Many in the press, and especially liberals, have attempted to paint Congresswoman Michele Bachmann as a shrill, extremist, inexperienced and stupid woman. They do so at their peril, and much to Bachmann's gain. Her performance at the GOP debate on Monday showed just how wrong that caricature is, with Bachmann putting in a widely praised performance, displaying a keen knowledge of foreign policy and fiscal issues.
Just as when liberals tried to paint George W Bush as stupid, they are making another toxic mistake in setting expectations incredibly low for Bachmann. By setting the bar of expectation so low it allows Bachmann to gracefully step over it and damage the credibility of her critics. This happened with Bush, and it appears to be happening again with Bachmann.
Monday's debate performance is already being seen as a potential turning point in how insiders view Bachmann, blowing up old views of her virtually overnight. As Politico points out:
"It was, quite simply, a different Michele Bachmann who emerged on stage at St. Anselm’s College in New Hampshire — a nuanced, focused and polished politician rather than the one-dimensional firebrand she’s been caricatured as in the past. If she is to make a serious run at the presidential nomination, Monday’s debate might be the turning point that gave the GOP establishment a reason to give her a second look."
Her critics have also tried to paint Bachmann as a Minnesota doppelganger of Sarah Palin, who has been more effectively caricatured to the wider electorate as insufficiently prepared for higher office. They face an uphill battle in doing so as the Christian Science Monitor points out:
"Many people think of Bachmann and Sarah Palin as cut from the same cloth, but beyond their obvious similarities as outspoken conservative women, they are distinctly different. Bachmann, a decade older at 55, had a career as a tax lawyer and is well versed in the finer points of legislation. She is not only a third-term House member but spent a half-dozen years before that in the Minnesota Senate."
Bachmann was also appointed by Speaker Boehner to the House Intelligence Committee, which is not generally a committee to which stupid, inexperienced Members get appointed. She displayed her knowledge gained from her work on the committee during the debate, referencing reports that suggest Al Qaeda members could be linking up with parts of the Libyan opposition, much as they did with sections of the Afghani opposition in the 1980s.
That's not to say Palin lacks experience, but Bachmann has considerably more experience in national affairs and tax policy than Palin. Her own campaign operatives are working hard to make distinctions between the two women with senior Bachmann advisor Ed Rollins telling the press that Palin isn't serious. Palin's camp demanded Rollins be fired over the comment. The fact that he hasn't shows a willingness on Team Bachmann to make that distinction clear and throw the punches required of an effective campaign. The hiring of Rollins, who was Mike Huckabee's 2008 campaign Chairman and ran Ronald Reagan's re-election in 1984, is also a sign that Bachmann is a serious candidate able to attract top knotch talent to her team.
Even Bachmann's shrillest critics have admitted she has an uncanny media sense. Her announcement of her campaign at the debate guaranteed she would dominate coverage of the debate for days. She also raised more money than any other Congressional candidate in the country in 2010, a key strength in a crowded field with candidates who can self-fund in large ways like Mitt Romney.
Added all together, Bachmann could end up being a far more credible challenger than her critics would like to admit. With her penchant for firebrand comments and a rapidly increased amount of scrutiny about to descend on her campaign, this moment of a fawning press could quickly recede. But for now it appears Bachmann is one to watch. As the Christian Science Monitor concludes:
"We don’t yet know how Michele Bachmann will fare under the grinding pressure of a national campaign. But if her maiden debate was any indication, she shouldn’t be underestimated."
Ha! Palin has been a governor, which means she has been an executive and won a statewide race. Bachmann has been a laywer and congressperson. Pop quiz Pols, who gets elected President more often? Governors or congresspeople?
I’m not saying Bachmann isn’t a strong candidate – she is. But let’s not kid ourselves, Palin is far more experienced.
You’re bringing that dirty shit around here? Also, how was Palin less qualified for VP than the bamster was for President? The latter is a generic question
She was a half term Governor from a state that is nearly 70% federal land, meaning she was basically Chief Park Ranger. It’s a state where due to their oil wealth Alaska citizens get $1000 a year from the government. That does not equate to experience.
While I’m no fan of Bachmann, she was a tax lawyer and a state senator for six years prior to her three terms in Congress, meaning she does have actual knowledge and experience with tax policy.
I’m sorry, but anyone who quits one of the easiest Governor jobs in America halfway through their term because they couldn’t take the criticism and scrutiny from the press and liberal blogger has NO right to claim the mantle of experience.
she isn’t qualified, but Obama was a 2/3 term Senator, who obstensibly had as much or less knowledge than her about the inner-workings of the government, federal or state. She’s not qualified, but never is our President.
You don’t know what you’re talking about.
as Palin, but she has her moments. It’s amazing to see the purveyors of the “women’s rights movement” to attack women in politics (on the right anyway). Then again, Bachmann and Palin are a bit easier on the eyes than the dog show that is Hilary and Pelosi.
1. is the fact that she is a woman (now before you all go calling me a sexist pig): Women are typically super-critical of OTHER women. This isn’t just what I say, listen to the femi-nazi explain it:
http://www.thefword.org.uk/fea…
2. this campaign narrative:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/b…
Now I’ve read the above article a couple times today, first thinking ‘so what? she is standing up for her beliefs’ but combine problem #1 with problem #2 and you get Sara Palin on steroids.
But I am happy to hear others thoughts.
Just read that Daily Beast article. Bachmann is fucked. Republicans rightfully had problems with Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s anti-American preacher. Bachmann’s mentor, John Eidsmoe, is many times worse. Bachmann was even a research assistant for a book where he claims the US started as a Christian theocracy and should return to one.
The fact that Tea Party groups rescinded their invitation to him to speak after they found out he has spoken to more than a few white supremacist groups should speak volumes.
Bachmann may have done well at the first debate, but remember Palin nailed the RNC speech. Then it was all downhill from there. You can make a retarded chimpanzee look good for one debate.
I bet she can’t withstand the scrutiny throughout the process.