Michele Bachmann

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Michele Bachmann (1956-) is a Republican Party (United States)|Republican U.S. Representative from the state of Minnesota (U.S. state)|Minnesota), first elected in 2006 and quickly rising to national prominence as a combative and charismatic social conservative and member of the Christian Right. She was a founder of the Tea Party Caucus in Congress and has positioned herself as an national Tea Party movement leader, although she does not appear to have participated in the formation of local groups. Rep. Bachmann has been suggested as a Republican presidential candidate, sharing a good deal of personal style and supporters with Sarah Palin. Image: Rep Michele Bachmann Official Photo.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Rep. Michele Bachmann, official photograph

Committees

  • House Committee on Financial Services
    • Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
    • Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade
    • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Caucuses and other groups

  • Tea Party Caucus

2010 election

With a secure seat, she endorsed and campaigned for other conservative candidates around the country, many members of the Tea Party Movement.

Tea Party Movement

For more information, see: Tea Party Movement.

After calling for a protest on Sean Hannity's television show the previous week, saying "she hoped viewers would come to her press conference and then walk through the congressional office buildings, "up and down through the halls, find members of Congress, look at the whites of their eyes and say, 'Don't take away my health care.'"[1] On 5 ovember 2010, she held a rally at the U.S. Capitol. Officially, it was a press conference and not a rally, since there was no demonstration permit; an estimated 5 to 10,000 supporters attended. It was formally directed at rejecting the health care bill to be voted on, in the House.[2] House minority leader John Boehner, appearing on the platform said "This bill is the greatest threat to freedom that I have seen," (Republican Party (United States)|R-Ohio (U.S. state)|Ohio). Rep. Todd Akin (Republican Party (United States)|R-Missouri (U.S. state)|Missouri) asked for the Pledge of Allegiance because "it drives the liberals crazy" to hear the "under God" part. Minority whip Eric Cantor also appeared, as did Representatives Steve King (Republican Party (United States)|R-Iowa (U.S. state)|Iowa), Paul Broun (Republican Party (United States)|R-Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia), Jean Schmidt (Republican Party (United States)|R-Ohio (U.S. state)|Ohio) and Bill Cassidy (Republican Party (United States)|R-Louisiana (U.S. state)|Louisiana). Andrea Shea King and Kristinn Taylor provided media support.

She was scheduled to be a featured speaker at the February 2010 convention of Tea Party Nation,[3] but has withdrawn, citing concerns with the disposition of the proceeds by its organizer, Judson Phillips. Phillips has said he expects to make a profit on it, but many activists are complaining about the $550 ticket price and the $100,000 speaker fee to be paid to Sarah Palin. [4]

Leadership roles

She started the Congressional Tea Party Caucus, and was candidate for the chair of the Republican Leadership Conference, the fourth-ranking member of the Republican leadership.[5] A leadership role that historically involves building consensus, however, may clash with her strong ideology. The Washington Post suggests she is unlikely to win the post, as she lacks House seniority and a strong following there, although she is nationally visible.[6]

She said she belongs in the leadership because it needs a constitutional conservative such as herself.

Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, and top Republicans are making it clear that he is the insider’s choice. Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia and outgoing Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana already have endorsed Hensarling, sending a clear message that if Bachmann wants the job, she’s going to have to run an insurgent race for it. [7]

Hensarling has been introduced by established conservatives such as Paul Ryan of Wisconsin (U.S. state)|Wisconsin, who wrote "Jeb's economic expertise and strong ability to communicate are what we need in our conference chairman to articulate our unified commitment to get our country back on track. This position requires someone who has a command of these issues and has a history of successfully debating them.”[8]

Hensarling also picked up the support of Rep. Spencer Bachus (Alabama (U.S. state)), who is the top Republican on the House Financial Services Committee. “In his role as Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, Jeb has earned nationwide respect for his opposition to socialized health care and strong advocacy for fiscal responsibility and smaller government” [8]

Bachmann's appeal to fellow Republicans is based not on her House leadership experience, but what she brings from the election:

strong principled conservative values, a proven level of experience, effectiveness with our friends in the local and national media, and an energetic national constituency that reflects the results of Tuesday night. It is important that our conference demonstrate to the people who sent us here that their concerns will be tirelessly advanced at the table of leadership. [8]

On 10 October, she gave up her campaign and endorsed Hensarling.

"Jeb Hensarling has my enthusiastic support for his candidacy to become Republican House Conference Chair. Jeb has demonstrated his commitment to limited government, reduced spending and lower taxes, and he will be a strong voice for the Tea Party's call for these values.[9]

Controversial endorsements

In July 2010, she endorsed Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Missouri (U.S. state)|Missouri)'s Senate candidacy. This drew protests from Tea Party Movement groups in Missouri.[10] In the election, Blunt won the Senate seat.

Issues

Religion and politics

At the present time, a number of political analysts see Bachmann and Sarah Palin as strongly attractive to the more conservative wing of the Republican Party (United States), both being charismatic women who appeal to strong emotion in the political "base". Some note that on the other end of the political spectrum, Nancy Pelosi also appeals to the base, although she has much more actual political power; while Barack Obama is certainly liberal, he positions himself more centrally than Pelosi.

She is associated with Christian Right groups including Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council, as well as James Dobson and Focus on the Family.

Bachmann ran for Congress after six years as one of the most socially conservative members of the Minnesota state senate.[11] She is a member of the Republican Study Committee, the House conservative caucus.

In 2006, she appeared with George W. Bush, accepting his endorsement[12]

Education

Before she held elective office, in 1993, she helped to start a Stillwater, Minnesota, charter school that ran afoul of many parents and the local school board due to conflicts over separation of church and state|church-state separation but receiving public funds. "After Bachmann and company were driven out of that venture, she became a prolific speaker and writer on the evils of public education in the years leading up to her failed school board run. By all accounts, she made herself into a formidable presence. She's articulate, attractive, and speaks passionately," says Mary Cecconi, who spent eight years on the Stillwater School Board. "Actually, she is ferocious."

"On the stump in 2006, Bachmann still calls education reform one of her "number one priority" issues, along with tax reform and homeland security." Her critics, including non-evangelical Republican, mention religious conservative think tank called EdWatch.[12] Bachmann homeschooled her children, including 23 foster children, saying they were failed by the public-school system.[13]

GLBT

She twice introduced a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and then organized a “Minnesota for Marriage” rally in which she told supporters to flood the state Senate and directly protest to opponents of the bill.[14]

Bachmann has called homosexuality a sexual “dysfunction” and accused the gay community of targeting children. [15]

Environment

Bachmann is strongly against the "cap and trade" proposals to alleviate global warming, which she describes as being "just another tax on business"[16]. Global warming, according to Bachmann, is "all voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax".

Bachmann has advocated drilling in the Arctic National Widlife Reserve (ANWR), calling it "commonsense" and stating that "we know that nine months out of the year this area is hidden under snow and ice and three months out of the year the area is covered in complete darkness". Bachmann also stated that the Congressional Democrats which oppose ANWR drilling are "standing in the way of $2-a-gallon gas"[17]. A 2008 report by the Energy Information Administration casts serious doubt on such a prediction - with between $0.41 and $1.44 reduction in the price of oil per barrel. The report also states:

Assuming that world oil markets continue to work as they do today, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) could neutralize any potential price impact of ANWR oil production by reducing its oil exports by an equal amount.[18]

At the time of Bachmann's article, the Energy Information Administration reported that the "weekly U.S. regular conventional retail gasoline price" was $4.00. Since then, gas prices dropped and bottomed out at $1.59 on the 29 December 2008, but have risen in the year since to $2.59 (November 30, 2009)[19].

Tax reform

Homeland security

Health care

She has been vehemently opposed to the Obama Administration's health care proposals, and has supported Tea Party Movement protests to "kill the bill" (see below), and has called it "tyranny". Speaking on the CBS News program "Face the Nation", she said, on 28 March 2010,

"[N]ow we have the federal government taking over ownership or control of 51 percent of the American economy. This is stunning. Prior to September of 2008, 100 percent of the private economy was private...Today the federal government has taken either direct ownership or control of banks, the largest insurance company in the United States, A.I.G., Freddie [Mac] and Fannie [Mae]...The federal government owns over 50 percent of all home mortgages and now the direct student loan industry." [20]

CBS challenged these assertions in their article the next day.[20] "According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis data since 1929, the highest percentage of government spending as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product was during World War II when government spending was 47.9 percent (in 1944). The lowest level of government spending as a percent of GDP was 9 percent in 1929 at the outset of the Great Depression.

"At no time during this period was the United States' GDP 100 percent private.

"The 2009 level of federal government spending was 20.6 percent."

Her communications director, Dave Dziok, explained the 51 percent estimate as coming from William Boyes, an economics professor at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, "who estimates that the government now owns or controls businesses that generate about one-third of U.S. economic activity. With the passage of the health care bill, which makes up about 18 percent of the economy, government’s involvement in the private sector has eclipsed the 50 percent threshold."

Dziok wrote that the 100 percent figure "...has nothing to do with the numbers...from the Bureau of Economic Analysis regarding the level of government spending as a percent of GDP. She was stating the fact that the federal government has seized control of private businesses like General Motors and AIG. She wasn’t talking at all about government spending."

She also said "The New England Journal of Medicine released a survey the week that President Obama signed Obamacare stating that over 30 percent of American physicians would leave the profession if the government took over health care. That's very serious going forward."

CBS, however, said the New England Journal of Medicine has denied it conducted or published the survey cited by Bachmann. Dziok responded, in an email, "I know they’re doing what they can to distance themselves from the survey done by Medicus, but the fact of the matter is the New England Journal of Medicine has lent both its name and crest to the newsletter in which it was published."

Voting record

Organization Rating Source
AFL-CIO 7% [1]
American Civil Liberties Union 18%
American Conservative Union 100%
Americans for Democratic Action 0%
Cato Institute 57%
Christian Coalition 100%
Human Rights Campaign 0%
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 20%
NARAL 0%
National Rifle Association A
National Right to Life Committee 100%
National Taxpayers Union A (2008) 95% (2007)
U.S. Chamber of Commerce 94%

2008 Campaign

During the 2008 campaign, on October 17, she suggested, on MSNBC, that that being liberal was "anti-American," and, according to many listeners, implied this to Barack Obama; Bachmann said that the media should investigate members of Congress to see if they were "pro-American" or 'anti-American."[21] Colin Powell said that he had endorsed Obama, in part, due to comments such as hers, which he regarded as needlessly divisive.[22]

A week later, she said "I did not say that Barack Obama was anti-American, nor do I believe Barack Obama is anti-American. He loves his country, just as everyone in this room does...Nor did I call for an investigation of members of Congress for their pro-American or anti-American views. That is not what I said." [23]

Bachmann explicitly refused to endorse John McCain's presidential campaign in 2008, telling the West Sherburne Tribune that McCain "is not my man. Our candidate was chosen by the media"[16].

Candidate Party Vote total Percentage
Michele Bachmann Republican 187,817 46.41%
El Tinklenberg Farmer-Labor 175,786 43.43%
Bob Anderson Independent 40,643 10.04%

References

  1. Christopher Beam (5 November 2009), "Bachmania: Michele Bachmann invites tea partiers to Washington for another swig.", Slate
  2. Laurie Kellman (5 November 2009), "'Kill the bill' protesters target health care", Associated Press
  3. "Tea Party Movement Evolves Into Political Force With Eye Toward 2010", Fox News, 15 December 2009
  4. Bachmann, Blackburn say they're out of Tea Party Convention, Associated Press, 28 January 2010
  5. Molly Hooper (3 November 2010), "Race for Republican leadership posts starting to heat up", The Hill
  6. Amy Gardner and David A. Fahrenthold (4 November 2010), "For tea party, victories may trigger identity crisis", Washington Post
  7. Jake Sherman (4 November 2010), "Bachmann vs Hensarling race heats up", Politico
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan (4 November 2010), "Bachmann leadership bid adds drama", Politico
  9. Perry Bacon Jr. (10 November 2010), "Michele Bachmann ends bid to join GOP leadership", Washington Post
  10. Missouri Tea Party Groups Have NOT Endorsed Roy Blunt for U.S. Senate, "28 [Tea Party] Groups, Representing over 8,660 Patriots, 28 July 2010
  11. "Michele Bachmann", whorunsgov.com, a Washington Post company
  12. 12.0 12.1 G.R. Anderson Jr. (4 October 2006), "The Chosen One: Michele Bachmann's recipe for success: Christian piety and not-so-Christian opportunism", Minneapolis City Pages
  13. La Paglia, Bernadette, “Senator Bachmann Lectures on ‘School-to-Work’,” Naples Sun Times, October 6, 2004.
  14. Markell, Jan, “Prophetic Views Behind The News,” KKMS-AM News, March 20, 2004.
  15. Scheck, Tom, “Bachmann: Iran has plan to turn part of Iraq into terrorist haven,” Minnesota Public Radio, February 23, 2007
  16. 16.0 16.1 "16B Candidates Kiffmeyer, Lumley Attend Convention GOP convenes at Salida", West Sherburne Tribune, 15 March 2008
  17. Michele Bachmann (21 July 2008), "Drill Here. Drill Now.", National Review
  18. Energy Information Administration, [http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/anwr/index.html Analysis of Crude Oil Production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge], May 2008
  19. Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, Energy Information Administration
  20. 20.0 20.1 "Bachmann Offers Big Numbers, Little Proof", Face the Nation, CBS News, 29 March 2010
  21. "Rep. Bachmann suggests liberal is "anti-American"", MSNBC Hardball, 17 October 2008
  22. John Bresnahan (October 19, 2008), "Colin Powell calls Bachmann's comments 'nonsense'", politico.com
  23. "Bachmann: Talk show appearance `big mistake'", MSNBC, 22 October 2008