Michele Bachmann exits 2014 race

Confession: I'm a Minnesotan, but I've never paid much attention to Sixth District Representative Michele Bachmann. Come to think of it, I'm in sync with DNC member and fellow Minnesotan Rick Stafford's Facebook response to the news that Bachmann is dropping out of the 2014 race: "It's a great day in Minnesota! The sun is out. Bachman announces her retirement from spreading falsehoods! — feeling happy."

The editorial board of the Minneapolis Star Tribune explores further what Bachmann's exit means for the state of Minnesota:

Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann announced her 2014 exit from Congress with a political grace too seldom seen in the seven years she has controversially served Minnesota’s Sixth District in Washington, D.C.

Wednesday’s surprise release of a video in which the Tea Party firebrand said she will not seek a fifth term was classic Bachmann, with its flattering lighting, tightly controlled message and impeccable predawn timing designed to maximize morning news headlines and, by extension, energize her personal brand.

But the broader timing, to Bachmann’s credit, also benefits her political party and, more important, the voters in her Republican stronghold of a district. They now have an opportunity to elect a more effective and credible representative.

Coming well more than a year before the 2014 election, Bachmann’s announcement gives the GOP ample time to find and fund a strong new candidate — one capable not only of winning next year but of leveraging this solidly Republican seat to become a forceful advocate for constituents and a next-generation national leader for the party.

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Update: Bachmann denies reports of endorsing Romney

In a follow-up to his earlier post at Political Intelligence (Boston.com), Glen Johnson reports that Michele Bachmann denies any intention of endorsing Mitt Romney:

CHICAGO - Former Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann today denied any plans to endorse frontrunner Mitt Romney when he visits Minnesota this afternoon, following a Globe online post suggesting the possibility.

The Minnesota congresswoman noted she would be in Washington while Romney was appearing in Eagan, Minn. She also said that while she has had discussions with her formal rivals, she has no immediate plans to endorse any of them.

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Romney courts Michele Bachmann

Bachmann and Romney. Photo courtesy of the Guardian.

A progressive who has appreciated the efforts of moderate Republicans in their efforts over the years to promote sane government at both the state and federal levels, I'm disappointed this morning to learn that coming off his Florida victory, Mitt Romney headed for Minnesota

As governor of Mass., Romney helped put the state on a firm financial footing, and he signed into law the Mass. health care reform legislation, the first of its kind in the nation. 

Now we learn that Romney is seeking the endorsement of radical Minnesota conservative, Michele Bachman, in order to win over the Tea Party faction of the Republican party.

Glenn Johnson, blogging at Political Intelligence (Boston.com) reports:

TAMPA, Fla. - Mitt Romney is carrying a full head of steam after winning the Florida primary, but the Republican presidential contender isn’t headed first today for Nevada or Maine, the next two states to vote.

Instead, he is jetting off this morning to Minnesota for what is billed as a “grassroots rally.”

Why?

Michele Bachmann, it seems.

Aides to Romney and the Minnesota congresswoman have been in conversation in recent days about securing the candidate’s endorsement by the Tea Party favorite and forceful public speaker, The Boston Globe has learned.

Not only would it add to the impression of Romney consolidating the GOP base after rebounding in Florida from his South Carolina loss, but it could help Bachmann by earning her an ally to help her pay off her lingering campaign debt.

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Saying no to spiritual abuse

The wrath of God?

I’ve written elsewhere on the violence resulting from the perversion of religion, including here, here, and here. The topic arises anew every time the religious right chooses to respond to a natural disaster by blaming God for the havoc wreaked. Most recently Michele Bachmann evoked applause from her audience by declaring that God was speaking to us through Hurricane Irene.

I was pleased to come across this post at the Christian Century blog yesterday by Don Scrooby titled Spiritual Abuse. Scrooby offers some helpful insights on variations of this cruelty so often inflicted on innocent victims:

Just this last week I've encountered examples of what I can only describe as spiritual abuse. It saddens one, because what is meant to be life-giving, is turned in to death-like clouds of oppression, and that, by the very people who should know better.

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Schooling Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachman would be well advised to take a course or two at an accredited seminary where she would quickly discover the fallacy in accusing God of the massive destruction, deaths, and injuries resulting from natural disasters. One realizes, of course, the mindlessness of such remarks, but it’s time people like Bachmann are held accountable for the cruel implications their words have for the innocent victims of Irene, Katrina, etc..

The irony of Michele Bachmann’s challenge to Barack Obama

There was a time when Democrats felt secure in holding on to the votes of a majority of women for they felt confident there was no place else for them to go. It’s the same dilemma faced too often by the battered wife. And that in a nutshell explains the abusive treatment Hillary Clinton took in 08 from the DNC and the superdelegates as they scurried off after Pied Piper Barack Obama, the hip young senator who was going to save the world solely by virtue of his personality and those sonorous speeches ringing with the cadences of an evangelical preacher.

Have you seen David Axelrod recently? The once oily smooth fellow with all the answers now looks harried and distraught. Must be tough facing the reality that 2012 isn’t going to be a repeat of 2008.

And then there’s the scary word out of Ames, IA that a conservative woman won the straw poll. Chris Cilliza at the  Washington Post:

AMES, Iowa — Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann scored a victory in the GOP Ames Straw Poll on Saturday, a win likely to provide her considerable momentum as the 2012 race ramps up.

“What we saw happen today is this is the very first step toward taking the White House in 2012, and you have just sent a message that Barack Obama will be a one-term president,” said Bachmann (R-Minn.) after her victory was announced.

Got it, boys? A female GOP candidate is set to take down Barack Obama and from the mess the country is in today, you have to think she just might have a chance.

Bachmann’s rise is not just a wake up call for the good ol’ boys in the GOP, it’s also a wake up call for the good ol’ boys in the Democratic Party who called the shots in 08 and declared that racism was taboo, but it was open season for sexism. It must also be kind of depressing at this point for the Dems to realize that Bill and Hillary Clinton are both at the top of their game while Barack Obama is stumbling around, muttering something about “broken politics.”

A word to the wise, oh, great Democratic Party leaders: pick a leader next time.

Columbia Journalism Review nails Minneapolis Star Tribune for failing to fact check Michele Bachmann’s Iowa speech

Michele Bachmann (R.Minn.) official photo.

Yes, I’ve repeatedly criticized the media for fanning the flames of controversy, its biased – often sexist – reporting, and its repeated bashing of selected politicians like Sarah Palin. But at the same time, I also insist on fact checking a politician’s statements – no matter who they are - and at least making an effort to keep our political leaders honest.

The Columbia Journalism Review nails the Star Tribune for its recent lapse in this area:

Campaign 2012 is underway, even with but one declared Republican contender. And so comes an example of What Not to Do in Campaign Reporting, courtesy of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (h/t, MinnPost’s David Brauer).

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn) visited Iowa (Iowa!) on Friday and delivered a speech “covered by a corps of roughly 50 Iowa, Minnesota and national media,” according to the Des Moines Register. In other words, speculative Election 2012 press coverage—Will s(he)? Won’t s(he)? And when will s(he) or won’t s(he)?— is picking up at a predictable pace.
“Bachmann testing the waters,” as the Star Tribune headline had it.

Mid-story, the Tribune reports, in passing, that “Democrats deride [Bachmann] as… factually challenged.” (I’m just passing along some other politicians’ claims about the veracity of this politician’s claims. Yes, I’m a reporter from Bachmann’s home state so I should be in a particularly good position to tell readers whether “factually challenged” is a fair description of the Congresswoman or just an unfounded Democratic dis. But, moving on….) A few sentences later it is confirmed: there will be no fact-challenging (of the “factually challenged”) here (emphasis mine): 

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