Anti-American Obama Statement may cost 2 US House Seats

Michelle Bachman's (R-MN) comments on Hardball about Obama and other congressional Liberals being anti-American may cost her her seat. Its also possible that her comments may also cost another Republican seat where the the incumbent Republican is stepping down and there is a very tight race to replace him.

Bachman has always been a polarizing figure as one who led the ban against Gay Marriage in MN, leading to her half-sister to come out of the closet, her kiss of GW Bush following a State of the Union speech on the house floor and her claim early in her first term that she had seen a secret map claiming that Iran had a plan to partition Iraq and turn part of it into a terrorist training ground. It looks like her latest comments might catch up with her as she was already locked in a competitive race against Elwyn Tinklenberg who served as Jesse Ventura's head of the Dept. of Transportation. Her district is a suburban / ex-urban district that is generally considered conservative but one where a moderate Democrats had had success.


http://www.startribune.com/politics...ArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJ

From the Startribune:
Pelosi stumps in Minnesota as political landscape shifts
Rep. Michele Bachmann's controversial remarks continue to fuel heated debate and attract a rush of contributions.

By MARK BRUNSWICK, a nd PAT DOYLE

Last update: October 20, 2008 - 9:58 PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann's controversial remarks about the possible "anti-American" attitudes of Barack Obama and other Democrats continued to inflame debate in Minnesota U.S. House races on Monday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a day after denouncing Bachmann's statements as something that "dishonors" her office, arrived to campaign for DFLer Ashwin Madia in the Third District, and predicted victory for Democrats across the state.

Meanwhile, reports indicated that national Democrats will pour $1 million into the Sixth District race, and the state DFL pledged stepped-up efforts there as well.

"Even people who may be on the fence, even some folks who may be Republicans are offended by these comments," said DFL state chair Brian Melendez.

Bachmann's spokeswoman, Michelle Marston, did not respond Monday to requests for an interview with Bachmann. On KMSP-TV Monday, Bachmann repeated her assertion Sunday that her earlier comments to MSNBC's Chris Matthews were misunderstood.

"I did not suggest anti-American," she said. "Chris Matthews was suggesting the word anti-American and asking me to respond to it."

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report in Washington said Monday that Bachmann's comments have changed the political landscape in the Sixth District. David Wasserman, who analyzes U.S. House races for the report, said they were moving the district from "likely Republican" to "tossup."

Trailing Bachmann by $1 million in cash at the end of September, Elwyn Tinklenberg's campaign said Monday that it has raised more than $810,000 in contributions since Bachmann's remarks on Friday. Campaign spokesman John Wodele said the campaign has purchased more than $250,000 in TV and radio time through Election Day.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Monday announced that it would spend $1 million in the district and immediately begin running TV ads. The committee's website is using Bachmann's comments to solicit money.

Incumbency has given Bachmann formidable fundraising ability. Her campaign recently scheduled more than $300,000 in television ad time over the final few weeks of the campaign, and the National Republican Congressional Committee is putting substantial money into the race.

But Brendan Buck, NRCC spokesman, declined to say how much the GOP committee would spend to help Bachmann in response to the surge of contributions to Tinklenberg, saying it didn't want to divulge strategy.

Anti-Paulsen ads decried

Even as Bachmann's comments continue to heat up the political atmosphere, Pelosi's visit for Madia in the Third District race came amid a barrage of negative attack ads, largely funded by outside groups such as the DCCC. GOP candidate Erik Paulsen, who has not been able to count on the same financial support from the Republicans, has condemned Madia and the outside groups for what he has called a "smear campaign."

On Monday, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Second District Rep. John Kline joined a group of veterans to decry as unfair a series of ads from Madia supporters suggesting that Paulsen voted against veterans as a member of the Minnesota House.

"It saddens me that we have allowed the political discourse to sink so low," Pawlenty said.

But Pawlenty, Kline and Paulsen all distanced themselves from Bachmann's remarks in response to reporters' questions.

Said Pawlenty: "I don't think it's fair or appropriate to suggest that Barack Obama is anti-American. If you do a lot of interviews, eventually you are going to say something that you wish you had said differently. It's just the nature of talking all day."

mbrunswick@startribune.com • 651-222-1636 pdoyle@startribune.com • 612-222-1210

Here are Michelle Bachman's statements:
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She is good for a crazy entertaining comment and politics aside she is pretty easy on the eyes.

 

In a followup Michelle Bachman now says she misspoke although she still blames Matthews.

http://www.startribune.com/politics...yqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUX

Bachmann: 'I made a misstatement'

ST. CLOUD - Appealing to business leaders and party faithful for support, Rep. Michele Bachmann retreated Tuesday from her televised claim that Barack Obama "may have anti-American views," but also asserted that "a trap was laid" that prompted her remark.

While Bachmann was on the defensive, her political problems invigorated the supporters of her DFL challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg at a packed town hall meeting in Blaine Tuesday night, as the race gained national attention and Tinklenberg reaped extra campaign dollars.

"Thank you, Michele!" one man shouted, setting off gales of laughter.

Bachmann, a Republican, defended herself during campaign stops at a lumber company, at a GOP campaign storefront and before the Rotary Club in St. Cloud. In her talk to the Rotary Club, she blamed Chris Matthews, the host of MSNBC's "Hardball," for setting the stage for her controversial comments about Obama.

"Sometimes you make a decision about going on a show ... I probably should have said no to Chris Matthews."

"I had never seen his show before," she said. "I probably should have taken a look at what the show was like ... A trap was laid, but I stepped into it.

"I made a misstatement. I said a comment that I would take back."

Matthews on Friday asked Bachmann whether she believed that Obama may have anti-American views. Bachmann replied: "Absolutely, I'm very concerned that he may have anti-American views."

But in her address to the Rotary in St. Cloud, Bachmann said: "I did not, nor do I, question Barack Obama's patriotism ... I did not say that Barack Obama is anti-American nor do I believe that Barack Obama is anti-American."

Democrats and some Republicans have criticized Bachmann's MSNBC comments, which included her call for the news media to conduct an "exposé" on the views of members of Congress to "find out are they pro-America or anti-America."

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell cited that remark as "nonsense" while endorsing Obama over the weekend. More than $1 million in contributions have poured into the campaign coffers of Tinklenberg, his campaign said, since Bachmann's appearance on "Hardball."

Debating the impact

While Bachmann told the Rotary luncheon crowd of 100 that she didn't question Obama's patriotism, she added: "I'm very concerned about Barack Obama's views. I don't believe that socialism is a good thing for America."

Except for some local television interviews, this was Bachmann's first formal public appearance since the Friday interview. She appeared before a business group generally supportive of GOP candidates in a city where many voters share her opposition to abortion.

In a brief question-and-answer session following Bachmann's speech, local business leaders asked her about taxes, the $700 billion rescue package for Wall Street, allegations of voter fraud and transportation concerns in the district.

How much impact -- and of what kind -- Bachmann's remarks will have on the election was a matter of debate among some Rotary members.

"I'm a staunch Republican supporter of hers, but I think it's going to be a factor," said Don Watkins, 72, a retired business owner. "When you look at the money the Democrats are pumping in, it's going to have an impact, no doubt about it. Whether it will cost her the race or not, I won't venture."

As for the merits of Bachmann's earlier concern that Obama may be anti-American, Watkins said, "I get a lot of e-mails on the subject, a lot of it's pretty negative regarding Obama. There's ways to check out information, but I don't have time to do it."

Also at the Rotary meeting was 46-year-old Joyce Brenny, who runs a trucking company. She said she doubted that Bachmann's comments on Friday are "going to upset the apple cart. She really has a heart for small business."

Later, Bachmann went to the Mathew Hall Lumber Company and met owner Loran Hall, who talked about taxes and how the economic downturn was affecting his business. He also voiced support for her in the controversy over her remarks.

"You are 100 percent right," Hall said. "I appreciate it. We're running up against socialism."

At the GOP storefront, Bachmann told about 50 supporters that "an extra five phone calls, an extra five doors you can knock, it can make a difference. We need to be positive and upbeat."

One supporter, Karlene Gayle, 61, of Richmond, Minn., said she saw Bachmann's comments on "Hardball" and "I think she did a great job. She didn't say anything wrong." Gayle also agrees with Bachmann's assertion that she was trapped. As for Obama, "the man scares the life out of me," she said.

Lots of change

Tinklenberg has started using his new cash flow for his first television ad of the campaign. It is strictly biographical, introducing Tinklenberg to the district.

In opening remarks at his rally in Blaine, attended by 100 people, Tinklenberg said, "This thing has changed a lot in, let's say, the last three or four days ..."

"So much of the political debate tries to divide us into us versus them ... we've seen that contrast play out recently in this race," Tinklenberg said. "We are going to reject the politics of division and fear."

That was the extent of Tinklenberg's reference to his opponent in his 15-minute introductory remarks, which focused instead on his record as Blaine's mayor and his tenure as the state's transportation commissioner during the Ventura administration.

Constituent questions focused not on Bachmann but on such issues as international trade, energy policy, job creation and the recent government bailout.

But the subject of Bachmann's controversy came up again at the end of the event.

"Did you send Michele Bachmann a thank-you note?" one man hollered.

Staff writer Bob von Sternberg contributed to this report. Pat Doyle • 651-222-1210

 

Yep its all me. I just can't resist blue eyes auburn hair and crazy...

In more news after claiming she misspoke Michelle Bachman pretty much repeats what she said on Hardball on a conservative leaning radio show.

Also the RNCC has pulled ads planned for Bachman while Tinklenberg has raised $1.3 mil since last Friday and the DNCC is putting a mil into his race.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/10/22/michele_bachmann_obama_comments/

Sixth District Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann expressed her regrets this week for some controversial comments about Barack Obama and liberal members of Congress.

But a day after Bachmann insisted she never questioned Obama's patriotism, she appeared on a national conservative radio program and raised more questions about the Democratic presidential nominee.

Forest Lake, Minn. — Congresswoman Michele Bachmann was on the campaign trail Wednesday, trying to get the focus back on policy issues. Bachmann visited TeamVantage Molding, a family-owned business in Forest Lake, to talk about repealing the federal estate tax.

"You can count on me as a member of Congress to be a part of the coalition that will repeal once and for all this misguided death tax, when Congress returns to session in January, if I'm lucky enough to go back and represent you there," Bachmann said.

Bachmann's re-election bid took a major hit last Friday when she went on the MNSBC program Hardball. Bachmann wondered aloud if Barack Obama was anti-American and then suggested the news media investigate other members of Congress for their anti-American views.

During a speech in St. Cloud on Tuesday, Bachmann tried to set the record straight saying she thinks Obama loves his country. She insisted she does not question Obama's patriotism, does not believe he's anti-American and never called for an investigation of Congress.

Bachmann wouldn't answer questions in Forest Lake, but her campaign manager, Michelle Marston, said the Congresswoman was busy focusing on issues. Marston said the flap over the MSNBC interview has been a big distraction.

"We have been kind of been forced to get off of talking about the issues that people want to be talking about," Marston said. "And as hard as we try to keep on those issues, and keep talking about Michele Bachmann's record of lowering taxes, of cutting government spending, of reforming the ways of Washington, we keep getting pulled back into talking about Chris Matthews."

But Bachmann was bringing up Chris Matthews on her own during an interview on the Mike Gallagher radio show. Bachmann raised some familiar-sounding issues just a day after her St. Cloud speech.

"What are Barack Obama's policies?" Bachmann said on the show. "Are they for America or will they be against traditional American ideals and values? And I'll tell you what, punishing tax rates, redistribution of wealth, socialized medicine, inputting censorship in the form of the un-Fairness Doctrine and taking away the secret ballot from the worker has nothing to do with traditional American values. That's why your listeners need to know. Otherwise the United States may be literally changed forever if Barack Obama becomes the next president."

Bachmann also told Gallagher and his audience that she's desperate for financial help. Her Democratic opponent, Elwyn Tinklenberg, has raised $1.3 million since Friday when Bachmann appeared on MSNBC. And, the National Republican Congressional Committee has canceled the TV ads it scheduled on Bachmann's behalf on Twin Cities stations. Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it intends to spend more than $1 million in TV ads to defeat Bachmann.

DFL state Senator Tarryl Clark of St. Cloud said Tinklenberg is now in a good position to win, thanks to Bachmann.

"Michele Bachmann has singlehandedly helped El Tinklenberg show who she really is," Clark said. "And we probably couldn't have even raised the money to get that kind of information out to the people to the 6th district. But, she did it on her own. Now he has the resources to get his positive vision out."

But many Republicans warn against counting out Bachmann too soon. David Strom of the Minnesota Free Market Institute, who stood with Bachmann during the Forest Lake event, said he doesn't see the controversy translating into a defeat for Bachmann. Strom said despite the commotion, Bachmann still has many like-minded constituents in the 6th district.

"At the end of the day Bachmann fits the district very well," Strom said. "And I don't think that most of the people in the district think she's so far out on the extreme, because she actually represents where most people in the district actually are."

Stay tuned for a steady barrage of 6th district ads on Twin Cities television in the final two weeks of the campaign.