchers have changed her status.
CQ Politics writes, “[Bachmann] looked to be cruising to a relatively easy victory in her Republican-leaning district — that is, until she dropped her “anti-A” bomb.”
“The huge flap that ensued has made Bachmann a much more visible target for Democratic activists nationwide, who in turn have poured money into Tinklenberg’s campaign to fuel a late-campaign blitz,” CQ continues.
Why do the show?
Political pundits and campaign strategists all seem to be saying the same thing. Why go on national TV with two weeks out instead of playing it safe? And of all places for a Republican — the Chris Matthews show?
The Minneapolis Star Tribune has the video of Bachmann speaking to constituents yesterday. She said she hand’t seen the show before but “probably should have to get an idea of what Chris Matthews is about.”
But to be fair - in viewing the program, Matthews did not bully Bachmann. It can be argued he was baiting her. But overall, it was a pretty fair exchange.
“I was talking about Barack Obama’s liberal views, his radical views and Chris Matthews continued to use the words ‘anti-American’, ‘anti-American’, ‘anti-American’, ” she said. “And unfortunately when I gave my response, I used that word.”
The future of Bachmann?
According to CQ Politics, she still has the edge but it is much closer game.
“Because of the overall conservative tone in her district, CQ Politics still considers Bachmann a slight favorite for re-election, but will be watching further developments very closely,” CQ reports.
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3. jacksmith | 10.22.08
I see you all have not lost your fight :
GOOD! Because we have a lot to do. You! (the American people) are going to have to take back control of your elected government at every level, and set your government back on the right path of service to you, and the greater good of the World.
Barack Obama and the democrats are your best hope of doing that now. Tell your family, friends, and everyone you know to support them as best they can. Because the Bush McCain vote fraud, vote cheating, vote buying, vote manipulation machine is already hard at work to cheat you again. And we all know what a disaster that has been the past 8 years of Bush McCain.
Barack Obama and the democrats will need all the power you can give them at every level of government (Federal, State, County, and local City elected governments). Obama and the democrats will have an enormous mess to fix for the American people, and the rest of the World. A mess caused by the corrupt Bush McCain administration.
4. tdub | 10.22.08
Bachmann is truly a loony-case nut job. How do these people get elected. I realize she is from a fairly wealthy suburban district, but my gosh, are people there that loony, too?
6. D Miner | 10.22.08
This Barbie is espousing “anti-American” Macarthyism. She should be shown the door. This does nothing for the American taxpaying, voting citizen. We deserve more than this lowbrow racist swiftboating.
7. Steve Thomas | 10.22.08
I think Michele Bachmann is Anti-American because she is so divisive. I am an independent.
8. Paul Stewart | 10.22.08
She is only sorry it did not work and that it back fired. She is not sorry for what she said or she would have apologized immediately on seeing her own face saying it on playing back the interview. Stupid.
9. jim | 10.22.08
Hard to believe she picked up “anti-American” from Chris Matthews and not Palin. Equally hard to believe that she had not heard of Chris Matthews - nonetheless, it is not forgivable because if she didn’t know, she should have done her homework. More likely, she knew exactly what she was saying, but figuring that her district is conservative thought she could say something flammatory and get away with it. On a side note - this “anti-American” name calling is disturbing reminescent of Joe McCarthy. Are the Republicans stupid or desperate enough to resurrect ole “Tail Gunner” Joe.
10. Jeff | 10.22.08
Baited her? It looks to me like just the opposite — he kept giving her every chance to pull back from her wild-eyed verbiage! And she kept right on, getting more and more loony-looking.
11. Mike M. | 10.22.08
I am an independent voter who is skeptical of politicians in general, whether they be liberal, conservative, or anything else for that matter.
I just wanted to say that impartial viewers of Bachmann’s actual segment on Hardball will have an extremely tough time accepting her claims that she didn’t actually believe what she was saying. Matthews hardly “baited” her.
He asked her some questions. Her answers were outrageous right from the get-go and proceeded to become more and more outrageous until finally she began using the term “anti-American”, which Bachmann freely and unflinchingly used to describe Obama and other politicians.
She then, of her own volition, said she wished that hearings and investigations (McCarthy-style?) would take place of her fellow legislators. You can’t backpeddle from this type of thing easily. Anyone with a brain who sees the original segment will be annoyed with her conduct.
I feel bad for her. There was a time when you could sling mud around and accuse your opponents of treason as much as you wanted with absolutely no consequences. It is refreshing to see that those days might be slowly ending. I won’t hold my breath though. 
12. Average American | 10.22.08
You know, one risk Obama took by accepting donations in the manor he decided to is that the money that is buying this election can come from China, Kenya, Russia, Iran…
I looked around on The Economist’s web site and found where they have organized an Electoral Collage vote which allows the world to vote as well as Americans in the pending election. The reporting countries of the world are all for Obama, France, Russia, China…
You see, the world is ready for change and they know that the Dems and their insulting choice for a candidate (Palin has more Executive Branch experience than their whole ticket!) is the best chance for their desired change. What change is this you might ask? The world would like us (the U.S.), step aside, to no longer be the driving force in the world economy, or the last remaining super power…
13. Joe | 10.22.08
Barack Obama is neither liberal nor radical.
He is a centrist.
But “Radical” and “Liberal” are the buzzwords that rally the GOP base, so they use them without regard to their actual meanings.
Fear and Smear is all the Republicans have to run on after the past 8 years of failed Republican economic and foreign policies driving America to the brink of bankruptcy.
America can’t afford more of the same from them.
America needs Real Change.
14. P. de vries | 10.22.08
You can contribute to Elwyn Tinklenberg’s campaign through http://www.actblue.com
15. TD Voter | 10.22.08
So if we are concerned about the declining political, financial, and moral state of our country, we are then left-wing radicals? Does dissent identify us as anti-Americans? These people who spout their hatred of those of us who are able to think for ourselves are the real problem in this country.
16. QuietusMaximus | 10.22.08
As John McCain likes to say (to his detriment), “We came to change Washington, but Washington changed us.” The truth is that Washington has a tendency to expose people, which is what seems to have happened to Michele Bachmann. She may be sorry she said it, but it’s difficult to forgive what appears to be a moment of unintentional candor. She wasn’t tricked into saying anything, and was certainly free to correct Chris Matthews’ phrasing if it was a problem for her. Far from disagreeing with or correcting him, she engaged and confirmed her own prejudice. I have no doubt that there are citizens who see our country this way, but it is profoundly disturbing that at least one of them has been elected to a position of power. This is divisiveness at its worst, and she rightly deserves to lose her bid for reelection.
17. Tom | 10.22.08
Funny, I’m from MN and remember watching this nut job hide behind bushes to watch a gay pride parade………the only thing worse than her repeated assertions about Liberals being anti American is the look on her face suggesting she was hitting a home run with her comments.
18. ReignForrest | 10.22.08
D. Miner calls Bachmann a Barbie. She’s not a Barbie. She seemed to have views based on conservative values a lot more thoughtful than, say, Palin’s. (They’re not my values, but they’re not shallow.) So let’s not resort to belittling her because she’s a woman.
Was Matthews baiting her? Perhaps. But she does seem to believe Obama is anti-American — ostensibly because of his allegedly close association with Ayers and because of all the other allegations the McCain campaign has whipped up. AND SHE IS COMPLETELY WRONG. And her xenophobia is showing.
So I hope she loses. But not because she’s a woman.
19. Marcus | 10.22.08
A little pressure and these Republicans start showing their real colors…and they aren’t red white and blue. More like black and red with a broken cross in the middle.
20. Yar | 10.22.08
The answer to “why do the show” is obvious. Bachmann did this interview on bahalf of the RNC, not as a candidate, but as an anti-Obama operative whom the RNC assumed to be in a safe race herself. I love it when the RNC tactics backfire.
22. Kate | 10.22.08
To try to cast doubt on the patriotism of anyone who disagrees with you is the most anti-American act possible. It is the beginning of the kind of oppression this country was formed to end. Diversity and freedom of thought are the heart of what makes this country great.
Ask yourselves how the countries where neighbor kills neighbor got to that sorry condition — where hate and suspicion, rather than tolerance, rule. Then ask yourselves where this very insidious new political tactic will take us.
23. Abarafi | 10.22.08
Gee. Do you think she would be saying “I shouldn’t have said that” if there wasn’t such a harsh reaction? Sorry, Bachmann, you said it, now live with it.
24. Jono | 10.22.08
It’s very interesting that the right wing claims to be pro American while denouncing the views of anyone that disagrees with them as “Un American”… and yet the media fails to call them out on this… and lets the get away with it.
Remember the Iraq war? When anyone disagreed with the Administration they were called “Un American” and they used this approach to bully people into thinking their way. After having this crud rammed down their throats for so long, people actually started believing it… it’s time people stood up and called this out for what it is… basic bullying and scare tactics by the right wing!
25. frank burns | 10.22.08
Yeah, a trap was laid — someone asked a question and she answered it. Like oh-so many Republicans, she also takes a “wide stance” on peronal integrity.
27. ApostasyUSA | 10.22.08
Michele Bachmann represents everything ugly about our country and the Republican Party’s politics of division.
I hope she loses her seat.
28. J Brooks | 10.22.08
Average American
If you really believe that Sarah Palin has the intelligence, and knowledge to run this country and your are truly the voice of Average Americans, God help us all.
29. el Garee~ | 10.22.08
With the rhetoric and the accent ya gotta wonder if, gosh Bachman and Palin are related, don’tcha know. And more of that “gotcha” journalism.
If this stuff doesn’t lobotomize ya to votin’ for the patriotic side… what will?
G~
30. Did I miss something? | 10.22.08
Why was what she said so alarming? Obama is a socialist, America is capitalist, therefore Obama is anti-American. We already knew that. You don’t get the title “most liberal senator” for nothing.
31. Tom | 10.22.08
I’m from Illinois and I donated to Tinklenberg. Anyone who has heard this she-devil on CNN knows what she is all about. Her plastered-on smile and bulging eyes remind you of Ann Coulter. Money won’t solve all the problems, but if it helps this decent man, I’m happy to donate.
32. S kelly | 10.22.08
Anyone who sat on his hands in a racist, anti-American church for two decades, listening to the crazy hate-America, hate-whitey ramblings of Rev. Wright certainly should have their patriotism questioned. He was an intimate of Wright, had his kids baptized there, married his wife there… all the while this guy was spouting “AmeriKKKa” taring the whole country with his racist hate. “God Damn America” said Wright after 9-11, talking about the bombs that ended WWII and saved countless U.S. lives from having to invade. Did Obama EVER criticize this… not until it endangered his campaign, and far too late as far as i’m concerned.
Guilt by association? The left are experts at it, so spare me. Wright and Obama were hardly ships passing in the night, but Chicago-style political intimates… not a coincidence that his association with Mr. Ayres was far more than Obama people admitted… not surprising either
34. SD Voter | 10.22.08
How dare anyone say anything bad about BHO? Hey TD, doesn’t dissent mean that you put forth an idea that is different for that which is voiced every single minute of every day. You are hardly doing that. You’re probably not anti-American your just following the rest of the herd.
35. kjames | 10.22.08
Although I would consider squandering our reputation, destroying our military, dividing our society into “have mores” and “barely making it”, destroying our environment, all while saddling our children with a monstrous debt to be “anti-American” activities, I actually don’t think Bush, Cheney, et al are consciously trying to destroy the country, and therefore I don’t label them anti-American. Labeling those with whom you disagree as traitors is typical fascist behavior. Someday, the Republican party will realize that most Americans actually love their country, especially us leftists, we would just like to make it better. And isn’t questioning how something works to see if you can make it better truly the American way? After all, if we blindly followed the status quo and equated dissent with treason, we’d still be British.
The idiocy of Bachmann’s comments can be seen from following her logic: “Obama has associated with these people and therefore he believes as they do”; but hasn’t Obama spent a lot more time (I’m sorry, “palled around with”) wall street banker types (Robert Ruben) that with leftist radicals in say, the last 5 years? So is he really a wall street banker? I don’t know about Bachmann, but I can actually interact with people without adopting their political philosophy as if it were some sort of contagious disease. And, of course, does this guilt by association apply to McCain with his anti-catholic ministers, Keating 5 developers, etc.? The Republican attack lines are pretty lame….
36. wvolk | 10.22.08
One clarification for tdub - Michele - who is my Congresswoman unfortunately - represents the northern suburbs that stretch into Minnesota’s Lutheran and Catholic farm country. We’re not the wealthy suburbs on the north side - that’s the open seat 3rd District. We’re known as the blue-collar suburbs - working people, low-t0-middle middle class (with one or two exceptions).
The district slants strongl-Republican with some pockets of union households and DFL (Minnesota’s Democrats) voters. Northern Washington County, northern Anoka County, Sherburne, Isanti, Stearns Counties - these are strong Republican areas, especially on taxes and social issues like abortion anti-gay rights.
Michele won on those three issues against Patty Wetterling - a mom whose teenage son was kidnapped in the ’80s never to be seen again, which led her into years of fighting tirelessly on behalf of children and their safeness and protection. The Wetterling Foundation was nationally recognized for their work. But ya know ran as a DFLer and got washed with the “liberal” brand, and while the polls were tight the whole race (open seat in 2006 as Congressman ran & lost a Senate race), Michele took it by about 54-46.
She had beat out two or three other contenders to be the Republican nominee that year - the others were principally fiscal conservatives and she was the darling of the social conservative/Evangelical Christian crowd and prevailed about 6 or 7 ballots in as I recall. This year she had minimal primary opposition, but he is now mounting a write-in effort for district voters after all of Michele’s Hardball hullabaloo.
Go Tinklenberg!
37. cillann | 10.22.08
Michele, good Republican, aren’t you the party of personal accountability and responsibility? Why try to blame
the media or Chris Matthews for your bigoted statement. You hung yourself with your own words. No one prodded you into anything. I hope the fine folks in Minnesota decide to retire you into obscurity then you won’t have to
worry about the press.
38. kjames | 10.22.08
Although I would consider squandering our reputation, destroying our military, dividing our society into “have mores” and “barely making it”, destroying our environment, all while saddling our children with a monstrous debt to be “anti-American” activities, I actually don’t think Bush, Cheney, et al are consciously trying to destroy the country, and therefore I don’t label them anti-American. Labeling those with whom you disagree as traitors is typical fascist behavior. Someday, the Republican party will realize that most Americans actually love their country, especially us leftists, we would just like to make it better. And isn’t questioning how something works to see if you can make it better truly the American way? After all, if we blindly followed the status quo and equated dissent with treason, we’d still be British.
The idiocy of Bachmann’s comments can be seen from following her logic: “Obama has associated with these people and therefore he believes as they do”; but hasn’t Obama spent a lot more time (I’m sorry, “palled around with”) wall street banker types (Robert Ruben) that with leftist radicals in say, the last 5 years? So is he really a wall street banker? I don’t know about Bachmann, but I can actually interact with people without adopting their political philosophy as if it were some sort of contagious disease. And, of course, does this guilt by association apply to McCain with his anti-catholic ministers, Keating 5 developers, etc.? The Republican attack lines are pretty lame….
39. emilio lamar | 10.22.08
Totally misrepresented. He baited her many times and she didnt fall for it . She said Obama may be anti American that you should go in depth on these people who are his friends that clearly loathe the U>S> and get his true opinion and find out. She never said anybody in congress was antiamerican. Stop distorting the truth!!!
40. dottydo | 10.22.08
The press was given the task of reporting and vetting American leadership.
Instead she met the talons of what is in place today. Ask and yee shall recieve … so be silent?
Why does everyone think the questions about Obama will go away if he is elected?
Hasn’t anyone noticed that the office is worse on anyone with any questioned history?
Maybe answers should be forthcoming now. Hillary is right.
Who doesn’t recognize a biased editor?
41. Jess | 10.22.08
It certainly is Anti-American when you want to spread the wealth around. We’re going to be Home of the Brave and Land of Distributed Wealth instead of land of the free. That’s not America, that’s Europe.
You guys don’t get it. We’re now competing with other countries that are much, much poorer than us. Their technology is catching up with ours, yet their wage are way low compared to ours. Tax our companies and they cannot compete and they will die. The first ones to suffer will be the workers.
Obama said we’ll go back to the old tax rules. Not in this global economy. We’re getting bashed and he’s talking increasing taxes like they were 8 years ago? He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.
42. TommyG | 10.22.08
Thank you, Communists. Of COURSE you don’t think Obama is anti-American. That’s the beauty of communism - it can be whatever it needs to be to get the trust of the people. Today, they are “helping the middle class.”
We have become too complacent. We are now presently and openly in a three-way battle for the future of American and the world. Will it be Capitalist/Religious, Communist/Atheist, or Fascist/Islamic?
All three currently have large factions and the latter two are gaining the power needed to take over.
Scoff. Bluster. Call names. Those in the know are smiling.
43. christopher leone | 10.22.08
I think it points to the fact that we’re not getting “real women” to run for political office. Palin and Michele Bachmann are “anti-women”, LOL. What goes around comes around Bachmann.
Her contrition is a good thing, and let this be a wake up call to all women, with or without a college education, get out and there and run for office!! We need good women and good man running our cities, states, and country.
44. MnVotes | 10.22.08
I am from Minnesota and she is actually known making bold statement such as this and other anti-immigrants statement. Compare to what she said in the past, this is just nothing. However, it is good the general public seen that we don’t need a politician with negative tone, but with solution and bipartisan attitude to resolve our issues.
45. Pedroia | 10.22.08
To D Miner,
Believing someones association with a questionable person could be evidence of “anti-American” views, in no way makes that person a racist. You need to think long and hard about racism and what it means. It’s judging some or discriminating against them on the color of their skin or where they are from. I don’t believe this comment even comes close to racist.
You however may be guilty of some racist behavior. Would you really vote for a 40-something white man with less than one term in the senate, being active in the senate for less than 200 days before announcing his presidency. A white man with ties to a group which blatantly commits voter fraud? A white man who lies to his opponent and the people of America, assuring them he will take federal funding only to opt out to gain an advantage over his opponent? Probably not. You would be voting for Hillary right now. Joe Biden would be too. He has said more than once Obama is not qualified to be president. Is he a racist?
PD
46. Andrew Arcinic | 10.22.08
Don’t the Democrats see that this is a smart move for the Republicans? You have Republicans on the fringe raising doubts about Obama that McCain can’t raise without pulling himself down. But these things work: here we are focusing on Obama’s antiAmericanism. By not raising doubts about McCain’s temperament, his recklessness and even his senility, Obama is costing himself the election.
47. RT | 10.22.08
She said it, but she wont own it. Kind of hard to say that someone made her say what she said. It was offensive and wrong - now she wants to blame a “trap” by Chris Matthews? Right. He actually tried to get ehr to back off and she went further and further. Scary that an elected official would say that.
48. dottydo | 10.22.08
I wonder, does this paper consider it’self biased, and therefore refuse to print any user comments based on that bias?
Is censorship a practice in the Press in general or just here?
49. kfhoz | 10.22.08
I am disheartened that the Republican people of that district in Minnesota vote for Bachmann to represent and speak for them. Are these the Republican values that those people really want on national display? Is this their version of civil Christian respect for other people?
What are those constituents thinking about all those American families who chose representatives of the type that Bachmann says should be investigated in an expose by the media?
I watched the video several times, it was not just a passing remark that Bachmann made. There is plenty of documented evidence of her disdain for people who hold different views than hers. I can accept that there are some people like Bachmann everywhere, but it almost makes me cry to think that over half of the people in that district feel that Bachmann carries their message to the rest of us.
Worse yet, it starts to make me like them. It is a struggle to respect people who have so little respect for me.
50. C Stone | 10.22.08
Let me get this straight, if I don’t think our government has done a very good job these last eight years, then I’m Anti-American? I’ve been a patriot who loves this country and respects the flag, pays my taxes, gets choked up during the national anthem, and honors those who have fought and died for my freedoms my whole life… and she has the nerve to call THAT Anti-American? Please…
Did anyone else notice how she tried to bring “Joe the Plumber” into the conversation a few times? It’s like the new Republican Magic Word. If they say it enough times, they think it’ll get them elected…
51. Bill B | 10.22.08
Wow! After hearing her comments how could anyone vote for someone who is from the same cloth as Joe McCarthy. The words were hers. Anyone who thinks she was baited should listen to the video again. She had every opportunity to change her direction, but kept straight down the road of smear. She doesn’t speak for the Republicans and shouldn’t be returned to Congress.
52. Pete | 10.22.08
She said she was discussing Senator Obama’s political views and that Matthews coaxed her into saying the word “anti-American”.
Number one, she was not discussing Obama’s political views. They were both discussing a man named William Ayers who was on some board of directors along with several notable Republicans and Barack Obama. The link is tenuous at best, but the Karl Rove tactic of repeating insinuations until the implication is believed had fooled Represetative Bachmann and others into the idea that Senator Obama “pals around with terrorists”. That is why it was 100% appropriate for Chris Matthews to ask her if she believed that he held anti-American views.
She could have said no. The fact that she said yes means she believes it.
Secondly, (yes, unlike my candidate I will go on to the second point LOL!) Representative Bachmann committed the fatal mistake of calling for investigations of sitting members of the House of Representatives to expose an similar anti-American views.
53. Jeff | 10.22.08
The problem with having a low IQ is that it translates as an inability to compute quickly enough to avoid serious damage. Bush and his gang were able to con the lower half of the American IQ spectrum for years before the lower half was able to compute the crime that was occurring. Of course we’re only as strong as our weakest link, and as evolved as our least evolved link, so we all suffer because of the lower half. Of course they cannot be blamed for the way they were born, but boy do they cause the upper half and of course themselves a serious amount of pain.
If you are in the lower half, which you can easily ascertain by taking an online IQ test, then please, for your own sake, get out of the way and let the people with the highest IQ’s run the show. Or, if you must meddle, then at least do what the smartest people do. Don’t trust your own judgment over that of someone with an IQ 50% higher than yours. That’s just plain stupid.
54. Jean-Marie | 10.22.08
WHO in Minnesota is responsible for this woman being in public office? Doesn’t speak well for Minnesota….wait didn’t you folks vote in Ventura? Hey Minnesota! Wake up!!!!!
55. obama4president | 10.22.08
We now have a new term in politics to go with the “Bradley Effect” — the “Bachmann Effect” will go down in history as the ultimate definition of political foot-in-mouth to bolster your opponent’s campaign.
56. iris75 | 10.22.08
Isn’t this the same congresswoman who advocated a return to McCarthyism? Surparise. And they said extreme nationalism couldn’t rear its ugly head again. Yeah.
57. Jim | 10.22.08
Just to make sure I have this straight - being friends with a guy who said he wished he had done more acts of terrorism on his own country is being the ultimate American? This B.O. worship as some kind of savior has reached a scary level. People are acting like they’re brainwashed. If you’re worried about the declining state of this country, a democratic president and a super-majority of democrats in the Senate is not the antidote - it’s an accelerator. Hasn’t anyone learned what damage one-party rule does to this country? Our best hope is gridlock, and lots of it.
59. TIM | 10.22.08
“People who hate America” are actually people who love America and hate the downward spiral that America is in. Case Closed.
60. John | 10.22.08
Boy, I just donated to her opponent, http://www.tinklenberg08.com, and did it ever feel great! It really feels amazing when you have such a clear way of punishing these extremely vicious little children like Bachmann. In the end, Bush/Bachmann/McCain/etc are just too dumb to compute the horror and havoc they create.
62. Benjamin Klugge | 10.22.08
The instant they blame the media, you know they’re guilty. No one baited you, Michele, you were just being a McCarthyite bigot!
63. S.Chandra Naraine | 10.22.08
This is just the kind of frightening behavior by out-of-control people which is so contrary to the basic principles of the United States of America. Further, when such freedom-threatening behavior is embodied by someone who is elected to high office by Americans, who would die to protect their freedom, then it is time for self-examination by all, Liberals and Conservatives. We must ask ourselves the question if people such as Michelle Bachmann deserve the right to stand in such respected institutions as the House of Representatives.
The positive side of this type of odious and divisive attitude is that it reveals the enormity of hate which still exists in sectors of the American society. Did we REALLY learn anything from the destructive witch-hunt of the 50’s? Many things tell me NOT!
64. steve w | 10.22.08
My mama used to tell me when I messed up– “you made your bed, now lie in it.” Looks like Bachmann is having to lie in the mess she made. Oh, the wonders of videotape!
Bachmann and Palin are not the only ditzy long-haired Republicans out there, either. Check out Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tenneessee.
65. Hal Seeley | 10.22.08
After reading yesterday and today’s articles I began to wonder just what anti-American activity or behavior is. I thought, how about starting a war under false pretenses and then calling your fellow Americans unpatriotic because they don’t agree with you, accuse them of not supporting our troops, and then create an atmosphere of fear and hate towards anybody with liberal tendencies. Become a radio host that spews vitriol over the airwaves, foment anger and hate towards anybody with a Muslim name and succeeds in dividing the country into conservative patriots and liberal socialist commies.
Na.
Anti-Americanism is protesting wars built on a series of lies and caring for the more unfortunate amongst us. Anti-Americanism is recognizing that business and government have married up and managed to dissolve the separation of powers by stacking the Supreme Court deck with right-wing clones and isolating and chastising any Republican office holder that doesn’t tow the party line.
So get with it all you liberal commies and join up with the right wing conservatives in their march towards neutralizing the Constitution and making this a safer world. That’s American!
66. Eleanor Harrast | 10.22.08
I just sent a contribution to Bachmann’s opponent,Tinklenberg, because of her remarks about O’bama. I hope she loses.
67. Chuck | 10.22.08
Why do so many of these politicians blame the media when they put their own foot in their own mouth? She doesn’t say she made a mistake, she says she made a misstatement, and tries to turn it around on Matthews? All he did was give her a little rope, she tied it into a noose and strung up her chances of reelection. That’s not really a ‘trap’, or ‘gotcha journalism’ … that’s ’saying something stupid while the camera is on you.’
Not only did she accuse Obama of having anti-American views, she suggested that more than one democratically elected member of the Federal government might be harboring such views, and that there should be some kind of investigation. She didn’t even apologize for saying this, just that she would like to take it back. The only ‘regret’ she has is that her statement helped her opponent make financial and political gains against her. Pro-American voters need to reject politicians like Bachmann, who don’t show good judgement in what they say, and then don’t take personal responsibility for their poor judgement when they are called on it.
68. midgardserpent | 10.22.08
I am amused at the volumn of people here bleating the same words. Bleat, bleat, bleat. I guess that I should point out that this article deals with MN politics which all but one or two that have posted here actually know anything about.
So, let me suggest that we practice political art the way that it is done in a Republic. Since this is a political drama being played out in MN the people of MN will settle this issue, and the rest of you can consider yourself little more than noise. Noise that goes by unheard, by the way. Kind of a tree falls in the forest senario, so to speak.
69. James | 10.22.08
Chris Matthews is not a real journalist and any conservative should be wary of going on his show. He is a very loud and biased person pretending to be a fair and objective jounalist. Many of the comments I’ve read are deploarable.
71. DSC | 10.22.08
Why do conservatives think they are helping themselves or each other when they go off on their scary right wing tirades? Are they blinded by the happy crowds of loonies at their rallies? I don’t think they understand that most independents and undecideds, whom they desperately need this election season, have pretty moderate, centrist views, and don’t have the time or desire to go to political rallies. This crucial part of the electorate just flips the channels when they get the time, and every day gets scared more and more by this crazy right wing stuff.
I don’t think any Obama ad is nearly as effective as news footage of the “crazy McCain lady,” or this worthless idiotic congresswoman, or the crowds at the Palin rallies foaming at the mouth over the religious and abortion rhetoric. If they want Obama to win, the Republicans should just keep up the scary tirades.
72. Mim K | 10.22.08
Hope, that she has another job after the election. Did not believe, that the United States believed in cloning, but another Palin? !!
73. Mort Snerd | 10.22.08
I, too, just sent money to Tinklenberg! Why is it that so many people in this country turn every disagreement into a vicious name calling, hateful diatribe? What happened to the idea that we can disagree with each other but continue to respect everyone’s right to their own opinion? The anger, hatred, and blatant deceit of some Republicans in this campaign (e.g. Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann) is appalling, ignorant, and embarassing. I’m an independent and will be voting for Obama and the return of common sense and intelligent, thoughtful government in this country!
74. wolf | 10.22.08
If this was just a minor, slip-of-the-tongue, that’d be one thing. But Bachmann routinely makes such polarizing and despicable remarks. She stuck her neck out on the chopping block and a time when Americans are looking to behead their leadership.
I’ll be watching this race on November 4th. I hope, Tinkleberg trounces her
75. Kake | 10.22.08
How is it that we’re JUST a bit past five decades past McCarthy and this stuff is rearing it’s ugly head. Did we not learn anything? Maybe there IS a good reason to vote these types out. God help is all. :/
76. maria | 10.22.08
you can donate at actblue.com and then just find her opponet’s name Tinklenberg. I have already donated $25.00. I know anyone can afford that :)let’s get this right wing nut out of there!
77. Bob of Milford | 10.22.08
When will the GOP take back the party organization and precinct captain positions from the neo-con/religious right fringe so that women like this are not the republican candidate. She is the best recent example of what is wrong with voting party-line.
78. I Live in Bachmann’s District | 10.22.08
And I get to vote against her…again. Yes, District 6 is conservative, but not Bachmann conservative. Even her former Republican opponent, a local St. John’s University professor, has resurrected his campaign as a write-in to protest the extremist direction that Michelle Bachmann (and Palin, in my opinion) are taking the GOP. Most voters are barely familiar with Bachmann, other than to see her wave from her convertible in local festival parades. My mother voted for her because “She looks like a nice lady.” I’m sure that kind of voter was a large block of her constituents. No one knew anything about her. We do now. Pack your bags, Michelle. Your time is over.
79. Skip Mowry | 10.22.08
I just spoke with her campaign in MN and a person at her Congressional office in Washington. Both people offered that Congresswoman Bachman feels that she was “lured into a trap” by Chris Matthews. Also offered was that the petition to censure her is a result of “people misinterpreting her remarks”. Perhaps the most desperate defense offered was “Congresswoman Bachman feels that Barrack Obama has associated with people who are anti-American, but she does not question his patriotism”.
The tranparency of her Rovian tactics are remarkable. It’s heartening to see American responding to this demagogue.
80. theIrony | 10.22.08
What really strikes me about this latest set of attacks is the hypocrisy. Senator Obama is the poster boy for “republican values”.
He came to this country, overcame an adverse family situation, worked hard, blamed no one for his problems, gained his education, got a job, sacrificed personal wealth (that he certainly could have made in the private sector) to become a community organizer and a public servant. He is the closest thing to a self made man in this election. He “pulled himself up by his bootstraps” but is now being labeled anti-American and is undergoing numerous smears and attacks.
The only thing that Senator Obama threatens is the party of privilege. So its OK to dream, reach for the stars and be successful as long as you do not threaten the republican party status-quo. The pathetic truth is that Senator Obama is hated in many quarters simply because he reflects the true hypocrisy and mediocrity of his detractors. At this point they will say anything.
What chance do you think Senator Obama would have at becoming president if he had an unwed pregnant teenage daughter….or if he had disrepectfully turned to the camera in the debates and said whatever he wanted….or if he had said the “fundamentals of the economy are strong”….or if he had graduated last in his class or left a disabled wife? This is the double standard that we are are so immersed in that we can no longer see it there. Or do we choose not to see it?
81. The Irony | 10.22.08
What really strikes me about this latest set of attacks is the hypocrisy. Senator Obama is the poster boy for “republican values”.
He came to this country, overcame an adverse family situation, worked hard, blamed no one for his problems, gained his education, got a job, sacrificed personal wealth (that he certainly could have made in the private sector) to become a community organizer and a public servant. He is the closest thing to a self made man in this election. He “pulled himself up by his bootstraps” but is now being labeled anti-American and is undergoing numerous smears and attacks.
The only thing that Senator Obama threatens is the party of privilege. So its OK to dream, reach for the stars and be successful as long as you do not threaten the republican party status-quo. The pathetic truth is that Senator Obama is hated in many quarters simply because he reflects the true hypocrisy and mediocrity of his detractors. At this point they will say anything.
What chance do you think Senator Obama would have at becoming president if he had an unwed pregnant teenage daughter….or if he had disrespectfully turned to the camera in the debates and said whatever he wanted….or if he had said the “fundamentals of the economy are strong”….or if he had graduated last in his class or left a disabled wife? This is the double standard that we are are so immersed in that we can no longer see it there. Or do we choose not to see it?
82. sandrag | 10.22.08
Not sure I understand # 65 “Bleat, bleat, bleat. I guess that I should point out that this article deals with MN politics which all but one or two that have posted here actually know anything about.”
bleat bleat….lots of folks on this site appear to also be putting money out there for her opponent to use to beat her…so what was your point again?? Maybe there needs to be some more thought given to whatever you were trying to say??
83. Stop already | 10.22.08
As a woman I have been disgusted with the comments about “because she is a woman”. If we as woman want for people to treat us equal then we should be able to take anything a man can. I do not see the men holding anything back with each other then why just because someone is a woman why should they be treated differently. These (i will use this term loosley) women Palin and Bachmann have jumped at the chance to be in government and this is what everyone esle in government has to put up with at one time or another so they need to get use to it and by the way they are not the first women to hold government offices. The more you say “because they are woman” we go back a century so please do us a favor and shut up.
84. dave | 10.22.08
“Capitalist/Religious” Ha. What a joke!
Do these guys get paid to post this stuff for Rush Limbaugh, or is it their community service?
86. Jo | 10.22.08
Oh honey, do not blame Chris Matthews because you couldn’t stop your mouth from running off to join up with your ugly mind! You think it, you said it, you meant it, and you probably thought everyone in America would feel the same. That’s how in the dark you are.
If you look at this as one more thing in the whole attempt to portray Obama as “different from us,” it’s pretty scary. Let’s think like a Republican noise machine for a minute: Okay, Barack Obama is a black man, but we can’t just come out and say we hope other white folks are afraid of black men or everyone would call us racist! So let’s do whatever we can to make people believe that “He’s not like us.” They started with calling him “elite.” Hey it worked with John Kerry and his Heinz millions. Oops, didn’t work on Obama. How about saying he’s “exotic and foreign” because he grew up in Hawaii! Hmmm…wait a minute - how about “He pals around with terrorists!” Oh, darn it, people still don’t get it. Oh, the heck with it, let’s just come right out and call him “Anti-American!” After all, Sarah Palin is doing it too - you can only be “Pro-America” if you vote Republican and live in a small town.
89. ScheduleC | 10.22.08
She has been crazy-talking on CNN (e.g. Larry King) for weeks. I’m glad that people with money to support her opponent noticed on Hardball.
90. Lazlo | 10.22.08
Bachman had several opportunities to pull back during the interview - she did not. She intended to say it and was “baiting” the racists and the selfrighteous religious extreemists ( PALIN CROWD) to bite the chum. The country is moving past people like Bachman.
92. Beverley Van Zant-Clayton-Calhoun | 10.22.08
Correct fact above - continue the spread in points and the pressure is on and the sweetest of conservatives are really the equals of the displaced radical democratic lefts. In otherwords, they both misrepresent what a normal thinking Repulican & Democrat want for their party - equal fairness from a different point-of-view!
93. BillObermeyer | 10.22.08
Having had an uncle who got on the wrong side of the 50’s red scare**. Basically he spoke out over some misconduct at the plant he worked at and his superior tried to get him fired as a communist agitator. Nothing came of it as his supervisor was found to be selling product out the back door and was fired. Needless to say that one minor incident colored his perspective for the rest of his life. He was a fan of the misquoted phrase “I think he doth protest too much”. In other words, if one has to raise the supposition that you can’t be a good american if you disagree you MUST be anti-American.
**I find it ironic how we’ve adopted RED as republican and Blue as democrat. Certainly people haven’t forgotten the slogan ‘Better dead than Red.’
Sorry if this is rambling, I’m just a bit shocked hearing Michele Bachmann utter an astoundingly stupid thing as this.
94. Marcos El Malo | 10.22.08
Those of you who think Chris Matthews didn’t bait Ms. Bachmann were not privy to his backstage shennanigans prior to the show. Several witnesses have come forth saying that they saw Matthews sneak into her dressing room and slather her shoes with delicious ketchup. How can you NOT call that bait? There’s a conspiracy in the liberal media to coat the footwear of GOP politicians with condiments! That can be the only explanation.
96. Carden | 10.22.08
http://www.csmonitor.com/aboutus/copyright.html#postings
Jacksmith you have lost your mind. Obama! Never! I would not give his campaign fifty cents.
97. Me | 10.22.08
“Palin has more Executive Branch experience than their whole ticket!”
Strangest and most easily disproven wing nut talking point ever.
98. Bill | 10.22.08
Matthews was baiting her? Hes a master at that.
Face it, shes just another right wing dumba**, just like Palin. Shes needs to be retired along with her hero Bush, so she can continue osculating his derrier.
99. Kevin | 10.22.08
A lot of the comments posted here are every bit as inflammatory and a lot more unfounded than what Cong. Bachmann said. She didn’t say all liberals are anti-American. But even a quick listen to things Jeremiah Wright and Father Pfleger have said makes the anti-Americanism apparent (e.g., “God d__n America!). Obama sat under this guy’s preaching for 20 years.
100. Russ | 10.22.08
Ann Coulter in brunette. Yuck. Why would intelligent people voluntarily associate with these reptiles? If this gasbag represents all that is “patriotic,” as she smugly implies, we should hoist the black flag starting today.
101. Z | 10.22.08
Since when did the Republican party think they are the ONLY American party there is? I am 100% an Independent and 100% American.
102. Will the Astronaut | 10.22.08
I also sent money to Tinklenberg. America deserves better than this brainless, bigoted, right-wing hack. The Bushy Republicans–a far cry from the great conservative tradition Ronald Reagan (whom I voted for shortly after turning 18 years old)–have dragged down the grand old party into the muck and mire. The Republicans have presided over the biggest expansion of government and national debt in our great nation’s history. I am still a registered Republican and yearn for decency, value, and integrity to make a return to the party. But for now, I look out over the Republican landscape and see nothing but fear-mongering, negative tactics, smear campaigns, and no soul. Our country deserves better. McCain offers nothing but more of the same. His pick of Palin was a slap in the face of hundreds of more qualified public servants and a cynical, craven appeal to a far-right base and disaffected Hillary supporters. In the end, the shadowy world of mean-spirited Republican operatives got a hold of John McCain, and took his soul. I will proudly vote for the one candidate who has the ability to inspire our people to a better day–Barack Obama.
103. Watchman | 10.22.08
General Colin Powell was right in calling her and her statements utter “nonsense.” My donation’s coming, Tink. Time to unplug this Stepford-wife Republican hate-monger.
104. Randy Slovacek | 10.22.08
After reading this I just made a donation to her opponent. This is the kind of ugly politics no one in America needs.
105. Joe | 10.22.08
So, I didn’t watch the video, but I’d feel bad if she lost her position because she said one thing wrong. Maybe she hasn’t done much for her constituency, or maybe she doesn’t represent the area well. And maybe she really does believe what she said. But if she’s doing a good job, then what does it matter?
But I probably just don’t understand the issue at hand.
106. Scot | 10.22.08
Keith Ellison is the first Muslim ever voted to the US congress. I voted for him and I believe he is doing a good job. Keith’s district is next to Bachman’s, do you think Michelle believes her neighbor is UN-American?
107. Folk, Fuehrer und Vaterland | 10.22.08
The rightwingers of this country are not fit to run such.
They seem not to understand the responsibilities of caring governing and that the nation carrying class is the middle class. A well to do middle class is found in a well to do nation. Look around.
108. sanityvoice2 | 10.22.08
So, I wonder what it is that she now regrets?
Is she claiming that she lied about her feelings and regrets having lied?
Or, was she telling the truth about her feelings and now regrets having told the truth?
How could she have been baited? Once she started talking, Chris Mathews had trouble getting a word in edgewise. She was on a roll! So, she must just regret that we got a peek at how small minded, bigoted and paranoid she really is.
109. james Bridges | 10.22.08
Chris Matthews is the antidote to Bill o’Riley.
Can’t understand the uproar, all she said is what Palin shouts on a Daily basis.
110. McCarthyism | 10.22.08
Kake:
You are right, some of us have not learned the lessons of McCarthyism. Take Hollywood for example, there are hundreds of people who either lie or hide the fact that they are conservative for fear of “blackballing.” McCarthyism is alive and well in Hollywood!
111. thallow | 10.22.08
Patriot, republicans are so good their using God now. Pretty powerful stuff.
112. Distressed | 10.22.08
That this US representative would espouse such McCarthyism with such a maddeningly cocksure expression on her face speaks volumes about how far off course this country has veered the past eight years. She actually believed people would buy her spew.
113. turnbulld | 10.22.08
Wow. This woman is too much. It took about two thirds of the interview for her to figure out she was in trouble. About then she began to hedge (”I’m not going to say he’s anti-American…”). Obama’s been in the Congress more than a year as well. Quite the little RNC dingbat.
Let’s hope that the RNC starts backing candidates that a) can string coherent thoughts together and b) are working for the betterment of our nation as a whole. Until then, I guess I’m a Dem.
114. henry landis | 10.22.08
After serving my country in the military for 26 years (in two wars) I’ve just been advised by Frau Bachmann that I’m probably “anti-American”. I wonder how she learned my secret. Maybe it’s because she discovered my subversive belief that presidents should tell the truth. It could be that she found out that I thought it a bad idea to give billion dollar no-bid contracts to corrupt cronies. I now know what I’ll send her for Christmas….a copy of the constitution and a dictionary. Surely at least ONE of her constituants can read it for her; especially the definition of the word “liberal”. Apparently, the Republicans have hit upon a new strategy; if you say “mother”, with a snarl on your lips, you can make it sound like a dirty word. After all, it worked well for them in the last couple of elections, didn’t it ?
116. WayneSMT | 10.22.08
Elwyn Tinkleberg - I’d vote for that name just to see it in print and scrolling across the bottom of the screen on CNN, too bad I moved out of Golden Valley, MN in the 80’s.
Yeah, I saw that interview with Matthews on Hardball. I don’t think Chris baited her in the least. She said something extremely stupid, and Chris, like any good journalist then asked her to repeat the statement in a few different contexts so that there would be no misunderstanding of what she said and why she said it. She sincerely asked the media to investigate the members of her house for anti-american views and leanings. Correct me if I’m wrong on this but didn’t we play that game already with Joe McCarthy and the un-american activities committee?
117. Arbuckle Doc | 10.22.08
I will agree, that the likes of Michele Bachmann does NOT belong in a body which is truely representative of the American people. However, the fact that she does hold the seat is alarming. It would well behoove the voters of Minnesota to engage in MUCH self-examination and consider, if in fact, they are becoming more and more like this example, or not. If this is to be the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, we as Americans must ALL do some real introspective evaluation of our own values and principles. We cannot expect the unmatched success of this grand experiment in the advancement of human society to be continued, if we do nothing to correct the attempted destruction of our soon to be forgotten greatest nation on Earth status. VOTE, for a rebirth of the TRUE American Values, on which our once great nation was founded. VOTE for Barack Obama and Joe Biden on November the Fourth!!!
118. the other washington | 10.23.08
I think that all Americans who think disagreeing in a FREE SOCIETY is anti-American should please refrain from accepting the impending tax cuts that are coming your way next year. Really, it would be extremely hypocritical to accept them. Also, if you don’t mind, tell me how you are financially better off than you were 8 years ago. And what do you call the tax cuts for the wealthy that we middle-class folks have been subsidizing? Funny, someone want’s to redistribute YOUR wealth upwards, and you shuffle and thank them. Someone wants to make the playing field appropriate, let the wealthy pay THEIR FAIR SHARE and you pay yours, and you scream SOCIALISM. That has to be the weirdest spin I have ever heard in my entire life. I honestly can’t make head or tails of it.
119. Noel Freedman | 10.23.08
Shades of Wm Shakespeare: Of Bachmann, “Some think she’s a saint, I am far less awed; in fact I see right through her, she’s a fraud.”
120. Carlo | 10.23.08
Anyone who makes these types of comments doesn’t belong in Congress. She’s pathetic. I’m glad her comments were captured on tape so that anyone who wants to can view the interview.
121. davea0511 | 10.23.08
So when are we going to have to capitalize Him and He and His when referring to Obama? Apparently he is the Messiah, you know. All this woman is guilty of is cursing a man the democrats think is God. If a congressman called McCain Anti-American because he supported a war they thought was un-american nobody would have batted an eye.
This whole reaction of wanting to destroy a woman for a careless comment she regrets and wants to retract says a lot more about the insanely worshipful nature of the Obama fan-base than anything else.
123. RichYan33 | 10.23.08
She’s single handedly putting a man with the unfortunate name of “Elwyn Tinkleberg” into office. We deserve smarter people than this. And I don’t even mean Elwyn. Don’t know anything about the man. I just mean across the board we need better smarter people running for office. We are attracting nothing but middle level flunkies who think they have something important to say.
124. Herunar | 10.23.08
She was baited into telling what she really thought. This is disgusting. I am not an American, and I can tell you that when people from the rest of the world read their newspapers and see an elected official in America talking about exposing who is anti-American and who is not, we think, is that not even worse than the early years of the Soviet Union? These days, only in America exists a thing called “anti-Americanism”. We don’t have it in those countries which you Americans call “dictatorships” - we don’t have “anti-Iranian”- no, not even “anti-Korean” in the case of North Korea. In the rest of the world, we criticize a country’s government without criticizing the country. Only in the United States is criticism of the government equated with treason. That is how we define totalitarianism.
125. Barbs | 10.23.08
The look on Matthews face during this interview just cracks me up. He can hardly believe what he is hearing.
126. innocent bystander | 10.23.08
I recently saw a bumper sticker on some pick-up truck, ‘be an American, vote for McCain’. There is no if or buts but anything other than a vote for McCain will be un-American. When did we get to this point? We should learn from some third world countries that divisive campaigns only result into chaos!!
127. Eric | 10.23.08
14. Joe | 10.22.08
“Barack Obama is neither liberal nor radical.
He is a centrist.”
How simple are you?
128. Smokey | 10.23.08
Huh? Emilio Lamar? Did you watch the video? Just like Sarah Palin saying she did “nothing unethical” after the troopergate report was release which precisely stated that she was unethical in using her office to further a personal agenda. Emilio Lamar, please stop calling red - green and yellow -blue. We are not that dumb.
129. Common Sense | 10.23.08
Many of you need to STOP believing the media and their spins.
Barack Obama is a socialist. His economic advisor is a confirmed socialist. Wake up people! Obama will certainly give us change, but you have to be very careful of what you wish for. This is NOT the change America needs. John McCain/Sarah Palin are far from being perfect candidates, but are far from the disaster that Obama/Biden will give us.
Obama is very bad on so many levels, do your research.
130. kmiller | 10.23.08
I think Obama might have anti-American views. Granted, his wife’s views don’t necessarily hint at his, but she said only a few months ago that she was proud of her country for the first time. I don’t think you can call his policies pro-American, when they are as post-nationalist as those of a European academic.
The real problem here is that a Congresswoman said what she thought and liberals who claim to be open-minded but really are more hate-filled and dogmatic than the most ardent xenophobe didn’t like her thoughts.
131. Mikey | 10.23.08
As a Republican (or maybe republican without capitalization), I can say with confidence that my party is overrun with lunatics of the highest (or lowest) order. It’s sad that the Rove/Bush/Cheney/neo-con divide and exterminate approach to politics has encouraged the basest elements of our society.
Game plan:
Step 1: Out of control spending combined with tax cuts while boldly attacking the democrats as tax and spend liberals
Step 2: Dupe middle and lower mddle class voters by baiting them with red herring social issues such as gay marraige
Step 3: Question the patriotism of those that hold different views
Step 4: Ignore the “conservative” opportunities in issues like the environment, sound energy policy, and consensus building international relationships in favor of greedy, expedient and hubristic.
I have to ask….. where is my party hiding?
132. Rthomas | 10.24.08
@ davea0511 - the only people I hear calling Obama “God” or “Messiah” are right-wingers such as yourself and nut-jobs like Farrakhan. Neither group represents the opinion of the majority of Americans, right or left.
133. Phil | 10.24.08
Mikey, Your repub friends have made this nest over the past 2 decades by letting Limbaugh and Hannity, et al speak for you. These people relentlessly name-call anyone with a dissenting view, and defend Bush no matter what. There is no longer a healthy discourse. Rush and Hannity won’t let a dissenting voice on their programs, because they can’t proffer an intelligent argument to counter them. How many Republicans can iterate what their parties’ policies are on almost any topic? They can’t because their spokespersons only bash “Liberals”, and don’t state any solutions or ideas. I hope this election totally destroys the neo-cons. Maybe from the ashes will re-emerge an intelligent conservative voice once again, and America can have true idea sharing.
134. observersunited | 10.24.08
I can’t believe Pfizer has donated to Bachmann’s campaign after her anti-America remarks. Unbelievable. What did it think of when it decided to do this? Does it want anti-Bachmannites stop buying their products?
135. Mike D | 10.26.08
When Bachmann made her “anti-american” statement after answering Mr. Matthew’s 18 times! on who is anti-american(Mathews used the term first not Bachmann, she simply said a disinterested party “the media” should look at our politicians), any statesman worth their salt would have stood up and said “sure look at me and for what I stand!”.
This is not “McCartharism” as some have mentioned. It is a simple request for “the media” to look at our politicians and see if the measure up to American values. NOW there is the rub….what are American values? But even without a list of our values, perhaps we should have the media look at our politicians in a comparitive manner.
BUT no, everyone seems to think it is foolish to take long hard looks at our politicians. This is, of course, the road to servitude.
When we, as a nation, do not relish the looking at our politicians and for what they stand, then we start down the path of indifference. This of course, as shown by history, will lead to those same politicians doing for themselves what they should have been doing for the people.
I for one would like the press to take a long objective look at our representives and where they stand on what is good for America. Of course, our press has lost that ability some time ago. I feel that this is to our detriment. Congress has a popularity rating LOWER than President Bush and when someone says they should be looked at (not by government) by the press they are ridiculed. It is like everyone telling a fireman to shutup and set down in the middle of a fire!!!!!
136. Mike D | 10.26.08
Let it die…..just ‘Goggle’ any ‘anti-american congressman senator president..etc etc’
and you will see that the anti-american term is tossed around by ALL sides in any situation. It is simply a means to say the other side does NOT agree with our side…therefore the other side is anti-american.
Politicians have ALWAYS said the other side is anti-’something’ their side was not.
Bachmann simply said that the media should look at the congress as a whole (probably hinting that the media would find that the other side did not agree with her side).
This challenge apparently terrified the media (they might have to get back into the INVESTIGATIVE job again!), so the media had to kill this issue as soon as it could.
A free society should NEVER fear looking at its politicians and for what they stand. When we do not check on the politicians then they go UNCHECKED (meaning out of control). What does not get checked does not get done.
So once again the media makes an issue out of the person and NOT the real issue. This whole thing is spin and no one wants to look at the two ton pile of garbage in the room…..WHY DOES THE PRESS NOT LOOK AT CONGRESS IN AN INVESTIGATIVE MANNER?????
137. bachmanneffect | 10.26.08
new website to expose other divisive comments and attacks, with links to the victim’s websites to make a donation and fight back: http://www.bachmanneffect.com
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3. Oops! Bachmann regrets anti-Obama statement - Talk How You Like - Politics & Stuff Like That | 10.22.08
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1. Gustav | 10.22.08
Writing that Matthews was baiting her is telling us that she is baitable. I’ve seen the video enough times to see that given the opportunity she would have continued calling Obama and all liberals “anti-American” without encouragement from Matthews.