Lake Elmo, MN (CNN)-In her campaign for president, Michele Bachmann touts her background as a small business owner.
"A small business job creator," is how the Minnesota Congresswoman and Republican Presidential candidate described herself in her first campaign ad in Iowa.
That business is Bachmann and Associates. It's a Christian counseling service located outside Minneapolis. Bachmann started the center with her husband, Marcus who is the lead counselor at the clinic. The aspiring first couple and their children are pictured on the center's web site.
For at least five years, Bachmann and Associates has faced accusations it uses a controversial therapy that encourages gay and lesbian patients to change their sexual orientation.
Andrew Ramirez, a former patient at Bachmann and Associates, said in an interview with CNN he witnessed the practice first-hand. In 2004, Ramirez turned to the clinic at the urging of his mother who wanted him to talk about his homosexuality.
Just 17 at the time, Ramirez said he was immediately skeptical of what one of the clinic's counselors told him.
"It was therapy that would help me change from being homosexual to straight," Ramirez said. "If I did this and worked his therapy program, God would perform a miracle and I could no longer be gay," Ramirez added he was told.
Ramirez was assigned a therapy program consisting of prayer, reading Bible passages, and mentoring with an ex-lesbian minister. If none of that worked, Ramirez said the counselor had another suggestion.
"Not acting out on my same sex attractions and living a life of celibacy," Ramirez said.
After the second session, Ramirez told his mother, Beth Shellenbarger, he wanted to stop the therapy.
"And I could just hear his voice quiver and I just said, 'you know, Andy, if you're good with being gay then I am too,'" Shellenbarger said.
The American Psychological Association is sharply critical of efforts by counselors to change a patient's sexual orientation, what's known in the mental health community as "reparative therapy."
"There is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation," one APA report said.
Marcus Bachmann has suggested parents of gay teenagers can turn to religion for help.
In an interview last year with the "Point of View" talk radio program, Bachmann was asked how parents should deal with a teenager who thinks he or she is gay.
"I think you clearly say 'what is the understanding of God's word on homosexuality,'" Bachmann said. "We have to understand barbarians need to be educated. They need to be disciplined and just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn't mean we're supposed to go down that road," he continued.
In 2006, Bachmann denied his clinic engaged in reparative therapy to "City Pages," a Minneapolis newspaper. "That's a false statement," Bachmann said. "If someone is interested in talking to us about their homosexuality, we are open to talking about that. But if someone comes in a homosexual and they want to stay homosexual, I don't have a problem with that," he continued.
This week, a gay rights group called "Truth Wins Out" released to CNN a hidden camera video recorded by one of its activists who posed as a patient at Bachmann and Associates.
In the video reviewed by CNN, a counselor can be heard suggesting homosexuality can be treated at the center, to varying degrees of success.
"You can actually leave homosexuality completely and become heterosexual?" the undercover activist asked on the video. "Definitely," the counselor responded. "It's happened before. It really has," the counselor added.
But the counselor cautioned he is not an expert on the subject.
"I don't have a ton of experience with this. I mean, a little bit here and there," the counselor added.
Michele Bachmann has a long history of controversial views on homosexuality.
As a senator in the Minnesota legislature in 2004, Bachmann called for an amendment to the state constitution that would block gay marriages in other states from being recognized in Minnesota.
"If we allow this to happen, group marriage, polygamy, and much worse would not be far behind," Bachmann said in a video to her supporters.
In an appeal to socially conservative Iowa voters earlier this month, she signed a "Marriage Vow" pledge that also equated same sex couples with polygamists.
Both Bachmann and her husband declined to discuss the clinic's practices. A secretary at the clinic referred all questions to the Bachmann presidential campaign. A sign on the center's door says "no media."
A statement released by her presidential campaign said the Bachmanns were unable to comment on the clinic's practices out of respect for its patients.
"The Bachmann's are in no position ethically, legally, or morally to discuss specific courses of treatment concerning the clinic's patients," the statement said.
The issue has followed Bachmann onto the campaign trail. Asked about the clinic's practices at an event in Iowa Monday, Bachmann dodged the question.
"Well, I'm running for the presidency of the United States. And I'm here today to talk about job creation," Bachmann told WHO-TV. "We're very proud of the business that we've created," she added.
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Something isn't right with these people, where are their children? They make such a fuss over raising 28 kids, most being foster kids how come they haven't paraded them around yet? Don't those right wingers always parade their families around to prive how "family" oriented they are? I've never seen any of them. Michelle Bachman should be worried more about her husband than anything else.
I have to wonder if Bachman's husband will turn out to be a big closet case. "Methinks he doth protest too much....."
"Well, I'm running for the presidency of the United States. And I'm here today to talk about job creation," Bachmann told WHO-TV. "We're very proud of the business that we've created," she added.
But she has yet to reveal one detail about HOW she would create jobs, just that Obama does not create jobs and that it is not up to the Government to create jobs
She's such a hater
And the hate continues unabated.
And btw, proving these people are despicable didn't require dressing up and fooling people BEFORE taping them on hidden camera. They weren't tricked or goaded. They were allowed to be themelves and still be found wanting.
In these troubled times she is just what we DON'T need.
Bachman is not only a nut case, she's a hypocrite and a liar. But she's a good Christian! Bless us all!
okay.... here's a pill your normal.... wow how easy....
If a clinic can collect medicaid for recommending prayer and scripture readings, why can't churches?
As a counselor for addiction for the past 23 years, reparative therapy is a no-no. It is UNETHICAL to place your belief system on a patient. You will be "disbarred".......I hope Bachmann and her husband didn't take money from HHS, which I believe they did. Afterall, she is America's Welfare Queen. Non-producing farms substudies, non-profit HHS funds and government monies for each "foster" child.
Is it just me, or does Mr. Bachmann have some homosexual mannerisms?
Right-wing social engineering, plain and simple. Why not put them in camps and make them wear uniforms with pink badges- oh, wait, the Nazis already tried that. Bachmann is already considering investigations into Anti-American activites: is this the next step in the GOP/TP Final Solution? Who is next on their list?
That woman is disgusting.
I shudder to think of these evangelical christian fanatical zealots running our country. Is the US really overrun with these type nuts or is it that the media covers them because they are such freaks and therefore not the norm? I hope for the latter.
I'm no Bachmann supporter, but it's more business experience than Obama ever had.
Incredible, It's like living in the middle ages.
"There is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation," one APA report said."
--------------------------------------------
This is hilarious, especially coming from the APA which arbitrarily and with no evidence to support the decision decided to remove homosexuality from its list of disorders (philia) in 1973. The campaign to legitimize this often lethal behavior has been supported by the news media and much of the political establishment in a way that can only be described as irresponsible. The homosexual "cause" has been advanced under a civil rights model that equates "sexual preference" to a status (equivalent to gender or race) rather than a behavior. This is completely fraudulent. There is no "homosexual gene" and although there may be a predisposition toward certain types of aberrant and destructive behavior (alcoholism, eating disorders), there is no credible evidence, capable of replication by disinterested investigators, to suggest that homosexuality is anything by a dangerous obsessive/compulsive behavioral disorder.
The media's treatment of this and its active support to legitimize the disorder is disgusting and completely unethical.
Pray the gay away. Better yet support human rights for all humans, not just straight ones.
michele bachmann is absolutely insane. Way to use the slippery slope fallacy of logic.
I can't believe this guy. This is probably a typical very closeted gay queen who is so repressed that he hides his true self by being against his own kind.
If this was not so sad, it would make a great sitcom on cable television.
Shame, shame, shame on this clinic.....exploiting gays & lesbians with federal funds then denying it? Who's the
prevaricator here? This entire business is pretty shifty if you ask me & there is more than meets the eye!
If I only had the gift of gab, I could start a snake-oil business, too. Let's see. Make a sort of nasty tasting beverage, sort of brownish. Put some alcohol in it. Say it cures something or it makes some other human experience more pleasurable. Now a snappy name. Getitup-keepitup! Look, I'm a small businessman! I'll hire people.
Those poor sick, confused, disturbed people just need God's love................. I hope the Bachmanns get help immediately.
"We have to understand barbarians need to be educated."
Yikes. Just...yikes.
Cuckoo Cuckoo Cuckoo... Our wanna be President!
Some day a clinic will open that claims to reverse the mentality that supports Bachmann.
do people really consider her presidential?
A theocracy is the very definition of big government. The nature of practicing a religion is not about belief, but about behavior. What you are allowed, forbidden and forced to do, the books you cannot and must read, the words you use, the food you eat and even the clothes you wear can all be dictated by a religion. Before anyone says they want this to be a Christian nation, they better be sure they are willing to accept that it may not be their version of Christianity and live with the consequences of having someone else’s interpretation of an ancient book written for a desert culture dictate their everyday life.
How to steal money and say they are serving a conservative cause. This just goes to show how crazy this woman is and how she has even infected her husband's clinic with her virus!
We need only look at the "my way or the highway" approach of the Tea Party manipulated GOP to see why Michele Bachmann can not & will not be President.
She could not be trusted with executive power. I believe she would literally try to install a theocracy in place of our democracy. I`m a Christian and I wouldn`t take that chance with her.
Golly, we all knew ages ago that the Bachmann's run this "pray away the gay" sham. Marcus has a PHD from a mail order house and Michelle went to a discredited law school and Oral Roberts University, the cultural center of Christianist myopia and paranoia. As long as she was only embarrassing Minnesota, the media went along with her game. But now, with the presidency on the line, the media is finally stepping up to expose this shill. About time.
So, the Bachmanns make part of their living with brainwashing. Good to know.
Yes, some gay people have a problem with being gay... because society and religion tells them there is something wrong with them.... there is nothing wrong with them.
So how do they qualify for Medicare payments if they do nothing medically? Can I get money from the government for telling people to pray their problems away? Who knew? Of course I thought people who did that sort of thing were called witch doctors! Well, so be it, the ads go out tomorrow!
Bachmann's husband equates homosexuals with barbarians. How nice. Another shining example of Christian brotherly love from repressed, mean-spirited, self-centered people who really don't seem to understand their own religion.
Haha..it's fun watching her slowly crash and burn...
thank you God. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for battling this disease Ms. Bachmann. Heaven has a place for you.
It is a mental disease or disorder or confusion which is curable. There are such clinics in our close neighboring countries in Caribbeans where people have been successfully treated. It is this country where you cannot say anything against wrongful behavior. Of course, if some one talks of change of heart (religiously) then whole liberal group goes after him/her/them.
Bachman is a closeminded dimwit
Log Cabin Republicans, are you listening?
Bachmann, you are a disgrace to the species. And what is even worse is that you have people who support you.
If the center could cure Bachmann of terminal idiocy, that would be really impressive.
My good friend from highschool went to one of these when he was young, confused and stressed by his baby jesus values. It tortured his soul and only made things worse...he went to the dark side of life (drugs and depression) before giving up on his family and church...now he's happy, healthy and married to his partner. Good for him!
What were you expecting from Michelle? Honesty and full disclosure? Hah!
Kinda hard from such a closed mind.
Crazy is as crazy does. She makes Sarah Palin seem tame.
This lady are completely out of touch with most people and homophobes to top it off there extreme views of what they think life should be has no business being in the white house. If elected she would cause anarchy in are country and the country we know and love will be in trouble with the rest of the world. Please people do not elect this fool.
I pray everyday that Bachmann will go away and it has yet to work. I hope she has better luck.
Bauchman is an expert at brainwashing. So no wonder she thinks homosexuality can be cured in therapy.
What's going on at that "clinic"? It's not science-based, that's for sure.
Michelle Bachmann putting forth a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage? Well then wouldn't that have prevented her from marrying her husband? Oh wait, she only means if two men or two women want to get married. Since shes a woman who married a gay man, thats acceptable. These people are pathetic.
Psychological and psychiatric "intervention" can turn a gay gay into a straightly depressed gay.
Hello testing.
Finally someone stands up for their beliefs! I'm completely behind her thoughts on the subject! Amen Lady!
is this another palin clone?
Dominionist. If you're not familiar with the word, look it up, and realize that this woman poses a danger to civil liberties and our free society. She doesn't deserve a position of any more authority than toll-booth attendant on the Jersey Turnpike.
The barbarians need to be disciplined eh Marcus? The only barbarians I see are in your camp.
She's got my vote!
What purpose in this life could Bachman possibly have for telling millions of Americans who happen to be gay, that they are less of people than herself? They're not and Bachman's pandering to the political christian do-gooders with long snoopy and judgemental noses, is sucky wrong and stupid idiot political hacker fodder. Plus, it's dead wrong and everybody knows it, but now its worked its way up to a presidential canidate, whose in trouble for lying for money with her hand on the Bible.
You know you can carpet bomb and carpet bomb and carpet bomb a place for so long and then slowly at a steady pace life comes back to establish a foothold once more well the american people will use what god gave them good judgement and free will to make the right call when the Bachmans say the bible this the bible that they dont say that god also gave the gift of free will for man and woman to choose right and wrong in the life they live so i have learned that omitting parts of the truth is the same as lying no matter how a person dont say it .
What do you call someone who is running for the highest office of the land and holds the following beliefs:
- slaves were better off than free men.
- founding fathers were fighting slavery tooth and nail
- does not have her history straight
- cannot stick to facts but makes up facts as suits
- homosexuality is a disease
- it is okay to sign important documents without knowing what you are signing (ya, right!)
- nonwhites have falsified birth certificates
I could not come up with a catchy name for
AN IGNORANT BIGOT TRYING TO FOOL MOST OF THE PEOPLE FOR SOME OF THE TIME.
Nice business. Preach fear then offer salvation. Bit like the tire salesman spreading tacks on surrounding roads.
She should check herself in because she's the one who is sick.
This sort of voodoo certainly fits with the Bachmann clan. All nuttier than a herd of squirrels in an acorn factory. By all means, she is qualified to be the POTUS. And pigs fly.
It's funny how people think you can change your sexual orientation. If you think you can choose to be a homo, then you are a homo. If you think you can't choose to be homo, then what you're saying is that it is not a choice. Leave it alone, move on just live we've moved on from race.
"As a senator in the Minnesota legislature in 2004, Bachmann called for an amendment to the state constitution that would block gay marriages in other states from being recognized in Minnesota."
So, Bachmann is unhappy with a REQUIREMENT for each state to recognize the privileges and immunities of another state, as is required in article IV, section 2 of the US const i tution. Is she then saying that the state of Minnesota is withdrawing from the union?
She's a member of a government subsidized family while being anti-government spending. She's married to an anti-gay crusading closeted husband. She is a social crusader who is the nominee of what was supposed to be a purely fiscally responsible movement. She is a sham.
This is some crazy religious infused Nazi stuff, reminds of the experiments Nazis did on homosexuals, except they have replaced 'science' with 'religion' what a crazy group of individuals... Bachmanns vision for America is a return to the stone ages, it would be a shame to have her as our first female president
Since the Bachman family gets my tax dollars for their phony consulting firm, I can only hope that this is one of those programs congress will cut. What a flim- flam artist. Its made worse in that the middle class is paying for the rich to fleece us with their voodoo theories on psychology. Have these phony debt reduction advocates no shame?
Mind control. That;s what happens behind the walls. And this P.O.S., wants to be your leader. Not a chance.
i have allways known how erratic bachman is but damn, this is who the tea party wants to run this country, oh my God, this is beyond bad. this women is an actual danger to this country.
After gays and lesbians, these people will want to 'cure' other people...Liberals, Democrats, Muslims, malcontents, heretics, Mormons, Catholics, and Jews. We'll all get "cured" or live our lives out in "curative camps".
See this person for what she is...a member of an ultra-controlling sect of Evangelical Christians who cannot accept that others CHOOSE to live outside the lines they draw for themselves.
Elect these people and enough of their friends and you WILL eventually give up the FREEDOMS your forefathers bled for–You will be forced to believe as they believe and live in a New American Theocracy, every bit as controlling and power mad as the Iranian Theocracy.
If there IS a Great Beast of Revelation–he does not pray to anyone with horns. He gets up and says his prayers to Almighty God. He THINKS that God wants HIM to enforce God's Will on earth. He THINKS by doing so he is saving OUR souls. He is DELUDED by the idea that God cannot tolerate ANY idea that do not adhere to his particular beliefs. He BELIEVES that he will do GOOD in the world. And he is as EVIL as any DICTATOR ever was.
All you need to run in American politics is a Bible and a Gun. Oh and of course a homophobics spouse.
Michele Bachmann=Fruit Cake
Well,
She lost my vote. I was leaning towards voting for her, but her religious views push me away. If the republican party would put someone out there that was fiscally conservative, and libertarian socially, I would vote for them. Oh Yeah, they did.
Ron Paul.
That is who I will be voting for in the primary.
The main question has anyone been cured before throug the counselling method or we just want to shut it down. They should find out about that because i have seen and met with an ex gay
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."
So, now we know that not only has the Bachmann clinic collected almost a million over 6 years in Medicaid, but they are using the funds to "cure" homosexuality?
Seems to me this "clinic" owes the tax payers about a million dollars and time court for committing fraud to obtain federal funds.
Perhaps some one from the state should check on the 23 foster kids Marcus and Michele Goebbels had under their influence as well.
That is one crazy woman! Like fruitloops! Sad stuff!
Sounds nuts.
Who cares...a non-issue. At least she started a business. Not much can be said about our current President...
This is eye-opening. In MN any person can open a clinic and say they can cure homosexuality? Does Mr. Bachmann have a degree in psychology or is he a MD or just a business person making big bucks by stealing money from people? People need to know that Mrs. Michelle is a crazy religious freak. How has she been able to be an elected official for so long. May the gods save us from this nut job!!!
Just another hypocrite who figured out a way to play the system and suck up tax dollars.
Gee, something else Bachmann is completely clueless about—what a surprise...
I'm starting a clinic that I hope will cure overzealous christians of misplaced "faith policing."
If praying things away worked, there wouldn't be an intelligent, rational, sane person left alive on Earth... just a bunch of inbred Christians.
Clearly, this woman and her husband are whack jobs! Homosexuality is not a choice and is not something to be "cured". What an insulting bunch of crap this is! How could anyone in this country stand by these people and support this crap? I remember when I was about 10 my neighbors has twin boys (2 yrs. old). At age 3 & 4 they started to dress like girls and eventually in high school everyone realized they were gay. Now how would a small child calculate this? Give me a break; it's not a choice, people!
This is a candidate for President? Really? and she has support? OMG... wonder what made her live with so much fear in her life that she wants to control others?
"The Bachmann's are in no position ethically, legally, or morally to discuss specific courses of treatment concerning the clinic's patients,"
While the statement above is technically true, it begs the question as to what specific type of psychotherapeutic intervention is provided. As the Director of a Community Mental Health Center and a Licensed Therapist I and my office are ethically obligated to inform the client what therapies are offered. There is absolutely no reason a Therapist or Clinic cannot inform the public of the type of service provided. In addition, the Bachman and Associates, accepting government funding in the form of Medicaid reimbursement, may be in violation of prohibition of tax dollars being spent on religion.
When s manic Michele scheduled to do a round on the Sunday talks shows?
Those I do not want to miss, assuming she has the nerve to still be posing as GOP candidate.
I can garantee if she is elected, they will not just be trying to "CURE". They will be determined to rid humanity of this "Cancer"! That is the only way these people think! Get the OVENS heated up folks!
Here you go
hmm, with obama, america will be spent, borrowed and taxed into oblivion. with bachmann, homosechsuals will probably be sent to "happy camps", welfare will be scraped back as much as possible, and we will then plunge into a society where the rich and poor are engaged in an all out brawl.
hmmm lose-lose
Where the heck is Larry Craig when you need him???
What's wrong with treating Gays who want to become straight? It's freedom of choice for some Gays which can't be denied. So is Mr. Bachmann's freedom to do so. Leftist Media is trying to make it sound abnormal and unusual.
WOW, all I can say
Looks like you have to be a special kinda crazy to be a Bachmann. Apparently, no professional training or licensing is required to practice lunatic psycho-babble "therapy" in Minnesota. What a scam. Bachmann in the White House? Seriously? If that happens, we will all need therapy. It's over for her. Buh-Bye, Bachmann, your 15 is up. Well, more like a minute and a half.
Too bad they can't pray away stupid...
Michele Bachmann is co-owner of the clinic and has to accept partial responsibility for what goes on there. Bogus therapies are unethical. Since her clinic receives Medicaid monies, these bogus therapies are also a waste of taxpayer money.
I just pray that no one in the Grand Ole Tea Party ever becomes president. These people are really scary. I mean, scary times 10.
So how many people did they in the last two years?
"If we allow this to happen, group marriage, polygamy, and much worse would not be far behind,"
I don't get it, why do people care about how other people live their lives? How does your neighbor's marriage help or hurt yours? If your marriage fails you cannot blame anyone except you and your spouse. If I am married how does it hurt me if my neighbor has 5 wives, if he is happy and he can keep 5 women happy then good for him. His choices, his wives choices, do not change my choices.
As a society we are way too concerned about how other people live, with a divorce rate of 60%+, each of us need to worry about our own houses, our own lives.... I think GOD has a verse regarding that.
She sure didn't have a problem with the $137,000 in Medicaid money Marcus got to help folks "pray the gay away"
What can we expect from this woman and her campaign but more ignorance. It is really pathetic. These people are so incredibly lame that it's beyond sad. This entire enterprise is a sham. Another Bachmann family circus!
Pam in Oregon
Since Bachmann's clinic receives Medicaid monies, these ineffective and ill-advised therapies are also a waste of taxpayer money. What a hypocrite.
So how many people did they hire?
A President Bachmann would mean the definite return of the Dark Ages!
This business is a sham and the Bachmanns' are grifters. But that is being discourteous to grifters.
Bachmann has a history of controversial gay positions according to the article, which sites that she doesn't want to recognize gay marriages. When did that become controversial?
Oh, Lord! Allow Michele Bachmann to run for president and be smacked by President Obama in Nov'12!!
What a simpleton! Please put down the holy water and pick up a book. No, not that book either...
Please stop attacking candidates for their morals and ethics. It is so wrong. I am really bothered how cnn spins this article to be about gays... Lets move on to more pressing issues like war and our economy.
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Can't The Republican Party do better than this? Come on now!
What a couple of frauds! She is trying to Babtize the country and he is trying to "cure" all the gays!
Mrs. Bachmann needs to be cured of stupidity. Do they have doctors for that?
I thought they both denied that their clinic did this. Just more lies from Bachmann. What is a "Christian" center doing receiving public funds in the first place?
I suppose Michele will claim that they don't benefit from these funds either.
So can they turn heterosexuals into homosexuals?
They should turn one of their staff for marketing. It would not be like they couldn't turn them back.
They should stop playing God and leave people the way God made them. God doesn't make mistakes.
What Bachmann fails to recognize is that, not only does the APA strongly condemn reparative therapy, the APA removed homosexuality as a mental illness 40 YEARS AGO. Therefore, from a clinical perspective, it is irresponsible for any mental health professional to claim that they are conducting "therapy", regardless of their religious convictions.
Christian reparative therapists are, in fact, an oxymoron. It's like calling oneself a Christian Science surgeon, or a Scientologist psychopharmacist. They simply aren't mental health therapists...they are the mental health equivalents to snake oil salesmen.
thank god this has come out-now she is ruined...
Oh Brother! Pray away the gay? LOL, seriously LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'm one of those evil people who believes that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice and sometimes a mental illness...you're not born that way. i can understand how some people, especially christians who are taught to be sympathetic, would try to help people change and save them from a lifetime of heartache. but that's just me.
Bachmann is a loon, and a liar. Thankfully she doesn't represent the conservative movement. She is a fringe extremist. Thankfully, once Sarah Palin gets in this circus sideshow named Michele Bachmann will go away.
We need leadership not fringe candidates with crazy ideas stirring up hatred for fellow Americans.
Instead of "praying away the gay", we should all try to pray HER away.
My question is...HOW does Mr. Bachmann come to know so much about Gay Sex???
You cannot "PRAY AWAY THE GAY". That is like praying away having blue eyes or being too short.
Right wing radicals are running our country into the ground.
I'm not impressed with this as an example of a "business." As for the theory of "reparative therapy" I do believe it works for some people. Sexuality isn't black or white, straight or gay. It's a spectrum and people closer to the middle of the spectrum can be trained to ignore one side or the other. Most straight people will probably admit to a few same-gender crushes during their lifetime, but they are able to ignore them because they are able to "normalize" and fall in love with opposite-gender people. Similarly, people who tend to be gay but are still occasionally attracted to people of the opposite gender can probably be trained to focus on those few opposite-gender attractions and suppress the rest. People who are all the way to one side though, very gay or very straight, will never be able to convert through therapy of any kind. (Just imagine, if you're straight and have never had a gay crush, trying to train yourself to be gay – not going to happen, right? No matter what is best for you/right. Just gross!)
So she's a christian religious nut, are we surprised?
Of course she's the republicans' front-runner; she's a deluded religious whacko and the darling of the tea party: what more have we come to expect from them? Bachman is best described as a cartoon of herself; her very candidacy makes a mockery of the elections process!
Wake up Babylon. Homosexuality is unacceptable, and always has been. It is a sin and Christians advising sinners to repent and change their ways is not newsworthy. It's sad that this sin has gained such a legitmacy in society that this story has any traction. It would be more shocking if a Christian counseled gays to stay the way they are.
"It was therapy that would help me change from being homosexual to straight," Ramirez said. "If I did this and worked his therapy program, God would perform a miracle and I could no longer be gay," Ramirez added he was told.
I need a little more precision with the 'God would perform a miracle' part.
I have a therapy program that helps Christians become rational, caring, tolerant people. I call it an education.
Whatever her view on Gays are, she is about using her business acumen to run the government. Simple fact, a business owner knows nothing about running a government. A government is a non profit organization with a purpose for service not sales. Does Michelle Bauchman know anything about raising funds for something that will not earn a revenue? Does she or any other business person in the country for that matter, understand that if you take a loan to run a program that doesn't profit(all government programs are non profit) that the interest and fees on that loan raise the cost of the program and guarantees that the program will run over budget and will have a shortfall? This is simple math that any elementary student can do, but the biggest and brightest of our political and business minds don't understand. Michelle Bauchman can run her clinic to cure gays all she wants but she will never be able to create a single job as a politician because the Government doesn't create jobs if they aren't needed. It simply creates temporary employment opportunities and most of those jobs are farmed out to contractors who take 50% or more of the money to fund the jobs and the employees get about 10% of that (Pulling numbers from a hat. Look it up and learn the truth). She can't cure gays any more than she can turn around our economy or anything else in this country using her business skills.
WOW. Why can't a politician want a smalll government and leave social issue alone.
It must be hard to achive the clinic's mission when the disgusting appearance of Bachmann herself could make any man find gay sex more appealing.
And if I'm not mistaken, their clinic has accepted 133.000.00 in Medicaid funds. Ouch.
I am so glad that groups like "Truth Wins Out" are keeping the candidates honest. Homophobia is no longer acceptable. People have seen the damage it does to teens and young adults and what this form of BIGOTRY to stop. Candy coating it with religious dogma doesn't stop it from being prejudicial and hate-filled! Time for the homophobia to stop! Gay right are civil rights!
Stuff like this disgusts me. This has been disproved numerous times, and completely looked down on by the The American Medical Association, The American Psychiatric Association, The American Psychological Association, The American Psychoanalytic Association, The American Academy Of Pediatrics, The National Association Of Social Workers. But they're not THAT prestigious...
These religious people like Bachman and palin are extremely dangerous to society in general. Both of them will only see the inside of the White House with at ticket and a tour guide.
I think Michele Bachmann should not be allowed to have it both ways, I would like to know what is she really for?
Michelle Bachmann has no problem expressing her views on topics such as homosexuality etc. I share her views. I am familiar with the arguments made here for curing homosexuality and while these techniques don't always work, they do work a lot proving that the question of homosexuality being genetic just isn't "the gospel" as many people claim. However, I'm not really sure what this has to do with her qualifications to be president. You'd have to look at her voting record, education etc. for that. Her views on homosexuality are a very minor consideration for 99% of Americans.
As each day passes, it gets more and more interesting with this woman. And I don't mean that in a complimentary way. Good golly miss molly, what planet does this woman live on?
I hope Rep. Bachmann wins the Republican nomination. Barry & co. would clean her clock.
So with counseling a straight person could also be turned into a gay person? Does anyone really believe that could be done?
Anyone else tired of gay psychiatrists dominating the media with their points of view? Homosexual acts are revolting and all the gay news service quoting gay psychiartrists doesn't change that.
It's incredible that in the 21st century it has essentially become illegal for a psychiatrist to treat homosexuality as a mental illness, which for some people it actually is. There is plenty of evidence that people who are sexually abused at a young age can become confused about their sexual orientation later in life. Why shouldn't such people be given the option of seeking treatment? Fifty years from now the world is going to be appalled that society actually restricted care to people who wanted and needed it, simply because it was not politically correct to allow it.
The Bachmann Clinic does try to "cure" homosexuals and suggests using porn to change a gay man's view of a woman. This clinic also gets government subsidies to survive. Bachmann and her husband are "christian" nuts engaging in therapy they are not qualified to do and has been proven to not work and actually cause harm to the homosexual. All it adds is misery and denial to who a person really is.
I think Bachmann's husband is gay and overcompensating wtih 5 children and a love-less marriage. Michelle has even said she never wanted to marry Marcus but "God told her to". Maybe she thought it was her job to reform him.
Who knows with these two? They are ignorant extremists who take government handouts and then crticize the government for giving them.
Bachmann is no leader. With all her years in Congress she has never introduced ANY legislation. She just takes up space while spewing her extremist views, hate for anyone different from her, and lies about the issues. If she cannot even remember the most basic parts of our American history, how can she be trusted to understand the issues she rambles on about?
Investigate her clinic and her husband's past. She is not what she pretends to be.
You have to really wonder about Minnesotans' that they elected her. If she gets anywhere near the White House, we might as well declare our country theocracy. Give me a social liberal AND fiscal conservative Republican then you get my vote. We are not in Salem anymore Toto, er Bachmann!
"I think you clearly say 'what is the understanding of God's word on homosexuality,'"
What is his position on pork and pork farmers? still capital punishment for all of it?
I've been following this story for several weeks now. It's simply amazing that a man who is quite obviously gay (Marcus Bachmann) is running a pray-the-gay-away clinic.
What this article neglected to mention is the mountain of money the "clinic" collects each year in Medicare/Medicaid payments. Isn't Michele Bachmann angling to wipe out those programs?
Finally, the article here doesn't address the fact that no one has yet been able to verify that Marcus Bachmann is actually a doctor. We already know he's NOT a licensed psychologist in Minnesota, but there are no records of what his "doctoral" degree is actually in. But to refer to Marcus Bachmann as a "doctor" of any stripe appears to be a stretch. Other than that, they seem to be running a tidy little business.
All Republicans need to sign a pledge to attend treatment at Bachmanns clinic!!
Michele Bachmann seems to have all of the answers to all of the problems this country is facing. There is one problem though, she is not using facts to back up her statements. When she tries to do so she winds up giving incorrect information. Her lack of knowledge of U.S. history certainly is should show those who think our youth do not know about the history of the U.S. cringe. The truth is that most Americans do not have a full grasp of history. However they should know where to get the information they need from credible sources. Ms. Bachmann should do the same.
Whether I think she/they are right or wrong is moot in my point of view. I'm just happy to see someone standing on their morals and sticking with it. Tired of the media getting a hold on someones views and demanding apologies, it's their view and they are entitled to it. If its not your cup of tea then don't vote for her, but people that demand she change her mind because it's not the PC, popular, or not their beliefs, are doing the same thing to them that they are arguing for. THE RIGHT TO HAVE YOU OWN DAMN OPINION.
I certainly hope so.
So voting for her would be politically incorrect?
There was just a study released showing a genetic difference between str8 and lesbian women. How are you going to continue to justify doing this to my people. If you wanna go tit for tat, we need to go ahead and open a private rehab clinic for the hetero plague that has swept the world. Str8 breeds H8.
She doesnt and cannot change a persons sexual orientation. What she has accomplished is instilling the fear of God in young people to make them feel its wrong. Shame on you Michele. And shame on every other ignorant person who thinks like you.
And there are people that believe this woman is capable of being president of the United States? Michelle Bachmann actually believes that she talks to God and God tells her what to do about almost everything??? She says that God told her to become a lawyer even though she did not want to be a lawyer. God told her to marry Dr. Bachmann, even though she did not like or love Dr. Bachmann???
And now we all know that these two people are religious fundamentalists, and the good doctor runs a therapy clinic that claims to be able to make gay people straight???
Is it just me, or can anyone else see these people for the nut jobs they are???
"They can do whatever they want, and call it whatever they want." – Ron Paul
This makes me slightly sick. For someone running for Presidency of one of the greatest countries in the World, which is supposed to be open and equal for everyone, I find this very disheartening. To think that she wants to run this country, when clearly she doesn't understand the Country that she is living in!
In my opinion, Michele Bachmann's just another fundamental extremist; playing God and using the system, illegally, for her personal gains. Can you imagine her as president of the United States? Wasn't it bad enough with the Cheney/Bush Dictatorship? Actually, I hope the Republicans nominate her, as doing so will be a sure win for Obama. As far as Marcus Bachmann's concerned, I can see why the whole gay issue's a threat to him, as he's obviously in the closet and running from who he really is, gay, or why would being gay be such an issue for him. People who are at peace with themselves typically aren't concerned with who others are, unless they're running from themselves and need a diversion to hide their truth. To Michele and Marcus Bachmann, quit playing God, get help and pray your hate away.
To me "God" created everything, there is no scope of understanding on the human level,
who "GOD" is. god and jesus created by religious idologs called the 'bible" for whatever
the reason, are both hateful & devisive. Anyone who stands behind the "BIBLE"
for reason of sincere love & well being of all mankind, regardles of religion, believe, race,
gender, or sexual orientation have alll my blessing. Any persons who critizices "GODS"
creation are truly the scourge (BURN AND SLASH republicans) that includes HATEFULL
michelle bachmann. She truly embodies the UNCARING REPUBLICAN party attitud towards
all little people. LINCOLN, founder of the republican party, WHO DOES NOT REPRESENT
THE republican party OF TODAY, once said "GOD BLESSES THE POOR PEOPLE SINCE
GOD MADE SO MANY OF THEM".
The Bachmann's are mentally ill and Michele is clearly unfit to be a president of a country that is anything other than white heterosexual Christians.
Yes this job creation, how did it come about, with federal funding, I am sure.
How hypocrital is that!
I would vote for Bachmann , would choose a good christian over any other politician (I am not a christian) but we all share in the same beliefs
All therapy is reparative thereapy! As a licensed professional, a client comes to me because they want to change a behavior. It is my job to help them make the change they desire. It is never my job to choose for the client, so if they do not want to change a behavior, we don't work on changing that! It is that simple! The client never loses their right to come to appointments or not, to do the homework or not, to change or not. Many clients don't change appreciably during treatment......that is their choice. Licensed professionals do not accept patients dragged by someone else to therapy ( unless it is court ordered...a whole different deal).
Can we accept the fact that Michele Bachmann is not a serious candidate for the presidency? She may be a goddess to the tea party folks but to rational Americans she is clearly not prepared to hold the nation's highest office.
Good for her for sticking to her beliefs. I wouldn't want someone who's willing to sell out their beliefs as a President anyways.
Also, if you want to be gay, you shouldn't be at a Christian counselor's office. The Bible's pretty clear on the subject.
Drop in the bucket of what's to come, I'm sure.
Reparative Therapy has almost as much validity as bleeding to balance the humors. The guy who came up with it was kicked out of the APA twice for falsify research outcomes.
This is completely absurd! What evidence is there that Gays/ Lesbians CANNOT change? I know for a fact that through good solid counciling this can be done!
While I'm sure it takes talent to make a business out of trying to fit square pegs into round holes, I just don't feel it's relevant or cost-effective. I hope this business of ramming square pegs in round holes is not being subsidised by the feds.
I have been saying all along that the teaparty is really a front for the right to life party. This story fits right in. American Talibanism complete with a Mental Health facility to help correct you in siberia, (Minnesota). Yep, just what this country needs. I was wondering where Micheles far away stare came from. These people are gonzo. Doug.
Well this just sunk her little political rowboat! At least we won't have to listen to her drivel for the next year.
In a decent country, this would end Bachmann's campaign. Here, it may not matter at all.
and..."barbarians"?...oy vey...
"Marcus Bachmann has suggested parents of gay teenagers can turn to religion for help."
Because we all know that religion has also turned away hurricanes, tornadoes, helped millions win the lottery and brought dead relatives back to life. Religion from the people who brought you the Inquisition and the Salem Witch Trials.
Wow, I'm really surprised. A Republican candidate supporting barbaric, bigoted, long-debunked garbage? No way! Next you'll be telling me that these allegedly conservative people also support the government telling American citizens who they can and cannot marry and what they can and cannot do with their bodies!
The woman is clearly not stable. Cher tweeted something like 'she doesn't even know her own husband is gay.' The whole gay reparative therapy is really weird. Hate us; love us or leave us alone.
One can only wonder how many tax dollars have been spent on this little disgusting operation. Being gay is just one more thing in life. Bachman simply preys upon it. I am sure she smells fear the way a shark smells blood. Simply disgusting! Simply Republican ,can't create any jobs or help anyone but sure can intrude into everyones personal life!
"You can actually leave homosexuality completely and become heterosexual?" the undercover activist asked on the video. "Definitely," the counselor responded. "It's happened before. It really has," the counselor added." Is this what marcus thinks has worked for him? Try harder big boy!
This is the best line of the interview because these two and their "religious" beliefs about homosexuality and anything else that has to do with a person's rights is my/their own!! "The Bachmann's are in no position ethically, legally, or morally to discuss" ANYTHING WITH ANYONE WHILE PUSHING THEIR RELIGION AND VISIONS ON OTHERS!!
BTW – slave children did NOT have it better in the 1860s, you flake. Anyone with their "two parent" family could have been sold at any time with no regard to that family. The child might also have been the plantation's owners kid. Then again, you do live in the ugly past!
And Medicare/Medicaid pays for this?
She's really scary. Just as these religious right folks don't want to have to live under the laws of other religions (all that fear of Sharia Law stuff)... guess what? We don't want to live under your religion laws either! I thought you guys didn't want the govt. telling American's what to do or how to live. Oh that's right, its ok if its agrees with YOUR interpretation of what's right. The hypocrisy is overwhelming.
Ladies and gentlemen, your next President of the United States!
A vote for Bachmann is a clearly a DUH WINNING vote. She has tiger blood in her...not
She's done.............next!
We've come to the place where "professionals" have convinced a seemingly majority of the population that homosexuality is "normal behavior". It is my opinion that these professionals have just given up because the condition is so hard to treat or we just don't know how best to treat it. What next? Are murderers, rapists, spouse abusers "predisposed" to hat behavior? I applaud the Bachmann's if indeed they do try to help those who elect try to change their behavior.
Now, would the "real" Michele Bachmann please will step forward! Her insane views will now start to emerge. Scary thing is she really truly believes what she says. This "pray the gay away" is just the tip of the iceberg. She will probably be #1 or #2 in Iowa because of the overwhelmingly Christian conservative views of the straw poll participants, but she will never play well in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic areas. Don't think there's a chance she'll be the nominee, and I can't imagine anyone being dumb enough to place her on the ticket as #2.
Bachman simply does not get it (no surprise there). She says she's simply running for president but what her business does has nothing to do with her political stance. But how can that be true? Is she saying that her internal beliefs about the ways others lead their lives won't impact her policy directions? That's like saying Hitler's hatred of the Jews shouldn't have impacted how he ran Germany. This woman is dangerous, not only for gays in America, but for a huge swath of the population she deems "undesirable."
Why are the Bachmann's so interested in other people's sex lives? I did read that there was a suggestion that a homosexual live a life of celibacy. I notice that Mr. Bachmann has never tried that, what with his 5 children. He really has never tried. Why is my tax money being paid out to a clinic that uses a practice not only not known to work but to potentially do harm? Does that make sense to anyone?
I'm a conservative libertarian. This moral legislation is the one reason the GOP tend to lose. The majority of the American people IMO are fiscal conservatives and social libertarians. They could care less what a person does in his/her private life as long as it has no bering on theirs. What we can all agree on is that the economy is in shambles. We have high debt, foreign wars, low consumer confidence and these supposed small government conservatives are interested in personal matters such as gay marriage and abortion. Where has the GOP gone wrong? You can never legislate morality. Morality is fluid.
Isn't it odd that people will wait years to tell about bad news just in case it might come in handy to derail someone else. Come on people, if it was that bad back then then you should have reported it immediately. Just because your political views are different does not mean you should try to undermine a candidate who is different. Why cannot politics and elections be more of facts andhonesty rather than mud slinging and fear tactics which both parties are guilty of?
So much hate.. People are different, they like and practice different things, and if it's not harming another person we should accept it. You don't have to embrace it or encourage it, but condemning and judging is not your right.
When I grew up in the 1940 -1950 homosexuality did not exist. The American Psychiatric Association considered it a mental illness and if a person admitted to being gay he or she was shunned, beaten up, ridiculed etc. They best thing a gay person could do was remain very low key.
All these years later about half the population supports gay marriage or unions. However, we still have some who think being gay is a choice, a perversion, straying from God's path. In my opinion, if someone is gay, so what and who cares. I'd rather live next door to some gay couple than some fundamentalist, extremist Christians who want to convert everyone. I had to overcome a lot of prejudicial and stereotypical thinking about gays throughout the years. The world becomes a better place when we just accept one another differences.
Kind of reminds me of Muslims. The answers are in the bible but each religion has its own bible.
My experience in life for over 70 years convinces me that Gays are born "wired" that way.
I get very nervous when people start quoting the bible to justify their beliefs. Seems to me that on 9/11 there was a group that acted on the beliefs that came from their bible.
There goes the gay vote.
This mess is out of hand... now we have a presidential candidate who not only does not like gays she is apart of a clinic that actually practices reparative therapy which is not only known NOT TO WORK, but can be just as damaging... Thanks but no thanks i don't like people like her or people who attempt to hide their bigotry behind "no comment". SMH what is the republicans doing i mean seriously are there any real canadidates
How are the Bachman's getting these gays into their therapy? Are they rounding them up? This doens't make sense to me. If a person doesn't want to be gay, where else would he/she go for help? A hospital? How is it if you're a man wanting to be a woman, or a woman wanting to be a man, you can find all kinds of help and support to change. But if you're gay and want to be straight it's a huge no-no? I doubt any gay people would be upset if there was therapy for straight people wanting to become gay.
Is this in the least bit surprising when she has previously compared gay and lesbians to barbarians. Quite to the contrary, I would say she is the barbarian, wielding a KJV of the bible as her big club. I shudder to think of the number of teens that her husband's "companies" have harmed under the guise of "christian love". Isn't it funny that when Christian's like these tell you your life is wrong, it is called love – but when you return the favor, it is called persecution.
"We have to understand barbarians need to be educated." – Marcus Bachmann
Religious fundamentalists need to take a hard look in the mirror.
If Democrats want a gtd win they should be sending contributions to Bachmann's campaign. I thought Sarah Palin was the most 'confused' campaigner ever, now I give that title to Michelle Bachman. I feel sorry for people who profess to be such good people, only to prove time and again that they are only 'good' to and about people or ideas they agree with or like. If you aren't Christian, are a minority, gay, have children with no father (whether through no marriage, divorce, abandonment), are very, very young or very, very old, need help with health care (don't you love how they want to now penalize the 'righteous' women who were stay-at-home moms), don't want to see our country become a dead-beat bill payer – imagine THOSE call from a collection agency -, just plain want to care for the most vulnerable and needy in our country, then you are the enemy and Unamerican. I believe Bachmann and her true believers are as about unpatriotic and anti-Constitutional as anyone can be, they also have no real knowledge of our 'founding fathers' beliefs and determination for the country. How many have actually read the Constitution, Declaration of Independence or anything about John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock...etal?
What scares me more than Michele Bachmann herself is the fact that she actually has a support base. Listening to her would be entertaining if it weren't for the fact that there are actually too many voting citizens who take her serioiusly.
That's what scares me....that anyone could actually consider her suitable to be the President of the United States.
Homosexuality is a choice, nothing more.
What is the problem with the clinic? It is a "Chrisitan" counseling service – ofcourse those who come are going to get counseling from a Christian perspective (not a secular one). If someone who is gay wants to find a counselor who is going to affirm their lifestyle choices, then they should go to a secular counseling service, not a Chrisitan counseling service. This is a media drummed up issue that is ridiculous.
1) Some people seem to think that homosexuals can be pressured/coerced to act or try to be straight, but not the other way around. Or they think that homosexuals can just be unaware or confused about their sexuality until they "come out" to themselves and discover that they are "gay", but, again, not the other way around. I think that many people who think they are homosexual, or, for whatever reason, have engaged in homosexual activities and relationships, would be happier being straight, able to marry someone of the opposite sex, and have children with their wife or husband.
2) Helping people who suffer from homosexualism is the compassionate thing to do, especially if they themselves are requesting help.
Oh look, another evangelical Christian wackaloon. I wouldn't be surprised if she has Pat Robertson on speed dial.
Well, that kind of views will lose you an election even before it starts- has anyone told this woman that homosexuals have a vote, too?
Why continue and waste your money honey?
Another GOP hypocrite.. Criticize public aid but take the bucks when it come to their own pocketbook. I cant believe that Minnesota Public Aid pays for this sham
I just want to know if Bachmann's husband really has a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Union Graduate School? When did they offer this degree?
Bachmann wants to take us back to the Middle Ages! Being gay is NOT a disease. It is not usually something that one "becomes". Overwhelmingly, a person is born gay. I'm not gay, but I've known many people throughout the years that are. My dentist is. So what? I don't see him to have sex; he's my dentist, for goodness sakes. No big deal !
Is this "clinic" receiving federal money?
Regardless of what you think of the rest of this article, the writer is trying to suggest that "a therapy program consisting of prayer, reading Bible passages, and mentoring" is considered psychological intervention by the APA. So, all counseling or reading of self-help books of any kind would qualify, too?
"The Bachmann's are in no position ethically, legally, or morally to discuss specific courses of treatment concerning the clinic's patients."
LOL, that's why you go to a hospital and ask them what treatment options they have for your medical condition and they'll say "well, we can't tell you that. Trust us though, it's good."
Technically, this story is a huge thing, but then again, how many Bachmann supporters will actually be shocked by it? Independents on the other hand... Well, we'll see.
So that's her idea of a business? How is it any better than community organizing in terms of actual job experience? Has she ever had a real job?
Anyone surprised? She's a severe religious fundamentalist. That's just the way they think.
So Bachmann is against using goverment funds on stem cell research but has no issues with using it so she can "cure" gays?
How is she not violating separation of church and state??
Omg, are these people real? "We have to understand barbarians need to be educated." Barbarians? These views are pretty scarry. Anyone who is not like them, are barbariens now.
If she is so much into "job creation" and doesnt want to talk about her clinic curing "homosexuals" then why did she sign the pledge which forbids gay marriage. This woman is a complete disgrace to humanity. She used her child's death to gain sympathy votes what a disgusting filth she is.
Whenever that woman opens her mouth the opposite is true!
If you don't want to be gay, just pray it away.
wow
dont let this family anywhere near our whitehouse
Once she is out of the protective custody of Iowa she has real problems. Voters in NH won't buy this stuff.
It is all secret because it is how they siphon funds from the campaign into their personal wealth. It is illegal (surprise!) but that is what this is all about. The Bachmanns are dangerous and unprincipled people. The only good thing is that she can get about 30% of the vote and screw people who are even more dangerous. She will say anything and do anything.
I don't care about gay issues, but this is not what this business is about. I believe the appropriate term to describe it would be "scam". I think it's a disgrace that someone who is running for POTUS relates to such a line of work. You have those who are trying to conform to YOUR idea of normality, putting their hope in the hands of this "business", for what? So that god can do something for them? Are you joking?
Bachmann and co., you represent what is wrong with religion when people like you go about using it to push their own agenda. You are despicable.
"In an appeal to socially conservative Iowa voters earlier this month, she signed a "Marriage Vow" pledge that also equated same sex couples with polygamists."
I'm pretty sure that polygamy is in the Bible and was practiced by some of its main characters.
And to think that the Republicans are thinking this is a viable presidential candidate... it makes me sick!
I don't think anybody knows what's really going on in the clinic. Michele keeps dodging the guestions. These people scare me and a investigation should be done on the clinic!
And we accept Medicare! So come on down and pray away the gay!
I undertstand Bachmann's facility gets federal funds. Now, if she REALLY wants to cut government spending, perhaps, she should start by returning the moneys her clinic receives! What a hypocrite!
Yet another Republican presidential hopeful we can rule out of actually winning. And it's sunny outside too... I'm having a good day.
It has been said the price of sin is death. Over the years I have come to the conclusion, a lack of acceptance is a sin. I have died emotionally, spiritually, and financially. You see, I am a transsexual female, I am also a nurse, once upon a time a parent, and now a Christian. For years I had major issues accepting that I was a transsexual woman, to the point of attempting to be a man, marrying, and becoming a father. I allowed myself to come dangerously close to suicide, finally realizing no matter what treatment or church, I was still what I was. That realization of course cost me a marriage and a son that I continue to pay child support on. Even with all of the tragedy I have endured due my own lack of self acceptance, I now am at a point where I have now accepted myself, my church has accepted me, and I am confident my God has accepted me. What the zealots don't realize, there is only a small mention of homosexuality in the Bible. Divorce is mentioned often, try engaging a social conservative in a biblical divorce debate!
And this is the person that wants to be president? Eh, I think Obama locked in the elections already.
woow
"homosexuality can be treated"
lol you people are seriously confused
*sigh* The clinic is treating the wrong people.
So anyone who doesn't agree with Bachmann or believe in what she does is an "uneducated barbarian" and should be forced into her viewpoint? Yeah, intolerance and a desire to force one's will on others is a great quality in a presidential candidate.
she's done .. our President would have cleaned her holly clock anywho
wait..... who is this woman running for president? Never heard of her.... probably won't again....
as a US citizen...is any embarrassed for Bachman and her supporters? Usually Bachamn is the person used to scare democrats into voting.
Anyone who claims to be a counselor and proposes this nonsense should be prohibited from providing psychological "treatment" to anyone. Anyone with half a brain in the medical community knows that it is absurd to think you can change someone's sexual orientation. If anyone needs to be cured it should be for the belief in imaginary super-friends. Please Michelle, keep your ignorant religious views out of politics! It would be greatly appreciated!
Michele Bachmann's therapy sessions aimed at curing her stupidity have been abandoned without any signs of success.
"As a senator in the Minnesota legislature in 2004, Bachmann called for an amendment to the state constitution that would block gay marriages in other states from being recognized in Minnesota."
Why do Republican's, who are supposedly constitutionalists, constantly trying to override the Full Faith and Credit Clause?
Sounds like she will be getting a lot of support from the GL community. And with the "better off as slaves" schtick, she'll get the Black vote too. Fortunately, neither of these groups vote in Republican primaries, so she may have a chance in the primary. Then you will see the biggest defeat in the history of the general election when Obama takes 45 of 50 states.
It's about time somebody takes a stand for sanity.
So much for focusing on the economy. GOP cannot nominate Bachmann and expect to win in 2012. Much like the "other one" she is not electable based on the pure fact that the vast majority of eligible voters do not think like her. Although I will support Obama in 2012, I truly would like to see the GOP nominate someone that is not only intelligent, but one that can keep their religous beliefs seperate from the real task at hand. I would like to see good, clean debate. We must not forget that our independance from England was based on more than just the tax on tea, it was also based on the desire to have freedom from a single, dominant church. The Tea Party candidates give the impression that they would like to re-create that single, dominant church in modern America.
Wow, the belief that one can "switch" one's sexual orientation just shows you the level of stupidity we are dealing with here. It frightens me that in 2011 there are people who still think this way. How did this woman ever achieve any status?
This is just all kinds of wrong.......
Does Bachmann plan to create jobs for all Americans? Or just straigh people?
If you want the freedom and respect to be a homosexual, then you have to return the freedom and respect for those who don't want to be. If you don't, then you don't deserve the freedom either.....
The Bachmann family takes government money to do this while denying benefits to the out of work and the poor.
She has neither credibililty nor integrity.
Perhaps it is time we perform reparative therapy on Christians. They need to be straightened out before they do any more harm to themselves or others.
So translation; Man knows better than God.......and man's word here is Bachmann is wrong for trusting God & not man.
A word of advice to all of you who ditch God & His Word for "man's wisdom"...........Sirs/Madams........one day we will ALL stand before a Thrice Holy God & give account for our every word & deed......your wisdom will then flee as water down a river!
Thanks for the one sided treatment of the Michelle Bachmann's clinic report Really good reporting. Where was the interview of the issue from the Christian perspective? You sight the psychologist view as "fact". Kinda like a court trial with only the prosecution presented. Perfect bias.
Michelle: perhaps if you pray enough about it, God will turn you into a human being.
She just cooked her "presidential candidate" goose.
Wow! this lady keeps getting better and better! And by better and better I mean more and more horrible. What a terrible person she is.
Looks like we are heading back in time, instead of going toward.
This hole family Is nothing but a bunch of fruitcake. Is this the kind of person you want to run are country. It sound to me the Family Is just taking people money and know they can't stop them from being gay. This Is how Michele Bachmann got her money and she proud of miss leading people and taking there money under false In tension.And she all say she proud of her job Creation , Than why don't you ask anybody In Minnesota about how many jobs she Creates. None.
I heard that taking 2 aspirin every morning will cure homosexuality
If YOU were told that you must change your orientation could you? Would YOU want to? Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that adult, human relationships are way more complex than body parts and what we do with them. It's not some juvenile game, not some silly joke, and it's not about imposing your interpretation of your religion Ms Bachman (hmmm Sharia Rule?)... it's about human beings, and their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness... unharassed, and committed to the person they love. It's not my business, and not your business what the gender is of the person my brother or sister falls in love with and has a committed relationship with, but it is my business to love them and have the same respect for their very human relationship as they do for mine. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you Ms Bachman.
Be afraid, be very afraid.
"When fascism comes to America, it will come wrapped in the flag and waving a cross."
Bachmann is just another Hitler. She's a little too hung up on homosexuality to not have some issues herself. How could anyone want someone this crazy and scary as President of the USA? We need to get past our interest in crazy women like Palin and move on to elect REAL leaders. This country has become one big, bad reality program.
Perhaps this business of Bachmann and her husband is exactly the type of government-funded-subsidy spending Bachmann has been touting as so wasteful? Especially when taking into consideration that she has herself been collecting various government subsides her entire adult life, including (but certainly not limited to) being on the direct government employee payroll more years than not, I suspect this is the GOPer don't do as I do, do as I say rhetorical nonsense which so disgusts me. I'll leave her so called christianity (of which I have no doubt she thinks she is the epitome of christian goodness) for God to judge.
Fanatics like this don't deserve to be President to over 300 million very diverse people. I don't think Bachmann has a shot in hell, and hurts her party more than helps. She'll carry the fundamentalist vote, and that's it. There's no way she garners independent votes.
Who cares, the gays/lesbians aren't going to vote anything but Dem anyway. As the joke goes," how do you know when your partner is going to leave you? They vote Repub."
For at least five years, Bachmann and Associates has faced accusations it uses a controversial therapy that encourages gay and lesbian patients to change their sexual orientation.
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I know I sound like a broken record when I reiterate: you CAN'T make up this stuff or these people folks!
Lawdy, lawdy!!
Obama 2012.
What a sham. Any licensed physician who includes religious mumbo-jumbo in their practice should lose their license.
Mother nature has a cure... they can't reproduce.
Seriously?! Barbarians? Oh, no I'm 100% sure that I'm not voting for this hyper-religious nut job. Before I was only 99.99% sure. She truly believes that "God" is talking to her.
This clinic seems more like a church than actual clinic. If these people are suggesting "reparative" therapy and religiious conversion to "help" people with their homosexual attractions, then this place should be rightfully called a church or some type of religious place and should not be collection thousands of dollars in Medicaid money.
If their cure for it is "pray it away", file as a church with tax-exemption and don't waste tax payer money.
I don't care what else happens, Bachmann will never make me go straight.
What a loser! First of all, people are born gay! It's not something you learn to do as a child. It's just sick that anyone thinks that. Secondly, there is no such thing as God. Remember the Greeks believed in Gods and those turned out to be false. The Romans believed in Gods and those are false. Now Christians believe and worship in a God and one day will be determined to be false. Our ancestors hundreds of years from now will be laughing at us because people believed in this imaginary thing. Religious people need to watch The Science Channel. We can see a more realistic theory on how the Earth was created rather than the theory that someone just blinked an eye and suddenly the Earth appeared. It makes me sick to live in such a place where people allow an imaginary being to dictate their entire life. When you die, your body will rot just like the rest of us. Science has explored billions of miles into the universe and there is no such place as heaven has been found.
I wish people would quit trying to change something you can't change. Your born gay, end of story. Spend your time working on things like global hunger, ending middle east issues and global warming. These are real issues. Being gay is not one of them.
If you're so insecure that you feel you need to "fix" us, then perhaps YOU need therapy!
She put a small business together and put her husband in the lead councelors place to teach people how to be straight and pull down big profits by gay bashing?
She ought to run for President,.....oh yeah,....she is.
"If we allow this to happen, group marriage, polygamy, and much worse would not be far behind," Bachmann said in a video to her supporters."
What opponents to gay civil rights fail to realize is that this slippery slope of theirs starts with opposite-sex marriage. The above could easily read, "If we allow heterosexual marriage to happen, gay marriage, group marriage, polygamy, and much worse . . ."
Sooner or later people are going to see that this person is not fit to manage our country.
My God how can anyone take this person seriously about anything.
A Palin/Bachman ticket. Dumb and Dumber in the Whitehouse.
I think her husband is a psychologist. But what I want to know is, if they are trying to "pray away the gay" with government grants...is this where my tax dollars go? Proud parent of a gay son!
One more GOP Tea P artier to guarantee a dem win.
And this is the "frontrunner" in Iowa... smh...
A religious zealot lunatic is the best the GOP have to offer. Looks like 4 more years.
Insanity. It is about time people learn that gay corrective counseling DOES NOT WORK. (For someone "intelligent" enough to run for president, you would think she would understand something so simple.) If you believe this, please go back and run for president during a decade where the APA agreed with you.........30 years ago! Times change, please change with it.
"We have to understand barbarians need to be educated. They need to be disciplined"
Yeah, that kind of says it all doesn't it?
She's worse than Sarah Palin. I didn't think that was possible.
So what's the big deal? Christians pray for many things. This person walks into this Christian clinic and some counselor suggests They "may" be able to help. OMG! Call out a seal team. I think I'll pray for a fair and intelligent news media. Like that's going to happen.
Absolute "Fraud,Hatred,and Un-Human Activity at this "Clinic" The Gay Community does,nt need a "Shrink" Mr.an Mrs.Bachmann need the Best Phycologist in America, to Study what makes this kind of Hatred Tick????? Mr.Bachmann and his "Nurse Michelle" are poster people for Inhumanity! What an American Nightmare! Definate "Embarrassment to our Educated Women! When I see these two "Dancing and Twirling, it,s very hard for me to keep my food down! Lord, "Help us All"
Is there reparative therapy for homophobics?
I am ashamed to live in a country where this woman is seen as a legitimate presidential contender.
Interesting how going after families is off limits if the candidate is a Democrat, but with Republicans everything is available. If you have a problem with her qualifications, and there are plenty, so be it. Make the argument. And the way the press has gone after Michelle Bachman, Sarah Palin and Hilary Clinton during elections is amazing. We have learned that racism is wrong, but sexism is alive and well and not a problem.
Michele Bachmann and her family's "business" is a fraud and should lose its government funding. This ethically and factually challenged woman is an embarrassment to smart, educated, working women across our nation. The more the curtain is peeled back on her husband's "counseling center" the more will be revealed regarding Mr. Bachmann's sexual preferences and why he is so bent on "curing" homosexuality with prayer, a practice frowned upon by most licensed psychiatrists. I'm looking forward to watching Mrs. Bachmann's champaign collapse.
Medicaid and private insurance companies do not pay for experimental treatments. The APA says there is insufficient evidence that reparative therapy works. Has the Bachman Clinic billed, and been paid, for this treatment? If so, they should have to return those funds to the taxpayers and to the private insurers.
I don't think that these are the type of people that you would want running the country.
I like my presidents to be non-judgemental of others. Bachmann obviously fails that test as she proves what a bigot her and her husband are. You cannot cure being gay – and to say so is a blatent lie.
Mr. and Mrs. Bachmann have a long history of hateful and narrow-minded comments about people in our society that don't look or act like themselves. I think they are very wrong, un-Christian, and narrow minded. I don't hate the Bachmanns, but I clearly do not think such narrow minded folks have any capacity to lead our country through the difficult challenges we see today. We need clear and open minded people who are willing to build consensus and compromise with a wide range of political, social, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. Our nation is no longer majority European, and our country was never majority fundamentalist Christian; we need a leader who is willing to acknowledge and embrace the diverse US population and make peace within our own country. Ms. Bachmann is simply not somebody who has the capacity or temperament to lead the United States.
Beginning of the end. Bye, Bye Bachman...
If Mr. Bachman is resting his entire practice of reparative therapy for the conversion of homosexuals to heterosexuals based on scriptural interpretation he lives in a world of literal interpretation. His wife would then have no business running for president. As Paul in the Epistles stated, a women should not venture into expressing her spiritual or religious views in pulbic, yet wait until she is at home where she can discuss them privately with her husband. Do you think Jesus thought that? Absolutely not! He had women around him in his ministry, and who was the first to tell the world the tomb was empty.....a women!!!! What did Jesus have to say about homosexuality? Nothing. And neither should we. Love your neighbor as yourself, care for the orphans and widows. Those are the bullet points we should all get from scripture. They were important to Jesus.
What a couple of frauds these Bachmanns are. If Marcus Bachmann is any example of the success rate of his little "clinic" at changing gays into straights then they don't do a very good job. If silk purses fell out of my mouth the way they do out of Marcus's mouth every time he speaks, running a clinic specializing in "fixing" gays is the LAST thing I'd get involved with. He's not a very good "advertisement" for the success of their services.
These people belong in jail, not involved in politics. The voters in Minnesota must be complete morons for putting this crazy woman in office. Hopefully the media will keep up their investigations of these two scam artists before they do too much more damage to this country.
Applause. Applause.... Finally, someone to help those who struggle with same sex attraction. Our social echelon has approved of this behavior but in reality, those who suffer with it are crying deep inside to get out of it. Just like every other addiction, it takes hard work and focused programs to break the stronghold. Stop making it normal to come out, and give them the help they want and need.
It's my understanding that such therapies do work. Go to the website for the institute of Catholic culture (www.instituteofcatholicculture.org)and listen to the audio on "Speaking the Truth in Love: Christianity and Homosexuality," which uncovers many myths about homosexuality.
There is variability to an individuals sexual behavior. We have a lot more control over our behavior that many will have you think and environment ("nuture") has more impact than advocates will admit.
The longer she stays in the spotlight the more obvious it becomes that she has no business running this country. Her husband is as crazy as she is. Republicans have long been accused of being out of touch with the average American. Michelle and her husband are perfect examples. Maybe they can cure poverty, hatred and intollerence? Naw. You can't cure what you promote.
If you want to know is wrong with America check out those that are devotees of this human anomaly.
Christian is as Christian always has. Its time we elected a non-Christian President. We need someone who doesn't believe in superhero's or accepts science fiction as reality.
I'm immediately skeptical of anyone who is so vehemently anti-gay that they make a public life out of it. They usually turn out to be closet homosexuals who can't deal with it. So, my bet is that Mr. Bachmann is a fannybandit.
This is not news as her husband is so utterly insignificant (or small...literally) in all accounts. What should be noted is Michelle signed off on a certain piece of lit which compared a child in a same sex family being worse off than a child born into slavery. From what I understand she later recanted because "she didn't read thru all the materials before signing off on it". IMHO this is the news that matters for someone who is vying for a presidential run.
How is discussing specific treatments a violation of patient's privacy? As long as you don't mention them by name, there is nothing wrong with saying "We treated patient X through therapies such as counseling and yoga". It seems to me that this is simply an excuse to hide what they were really doing.
Bachmann is a piece of work.
I have known many people that were supposly Gay that went straight. Once the darkness was exposed they saw the light. Many were forced into homosexual relationships and the darkness made them blind to the situation. Once the darkness was exposed they changed. Now I know this will fire up the 2% of the population that is GAY. The darkness will raise its ugly head when it is challanged.Never seen a baby born with a rainbow flag in its hand.................
Bachman's ideas are frightening and the public needs to see them for what they are, only self-serving for her teabagging cause. Less government and more for her and their plan. Snakes with forked tongues, that the media needs to expose.
Check your bible at the door Michelle. Freedom of Religion means ALL religions, but don't try to force your interpretation of any bible passage on everyone else. If someone is gay or lesbian, then so be it. Who the he11 are you or your husband to take up the cause to "cure" them? How about you visit my clinic....I "cure" people of being self-righteous, uptight, Holier-Than-Thou and pretentious. It, too, is controversial, but I use a number 36 Louisville Slugger.
Well, there goes tons of votes for MB in the Presidential race...Perhaps investigators should delve even more into the Bachmann's so-called clinic. Also, discussing the clinic practices is not the same thing as revealing patient information. In my opinion, that excuse not to answer questions is a huge cop-out.
So if they say: "The Bachmann's are in no position ethically, legally, or morally to discuss specific courses of treatment concerning the clinic's patients," the statement said.
Then there should be no questions about what occurs at other doctors offices. They should not concern themselves with Plan Parenthood, which primarily provides medical services to women.
All turning to religion will do is create feelings of guilt and anxiety. And that road leads to depression, and even suicide. So, no thanks, "Dr" Bachman. While I am not gay, I do know people who are, and it's cruel and unusual to make them feel guilty for being different.
LOL. Wow background check anyone. Small business creator. More like Mall of store front preachers. This is hilarious.
For crying out loud, it would surprise me if they didn't engage in such nonsense!
And this is the front-runner for the GOP Presidential candidate? It is getting frightening how Republicans are not longer interested in presenting a campaign platform to oppose their Democratic rivals political views. Instead they are declaring a moral war on anyone who doesn't fit into their narrow box of acceptable behavior. I thought this was a country of "All the people". That means as President, you have to be respectful and represent EVERYONE's rights, not just the ones you like or that agree with your religious beliefs. We are in for a long, weary year of campaigning. I'm tired of it already.
If someone could "cure" the Bachmanns, the world would be a better place to live.
We have to understand barbarians need to be educated. They need to be disciplined
That statement right there alone, is enough to show this person is got something wrong with her mind, does she think shes some charactor in a Medieval video game. Over the years I have found that most people I have come across who are very vocal about/against Homosexuality or Lesbianism are that way because they are trying to hide and not accept the fact that they themselves are, but in there minds for whatever reason may it be parents, church etc. they cannot and will not accept it, so instead they become bashers, self proclaimed crusaders and or fixers of this problem, they think it they can fix other people in some way maybe it will fix themselves in the process
Disingenuous of her to avoid questions on a major philosophical issue that is a fundamental part of her political agenda.
Just come by her 'clinic' and she'll 'pray' with you, I almost bust a gut lmao. Snake oil salesmen running for president, I love it.
That an dividual is "gay" , is IMO, not normal.
How to fix ?
Or must we fix....
IMO, Bachmann is a fool to think that her "clinic" can "fix".
However, I think she should be given a chance.
We are dealing with human beings...
Lets try love and tolerance.
I meant to write "individual"..
I believe this woman's (Bachmann) campaign is much scarier and more dangerous than Sarah Palin could be....and the sad part is more people take her seriously! I want a President to run the country...NOT MY LIFE!!!
Mr. and Mrs. Bachmann could answer some of the questions regarding their practice, if they can specifically state the dates that they each made the decision to be heterosexual.
she needs to go away just like palin
A clinic that receives substantial support from Medicaid should not expound a debunked theory (based on religious ideology) that homosexuality can be "cured" (as in a "disease". These people can, of course, provide such counseling to anyone who pays for it, but our tax dollars should not be spent on such idiocy. The hypocrisy of this situation is laughable.
And this woman wants to be president of the United States of America... all the people of the United States of America. She is pathetic!! And, job creation? What job creation? Not one single bill has been voted on job creation.
Looks like the mud slinging has begun by the liberal left who want to destroy Bachmann right out of the gate. How pathetic. It's much easier to attack her personally than to have an honest debate about conservatism because it is based on the foundation of our nation. This is a sure sign that they fear that she can beat Obama in 2012.
I doubt Bachmann can be cured of what ails her
this is sickening, and this woman wants to lead our country? instead of going forward go backwards? I hope people know most Minnesotans are nothing like this, and most of us are ashamed that the Bachmanns are representing our state in the national arena.
That being said, maybe one day THEY will both heal the hate in their hearts they have for homosexuals and learn the beauty of acceptance.
"If we allow this to happen, group marriage, polygamy, and much worse would not be far behind," Bachmann said in a video to her supporters.
I love the fear mongering with gay marriage. Many states already allow it, and nothing anywhere remotely close to this happened, but the Republicans just keep saying it. I think it's the Republicans that have some sick sexual fantasy about group marriage and bestiality that they keep feeling the need to bring up.
America was built on the concept of 'freedom'. This woman needs to look that up in the dictionary.
Ah, yes...more idiocy from our very own version of the Taliban. Bachman is an American embarrassment and nothing more. I love the "When our bogus "counseling" doesn't work, just stop being gay and pray a lot." I wonder how much she charges for that little gem of advice?
God forbid one of her kids turn out to be gay. Then she will know what it feels like.
Probably getting those intruding goverment dollars too.
"I think you clearly say 'what is the understanding of God's word on homosexuality,'" Bachmann said. "We have to understand barbarians need to be educated."
Concerning Mr Bachmann's statements above, first of all, there is NO understanding of God's word on homosexuality, for the simple reason that he/she doesn't exist. Or, if he/she does, there is no rational reason to think that anyone has access to his/her "word".
More importantly, however, Mr Bachmann is 100% correct about barbarians having to be educated! I propose that he begin with his wife and himself, and begin to be productive, intelligent, and rational citizens of what is still (despite the misguided attempts of people like themselves) the greatest country on earth.
One final thought...if you DO believe in God, start praying with all your effort that Mrs Bachmann is NOT elected president!!
I have no problem with a "Christian" clinic. Treating someone with real issues using Christian theology is OK. But leave the homosexual stuff out of it. Preach God's word and then the person has to make their own "choice". The one thing that God did all of us is "choice". We can choose to believe in Him and His word, or not. My Christianity also won't allow me to call a homosexual a "barbarian" as Mr. Bachmann puts it. I'm not telling social conservatives to stop their beliefs, but you do need stop trying to "force" your beliefs on others. Again, we are to minister God's word to others, but they have to make the choice to follow or not. We can't make that choice for them, or force them either. God owns the laws for morality, not man. And he alone will be the judge when the time comes. Let's worry about our own lives, try to help others, after that, it's up to them.
This why I could not support Ms. Bachmann for president. She would try to force her views on everyone, vs just letting people lead their own lives and let God deal with them on judgment day.
Dear Michelle Bachmann, you will not be the first woman president. Hilary Clinton will be–in 2016 – after the current president completes his second term. Your dip stick world view is the laughing stock of the country just like your evil twin Sarah Palin's. Go ahead and continue your quest to obtain a position that you have no chance of winning. Go back to your bible-beating "counseling" clinic with your husband and leave the sane, intelligent people alone.
Ever notice that Bachmann NEVER aswers a direct question. She always dodges and deflects and tries to change the subject. This is, or should be, a huge RED FLAG to the electorate. She's obviously hiding something, and in most cases I believe it's her own stupidity. All she can do is bark her taking points, and when confronted with real questions of serious import, she gets her 'deer in the headlights' look and babbles on as if the question was never asked. And if the teabagging crowd is behind her, what does that say about them? Are they all simply delusional?
How did this woman win public office in the first place?
I didn't think anyone could top Sarah Palin... but yeah, this woman puts her to shame. Bachmann, you are absolutely ridiculous and belong in a nut house, not the white house. Have fun spending money on your losing battle.
She can take her bible and shove it where the sun don't shine. along with all the other religiouse nuts trying to force their ways on me. You wanna be gay, be gay, you wanna be straight be straight, you like BDSM do BDSM. You want 50 wives, your nuts but go for it. Who does this government think it is telling adults what they can and cannot do just because their myth, fairy tale piece of crap God says so. And if my fealings about your God offend you, who cares, you have been offending non-believers for centuries.
Seriously? This is the candidate that the Tea Party is backing? A religious nut who wants to "cure" homosexuality? And here I thought the Nazi movement ended after WW II. It has been psychologically and scientifically proven that homosexuality is more than a "preference", hence the term Orientation. Hopefully she will not recieve the GOP nomination at the Primaries.
Sigh.. Instead of trying to make people "normal", how about you use some of that christian tolerance that Jesus spoke of and just accept people. There is really only one direct verse about homosexuality in the bible, and that's Paul's letter to Romans where he condemns same sex acts. But you have to read the whole thing, to see that he's talking about having sex for sex, and being shameful with it. Sex orgies with everyone is what he was condemning, because the act of sex should revolve around love.
But if you want to take this even further, if God is so against homosexuality, then why does it exist in the animal kingdom? Why do groups of female gorillas turn to lesbianism when the male is away? Why do giraffes have huge lesbian population? Or sea gulls? Or dolphins? You'd think that if homosexuality was so wrong, we wouldn't be seeing it at all in beings that have no choice.
These people are dangerous to this country. If someone is "gay", why try to change that? That is how God made then, and changing that would be going against God. How many "ex" gays have to kill themselves before the message is understood?
Jesus on a breadstick, when is this woman going to shut up alread?
This whole issue with Bachman should be sounding alarm bells loudly and very clearly to her constituents of Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, and to all in general. This woman supports and actively asserts, either through her own words or through those of her husband, that gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered (GLBT) are "barbarians, and be 'cured' of being the people we are." Maybe I should start a clinic to "cure" right-wing tea party Republicans of their "illness." I am surprised she hasn't come right out to say we should be shot on sight. This is someone who has no business whatsoever being in the political arena. I hope people realize this and vote against her when she comes up for re-election, and that she continues to go nowhere with her aspirations for the presidency. Her words and positions with regard to the GLBT community are appalling.
I am not a Bachmann supporter. I vote Democratic. But I believe we ought to let God be God and let men and women work out their relationship with God as they choose. If there are persons who confess they are not comfortable with being gay/lesbian and they wish to change or to live in abstinence, we ought to trust their integrity. We should not be saying 'God cannot do this or that.' Pundits should't be telling what God can and cannot do.
Just because you disagree with gay people, doesn't mean you should push your "values" on others which could potentially hurt them.
That was so thoughtful of Bachmann to offer this program. At least she reached out to help the gay community. I can remember just a few years back when being homosexual was diagnosed as a mental disorder. Then when the psychiatrist were bullied by the pc police they backed down. It would be nice to have professionals treat gays according to a scientific diagnosis instead of hollywood's
OMG SO typical of a republican SCAM! The husband ( gay as $3 bill) takes government money to run his phony clinic, and the wife, running for president, says CUT medi-cal. The real insult is that Marcus Bachmann is playing god, and with our tax money. There is absolutely no real evidence that being gay needs curing and is no longer considered ill to begin with. Unless you are an uneducated bible thumping idiot. Bachmann walks gay, talks gay, and all their kids are adopted. Whats wrong with this picture? Duh
The "Party" and Self-Righteous Christians will soon be able to cure you of many other ailments. 1-Flexibility 2-Empathy 3-Left-leaning Political Views 4-Individual Thinking and many other issues not approved by the "Party", so step right up and fill you cup with their brand of Kool-Aid.
If Michele Bachmann and her extremist Christian ilk ever gain real power in this country, their goal is to criminalize homosexuality by making "sodomy" illegal, punishable by imprisonment. This is "small government"? Erm....I don't think so!
Holley ..Toledo ..this woman..has a cure for gays..can we stop..her..please..this will cause such a rift..between..people..we all are one people..why..again..the gay issue..talk about jobs...talk about..keeping our money here in the USA...people are starving..have no homes..talk about that..the fallen of housing prices..people out of work..find a Cure for that..and then talk..about this...such garbage...fix the things that we all care about...food housing..money...shut up..unless that is what u ar going to talk..about...get it..
What's wrong with treating Gays who want to become straight? It's freedom of choice for some Gays which can't be denied. So is Mr. Bachmann's freedom to do so. Leftist Media is trying to make it sound abnormal and unusual...
- reposting, since initial one seems to have failed due to some error.
I'm a "cured" homosexual. Brought up straight, I experimented with homosexuality in my late 20s and considered moving in with another guy (It's so easy to be with someone of the same sex). But I eventually decided I wanted to be normal and have a wife and kids. 15 years and two kids later, I am happily married and have gotten rid of all urges to have homosexual sex. If we take the attitude that such things are incurable, then we'd have more non-recovered alcoholics and drug addicts. Sexual orientation is merely an exclusive preference of the mind; completely changeable.
Wow go Bachman, hopefully she can find a cure for interracial marriages and being a muslim or a jew too. This is America's future.... This is the tea parties darling
Sen.Bachmann is a typical repub hypocrite,why don't they ask if any of her FOSTER CHILDREN are gay.See if they will come out of the closet,or does the Bachmanns get rid of the evil BARBARIANS,or are they test rats for their religus torture,much like in medieval times.Didn't they take federal money to open this so called clinic,a front for brainwashing our young,typical repug tactics...
Pray away the gay are you kidding me this women and her husband should be thrown in jail they new what they were doing and if any of there patients died because of what they did they should be thrown in jail they are the poster parents for what is wrong in this country and why we have such a social divided it is about excepting people for who they are and to justify it we use religion christians are just another word for the devil
Based on this issue alone, Bachmann will not get my vote.
Please everyone! See these people for what they are. These are very selfish, self-centered people who want to create an extreme christian country. No more, no less. But totally inappropriate for a free democracy. I am a Minnesotan and I apologize for this misguided woman and her family. I GUARANTEE she would never even carry MN in a presidential election. What programs would she offer to GLBT citizens if she were president? These are our friends, families, co-workers. Would there be giant "Sexual reassignment camps" in the Arizona desert?
Bachmann and her husband should be be criminally charged for operating a scam counseling operation and charging the government for questionnable therapy practices. Unfortunately most social conservative Tea Party zealots probably agree with the use of religious based reparative therapy.
How does this woman get any votes for political office? She reflects badly on her constituency....
The real story here is the few folks in the few primary states are far right Republicans calling the shots for the majority in their party. I find it very hard to believe that Republicans really have that kind of respect or belief in Bachmann. She's a train wreck.
Sadly, Palin is looking better and better compared to this nut. (Wow, can not believe those were words I just typed)
Typical right wing Christian: always put faith before data, decency, rationality, reality, experience, respect for good governance, law and science.
Radical right wing social engineering. These are the same people who say they want 'smaller government', 'no government control of my life', 'we want freedom', and a host of other catchy slogans. But, yet they are the first to pass laws that define and enforce a social order according to their liking, complete with their preference for a government approved religion.
All of which directly contradicts the US Constitution, which they claim to hold so dear to their hearts. Just as long as they can make a few modifications here and there to clarify the "intent of the founders" for the rest of us.
We need to thank the Bachmans for demonstrating to any doubters out there the wisdom of the Founders for clearly expressing their desire for a separation of church and state.
Think I'll start a cancer curing "prayer and therapy" center. Who wants to buy shares? Lot's of money to be made. Whoever buys the most shares gets to be "lead therapist"
They answer the phone saying "Bachman and Associates, we can pray the gay away."
snappa- I do know one of her post-high school sons wanted to teach with AmeriCorps! Good for him but just think, their son being a filthy, logic based teacher! Maybe even in a public school where they actually talk about equal rights, mistakes that we have made as Americans and homosexuality! He is probably in the back of their "reassignment therapy" building in shackles receiving intense "communion wafer" treatment. Can we get this straight people- government and religion do not mix and in this country it is illegal, understand?
Even if they found the "cure" for what makes a person gay, drug companies would make it unaffordable.
What monkey business this woman has been doing??? Does she think she can carry this behaviour all the way to the peoples house (White House)?? Madam, you are not the right person to receive the keys of the highly respected place in the entire world! Sorry!
I'm not even gay & I found that 'barbarian' statement offensive as he1 1!! Why are comments like these not being treated like the real issue? If he said that about someone of a differnent color, half the world would demand his head on a platter. If these people really harbor sentiments as hostile as that, they don't need to be in charge of anything.
"We have to understand barbarians need to be educated. They need to be disciplined and just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn't mean we're supposed to go down that road"
Even if you agree with Bachmann on some issues, do you agree with them on everything? They have made it very clear, you agree, or you are a barbarian who has to be re-educated, by force if need be. I would be very reluctant to hand someone like that the power of the presidency. We may sing some of the same songs, but there aren't many people I agree with enough for that.
@Joe – Why is it again that the president needs business experience? The government is not for profit. Businesses could care less about people, which is what the government is supposed to be looking out for.
Anyone that hears these 2 should be VERY afraid that she even has a REMOTE chance of becoming the President.
These people are really out there...............
This really makes me wonder what she really wants for the country. Does she really advocate freedoms mentioned in the Bill of Rights or does she want to slowly convert everyone to being a hetrosexual Christian? It sounds like her world view is that everyone should be like her conservative Christian or be denied acceptance.
I don't see what the problem is with offering someone, who chooses to go this place, the option/possibility to change their sexual orientation- and letting them know that it CAN happen. I know people who its happened to. I think people should be allowed to choose.
This woman is a danger to society...plain and simple.
Natural man will, by all means, grope after his own desires, until he obtains them or di-es trying. Outside of God's work by the Ho-ly Spi-rit, "Reparative Therapy" is only legalistic means to achieve outward results, while no inward change has occurred.
Maybe her husband should use their own therapy.
Don't like gay marriages? Don't get one.. Don't like cigarettes? Don't smoke them.. Don't like abortions? Don't get one.. Don't like sex? Don't have it.. Don't like drugs? Don't do them.. Don't like porn? Don't watch it.. Don't like alcohol? Don't drink it.. Don't like guns? Don't buy one.. Don't… like your rights taken away??? Don't take away someone else's.
While not as bad as the current Socialist that we have in the White House, or the Drunk, War Monger that we had before him, I could NEVER vote for a quack with a clinic like this!!! I WAS interested in her views. But, after seeing this nonsense, I am done.
I'm immediately skeptical of anyone who is so vehemently anti-gay that they make a public life out of it. They usually turn out to be closet homosexuals who can't deal with it. So, my bet is that Mr. Bachmann is a fannybandit.
What am I missing here people ? According to polls, she is leading the Iowa GOP primary...Iowa was one of the first states that passed gay marriages...Are the polss misleading ?
This lady really, really scares me. And I don't scare easily.
"Atul Chaudhary" you're hilarious. Your argument is a thinly veiled claim that the religious view is the "right" one. Hardly. If you don't like the fact that people are gay, too frickin' bad. I couldn't care less about your religious views, until they infringe on my – or anyone else's – right to live in peace in the manner they choose.
As for Bachmann, I suspect we're in for more hilarity, hypocrisy, and self-righteousness from her in the coming months. She may have good poll numbers right noiw, but all that's going to do is attract the spotlight of attention.
Either she won't survive the early primaries, or she will take down the Republicans. Either way, I'm pulling up a chair, getting a big bag of popcorn, and enjoying the entertainment.
My question is, how about a cure for Bachmann. If she can cure something genetic, she should be able to walk on water. I"M WAITING! yet more evangelical trash. and I agree with Katy Mae
The kind of person that believes that homos3xuality is a disease that needs to be cured is the exact kind of person that we do NOT need in the government.
Perhaps this business of Bachmann and her husband is exactly the type of government-funded-subsidy spending Bachmann has been touting as so wasteful? Especially when taking into consideration that she has herself been collecting various government subsides her entire adult life, including (but certainly not limited to) being on the direct government employee payroll more years than not, I suspect this is the GOPer don't do as I do, do as I say rhetorical nonsense which so disgusts me. I'll leave her so called christianity (of which I have no doubt she thinks she is the epitome of christian goodness) for God to judge.
homosexuality is a condition just like liberalism so maybe we need clinics to "cure" left wing radicals. I mean we definitely need them. Maybe....thats funny.
The kind of person that believes that h0m0s3xuality is a disease that needs to be cured is the exact kind of person that we do NOT need in the government.
And ye shall know the Truth, and the truth shall set thee free. Well, Michelle, tell me some of those lies of yours and make me think about the truth.
@ Joe M.
I'm no Bachmann supporter, but it's more business experience than Obama ever had.
_____________________________________________________________________________
No, he had more experience helping to run a non-profit, but its also irrelevant to the topic at hand. She and her husband ran a business which promoted a form of "therapy" deemed unethical and dangerous by the AMA, and would appear to violate any number of ethical standards in Mr. Bachmann's profession. Also, the fact she took the money and then proceded to spin how it was used is also disturbing, espcially since it looks like she was less than forthcoming about what was going on. If she is a tax attorney, she should know the damage that can cause a business and a reputation. She comes across as ammoral and a hypocrite.
So I finished reading this article and I'm still waiting for evidence of Bachmann's "controversial" therapy methods. Maybe I simply misunderstood the article's tone, but I assumed by "controversial" the author meant something like "offensive" or "harmful." Even so, it's not clear to me how prayer (meditation) and celibacy advice are especially controversial methods of therapy.
This clinic seems more like a church than actual clinic. If these people are suggesting "reparative" therapy and religiious conversion to "help" people with their same-gender attractions, then this place should be rightfully called a church or some type of religious place and should not be collection thousands of dollars in Medicaid money.
If their cure for it is "pray it away", file as a church with tax-exemption and don't waste tax payer money.
Bachmann has embellished her credentials too much and there is always a price to pay for that. She needs to keep it real because running for President she should know you're checked out starting with the bottom of your foot.
I support the base principles of the republican party but when religious nuts like this come into play I get frustrated. These religious zealots are going to be the downfall of the GOP. I'm in my late 20s and issues like gay marriage, marijuana legalization, abortion are not my top priorities to regulate. My generation can see straight thru the smoke and mirros, the GOP campaings on small government and less intrusion in our lives by big goverment but at the same time wants to restrict many citizens with their social agendas. They need to change their ways or they will be gone in the next decade.
"Joe M. – I'm no Bachmann supporter, but it's more business experience than Obama ever had.
July 12, 2011 10:40 pm at 10:40 pm |"
Wasn't sure there was anyway to take at shot at Obama in this write up, thx for setting us all "straight"
The Bachman's never said that "gays" are lesser people than us! This is what is something noone else brings out, is that the ones that support this lifestyle (not the same as being black or ethnic) are some of the meanest people out there. The hateful rhetoric is horrible. It is through love of these people that these therephies are out there. The bible is correct on what it states many times about how wrong this life style is and we are called, through love to tell those whom we love about it.
I am so glad to see my fellow citizens standing up here to this travesty. Going after gays like that makes Bachmann seem very 1930s Germany. "Barbarians!!!?" We Americans have to definitively reject the Bachmanns and drum them from the presidential race and the media. She is dangerously stupid; what's scary is how many people follow and admire her. This is the Achilles heel of democracy: that a majority can be hornswoggled into embracing a bigoted or otherwise crazy agenda. That's why we have to use our votes to prevent her and her backers from getting even a whiff of victory. The potential for oppression and worse is high.
I guess I don't see the problem with offering help to those that want it. No one is forcing gays into these things, but they are there for them if they choose to go. And believe it or not some gays DO want to change. And there is a problem somehow with that? People want to change things about themselves all the time (even things they were born with), what is so differernt about this? There are plenty of traditional Christian gays who have a hard time with their sexual orientation and their religion, and some choose to change religions and some choose to try and change their orientation. Get over it.
Pras ASKED:
What's wrong with treating Gays who want to become straight? It's freedom of choice for some Gays which can't be denied. So is Mr. Bachmann's freedom to do so. Leftist Media is trying to make it sound abnormal and unusual.
--------------
The answer to your question is nothing. The issue isn't working to "help" gay people. The issue is that they denied that that is what they do.
I really hope she wins the nomination. I can't wait to see all the negative ads against her. Might need to get some popcorn for it.
That is what we need in office – a faith healer....first, we had GWB who was annointed by his god to be prez, now we have his right hand woman Michelle christ, and family, performing healing after judging what is right and wrong for other people. Ain't America grand?!
"Dan J
Bachmann has a history of controversial gay positions according to the article, which sites that she doesn't want to recognize gay marriages. When did that become controversial?
Dan – Its not controversial, what is, is thier business taking gov funds from a program she says should be scrapped, medicare, and using it to push your own personal beliefs onto a group of people under the vail of "helping' them,
If the US wants to help the Gay community, and the gov wants to do something about it, they should stay out of thier lives and let them decide what is best for them.......hmmmm, that sounds so , so like a GOP position. Weird...another example of my way or the highway from a GOP pres can.
foreverwar – thanks for the great laugh!!!!
At a conference in 2004, Michelle Bachmann said that following about Gay people:
"This is not funny. It's a very sad life. It's part of Satan, I think, to say this is gay. It's anything but gay." She added, "If you're involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it's bondage."
Ms. Bachmann is certainly entitled to her insane opinions, but such remarks are all the proof I need that she is in no way fit to be President.
"We have to understand barbarians need to be educated. They need to be disciplined and just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn't mean we're supposed to go down that road,"
Sigh, I mean doesn't this religion driven righteousness sound the same as any Islamic fundamentalist in the Middle East? Barbarians, forced discipline...it's no different...
Who gives a crap, this is such a non issue that less than 1% of the population cares about. is this the best that the liberal smear machine/media can come up with? You disappoint me!
He said, she said. Where is the proof? Got any records from the clinic you want to share with us Ramirez? You want to expose someone then you had better make sure you have proof!
How is a smaller government EVER going to monitor every woman's uterus, every person's religious beliefs, and every human's sexual preference??
"What purpose in this life could Bachman possibly have for telling millions of Americans who happen to be gay, that they are less of people than herself?"
Her so called Christianity, of which she no doubts thinks she is on the highest level of ... being the next best thing to God, as she portrays herself to be. I'll leave it for God to judge. For her sake, though, I do hope that He isn't nearly as intolerant as she and those of her ilk are at judging - might cause each of them a great deal of gnashing of teeth, and hand wringing - when all is said and done.
pael
"Wake up Babylon. Homosexuality is unacceptable, and always has been. It is a sin and Christians advising sinners to repent and change their ways is not newsworthy. It's sad that this sin has gained such a legitmacy in society that this story has any traction. It would be more shocking if a Christian counseled gays to stay the way they are."
your beliefs are not that of the free market......you can't have your cake and eat it too. Either the GOP is for the free market all the time, or they need to stop beating the free market drum only when it fits their personal beliefs and not those of a country of 350mil people. What happened to love they neighbour? What happened to love they brother and sister? What happened to the belief that the greatest gift "god" gae to man was "Free Will"?
I am a straight Married man, but i have no issue with someone being gay, its not a choice, its just who they are.......maybe, the gay community should open a clinic and get gov funds to turn straights gay, you know, thier personal beliefs.
Now we know why she cannot have a straight talk interview. She always, all the time, side-set the questions asked of her. She is a NUT-WIG
As an Independent she will never get my vote. She is to extreme in many people's views. And she would divide the nation worse than what we are now. And the Tea Party they have really put a nail in their coffin. For their political movement. For they pick candidates that have no clue on uniting people but rather cause more division.
None of this should surprise anyone. Besides, she's "A small business job creator,...."??!?!
Whatever licensing agency licenses these counselors, they should investigate and sanction Bachmann and any employees who engaged in reparative therapy. As a licensed psychologist it is well known that reparative therapy causes harm, and their is no empirical evidence it works. The MN Board of Psychology probably knows about Bachmann and should have restricted or suspended his license long ago. As for the employee who said he 'wasn't an expert or anything', and only has a little experience 'here and there': Competency guidelines set by licensing boards tell practitioners to adhere to practices only within their areas of competency. Where did this guy get his degree?
Here's a gal that is obviously "spacy" and has not told the truth in response to direct questions. Just imagine this person as President of the United States and making decisions based upon "Christianity" and "Chrurch Lady" viewpoints. If this were to happen, I can see the military taking over in order to protect the United States and getting the power back to citizens would be increasingly difficult.
Go ahead GOP ! Show us that Bachmann is the person that most closely represents your views on governance and policy !
"We have to understand barbarians need to be educated."
Did Bachman really just call gay people "barbarians"??? This woman has jumped from 'daft' to 'completely insane'.
"Just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn’t mean that we are supposed to go down that road."
This is a direct quote from Marcus Bachmann. Who does he mean by "we." Him? Them? What a strange way to put it. Almost sounds like he's talking about himself with that wording. And, of course, there's a lot of speculation about a man's sexual preferences when he protests about the gay lifestyle so much that he actually claims to be able to cure it (and with taxpayer money to boot).
Not commenting on her politics but rather a comment on Christianity.
Christianity as taken from it's authoritative book condemns homosexuality (and fornication, adultery, looking at a woman or man lustfully who's not married to you, etc...) as sin. Jesus calls those who want to share in His eternal Kingdom to repent of their sin and change. All sinners can change whether they're homosexual or addicted to porn. A good friend of mine was living an unrestrained gay life for years and without being forced by anyone, has come to realize it was sin and he's repented of it and is actively dating a woman whom he plans to marry.
Just wanting to offer God's word and hope to any of you reading through this column.
Okay, the weight of professional opinion is that sexual orientation is not a mental illness and can't be "cured". But, reasonable minds differ. Many religious counseling professionals believe otherwise. Health care professionals do not classify religious belief as irrational either. The guy in that sting asked to be cured. His target only agreed to help him do what he said he wanted to do. There was nothing illegal or even totatlly irrational about that, unlike those caught up in the Acorn sting.
I'm watching from up in Canada. This is a total joke guys. I know that this woman doesn't represent the majority of your country. I think she and other clowns vying for leadership positions simply illustrate how the neglect of your public education system now runs the risk of sinking your democracy.
America has some of the lowest education rankings of all industrialized nations. She also ranks highest out of industrialized nations for people who classify themselves as 'strongly religious'. Just look to the middle east to see the far end of that spectrum.
We are very proud of the business we have created, but I will dodge all questions about it and refuse to discuss it.
There's just been a serious misunderstanding here. It's true the Bachmann (Teaparty Overdrive) wants to cure all homosexuals, but not in a medical sense– more of in the sense of how meat is cured– mostly through hanging it on hooks and salting it.
The question is: How do we cure the Bachmanns of the world....that's what we should be concentrating on in these clinics.....it's the Bachmanns that need Reparative Therapy.....we ask that all "Tea Partiers" pray for the Bachmann's redemption....
Ignorance is bliss – Bachmann is blissfully ignorant. Fetal development is beyond Miz Bachmann. I suppose she is going to counsel those who are born with cleft palates, atrial-septal defect (hole in the heart), webbed digits, oh – and cerebral palsy, ad infinitum. After all, they were born different. Being born with a physical defect and/or an endocrine/hormone disorder isn't a sin. God made you – right? Time to return to critical thinking folks. The superstitions of 2000 to 5000 years ago aren't working.
The real story here is not that Michele and her husband are medically behind the times, but rather that they take FEDERAL DOLLARS to do this! The Tea Party Darling and her husband actually get Medicare funding for this lunacy! This is wrong on so many counts yet people still think she is a good choice for President! Medicare funding for religious beliefs while saying the government is spending too much on this very program that could help deserving people. WAKE UP AMERICA- this woman is a hypocrite and dangerous!
Lord can't you cure gays from all of their sins?
Those people are gay and they must make amends.
Lord won't you save them from all of this hate?
Michelle's clinic can pray them all straight! (my apologies to the late Janis Joplin)
JM you must be kidding. More business sense than Obama? Trying to change someone because they "Bachmann 's" think they have a magic wand? What happened to separation of church and state? She is trying to push her outlandish beliefs on anyone and everyone. No thank you. I have my religion and don't need a nut case like Bachmann to tell me what I should believe in or not.
Evangelical's scare me. Legitimately frighten me.
This kind of stuff is not at all unexpected, sadly.
They think because of their faith they are better and as such have the right and privileged, the DUTY to convert and change all "lesser folk" because they've "seen the light."
It is no different then Jihadists in my book.
Our Way or Eternal Suffering and Pain is not too far a stretch from Our Way or Death.
The extreme liberal left and their agent, CNN, are scared to death of a female candidate from the Republican party and I predict they will assault Bauchman, for whom I have no feeling toward positive or negative, in much the same manner as they did Palin, who by the way I can't stand. We the People deserve the opportunity to evaluate the candidates on our own and make our own decision about who should be the next President. We shouldn't have to see CNN and NPR constantly berate a candidate day after day throughout the process. I guarantee you CNN will have a Michelle Bauchman story in the "Latest News" section of their home page every single day from now until the primaries.
Some guy named Frank on here states there is no gay gene, that we are not born this way. Gee Frank, are you speaking from experience, your gay? I am and I have known I was gay since I was about 6.
To think that we are not born this way is about as stupid as voting for Michele Bachmann.
Is no cure for the madness that Bachmann and her husband are perpetrating on unsuspecting fools? By the way, the APA will tell you that the so-called therapy to "cure" homosexuality as offered by Bachmann & Assoc. is not only ineffectual but can also be harmful. But, what do they care? They're getting paid good money for bad therapy. As for their so-called belief in small government and no "hand-outs" they take government money at their clinic and receive farm subsidies....
They are Pharisees shearing the sheep....
Government money paying for religious "therapy"- that's what's going on.
Great Idea. If you know there is a sickness it is our responsibility to cure it.
Uh, it's a Christian-based clinic. What do the people going in there expect? That's like an alcoholic trying to go to an AA meeting to learn how to moderate (not quit) his drinking. People should really do their research better before committing to invasive treatments like therapy.
Did it ever occure to you John C that I do not want to change? My sexual orientation is part of my experience of who I am and what I am and I am not only fine with it, I embrace it.
"And I could just hear his voice quiver and I just said, 'you know, Andy, if you're good with being gay then I am too,'" Shellenbarger said.". This whole thing is rididulous. Gays are 10% of the population and 90% of the attention. Give me a break. being gay is ok...but stop all the whining. Act like the rest of us...that is keep you sex life private as it should be and no one will care.
The Bachmann-supporting posters here run to two types: insane people and closet cases who want their prejudices legitimized by law and science. Either way they're pathetic and have zero chance of their candidate getting within smelling distance of the White House.
How is this controversal? If people want to stop being gay then we should work for them to stop being gay. This wouldn't even be a controversy 5-10 years ago.
This is great. The more of this comes out the less likely we will have a republican president.
Yikes. I did not realize she and her husband are charlatans. How does someone like that run for president? So he is some kind of "medicine doctor", getting people to pay him to use "the power of prayer" to heal them of their sexual orientations. Quite sick of the Bachmanns's to abuse their fellow people like this.
What is the issue? If you go to the free Christian counseling and if they do indeed tell you that they have counseling that could change you from homosexual to "straight" then you have a choice – stay for the counseling or leave. No one is tied up and forced to go to the counseling. The counseling is a choice that someone can make – I thought liberals were all about choice!!! As to homosexuals and liberals being upset that anyone would even suggest counseling might be able to make them "straight" – well get over it and don't go to the counseling.
This is great. The more of this is exposed the less likely we will have a republican president.
I hope more of this comes out so she does not become president
This lady is scary! Running for president....pshh... I've been scared since the day I first heard she was going to run. I also find it funny that she was appealing to "convervative Iowa"- gay marriage is legal there! As a former Iowa native.... they're not so conservative. Haha.
What is the issue? If you go to the free Christian counseling and if they do indeed tell you that they have counseling that could change you to "straight" then you have a choice – stay for the counseling or leave. No one is tied up and forced to go to the counseling. The counseling is a choice that someone can make – I thought liberals were all about choice!!! As to g_ays and liberals being upset that anyone would even suggest counseling might be able to make them "straight" – well get over it and don't go to the counseling.
To Frank Brady's comment:
What makes you an authority? Everything you state regarding "the APA which arbitrarily and with no evidence to support the decision decided to remove homosexuality from its list of disorders (philia) in 1973." Pretty clear you'e the one make the arbitrary and lack of evidience to support your thinking. To state "there is no "homosexual gene." yammer, yammer. WTF? You don't know that! Just being a gene hasn't been pinpointed to homosexuality does not mean it doesn't exist. Science continuously discovers things about our bodies. Gene therapy wasn't always available.. Why do I even bother responding to "authorities" such as yourself, since you know everything. You're disgusting!! Blech! Call it hate; call it what you want, but don't for a minute think you know what is right or wrong on this issue.
I can't wait to ask my gay friends what it's like to be a barbarian.
Just more proof of their If you do not think exactly like us and behave lick us then there is something wrong with you and you cannot be part of America. UNQUALIFIED for the presidency.
Really? So me being a lesbian is just a .... disease? Like Herpes, HIV, Smallpox or Gonorrhea?
And Bachmann is going to 'cure' me??? And this is her platform for running for the US Presidency?!?!
mickey mouse has a better chance at becoming president...there is no way...zero chance that she could be prez...
Geeeeez CNN can you be any more exposed for the Obama flagship that you are? But seriously, gay rights????? Probably the LAST thing we should be worried about in politics today.
Wow, this is just sooo horrible, people recommending abstaining from unnatural and immoral, non productive lustful relations. Oh the horror of the Bachmann's Divine and natural law views. The gay lobby is about the most bigoted and hateful lobby out there today. Funny that they espouse names like "Tea baggers" but "hate speech" is decried by their own hypocritical lobby. Lets speak truth without letting irrational emotions fly
I can't wait to hear the wailing sound of democrats on Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 when they wake up to hear the words "President-elect Michele Bachmann".
Thank God I live in Canada! A country where we accept equaility in the ranges of race or sexual orientation. Closed minded ideas like this is just plain retarded. I cant believe this woman is running for President and shes popular!?
But for the relative few who are likeminded or just plain crazy, she will implode. The problem is that they have no one else to go to right now. Why would Rick Perry be much different? Everyone else is pretty much ho-hum.
Breaking News!!!! Bachmann husband therapy backfires. One of his patients convinced him to become gay!
As a job creator, how many does she actually employ in her husband's business - 6?
I don't know what's more horrifying... the fact that this woman has so much support and has gotten as far as she has... or that modern, intelligent people truly believe you can change your se.xuality by force of will and counseling (by the by, you cannot. You can learn to control urges and how to not act upon them- much like any cognitive therapy for OCD or hoarding- but you cannot 'cure' homose.xuality). Both are quite scary facts.
Yea this article makes it seem like they go out on the streets and grab gay people by the necks and force them into therapy. When, actually, gay people are seeking out this clinic because of moral depression. Why is this clinic being critisized for providing a service that people want/need? Liberal media is telling a story about their website "mysteriously" shutting down after airing a news story about this clinic. Thats called a "server overload," and it occurs when too many people are accessing a website and the server is unable to host all of the clients. They didn't shut it down becuase they were trying to hide anything. So everyone on here can critisize the Bachmann family for owning a business and helping patients who seek them out, hiring employees, paying taxes and being republican. But if you don't accept them for who they are, you going against your belief of wanting them to accept gay people for who they are..
I am a moderate republican only because of idotic comments like these where republicans think that they can people from being gay. It is a choice and who they are, just like being born and having the choice of being a hetero-sexual. I would be more on board with republicans if they would just stop trying to use the political arena as a platform for their christian ideology. Democrats can be the same way. Let's deal with the real issues that we face, unemployment, debt crisis, economic recovery, etc., and stop with trying to change who a person is based on their sexual orientation.
Once again all evangelical Christians are wrongly portrayed as being the same because of a high profile case.
I would think their Medicare claims would be a matter of public record. I would be curious as to what *ailments* they claimed to have been treating, and what types of *treatments and procedures* they claimed to have provided. This is could be an open and shut case of fraud.
Jude 1:7
"In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire."
'Why do Republican's, who are supposedly constitutionalists, constantly trying to override the Full Faith and Credit Clause?"
They didn't get the memo about the Civil War beig won by the North.
GOPers seem to need to faces to talk...they want to be president to help create jobs...they believe the government has too much influence in the economy...but they want to use their power as president o create jobs...and rely on less regulation...because corporations are model citizens...not driven by reckless greed...though that is the base of the capitalist system (a potent force indeed but also destructive if left un-checked)...the financial collapse brought on by risky speculation and lowered credit standards...coal mining accidents...oils spills in the gulf...there is a long, long list...all mirages.
Is this the same business that received federal dollars?
Why is it that those who purport to vehemently defend the constitution are usually the ones to advocate for laws that degrade its protections?
Why is it that those who believe so strongly that government should not interfere with people's lives are usually the ones who want to impose their religious ideology on others through legislation?
The better Bachman does in the polls among Republicans, the better it is for Obama in the general election.
There are many people with abnormal sexual impulses (homosexuals, pedophiles, exhibitionism, etc..) who have been successfully counseled and have moved on to have normal sexual lives. If homosexuality is counted among the list of sexual abnormalities that people can suffer from, (and it is!), then services such as what the Bachmann's provide is noble. Our country is in a sad state of immoral aimlessness and that means that anyone trying to reestablish sane moral behavior is bound to be called an "extremist" or "radical". In this case, I'm relieved to be a "radical" then.
Wow, how can the repubs actually consider backing this woman. She is borderline certifiable.
I like how this is stated as a fact "Michele Bachmann has a long history of controversial views on homosexuality."
I don't know about anyone else, but I find Michelle Bachmann a bigger abomination than any gay person on the planet. Really! Who does this woman think she is? What makes you so special Michelle? What? It certainly is NOT your kind heart or loving nature. I cannot believe that any reputable agency would let YOU be a foster parent. Get over your self.
"Reparative therapy." "Intelligent design." It's medieval.
...are any of her God's special children a minority....hmmmmmmmmmmmm
This pair clearly chased after the Faith Based money made handy by the dubbya to perform social engineering experiments.
The "aspiring First couple"? Really...it is to laugh...
We should support this woman and her organization, if they can cure such a malignant disease like being a gay (such a destruction of a good word) or lesbian then this is a very worthy business. Being gay is an affront to nature and needs to be eliminated from modern soceity. I am sick and tired of walking the streets with my children and being asked why are those two men (or women) kissing? that garbage needs to be done behind closed doors rather then in the public eye.
A "FOR PROFIT" business at that. Bachmann is a scam artist, pure and simple.
I think she is confused about the country of which she wishes to rule as President. I believe she's supposed to be campaigning in Uganda, not the United States.
What's so absurd is these people think President Obama is dangerous for the country... LOL!!
How did people like this ever get a foothold in our democracy? It seems we are overrun with lunatics, zealots, idiots and barbarians!! We all need to really pray that none of these nut cases are ever elected President. I don't agree with everything President Obama is doing, but compared to any of these looneys, he is the only choice in 2012.
America will not regain its status as a great nation when religious freaks like this are taken seriously as candidates for political office.
If these allegations are true, she not only created a business but probably destroyed personal lives along the way.
As straight person it never occured to me, not even once, that I had a choice about what sex I was attracted to. My gay friends, all of them, also cannot remember a time when they had to decide what sex they were attracted to. This whole debate is totally silly. The simple fact is that there is a percentage of people who need a group to hate and demonize. Blacks, Jews, Catholics, Irish, Italians, Russians, we all got the middle finger from that crowd. But in the long run that crowd was swept out of the way. And they are being swept out of the way of gay humans too. And to the members of that crowd...don't worry there are always the Muslims you can hate.
President Bachmann...has a nice ring to it!
You know something is seriously wrong with yourself when you make Sarah Palin look like a viable candidate. Bachmann is running as a job creator, just how many jobs has her Gaywash Clinic created ? And how many government grants did she recieve for this clinic ? She makes it sound like she has hired thousands of people so it would be good if she could quote facts and tell us how many jobs she has created in her business life.
if gay is a disease i will keep it. being the underdog made me into a better human being that can appreciate all diversity. i would rather have a life of accomplishment than leisure. i would not get rid of my homosexuality even if i could. it is a core fundamental of who i am as a person. i turned out more successful than any intolerant uneducated hilljack around here
She'll do just like the Republican Congress did in 2010. Claiming that they're all about jobs but when they got elected they went after their political opponents (Planned Parenthood, unions, NPR etc), and went after social issues and not one thing done about jobs. She'll do the same. Republicans simply cannot govern unless it's by the Bible. They'll destroy this country if they get control again. Be afraid, be very afraid.
If you believe in intellegent design, why would you try and change that intellegent design by washing the gay out of humans of intellegent design ?
First off, its none of Bachman's business to tell others how to live their lives. Secondly, its none of Bachman's business to tell people how to live their lives. I'm not homosexual but if I were, I'd make sure she heard me telling her over and over again to mind her own damn business and get her long nosy nose out of mine.
"Political Christians" like Bachman remind me of Muslim Ayatollas who simply cannot shut up about other people's personal business.
If god made us homosexuals, isn't "therapy" going against god's will? Homosexuality has been documented in nature for hundreds of different species. Should we give them therapy to?
@Matthew, it's controversial because it's not possible. If you're gay, you're gay. Period. Bachmann is falsely advertising to miserable and/or confused gay people that you can "pray the gay away" and be all better. She's just another nutjob living in the Dark Ages.
Barbarians? The only barbarians are Michelle Bachmann & her husband.
Just because some people have different views about homosexuality does not mean they are crazy; America may be losing it, but we're supposed to be a nation where people can hold diverse opinions. The Bachmann clinic is what it is; people don't have to go in there. They can also leave when they want. Some people involved in homosexual activity want out. Live and let live! Oh, I forgot, you can live "free" if you are liberal, but you are not supposed to if you are conservative, according to the "open," "broad-minded," "inclusive" leftists.
I don't know much about Bachman but I had assumed when she said she was small business owner and created jobs, I thought she had small factory or something. Instead she has quak clinic which gets Medicaid payments. I can see she is a true entrepenure.
I completely agree therapists shouldn't push a g@y client to convert, but I'll never understand the media and gay activists' resistance to therapy. If someone wants to try to change, why not? Pretty hypocritical. Fact is, NOBODY knows if being g@y is genetic, environmental, or (IMHO most likely) some variable combination of both. I'm hetero, but I don't know if it's because of genes or environment (or both), so don't tell me "I was born this way" – you don't, and can't know.
I don't even know what to say, Bachmann is out of her mind.
Aaah, if only they could come up with a way to cure religious zealots. Now that would do some good in the world.
I completely agree therapists shouldn't push a clients to convert, but I'll never understand the media and activists' resistance to therapy. If someone wants to try to change, why not? Pretty hypocritical. Fact is, NOBODY knows if it's genetic, environmental, or (IMHO most likely) some variable combination of both. I'm straight, but I don't know if it's because of genes or environment (or both); "I was born this way" is a pretty arrogant statement – you don't, and can't know.
The good doctor Bachman exhibits all of the typical symptoms of a self-loathing homosexual. This same behavior has been observed in many Republicans from Roy Ashburn to Larry Craig. Hiding in plain sight is the oldes trick in the book.
Ah, someone finally quoted the 10% number.
Let me ask you this: If 10% of our population has *any* particular attribute, isn't that a large enough number to make it a normal part of the human experience? Or should all the color-blind men in the US (10% of the population) or left-handed people (10% of the population) be "cured" too?
So if 10% of the population is gay, I say it's part of being human, by nature, and we should be accepting of that.
Federal dollars are going to this place? Disgusting!
I'm straight, but I can't tell you if it's genes or environment any more than anyone else can. If someone wants therapy to change, why should it be unethical to provide it? Obviously, therapists shouldn't be pushing clients to change their orientation, but the undercover guy didn't get that – he got the opposite.
I am just sick of another person stating it's normal to wonder and have curiousity but if you think it and feel it, that doesn't mean you should do it. I would agree if someone was talking abuot hurting another person or committing a crime, but when it comes to simply loving another human being.. I am pretty sure these are instictive feelings of good and guess what, I am all for it.
Michelle knows how to get her share (and then some) of those tax dollars she claims to hate so much!! How much did she collect for all those foster kids she had at her group home?
Being from Minnesota, I am ashamed that both Bachmann & Pawlenty are running for POTUS. Hope people know that all Minnesotans aren't wacky, nut jobs.
After listening to people like Bachmann, he or she, I'm left with only one conclusion – that there has never been a more pressing need than right now to start opening up clinics that offer "reparative therapy" to those who have had their minds corrupted, contaminated and polluted by the religion corporation!
These clinics would be a good first step to reducing the religious fanaticism infecting our country. They could be called RRF's – Rationality Restoration Facilities. They would treat people who go there for help by first reintroducing them to reality, which is one of the integral steps in the therapy...even the slogan could be something along the lines of "Believing without seeing is not faith, it's psychosis", or "We specialize in the removal of malignant religious cancers."
As far as I'm concerned, anybody who still needs further proof as to why religion is so dangerous and destructive to our society and civilization as a whole need only pay closer attention to the things these people say....any institution that can lead a person to think this way "We have to understand barbarians need to be educated. They need to be disciplined and just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn't mean we're supposed to go down that road," should always be looked at through a lens of skepticism and distrust.
I used to give religion the benefit of the doubt, that it was simply just the individual that was off their rocker and it wasn't the fault of the religion....thanks to the zealots however, I can no longer convince myself to believe that as time and again I am shown, by the very people demanding their beliefs be respected, that they give absolutely no valid reasons as to why I should respect their beliefs in the first place.
I long for a time when religion can be diminished and relegated to nothing more than an obscure mentioning in our history books. Until that time, we should do everything in our power to stop people like Bachmann from ever holding any public office that will have influence over others in any way.
Did she seriously liken gay people to "barbarians?" It's baffling to me that people in this country could elect someone like that. When did Freedom of Religion turn into Freedom to Cram My Personal Beliefs Down Your Throat? And what place does any of this have in politics? ZERO!!! I'm embarrassed as an American that people like Bachmann are elected to represent this country. @Leroy, I think you're delusional. I can't wait until all of this blows up in the Republicans face next election.
Hatred from the left is out in full force on this. You may not agree with her opinions or beliefs, but it is her right to have them. The view of the left is that all beliefs or thought that does not agree with their principles must be destroyed. Now tell me who is more tolerant?
Why are these conservative, homophobic perverts so OBSESSED with gay people? Some people are gay. Get over it. In a growing number of countries, the idiotic and bigoted idea of "curing" gay people is considered medical malpractice. This is just example number 5,547, 678 of how Bachmannnnn and her wacky supporters are literally centuries behind the times. They are insane! THIS is who conservatives in America are? No thanks. I'll vote for Obama and the Democrats.
This idiot re-defines the term "uneducated". Only in America would a fifth century religious bible slapper run such a fake business. Hey Michele, got any snake skin oil for sale?
why can't the GOP field normal candidates? why do they find these nut jobs?
"I hope more of this comes out so she does not become president."
Not to worry. This religous freak won't ever be president. She's way too weird and extreme and would never win in the general election. Besides, she'd have to win over independents and most of them think she's nuts.
This women is a "nutcase". I'm neither "Gay" nor Democrat, but she stands about as much of a chance of being
elected President, as a snowball in "Miami Southbeach".
I believe that she suffers from mental retardation. Reading her comments/opinions makes me realize that she is promoting hate and division. She would be wrong as leader of anything. Imagine her teaching her values to girl scouts, or your child. Hell, even the people at my trailer part consider her crazy (including Bert who thinks he is Elvis).
Please make all the stupid go away.
I'd like to be a little taller. You suppose Marcus could teach me to pray to make that happen?
This is a serious candidate for president? She probably needs psychological help more than anyone.
Homophobics fear their repressed homosexuality. A study appearing in the August 1996 issue of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association (APA), provides new empirical evidence that is consistent with that theory.
Researchers at the University of Georgia conducted an experiment involving 35 homophobic men and 29 nonhomophobic men as measured by the Index of Homophobia scale. All the participants selected for the study described themselves as exclusively heterosexual both in terms of sexual arousal and experience.
Each participant was exposed to sexually explicit erotic stimuli consisting of heterosexual, male homosexual and lesbian videotapes (but not necessarily in that order). Their degree of sexual arousal was measured by penile plethysmography, which precisely measures and records male tumescence.
Men in both groups were aroused by about the same degree by the video depicting heterosexual sexual behavior and by the video showing two women engaged in sexual behavior. The only significant difference in degree of arousal between the two groups occurred when they viewed the video depicting male homosexual sex: 'The homophobic men showed a significant increase in penile circumference to the male homosexual video, but the control [nonhomophobic] men did not.'
Broken down further, the measurements showed that while 66% of the nonhomophobic group showed no significant tumescence while watching the male homosexual video, only 20% of the homophobic men showed little or no evidence of arousal. Similarly, while 24% of the nonhomophobic men showed definite tumescence while watching the homosexual video, 54% of the homophobic men did.
When asked to give their own subjective assessment of the degree to which they were aroused by watching each of the three videos, men in both groups gave answers that tracked fairly closely with the results of the objective physiological measurement, with one exception: the homophobic men significantly underestimated their degree of arousal by the male homosexual video.
2 more americans killed in iraq yesterday .. 2 wars ..were in debt up to our eye balls...unemployment at 9 % and this is the lead story...ugh
My heart broke for that kid in the video. Can't believe someone this backwards and crazy has made it so far. Good, let her win the primaries, because no way in hell will she be able to beat Obama. There's many gay republicans and republican gay rights advocates, such as Cheney and his daughter. Obama would have to do something really f'd up George W +++ proportions to lose against Bachmann.
I'd send her to a clinic to cure her of her stupidity, but I'm afraid it's a terminal condition.
Don’t let learned feelings control who you really are. Just as some people have different feelings than others, some people seem to be unusually susceptible to particular actions, reactions, or addictions. Feelings are another matter. Some kinds of feelings seem to be inborn. Others are traceable to mortal experiences. Still other feelings seem to be acquired from a complex interaction of “nature and nurture.” Perchance these susceptibilities are acquired without personal choice or fault, like the unnamed ailment described by the Apostle Paul, “a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure” A person may have feelings or tendencies that draw them to a susceptibility such as gambling, but unlike those who only dabble, he becomes a compulsive gambler. Another person may have a taste for alcohol and a susceptibility to its addiction and by choice becomes an alcoholic. Another for tobacco, hot temper, pornography, covetous attitude, contentious manner, homosexuality, and so on. Let us be careful not to use the word Gay as a noun. It's and adjective. Make no mistake God is perfect. He doesn't mistake his sons and daughters. He wants us all to fulfill our rolls as such. Only satan would want this plan confused and drive people to believe otherwise because of susceptibilities. I'm not going to come out and say Liberal this or Right winger that. Let's just say confussed or wicked people are fighting this and will until they have become enlightened. We should we fight against 10 years from now. Are these same people going to say to a rapist, child molestor, murderer, "It's ok you were born that way. It's in your make up of who you are. That's why you do that." Let's not become a society of accept everything and stand for nothing.
“Most of us are born with [or develop] thorns in the flesh, some more visible, some more serious than others. We all seem to have susceptibilities to one disorder or another, but whatever our susceptibilities, we have the will and the power to control our thoughts and our actions. This must be so. God has said that he holds us accountable for what we do and what we think, so our thoughts and actions must be controllable by our agency. Once we have reached the age or condition of accountability, the claim ‘I was born that way’ does not excuse actions or thoughts that fail to conform to the commandments of God. We need to learn how to live so that a weakness that is mortal will not prevent us from achieving the goal that is eternal.
“God has promised that he will consecrate our afflictions for our gain (see 2 Ne. 2:2). The efforts we expend in overcoming any inherited [or developed] weakness build a spiritual strength that will serve us throughout eternity. Thus, when Paul prayed thrice that his ‘thorn in the flesh’ would depart from him, the Lord replied, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Obedient, Paul concluded:
“‘Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
“‘Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong’ (2 Cor. 12:9–10).
“Whatever our susceptibilities or tendencies [feelings], they cannot subject us to eternal consequences unless we exercise our free agency to do or think the things forbidden by the commandments of God. We have to be particularly careful of the personal argument that because we have a strong drive toward a particular act, that we have no power or choice and therefore no responsibility for our actions. This type of argument or contention goes against the teachings of Jesus Christ. Satan would like us to believe we are not responsible in this life.
How can a christian also be a republican and a tp creep?
This lady is a gem....Hope she goes far...she provides great material for me to laugh at.
Minnesotans ARE wack jobs. I live there. Good old Dayton coocoo eyes fresh out of the psych ward Gov. etc, etc, etc.
homosexuality , like any other SIN, can be repented of if the person choses to do so. Repentance of course will result in a
change of lifestyle.
Their tactics must not work very well...her husband Marcus is a total queen! (search for videos of him online and you'll see what I mean).
My thoughts on her:
#1. She is a hate filled "Christian". Something of an (oxy)moron. No love for others who are different, disenfranchised, etc.
#2. She is dangerous in that she is whipping up people to follow her mandate of hate, blame and racist fear-fulled twisted ideas. Think back to the Holocaust and how Hitler began...
#3. I bet that husband is a Pervert the likes of which we have never seen before
She keeps touting 28 kids...she went to the Palin school of exaggeration....very dangerous....very filled with hate. Most importantly, she has no helpful ideas.
I think she has the right idea – homosexuality is a disease and needs to be cured – they should be rounded up and sent to Iran or Saudi Arabia.
Feel for ya, Gloria. Still remember Jesse "The Body" Ventura.
We need to build a huge catapult and launch people like this into the Pacific Ocean.
Only in America folks...only in America. How is it that you folks just keep churning these hillbillies out?
Bob, remember that up until a few decades ago us lefties were punished. Often in Catholic schools for showing any sign of being left handed.
When my government says there is a seperation between churce and state, I expect them to follow it. Do not bring your personal opinions into this and sure as hell don't ever tell me that someone deserves less because of who they are and who they love. SHAME ON YOU.
How about our leaders focus on how to make life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for ALL their main focus?
This country is in need of a revolution lead by the people. just about every singe one of those in office are focused on their party or the top 2%. This has got to stop and WE THE PEOPLE need to stand up to this crippled government who has tarnished OUR way of life while they sit in their leather chairs collecting a paycheck for no work being done.
They are not our peers and in no way our LEADERS.
These are the actions that start revolutions. They are making their politics about their agenda and not about the people of the United States of America's citizens.
Revolution! Revolution! Revolution!
What's funnier than the joke of a campaign that Bachmann is running (she'll be out of the race after the North Carolina primary) is the apologists on the right on this blog, claiming media bias, or left wing hatred or that Bachmann somehow 'scares' the Democrats. She's crazy, so are her supporters and all anyone is doing is holding up a light to the cockroach – no one is making anything up. This lady is certifiably insane.
I'm flabber-gasted! What is wrong with these people, man? These conservative man and woman are like people in a SECT. This sick woman must be hospitalized, en learn a thing or two about compassion.
"We have to understand barbarians need to be educated" Indeed, you must, misses Bachman. Indeed you need to be educated!
Homosexuals can repent of this SIN, if they choose to do so. Just like liars, murders, & those who steal can repent.
Repentance will lead to a change of lifestyle.
All humans have the ability to choose their behavior- that is what separates us from animals. A person who has gay urges, can choose not to act on them. If this clinic is helping people who want to make that choice – that is okay.
and if you pray real hard and give us lots of money we can change your eye colour!
I can't believe our country has come to a point where we are actually taking her presidential candidacy seriously. Anyone who associates gays with "barbarians" and believes you can pray it away is just delusional and deserves no place in politics. Here's to hoping that one day all the ridiculous social conservatives will crawl back down into the hole they came out of.
So it is barbaric to be a homosexual but not barbaric to accept the beliefs of the uneducated from 2000 years ago? BTW, if the sons of Adam and Eve were to reproduce they would have to do so with their sisters or mother. Wouldn't that be barbaric. I hope America doesn't jump on this crazy train.
Bachmann is completely bat$hit.
being homosexual is a sickness NAMBLA
people that are as anti-gay and homophoic as the Bachmanns tend to raise red flags to me. Remember Sen Craig and Rev Haggard in Colorado? They were anti gay supposedly then turned out caught up in gay situations. Same thing happened with Jim Bakker years ago. Someone like Sen Vitter so much into "family values" along with Newt Gingrich and look at what THEY did. Just don't be shocked if down the line there is something NOT being made public here. I bet somebody is digging into such a possibility right now.
Rickster
I can't wait to hear the wailing sound of democrats on Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 when they wake up to hear the words "President-elect Michele Bachmann".
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Hey Wrongster,
Put your mortgage on that, please. I'd love to buy your foreclosed property for pennies on the dollar.
Okay, first of all, if Bachman's husband isn't gay himself he's the most effeminate straight man since Dana Carvey's "Lyle the Effeminate Heterosexual" - and I think it's much more likely that he's simply another airport restroom scandal waiting to happen. In the second place, why are my tax dollars (via Medicaid) helping pay for something that calls itself "Christian therapy" and that is nothing but religious indoctrination. Where's the separation of Church and State? It's bad enough that the Bachmans prey on sad, self-loathing homosexuals, and profit off their shame (which the Bachmans encourage) without taxpayers being billed for it.
And this is news? Maybe as a right wing conservative if she was running an abortion clinic there'd be something to talk about here. I'll bet they counsel against abortions too!
So she is saying that being gay is a choice and you can choose to be straight. That would mean that everyone in the world is bi-sexual and the straights choose to be straight but have homosexual feelings and people who choose to be gay also have heterosexual feelings and so on. So everyone just leave it alone, seems we are all in the same boat.
The clinic is saying "If you want to change, we can help; it is possible." Critics are saying "You CANNOT change your orientation under ANY circumstances, and those who tell you can are criminal." So...who is more closed-minded and anti-human rights? CNN: This story is disgusting. You truly make Fox look "Fair and Balanced".
KBNJ
I'm straight, but I can't tell you if it's genes or environment any more than anyone else can. If someone wants therapy to change, why should it be unethical to provide it? Obviously, therapists shouldn't be pushing clients to change their orientation, but the undercover guy didn't get that – he got the opposite.
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This is not an ethical question as much as it is a legal question of using federal Medicare funds to promote one's religous views. For example, a church cannot apply for Medicare, but it can or could offer identical treatment. The real problem is that this looks like a case of gross Medicare fraud.
This couple is pretty creepy.
The Courage program sponsored by the Catholic Church is a much more effective program in dealing with unwanted same sex attraction.
......M. Bachmann is text book crazy and Mr. Bachmann may have a liitle sugar that he does not want to admit. That being said. They are taking GOV monies for their own personal believes. They are fools of fools and there will be more coming out on this family just keep reading. Only in America they have FOOLS running for the Big House. This is a shame........
M. Bachmann is NUTS.........
This is America...the land of freedom. For anyone here to say that it is not ok to be gay is crazy. If its ok to pray away the gay then it must also be ok to pray away the black and pray away the Jew or Mexican or Muslim.. If anyone says that it is a choice to be gay they must also realize then that its a choice to be christian or choice to be Jewish or Muslim . Most important it is a choice to be hateful. Are these people saying that it is ok to hate....if so then they are guilty of hate crimes by not allowing All people to be who they are and believe in what they choose to. Who cares that this woman is a successful business woman as well...and we all know that 90% of successful business people got to where they are by stepping on others to get where they are. Why is this ok? why is it acceptable to step on or over the little guy to gain? Religion has no business at all in politics and a politicians personal beliefs should never be discussed and used to gain votes. The bible is a story book written by MEN (NOT WOMEN) to control the masses. Government has no business making statements about core family values either.... and should not be allowed to make , pass , or even deny laws that involve ones personal beliefs as long as they do not PHYSICALLY or financially harm others. Being gay or straight of your choice of religion does not Physically harm anyone or damage the world in any way at all...so why does the government have anything to do at all .with it? In that case successful business people who step on others to gain should be in trouble because their decisions DO hurt others....WHY IS THAT OK? Jack Smith can not marry Joe Brown which doesn't harm others but Michelle business woman can lay off workers to outsource jobs to gain financially which does hurt others. America is wrong in the way that we run our country in so so many ways. It is wrong for any society to delegate what is acceptable or not acceptable on any issue that does not PHYSICALLY or financially harm other people. THEY SAY MONEY... NOT BELIEFS IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL ...AND America SURE HAS THE LUST GREED FOR MONEY DON'T IT!
Let's see. Come up with a business plan to prey on those who feel rejected by society, and will try anything to become "normal".....brilliant! It'll make her millions,
Pray for this woman. She is sick, and has no idea what being religious is really about. If she becomes president, I will move to Canada.
IF being gay is a CHOICE & its not ok to be gay then it is not ok to be heterosexual and its not ok to be wealthy and its not ok to be Christian ...not ok to let women work or vote. These are also all CHOICES!!!
Bachman must be a sick person, who think see is. Love between two people is universal. When God not want that gay people live on oure planet he never give us the chance to be born thats why God is love to all of humanity.
He also love Michele Bachman and he will forgive hear some day. I hope that America will shake hands with the new time who is coming because it will bring freedom to every human on earth. More country"s will see gay people as a human with rights and this freedom will bring gaymarrige to world.
Peace, Freedom and Love to all people on this beautifull world.
Ronald de Graaf, 6 year happenly married with my man Henny. Netherlands
Linda
Don't like gay marriages? Don't get one.. Don't like cigarettes? Don't smoke them.. Don't like abortions? Don't get one.. Don't like sex? Don't have it.. Don't like drugs? Don't do them.. Don't like porn? Don't watch it.. Don't like alcohol? Don't drink it.. Don't like guns? Don't buy one.. Don't… like your rights taken away??? Don't take away someone else's.
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Amen to that.
I too pray. I pray that Bat$hit Bachmann wins the RethugliKKKlan nomination so that the whole world could see what an abomination, selfish, greed-driven and humorless joke the Republicans of yore have become. And I know that if my prayer is answered President Obama will shake the dust off of his shoes with her at their first 'debate'.
Just the facts, ma'am. Just the facts. Bachmann brought the issue of being a business owner so it's fair game. But what amazes me is that journalists can put a story out there...pit one side against the other throught combative quotes ... and not do any real investigative journalism.
There are truly individuals out there who have lived the gay lifestyle and then come out of it. Why not do the work to investigate all sides of the issue?
This is what I don't understand. He went to a Christian Counseling center...a place that focuses on the integration of Christian beliefs with psychological counseling...said he was homosexual and wanted to become heterosexual, and the clinic agreed to try to help him. He was then shocked by the fact that a Christian counselor (whom he/his mother chose to go to) advised that he do Christian things to help with what he requested help for. It's not like he was in a counseling session for some other reason and the counselor found out he was homosexual and said "Oh geez, repent from your wicked ways you heathen." The guy Walked into the center and Asked for help. I'm no psychologist and can't claim to know one way or the other how the particular therapy they prescribed works...but I do know people that chose to leave that lifestyle and was helped along the way by practices similar.
This is what drives me nuts about all of this...the patient is making the choice, the doctor is trying to help the patient with their choice, and we blast the doctor for doing his job as it lines up with his belief structure. And just to toss this out there...the whole concept that homosexuality is genetically hardwired? Yeah, I'll buy that people have a genetic predisposition towards it, but it's still a choice. Someone born with homicidal tendencies still chooses whether to kill or not...they just have a lean towards doing it. Your genes are not 100% of who you are...if they were, identical twins would never deviate from each other at all. You have choice, you have personal responsibility, and it's high time we, as a culture, got back to letting people be responsible for their lives and decisions rather than blaming it off on external (or internal) factors. Even if they have the predisposition...it is ALWAYS a choice.
What is it, only creeps and crazies run for president anymore?
The Bachmann's claim you can pray the gay away, what idiots, but on top of that they get tax payer money, now that's some real BS. Here's one thing we haven't heard yet, she keep stalking about the 23 foster she raised, how much tax payer money did she receive for 23 foster kids?!? I bet a lot more than the money to the pray away the gay clinic. What shills.
To all those who say being gay is a lifesyle choice, you are basing your OPINION on a BELIEF system, not rational thought or observation. I'm not gay myself, but I have many gay friends, and it's obvious to me when I see them and talk to them that they are gay. How can this be a choice? Who would choose to subject themselves to the ridicule of society so willingly. I am left with the reality that there is no choice, they were born that way. To those who wonder what's wrong with a "christian" counseling service providing services to people who they claim want them, they recieve federal money in the form of medicare. They better be qualified practitioners with degrees and licenses. I worry about the children who are forced into it by their parents and have no say in the matter. There may be legitimacy to the claim that abuse as a child can confuse a person about their sexuality, but I will be willing to bet that science will find biological differences in the large majority of gay males just like they have in gay females. Believe what you want in the privacy of your own home/church. But don't try to force your opinions or beliefs on others. Legislating those beliefs are a violation of our constitution. Stay out of peoples private lives, and tend your own garden.
Rhonda wrote:
Once again all evangelical Christians are wrongly portrayed as being the same because of a high profile case.
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The article is about two specific people, not all. Besides, genuine followers of The Word would never involve themselves in politics. True believers would draw no distinction between associating with politicians and associating with the devil. Especially politicians that display no mercy for the poor, the weak, the hungry, and the old.
LOL......................so I guess it's true that people believe the first 3 letters in CONServative is CONS. These people need to "cure" themselfs first, what a JOKE.
Think. There is a psychological condition that has very ominous statistics. Early death. Documented. Illness prone. Some like warts, some deadly like you know what. Some mental like defensiveness.
Should we be surprised if some people who are in the quandary of how to deal with this should seek help?
A clinic is for those who seek it.
My son was raped at an early age and struggled through many years of hurt and turmoil. I don't know who helped him, but he is now a calm wise Christian.
The health issue alone calls for many many clinics. To be approached in free will and with dignity.and respect.
Why are these conservative wackos so OBSESSED with gay people? Some people are gay. Get over it. Gay people don't do anything straight people don't do, and everybody who knows gay people knows there isn't some separate and mysterious "lifestyle." The bigotry and oppression of gays is a national disgrace in the "Land of the Free" and right-wing homophobe fanatics need to enter the 21st century and grow up. Freedom and equality are the American way, and that includes gay people.
I am a Christian man who believes in the bible. I'm partial to the NKJV. I don't agree with homosexuality and believe what the bible says about homosexuality and all the it infers. When appropriate I try to share my faith with others. BUT here is my big fat contradiction/hypocritical dilemma–do I not believe in homosexuality because that's what I feel I should?? Sadly my answer is yes!!–I believe that my God loves everyone–straight or LGBT!! I know many LGBT(s) and they are great people and strong Christians and go to church and try to live in Godly way. My God is multifaceted and I think that in the end–God is God–no matter what the denomination or country of belief. While some may distort scripture to total ugliness to suit themselves, I feel he reps something different to all of us. Who am I to say that the South American tribes who have never seen the "white man" will go to and burn in hell because they aren't Christians–NO!! They may worship a freaking tree as their God and I respect that. I feel we will all be accountable in the "end". But even if being LGBT is a sin–my God forgives all. They are human, my friends, have great families, don't shove it on me and many times have greater ethics, values and morals than most of us. Love is love no matter if its Adam and Eve or Adam and Steve. This woman needs to shut up and quit judging people because she doesn't agree. Its weird–many people are afraid to have LGBTs shove their values on them–and they don't–but boy-o-boy this chick sure does. God loves us all. Its people like this chick who cause people to dislike Christians, and unlike the LGBTs, she sure does shove her values down our throats. Please forgive my blathering–there is a msg there that makes sense I hope.
There are 23 foster and adopted kids at Marcus and Michele Bachmann's home. And they have five kids of their own. The statistical odds are that 2 or 3 of their 23 kids are gay. I wonder if their "dad" has changed any of them at home from gay to straight? Perhaps their home is not a proper place for these foster and adopted kids, if they are subjected to the Bachmann's beliefs. His beliefs being that he can "change a gay person to a straight person." All done by therapy in his Christian counseling practice named Bachmann & Associates, owned by Michele and Marcus. All done with the blessings of Michele.
Myself, I can't wait for the books to come out when these kids grow up!
Bachmann for President!!!
Reply to Mr. Brady....
I a productive GWM living in America. I have been monogomously dedicated to my partner of 7 years. I have raised a daughter who is now a productive member of society and married and 25. She understands and admires my relationship. Myself and my partner are dedicated tax paying Americans, we value personal responsibility, and fiscal responsibility. I come from a "social conservative" upbringing and was once a respected Youth Pastor in a charismatic church. One thing I have learned since my conversion to reality is that my status change from straight to "gay" was not choice driven, rather a revelation. Many conscience driven choices cannot be remediated by the use of psychological therapy. I can no mare make you gay, as you can make me straight. Biological principals are also in play. If all intimacy is pro-creation based, according to God's plan, than why do both gay and straight couples engage in acts of intimacy one to several times a day or week. Surely it is not for the sole purpose of pro-creating. Otherwise it's usefullness would dictate engaging in such intimate activities only once ever 10 -12 months. But yet, this is not the case. As well, as a matter of historical understanding, it is well known that principals established thousands of years ago are limited by the mental and reasoning abilities of the populace of that time. The tendency to remove this relevant factor is rather comprehensive in most biblical and conservative studies even til today. In closing, I tend to retire and grow old with my partner until death. Until my last breath, I will honor him and my family unit. That is a principal that transcends even the most controversial of of opiniions.
And we all thought she was too much of an airhead to be a scammer.....Goes to show.
Michele, I LOVE YOU!!! I think you are the greatest thing to happen to American politics since Sarah Palin. And if Sarah jumps into the race, I think I might just die from over-exposure to pure, blessed joy! You are a steam-roller and the other Republicans are just matchbox cars. Take that nomination, Lady....it's yours....I want you to get it sooooo badly!!!!!
BECAUSE I will pay $1,000,000,000,000,000 to see Obama take you out to the woodshed during the debates and expose you and all of your whack-job NON-Christians who hate everyone and strive to instill fear in others. Your kind took my party away from me. You want nothing but the biggest possible government intervention into every aspect of our lives. That is not Christian and it is not Republican.
P.S. Folks, go to Google. Type in "Bat", "**slang word for fecal matter**" and "Crazy". Look where this woman ranks...it's right above Tom Cruise...
@Gloria – I hear you. The entire field of Republican presidential wannabes is not to be believed. As for all of the senior citizens and union members who voted for these people – how in the world is that working for you now?
How is this any different from obtaining Medicare funds to cure people of demonic posessioins, exorcisms. After all, that is what they describe themselves as doing. Isn't it?
But you have admit, she is very hot!
This need to be 'trending' til the election if you ask me...
If the gay rights activists and libertarians say they are all about tolerance, freedom and choice. But they can't even tolerate the mainstream teachings of the biggest religion in the land. By calling Evangelicals whackjobs just because of their religious beliefs, aren't they subjecting them to the very same bigotry they detest. If a gay person wants to be straight, or vice versa, how is thay any of your business ? The Bachmanns are simply giving gay people who WANT to change an opportunity to so. Its not as if they tried to outlaw homosexuality. Tolerance is a two-way street.
I pray everyday that Bachmann goes away.
No there is no homosexual gene and these people are fooling people (and taking big bucks from Medicare) into thinking they can 'cure' homosexuality. Homosexuality is no threat – the threat comes when someone thinks they know what's best for another individual and they try to 'cure' one's normal and natural behavior or telling them constantly they are bad or are sinnning or are barbarbian as Mr. Michelle Bachman has said. The "Threat" of homosexuality is caused by the people fearing it – not by the people who are actual homosexuals. Because society tries so hard to demonize someone's normal and natural behavior, it leads to violence, destruction and ruins humans who would otherwise be decent and normal people. YOUR views on homosexuality is what makes it 'wrong'. GOD loves everybody regardless – something you all should think about.
I hope they find a cure for homosexuality, and then seek a cure for the other disease that is hampering America; liberalism
Rudy NYC
How is this any different from obtaining Medicare funds to cure people of demonic posessioins, exorcisms. After all, that is what they describe themselves as doing. Isn't it?
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Rudy sometimes you remind me of the lady they call Bones in the program of the same name. Not everything can logically explained, some stuff is intuition, innate, etc.
You've expressed your viewpoint on gays on this site before. I don't agree with it but I respect your opinion.
The Bachmanns have compared gays to barbarians that need to be forcefully "re-educated" out of this behaviour, much the same way that you would deal with an addiction. They believe their "clinical tactics" can pray you out of said behaviour.
I believe that I was born hetero much like gays were born homosexual. I believe that my God loves us ALL. I believe from the bottom of my heart that not only are the Bachmann's dead wrong but that they are taking advantage of people and misutilizing government funds.
Oh my god. Dude....they're just born that way...give it up. Jeez. What is wrong with "being gay"? Not like it hurts anyone.
Unfortunately for Bachmann we have found absolutely no way to cure extreme stupidity in america. Gosh darn it, we're not even close to finding a cure for this!
I'm getting some of my guy friends to start a clinic for treating Bachmann supports.
I'm about as independent as it gets and I just cannot believe how crazy some of the repubs are these days. There are crazy's on both sides but it's 2011, praying the gay away, seriously? Is there anyone out there that is being honest with themselves that really believe Bachman or Palin could ever be President? I don't even hate Palin like most but it will never happen. This Bachman lady stands absolutely no chance. The only way you can win the Presidency in this country is if you at least act like you are towards the center, that's Pol Sci 101 and these people aren't even close.
Her husbands the biggest queen there is. I bet the clinic is a place he uses to pick up on guys. Just listen to him when he opens his mouth. The Prada bag falls out.
What a disgrace to Minnesotans.
She going to *cure* insanity, depression and illnesses too? You can't *cure* how a person is.
I am sick to death of these alleged religious people trying to cram their beliefs down my throat. Be a Christian, be a Muslim, be whatever you want to be, but leave me alone. I do not need or want your help. I accept full responsibility for my actions and do not need a ghost figure somewhere to blame things on when they do not go the way I want them to go.
Michelle is NOT a hater; that is what liberals always say when someone disagrees with them, someone with morality in theirs lives. The gays are turning out to be the true haters because they are so narrow-minded and such name callers. Pity. And we do pray for them. God will repair them if they would ask. Keep up the great work, Michelle and others who are simply trying to put these people on the right path. They are acceptable; their immorality, sodomy, and sin are not.
'"If we allow this to happen, group marriage, polygamy, and much worse would not be far behind," Bachmann said in a video to her supporters.'
NO, it wouldn't. There is a HUGE difference between gay marriage and polygamy, groups marriage and etc. Conventional marriage is an act done out of mutual love. So is gay marriage. Conventional marriage involves two people. So does gay marriage. Conventional marriage sometimes results in raising children. So does gay marriage. Conventional marriage sometimes results in couples who never have children. So does gay marriage. Conventional marriage changes how you are viewed as a taxable entity and how property rights are handled. So does gay marriage.
Contrarily, group marriage involves more than two people. Polygamy is about control over women, not love. Marriage to a child is illegal because the child cannot consent. Neither can a horse or a goat or a dog. Point being, the "slippery slope" argument is ABSURD, because the only difference between straight marriage and gay marriage is that both partners happen to be the same sex. Everything else is pretty much the same... it still involves love, it still involves two consenting adults, and it still involves what those two loving adults plan for their future lives together as equals and as a family unit.
To Denna: I would vote for my pooch over putting the present socialist man in again. . .how do you like that, you lib?
If this is her business experience she has no business being in the White House.
I really would not want Bachmann between me, my partner and God.
We're a three-way already and the other two have turned up their noses at her.
To respond to Shawn,
first, we are not wackos. You libtards are the whack-jobs for thinking men doing men is okay. What the heck is wrong with your brain?
obama is against gay marriage. Does that make him homophobic?
She is nothing more than a wack job being supported by people who have given up using their brains.
So, Ms. Bachmann, which party turns the a routine matter (raising the debt limit) that was done seven times during the Bush Administration into a crisis? Which party holds the government and the economy hostage over spending cuts, but refuses to accept spending cuts if it has to give up tax cuts? Which party seeks to prevent a catastrophe in the future (The U.S. going bankrupt) by forcing a catastrophe in the present (the U.S. defaulting, meaning it cannot satisfy its obligations, like military paychecks)?
I do not understand why people are not outraged about Bachman's schenanigans. THIS is the kind of person we want to lead us??? REALLY??? Bachman's life and philosophies are like an onion. The more layers you peel back, the more you smell the stench. I've smelled enough, thank you very much. Bachman, Beck, Palin, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, and people like them should all buy a house, ala Big Brother, and live together happily ever after.
This woman and her screwed up religiious beliefs and so right wing christian, has no right to be in congress, she a bigot , so here husband, for the health of the nation don't vote for this sick out of touch person, they have no clue what reality is in this world, she still a nazi has far as I am concerned
Cure gays? That's ridiculous. It's like trying to cure teenagers of puberty.
Can you pray away the stupid, too???? I say cut off all thier government funding!
How can a repressed Closet Queen preach to gays. He is the one who needs the help.
So, a number of people posting in this thread have said that she's a hater, a hypocrite, and a liar. OK, go ahead: cite (with source) a lie she has told, a hypocritical thing she has done, or a hateful thing she has said. Note that "I don't agree with her opinion/position/policy on subject X" does not qualify. Disagreeing with someone does not make her a hater, a liar, or a hypocrite.
Then, for extra credit, pick someone whose political opinions you agree with, and cite (with source) a time that person has done one of those things.
I think you'll find this to be an educational exercise in tolerance and inclusiveness (those are your favorite words, aren't they? Funny how you seem to have so little of either of those qualities).
Here is a case of facts vs. fiction. If a parent brings a child under the age of 16 into a psychologist because the child dresses and/or behaves like the opposite sex (ie. boy wears dresses), then that child is diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder. If a parent brings the same child in at the age of 16 or older, then the disorder is not diagnosed. Simply due to the persons age. What other disorder/malady is cured by turning 16 years old. Homosexuality was also considered a disorder until the 1970s when it became politically incorrect to call it such. Check out the DSM III vs. the DSM IV. "Curing" homosexuality is probably rarely successful and obviously as difficult or moreso than curing alcoholism or any other undesirable behavioual condition. But by trashing any and all services who attempt to provide an "out" for those looking for help, the media, the goverment, and the LGBT agenda, are once again removing the freedom of choice for those who may not wish to be gay. Even if the treatment fails, isn't it a persons right to seek it out if they wish too? It seems to CNN, that Bachman is the new Palin whipping post. A new story every day to make her look bad. But I, for one, am quite impressed. Thank you for this information
These are "anything for a buck" people. Is he or she even qualified as a psychologist? It's amazing to me that anyone in 2011 can so totally ignore the science that now proves that homosexuality is not a choice.
My thanks to the Bachmann's and their Medicaid Clinic for their willingness to add some comic relief to my day.
I hope once the therapy is perfected they can move on to an even larger potential market – "pray away the ignorance."
It's stunning how many assume that disagreeing with homosexual lifestyle or practice means you are intolerant, barbaric, homophobic, etc. Really? That's strange because I do disagree with such choice, yet I don't treat homosexuals as anything less than what they are, image bearers of the God who made them. As with all humans, we are a mix of glory and tragedy. I know this about myself so I'm chastened and careful to not point fingers, yet I realize that I am able to reason and communicate so I humbly offer a perspective that might differ from others. This in no way makes someone intolerant. In fact, the historical usage of the word simply means graciousness in the sight of error or disagreement. It doesn't mean we agree on all things and fear a label or ridicule when we don't. That sounds quite intolerant and prejudice. A closed minded person is not someone who disagrees with you, it is someone who refuses to consider your position and respond reasonably and with dignity and honor towards you. At the end of the day, the issue is not whether someone is a fundamentalist or not. The fundamental is the issue. Have you ever seen an Amish terrorist? No. So their fundamental is grace and forgiveness. We're not going to get very far as a culture if we simply throw stones and insult one another when we disagree. We ought to strive for discourse that gives respect, patience and grace while we passionately disagree. Without which, no side can claim the moral high ground if both turn into name-calling, fear-mongering haters.
If being gay is a choice than why is it necessary to have a clinic to cure it?
Chris
This is what I don't understand. He went to a Christian Counseling center...a place that focuses on the integration of Christian beliefs with psychological counseling...said he was homosexual and wanted to become heterosexual, and the clinic agreed to try to help him.
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Many people have asked this same question. The answer is that there is nothing wrong with seeking help. There is nothing wrong with applying for Medicare for medical treatments.
The problem comes from using Medicare funds to promote religion, instead of providing medical services. This has the appearance of a pattern of fraud that has been conducted over a number of years.
The Bachmanns deny the sort of treatment described in the article because they have to. To admit to performing and conducting prayers, teaching religion, and practicing religion on public funds constitutes fraud.
I think she made a huge mistake by making these comments. Even if this is her honest belief, in this day and age it is better to keep certain things to yourself. Her take on whether or not gays can be cured by religion is neither here nor there, and WILL NOT FIX OUR ECONOMY.
Bachmann will not be the nominee. Her background and past will kill any chance she may have. She has been sounding more reasonable of late and that is because she's hired Ed Rolllins (who is a political commentator on CNN) to advise her. But even Ed can't hide her bioted, small minded and ignorant past actions. She has no congressional record. She has also said that when she makes a decision, she follows her husband's direction. The more we see of Michelle the worse it will be for her. Also, have you ever noticed that she never blinks her eyes?
the clinic is a slick means of getting rich, so is her fostering children America's first nonwhite president has caused the scum to crawl from under rocks and crevices, seems like the fiscally concerned (GOP) has had their heads in the sand, nicely said
Dominican Mama wrote:
Rudy sometimes you remind me of the lady they call Bones in the program of the same name. Not everything can logically explained, some stuff is intuition, innate, etc.
You've expressed your viewpoint on gays on this site before. I don't agree with it but I respect your opinion.
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I think you missed my point. If the article is true, then the Bachmanns have committed Medicare fraud for years. They use tax dollars to perform exorcisms.
"Curing" gays? Bachmann needs to work on curing stupidity first.
"Curing" gays? Bachmann needs to work on curing ignorance first.
Yeah, Mr. Bachmann does seem to be a little effeminate. It would not surprise me if he's bi-sexual. And I say more power to him. I imagine Michele would be a little miffed.
"If straight people dislike gay marriage, then they need to stop making gay babies." author unknown
Bachmann, you and your husband are batpoo crazy.
If she's a job creator, why doesn't she go and talk to some of the big corporations and have them create jobs? You know the ones ... those companies who haven't paid taxes in umpteen years ...
Sorry, but just because someone doesn't agree that being gay or lesbian is right, doesn't make them any more right or wrong than believing that being gay or lesbian is right. You whine and cry about the gay bashing but yet y'all can sure bash the crap out of the straight people. Are the people at the clinic forced to go there with a gun to thier head? You religion bashing dolts really don't have a clue. You want to be accepted try using another method than bashing. How about we quit wasting millions of dollars on the whole gay/lesbian issue and focus on getting the politicians to do thier job and fix the problems they have caused.
my first thought was: is there anything that can "fix" her? Then I remembered Ron White's quip: "You can't fix stupid"... Never a truer example!
["We're very proud of the business that we've created," she added.]
If she's proud of it why doesn't she want to talk about it?
OMG LOL LOL LOL.. Ok she can cure gay. I bet she also believes that going to church makes her a Christian, just like standing in a garage makes her a car.
"We have to understand barbarians need to be educated. They need to be disciplined and just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn't mean we're supposed to go down that road,"
I thing this statement unmasks the true "barbarian". What a total blockhead. This is the "us vs them" mentality that I loathe in most protestant churches. Not all Christians think this way. I know I don't, and I know plenty of others who do not. Unfortunately the simpletons who like to use scripture as a cheap soundbite are the ones with the loudest voice. The church has been hijacked as a political tool once again. History continues to repeat itself and buffoons such as these continue to rise to power.
BACHMANN FOR PRESIDENT!!! That way, this slow death of the America would be hastened, and we could sooner begin the process of rebuilding. And the perk of The Fall of the American Empire is that the Bachmanns of htis country would finally be completely exposed and discredited. Tea Partiers, in their rightful outrage at the state of affairs in this country, have unfortunately been blinded by that rage and have bought into the empty rhetoric of the Far Right, who sells this country down the river over and over and over again. Case in point, this nations deficit is a DIRECT result of the deficit spending of Reagan, Bush 1 & 2. Obama is incidental to what these guys did. That's a fact. Meanwhile, Right Wingers love to say that Dems are bad for the economy. Question: Who was the last President to balance the budget and actually pay down the deficit some, allowing this country to prosper? Another question: Which President left this country the most powerful nation on Earth, both militarily and economically? (Hint: He did this after 10 years of GOP rule sent us into the Great Depression.) The Right Wing is essentially and an arm of Big Business and the multi-nationals, and they don't give a hoot for the Middle Class or the poor. Bachmann is nothing but one more of their stooges.
Straight out of the Bruno movie.
I wish the rapture would start already and Jesus come down and take these people away!
It's amazing how so many today act as if the whole world agrees gays are born that way. I recently saw Meredith Baxter on Opray, a 60 something woman who is now a lesbian. All those years of being married to her husband, she said she never had a gay thought. Why now? Maybe because society is more accepting and it is an easy alternative when you are older and lonely. Your mind will go anywhere if you let it. I am glad there are people out there who are lovingly treating gays in a way that will truly help them. Because no matter how many certificates you put on it or how many laws are passed, deep down gays know that there is something not quite right about their behavior. Something not quite natural...it is sin. And thank goodness there is an answer to ALL our sin...Jesus Christ.
Bachmann understands that just because she's running for president of the US that doesn't mean that questions surrounding her background, her personal and political ideologies and policy issues are inappropriate to ask. She fits the image of "the ugly American" perfectly. Flush the late term-er into the underground.
It's amazing how so many today act as if the whole world agrees gays are born that way. I recently saw Meredith Baxter on Oprah, a 60 something woman who is now a lesbian. All those years of being married to her husband, she said she never had a gay thought. Why now? Maybe because society is more accepting and it is an easy alternative when you are older and lonely. Your mind will go anywhere if you let it. I am glad there are people out there who are lovingly treating gays in a way that will truly help them. Because no matter how many certificates you put on it or how many laws are passed, deep down gays know that there is something not quite right about their behavior. Something not quite natural...it is sin. And thank goodness there is an answer to ALL our sin...Jesus Christ.
If Bachman's credentials are considered "business experience" by Republicans then no wonder the economy went down the tank during the Bush/GOP years.
Obama ran the most successful campaign in 2008 – both politically and financially. I'll take that business experience over Bachman's or Milt Romney's selling of American jobs overseas.
The Bachmann's are irreligious scumbags who have profited off the state by running a foster care business in their home. "charitable" Christian patriots have no business billing the state for fostercare, especial;ly when they have millions already.
The Bachmann are some of the worst Americans to have ever lived. Can someone convert them from stupidity to intelligence and morality.
There is aspecial place in hell for scum like this.
ah yes, hiding behind the banners of job creation while imposing religious beliefs on a free society guaranteed of freedom from such coercion - by the Constitution!! how very ironic. this is going to be fun to watch.
In conversations about homosexuality, a recurrent defense is that it is not a choice. This is usually stated as, "Do you think someone would choose to be gay if they could help it?" Gay friends have said this as well as straight. Is it even possible that a few people who do not desire to be homosexual may have had success in converting thier sexuality with some help and guidance? If the majority who are gay and the majority who are not would choose not to be if given a choice, then why is it such an evil thing to offer help to those who ask for it? If a parent of a minor or a person struggling with homosexuality asks for help, even if it is rarely successful, whos right is it to deny that option. Is this not the United States? Has anyone looked at the real success rate? If it is only 1%, should it be considered unspeakable?
Liberalism is its own religion, and at every turn it attempts to take over the government. Limit the peoples choices through political correctness, forced compliance with regulation, and slandering the leaders who disagree. You can force tolerance on a population, but you cannot force acceptance. The truly open minded who "agree to disagree" would not slander an organization that is offering a service that some people desparately ask for.
The Bachmanns are despicable!! Her husband is a quack who bills Medicare for his hateful practices. Our gov't should NEVER approve funding for this "therapy". Also, why were ALL the foster children in their home females....? Hmmm...
In reading most of the comments against Bahmann and her beliefs (and I am NO Bachmann supporter, believe me), they sound just as vitriolic, venomous, and hateful as those you'd find on a website bashing homosexuality. I find it stunning that this glaring hypocrisy isn't noticed. Don't become the very people you're angry with and dislike.
Clients seeking to achieve maximum heterosexual potential should be supported in THEIR CHOICE. No one has the right to stop such a decision. The APA should not dictate what a client wants in this regard. It is their life, not yours. Such behavior (squelching therapy) is Stalin’esque. I’ve read so many personal histories in this area that I am convinced that change is possible—even non-faith-based methods!
Homosexuals don't want to be cured. They love their perversion, and they take delight in like-minded people. As for Bachmann, I wouldn't vote for her. But not because she's from the Christian right - as was John Adams, George Washington, Ben Franklin, and 95% of the rest of the founding fathers (and Abe Lincoln, too - 75 years later) - it's because I believe a man should head up the country - even one as narcisisitic, ignorant and hypocritcal as Obama.
I've thought of 1000 snarky comebacks. And at least 2 or 3 of them were hilarious.
But honestly, this just makes me SAD. I know entirely TOO many GOOD PEOPLE who happen to be gay or lesbian. I cannot imagine how 'changed' they would come out of a "reorientation camp" like the Bachmann's run. If it worked, the friend you saw a few months before would not be the same person. And if it didn't work–they STILL wouldn't be the same.
JUST LET PEOPLE BE. If you THINK their lifestyle is sinful–they've been told already. Let them just go about their lives without your interference.
What gives ANYBODY the right to be so MEDDLESOME? What gives Bachmann and Associates the right to be so JUDGEMENTAL?
The problem is that we've become intellectually flabby, along with our waistline. We prefer soundbites instead of sound reason. We want to entertain ourselves to death instead of think critically. Lastly, we have lost our ability to communicate with even a modicum of tact as a culture. We should be more ashamed of the way we disagree than what we disagree about.
The Bachmanns are the ones who need therapy! Take them to court and lock them up...they are dangerous...
From the Minnesota Independent (minnsesotaindependent.com) last month: "Bachmann and Associates, Inc., a counseling center that receives state funds and is owned by Rep. Michele Bachmann and her husband, Dr. Marcus Bachmann, uses counseling methods steeped in fundamentalist Christianity, raising questions about its use of taxpayer money.
Founded in 2003, Bachmann’s clinic has taken in nearly $30,000 in state funds since 2007. Dr. Bachmann has said publicly that God heals people at his clinic and that Jesus Christ is the “Almighty Counselor.”
“We are distinctly a Christian counseling agency here in the Twin Cities,” he told KKMS radio in 2008. “We have 27 Christian counselors, Christ-centered, very strong in our understanding of who the Almighty Counselor is, and as we rely on God’s word and the Almighty Counselor, we have the opportunity to change people’s lives.”
He continued, “God heals people and if we give opportunity, if we are a willing vessel and we go according to what God’s word is, it works.”
The clinic applied for and received Rule 29 and Rule 31 licensing from the state in 2003. The rules allow the clinic to receive state money to treat low-income Minnesotans for mental health and chemical dependency problems. The clinic has earned $27,564 in state payments since 2007 — and likely received more, since the Minnesota Transparency and Accountability Project’s online data only goes back to 2007. Bachmann and Associates took $1,419 in public money in 2007, $13,140 in 2008, $12,493 in 2009 and $512 so far in 2010, according to the transparency project.
All of the clinic’s counselors identify as Christians. Among them is Marian E. Eckhardt, a licensed psychologist. Her mission statement says, “I believe that through knowledge, faith and dependency on God and His revealed truths one receives the strength and love to truly fulfill their life’s purpose.”
Saul Selby, the clinic’s drug and alcohol counselor, is also an ordained minister. Selby writes that he seeks to “help individuals and couples experience wholeness and healing through the application of biblical principles and the Love of Christ.”
Debra Kullberg, an associate marriage and family therapist, is also a licensed member of the clergy. “Jesus as the Son of God is the Savior, Healer, and intimate Lover of my soul,” she says in a statement on the clinic’s website. “He invites those He calls to join Him on a personal journey to the Cross. Our entire being is healed and restored (body, soul, and spirit) as we surrender ‘our way’ for ‘His way.’”
Watchdog groups say that the state’s arrangement with Bachmann and Associates is problematic.
“Unless they are receiving money purely through vouchers, this is clearly unconstitutional,” said Alex Luchenitser, staff attorney for Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Vouchers are used in some states to allow those on public assistance to purchase services, but Minnesota has no such system in place.
“It’s wrong for the government to buy clinical services that include submission to God or proselytization,” said Luchenitser. “This appears to be a textbook case of taxpayers funds for religious purposes.”
And if Dr. Bachmann only hires Christian employees, that could compound the problem, he added. “It sounds like employees have to be Christian to work in the clinic. That would be religious discrimination.”
Chuck Samuelson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, was a bit more reserved.
“If the government is going to pay Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities to do stuff, then they have to meet certain critieria. Bachmann and Associates has to meet the same criteria.”
“There are requirements that they insulate the sectarian or religious parts of their operations from the non-sectarian parts of their operation.”
He added, “I really don’t know if Bachmann and Associates is doing that.”
Dr. Bachmann did not return the Minnesota Independent’s request for comment about the clinic.
Given that the clinic is attached to conservative superstar Rep. Michele Bachmann, it has received a fair amount of criticism over the years.
The religious point of view represented at Bachmann and Associates is very conservative, if the clinic’s affiliation with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) is any indication. Dr. Bachmann’s clinic is listed among the WELS/ELS Christian Counselors and Life Coaches, a groups of counselors “intent on serving our Lord.”
WELS became a campaign issue in 2006, when the Star Tribune reported that then-candidate Bachmann’s church was a member of WELS, a denomination that described the Pope as the Antichrist (Bachmann denied that she believed that herself).
The clinic also reputedly engages in “reparative therapy,” or treatment aimed at making homosexuals straight. The first time that accusation was lodged at the clinic was back in 2006 in a City Pages profile on Rep. Bachmann.
Dr. Bachmann told the paper that he does not encourage gays to become straight. But he has spoken about the issue at length on Christian radio. He told Point of View Talk Radio that if a child confides in a parent that they might be gay, that parent should discourage the child from being gay. He also said because of public schools, the number of homosexuals in America is increasing.
“We have to understand that barbarians need to be educated, need to be disciplined,” Bachmann said. “And just because someone thinks [they're gay] or feels it doesn’t mean we need to go down that road. That’s what is called the sinful nature.”
“We have a responsibility as parents and authority figures not to allow such feelings to move into action steps” such as homosexual relationships, he said. “What is our public school system doing today? They are giving full wide open doors not only encouragement to think it, but to encourage actions steps.”
He concluded, “The percentage of homosexuals in this country is small but by these open doors we can see it is starting to increase.”
Judge for yourself from this why these people are wackos.
A small business owner – who happily takes federal money handouts. And her family's farm has taken six figure handouts from the federal government – our tax dollars NOT at work there. So Bachman's plan is likely to keep the federal tax dollars flowing to her own account, and stop it flowing to others. Nice work – for herself. Anyone taking this individual seriously needs therapy from a real psychiatrist, not a con artist with a bible and a delusional belief that God sent her and her family to reap all the rewards by lying constantly – and greedily grabbing up money they are not entitled to. Shame on the Bachmans, shame.
@, Gabriel – To Denna: I would vote for my pooch over putting the present socialist man in again. . .how do you like that, you lib?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Gabriel, I like it just fine, thank you. It proves that we Liberals care about America and do not operate on hate. Besides, dear Gab, I am guessing your pooch would make a better candidate than what the Republicans are running now. So what say you, dear Gab?
"Well, I'm running for the presidency of the United States. And I'm here today to talk about job creation," Bachmann told WHO-TV. "We're very proud of the business that we've created," she added.
Soooo.... Bachman's really proud of the business she and her husband created? So proud of it she doesn't want to talk about it or how it created jobs for her and her husband using government funding? All while she's decrying wasteful government spending?
Michele, if you put your foot any further into your mouth, you're going to choke on it.
You know, this is what America gets in support of these backward folks. These folks are so far out of touch in their "Perfect" lives that it is not funny. Let these folks run and when you see how dysfunctional they are this will shut them up. I bet they try hard to put on that "Image" and I can only guarantee they have "Hell" at home! All of them do who try to portray the image of perfection. It don't exist folks!
Are these people for real??? Canditate for the President??? Has America gone wacko? I'd love to put up a good argument here, but how do you argue with such idiocy?
I was willing to give her a look until this came about. I don't think she had much chance anyway. This just proves that she is a complete fruite cake. I will also say there is still no way I will vote for Obama(never). I want to see Rudy G make a real run at it.
I'm sure the gay community at large is seized with an epic sense of relief that Marcus Bachmann is OK with their being gay.
It should surprise no one that CNN is a "johnny-come-lately" in a long string of media, who have a "seek and destroy" mandate for any conservative white woman; Michelle Bachmann is not the first nor the last. Those who smash her reputation for her opinions on gay people were never going to support her; those who are indifferent to or support her views may continue to view her positively. This is just one more media stooge company with its drooling blogger minions, who have launched a full frontal assault on a white conservative woman. Nobody's mind will be changed with this article; the hornets' nest of pro-gay, liberal, progressive, socialist, wealth redistribution Democrat crazies will get their chain thongs all twisted up in their butt plugs.
They need to pray for her at that clinic
Her and husband should search out a cure for stupid.
Pray the gay away, is that where were at in 2011? Reading bible passages as "treatment". This just shows how loony this family is, and she wants to be president. I don't think so.
Nope. Not reality. No curing gays. We are good people. AND WE VOTE.
Bush/Cheney used us twice as political pawns to win their elections...I'm looking at a nation of abusive parents murdering their own children; corporate abuse on a massive scale; incompetent politicians; millions of unemployed and THIS 'easy target' is all this stupid bitch can talk about????? Are you kidding me???? Bring your speech to me lady, I'll show you what's real.
She should cure retardation, starting with herself.
It's pretty ridiculous that so many brainwashed and braindead people ACTUALLY believe the writings and ramblings of ancient Middle Easterners are the last word on human morality and sexuality. Your blah, blah, blah, SIN, blah, blah nonsense makes you look stupid and incapable of thinking rationally and it has NOTHING to do with equality in 21st-century America. The fact that you have absolutely nothing on which to support your ignorant bigotry besides hiding behind your ridiculous religion is why you are LOSING the debate. Equality and freedom trump religious fanaticism. Don't like it? Go live with the Taliban because that's who you are. Oh, and Bachmann is a dingbat who will NEVER be president.
Why don't Anderson Cooper get a life and stop his attack on Bachmann. Is it because he is gay that he is attacking her? CNN's reporters have gotten so bias that they cannot report in a neutral way and especially if the person is a republican, they want to punish them. They did the same thing to Sarah Palin and now they have started on Michelle Bachmann. Does Anderson Cooper have something against Republican women?
I wonder if someone can "cure" her ignorance/hate? She and her husband are lunatics.
Hilarious. Can they turn straight people g ay too? One's as likely as the other.
So can they turn straight people into gay people? One's as likely as the other.
For all of you who think that "liberals" and/or "gay people" are being intolerant when they call this woman and those like her crazy or bigoted – no. No one, no gay person, nobody is trying to take her rights away. Nobody is trying to keep her from living her life the way that she wants to. No one is objecting to her being a hateful, bigoted, intolerant demon. Everyone who is taking issue with her is taking issue with her desire to take away the rights of those who oppose her.
But also...
We should expect and demand that our leaders be more intelligent than us, more knowledgeable about our government and history and more experienced with functioning in a diverse, multicultural world. When a woman whose business is essentially based on junk science, whose views show a less than rudimentary grasp of history and the world, and whose hypocritical acceptance of government handouts while claiming that she wants to take those away from others should absolutely be brought to the public's attention. She has placed herself in a position to attempt to become the POTUS. It is our job as citizens to oppose this travesty as vehemently as we possibly can.
to roro: When I saw mr. bachmann being interviewed and saw a few candid shots my gaydar went off big time!!! And everytime Michelle "dodges" a question, she looks like a stepford wife. Somethings not quite right with those two. That being said, I hope she wins the repub nomination to guarantee 4 more years of Obama. When people say he's not doing anythiing for this country, at least he's trying to. Imagine if McCain had been in office...we would be at the bottom of the cliff!
Either they are lying or just stupid.
Rudy NYC perhaps I did, however I did concur that they were misutilizing government funds, that equals Medicare fraud in my book.
It shouldn't be anyones business but here and her husbands. Especially not any polecat Liberals.
I thought God wanted all of his little lambs to be gay... I mean happy... oh nevermind!
Good to see the Liberal spin machine in full force.
At some point the GOP made a severe right turn into Crazyland and is now stuck in a cul-da-sac spinning in circles and going nowhere, with Bachmann at the wheel, Palin riding shotgun and the Mittster in the backseat, vigorously praying that somehow we'll all go blind, deaf and dumb and vote for them. Sorry folks, but I'm praying that all of you just go away.
Sounds like the commie re-education program.
I guess the Tea Party is a communist front.
What century do these people live in? What century do their supporters live in? Religious zealots always reject science and are the least tolerant walking the earth. Is this really who ANYONE wants running our country?...or even involved in the least way of shaping the direction we go in? – as in backwards? really people?
She needs to work on curing ignorance... her own.
You can't change unless you want to. They have no clue. The Noe-Cons/Tea Baggers will support her simply because she's a republican. Unqualified, but a republican. How sad.
I'll take the Bachmann clinic thing with a grain of salt, because I don't have all the facts, but for all those who applaud her standing up for what she believes in, be careful, so did Adolf, right to his suicidal bitter end, and did I mention he took millions with him without their consent! America is the land of the free, not the land to freely persecute, but I'm hearing a bunch of that rhetoric from the GOP & Tea Party people. Be very careful of those who offer hate as a solution to anything!
someone please open a clinic to "cure" tea-baggers.
If what their clinic claims is true, then the reverse must be possible. With the right therapy and prayer a straight person can surely become gay.
Just crazy
I am seeing a lot of comments that are trying to ride the fence on this issue – either because people simply won't admit that their beliefs and our Constitution are incompatible, or they want to appear tolerant of others why holding fast to their intolerant, discriminatory beliefs.
Saying that these clinics should exist to help those people who may honestly want to change their homosexuality is the epitome of treating the symptom rather than the disease...in this case, the disease is the negative stigma associated with being gay which is derived from religion and its followers blindly believing something they were forced to believe while being raised.
Essentially, people are claiming that "clinics" like the one the Bachmann's run are ok because there may be some gay people out there who have bought into that negative stigma about themselves and see no other recourse than to try to change who they are.
The problem is not that gay people should have this "service" available to them, it's that others make gay people feel that they should actually WANT this "service" because they are wicked, bad, disgusting people who simply need a good dose of Christ and they'll be right as rain!
Some say it's simply a matter of a difference of opinion....but when the opinion of the religious is that gay people either need help or should be forced to get help for something THEY deem undesirable, it no longer resides in the realm of opinion but rather in the realm of hate speech designed specifically to tell the rest of the world that gay people should be shunned, treated as less than human, and should not be allowed the same rights and liberties as others.
I for one am over trying to "bridge the gap" between religion and reality. They demand respect for what they believe, even from those whom their beliefs condemn, and then turn around and claim that them offering help to cure their gayness is their idea of showing respect for us.
Bottom line for me is that I refuse to continue playing this game of "how can you say you're tolerant when you refuse to abide by my beliefs?". I know what tolerance is and should be, and it's something that religious people, by their own admission, cannot ever accept unless they were to denounce their religion altogether. If that makes me intolerant, so be it...to me it just means I'm intolerant of anti-American and anti-Constitutional ideologies that do not and should not hold sway over anybody else.
Congratulations to the overwhelming majority of you who understand this woman for what she is... a sham and an embarrassment. I take great pleasure in knowing that between the clinic fiasco and new "pledge" crap (along with all the other details soon to come out), Michelle's day in the sun is about to set. Maybe then the country can get on to some qualified candidates and intelligent dialogue.
To Frank Brady:
First, the APA removed it because it did not fall within the APA's definition of a disorder.
Second, homosexuality is "often lethal"? Not quite. Check your facts.
Third, there is plenty of research to suggest a "gay gene." From scientists being able to literally make fruit flies gay by turning on a gene to twin studies showing that genetics plays an indisuptable role in orientation, the evidence is clear. We may not have pinpointed the gene, but there sure is evidene to support its existence.
Fourth, no, sex addiction is a dangerous behavior disorder. Just because you think of casual, unprotected sex with several strangers when you think homosexuality doesn't mean it's a facet of the orientation. And it's definitely not exclusive to the orientation. Straight people have careless, casual sex and catch STDs in the process also.
Who made her "God" to decide who is good and who is bad. These politicians have egos that really give them the idea that they know all and can do all. She is a real piece of work and should stick to raising her 28 kids because she isn't getting elected.
nothing wrong with the tea party its just the leadership or lack of that kills its ability to be taken serious.
They are "slightly" more tolerant on this issue than the Taliban whose "cure" is to execute them. Hey can you fit that on a bumper sticker? "Vote for us, we are slightly more tolerant than the Taliban". Good luck with that.
If they dig around in that clinic enough, I think they'll find evidence for experiments with Hitler's genes. Bachmann is certainly being injected with something that makes her very similar to the Nazis. When she starts growing that half-assed moustache, the deal will be closed.
And, AmericanDoc: Heil Hitler, you unrepentant apologist for the rightwing underbelly!
Maybe we can pray the Tea Party away instead of the gay away.
Well, there are too many levels of insanity here to know where to begin. But we can at least point out that this “clinic” is the basis of Bachmann’s claim that she knows how to create jobs. Great plan! Let’s get America back to work curing homosexuality!
(And, yes, we do accept Medicare… until we eliminate it.)
To the various writers here who believe being gay is a choice, it isn't a choice any more than being straight is a choice. Go talk to a gay person and ask them about it. If you don't have the nerve to do that, then just shut up.
I do know many ex-homosexuals, mostly men, but none of them were cured of their condition in this manner. It was more about self-discovery and identifying trigger moments in case history. This sort of practice does a huge injustic to the many homosexuals who have changed.
The sad thing is, the Bachmann's have received nearly $30,000 in federal handouts, uh, I mean, grants (free money for employee training) and a couple hudred thousand dollars in medicaid payments to support a counseling business that essentially just gets people to pray and read the bible. Couldn't a church do that for a whole lot less of our federal money?
Maybe if the Bachmanns spent more time in their bedroom they could stay the f outta mine!
Too bad her clinic can't cure ignorance and stupidity.
Even thre foremost experts on animal sexuality have stated that homosexuality in the animal kingdom is almost always a temporary state and quickly changes when a suitable opposite-sex partner is introduced. One of the leadinf experts said the following, "Homosexual behavior is best known from social species. According to geneticist Simon Levay in 1996, "Although homosexual behavior is very common in the animal world, it seems to be very uncommon that individual animals have a long-lasting predisposition to engage in such behavior to the exclusion of heterosexual activities. Thus, a homosexual orientation, if one can speak of such thing in animals, seems to be a rarity." I think it's the same way with humans.
Michele Bachmann is a typical Big Government Conservative hypocrite who thinks phasing to energy efficient light bulbs is the height of government oppression, yet she literally wants the government to force women to give birth against their will and dictate who can marry whom. Hello! You can't play the dumb "gubnent OUT OF OUR LIVES!!!" card and then oppose gay marriage and reproductive freedom. You just can't, unless you want to prove you actually have no values. These people truly want an oppressive, theocratic government that controls the most personal aspects of our lives. Oh, they're "conservative" all right. They want to "conserve" their privilege in society and oppress everybody everybody else through Big Government Conservatism.
Who is this nobody to judge? How dare her. If this lady is that narrow minded on this how can she be president. As president you have to be open to many schools of thought. Not just yours
Hey GSW Minnesota: I wouldn't count on your rosey picture of the country after Michelle is gone. Afterall, she is merely a symptom - kooks like her, pretending to be leaders, will always be around. The real problem are the thousands of drooling rightwing rubes who actually think like her and support her special brand of socio-cultural malignancy. These are the IDIOTS who give a mentally diminished and unqualified person like Bachmann political traction in the first place.
How many of the cowards who hide behind the ridiculous "gay is a choice" nonsense chose to be straight? I'd like to hear your story, because NEWSFLASH: If you chose to be straight, YOU'RE GAY.
GOP, you are pathetic. Just pathetic.
All you need do is listen to Marcus Bachmann when he speaks and you will understand his obsession with all things gay. Just sayin'
BREAKING NEWS: Scientists conclude that praying the gay away doesn't work.
Ms. Bachmann should be more worried about the state she was elected to serve, than citizen's sexual orientation. Minnesota is going under financially, people are going broke too, but this woman feels that fighting gays is what really matters. Please GOP, find reasonable candidates. Betty Ford's passing really highlights just how low the GOP has sunk lately.
1) Apparently Mrs. Bowman your "Gaydar" is broken cause honey your man is Sooooo GAY
2) Would you like it if a Muslim was running for President & stated that he wanted to abolish divorce, because it is an inmoral sin to the Nation of islam? -No you would not
3)Why is it ok to push YOUR religious values?
And just a few verses away the Bible says that men "shall not cut the hair on their face and the sides of their head", yet these fundies sure go for short hair, and ham, and shrimp, and catfish, and a lot of other things "forbidden" in the Bible. Cherry-picking hypocrites living off the hate and paranoia of others.
Proud to be straight, not narrow, happily married, able to understand the science that proves sexual orientation is genetic, and have enough respect for the Constitution to respect the rights of ALL American citizens.
Bachman and her hate-mongering ilk are what's wrong with this country today.
This center merely teaches gay people how to repress their homosexuality. I bet in a lot of cases it doesn't last and many of their patients who eventually get married end up cheating on their spouses later in life with a same sex partner. Sure, there probably is a very small percentage people who "choose to be gay" because they want to attention or whatever; however, the vast majority of gay people are born with the trait and people need to learn to accept this fact. It's really not a big deal, they're just regular people. Anyone who has gays friends should be able to tell you this.
I'd rather develop an aerosol so we can "Spray the Gay Away". There have been thousands of people who have decided they are gay after years of hetero relationships and tendancies, there is no reason not to believe that the opposite can be true. Homosexuality is a personality flaw to it's very core. Homosexual relations can not procreate, you need male and female that's the way of Nature. It should not be encouraged, celebrated, accepted or promoted nore should it be persecuted or judged, that's Gods responsability.
Thank goodness that people are waking up to how evil and crazy this woman is. From hiding in the bushes at gay pride events, to saying slavery is a good thing, this woman is a complete nutjob!
Pseudo-physician heal thyself! HA HA!
"I think you clearly say 'what is the understanding of God's word on homosexuality,'" Bachmann said. "We have to understand barbarians need to be educated."
That would be what is the understanding of God's word as envisioned by those who chose to write them many years ago. God will judge who the barbarians are and it won't be homosexuals but those who pretend to play God and judge them.
you think they can help minorities pray away being minorites as well? If that works then maybe the high black and Latino unemployment rate can go down.
If they ever figure out how to cure ignorance and stupidity, there will be hope for Bachmann, her husband, and Sarah Palin, for that matter.
Unbelievable. Some people are outraged that the Bachmann center allegedly offers therapy to gays. But they aren't mad at the psychiatrists who allow confused men and women to get their bodies horribly mutilated for the sole purpose of creating the cosmetic illusion that they are of the opposite sex. These people aren't outraged either about the greedy surgeons who prey on these poor souls. Why aren't these two predatory industries not under scrutiny for these gruesome practices?
I think we need to do more work in this area. We need to work on the cure for the disease, and quit treating the symptoms. Legalizing gay marriage is just treating the symptoms.
If American social conservatives and fundamentally religious people wanted homosexuality to "go away", the best thing they could do is quit making it an issue. From a Canadian perspective, homosexuality here quit being a political or hot button issue specifically because....well.....we quit making it one and moved on. Last weekend I was at a gay wedding attended by Canadians and Americans of all stripes: gay, straight, conservative, liberal, professionals, blue collar workers. Everyone there had a great time. Some Americans who were attending their first gay wedding said they had some apprehensions but were amazed that it turned out to be "just a normal wedding" and ended up enjoying it. The religiosity and social conservatism of the US is often puzzling to me, and I'm very thankful to live in a secular country that isn't bound up in worrying about religiosity and faith in public policy.
These people the Bachmans drink at the trough of what they hate. They bill Medicare but are against it. They bring God in to the treatment of gay people, when medical science has said it is not a choice. I also would like to know who all these foster children she says she has raised are and why none come forward to speak for her. No. 1 I am sure she had a nanny to raise them, No.2 how long were they in her care, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, I would be surprised that she raised them. I do hope if they were older children that she didn't have too much influence on them. That would be bad. I really admire foster parents who take in children and raise them themselves, if this woman really raised these children without help and for many years I will be mighty surprised.
ignorance is dangerous! hate and ignorance mixed...extremely dangerous!
It's a shame there's no "reparative therapy" for evangelical zealots.
Awesome! I didn't know there was a cure. Does anyone have the number for the clinic? Praise Jesus. I'm checking in asap.
Conservatives in Iowa love her. What's that say about Iowan's. What's that say about those that want her to be our President. I am worried about these people getting in government positions. Government is for "all the people" not just these idiots.
If we allow gay marriage, what will be next? Polyandry? Pedophilia? Bestiality? Necrophilia? Francophilia? An ex-friend of mine confessed he has a secret compulsion to marry his iPhone. I told him to keep it his pants. His iPhone, I mean.
the bible is clear about homosexual acts, God forbids them and will punish them if not repented of before death.God always gives the power to live a chaste life or he may heal same sex attraction, we are free to live by GODS LAW OR TO REJECT his grace and live selfishly.It is no different for anyone if i am maried or single i must live a chaste life, these are the requirements for anyone wants to live with God for eternity. The altrnative is seperation from God for eternity.
"A statement released by her presidential campaign said the Bachmanns were unable to comment on the clinic's practices out of respect for its patients. "
lol. I believe Jack the Ripper released a similar statement.
Let pray real hard and may be she will go away. we don't need this Tea Party nut case to be running.
If you can't discipline yourself into certain habits and patterns of thought, you are weak. And we are all weak in some way, but there is still hope for change.
I hope these lost individuals that call themselves gay find God and get right in their life.
I have read the posts here with some interest since I am a gay male in Canada, actually happily married to a man. Besides my homosexuality, I tend to lean to the right when it comes to politics and I find myself quite turned off my left-wing media. I actually like Michelle Bachmann, although I dont think she stands a chance winning any election. And I understand the people that are against her clinic and their methods. But let me put it this way: I have had years of prayer and counselling and been through very similar circumstances as many other gay men. My father is a Baptist Minister for crying out loud! Nothing worked since the "healing" that is required is simply celibacy and denial of your emotions and feelings. Let me clarify: a homosexual who isnt "practicing" is still a homosexual because that is who they are, whether they act out or not. Most of the advice not to act out is more to satisfy others, not to help the person troubled by their very nature. Let me put it this way: a few hundred years ago, left handed people were ostracized and criticized. They were not allowed in holy places. Parents were told to ignore their children's natural left-handedness and make them right-handed...laughable now. So to all those out there who claim to understand homosexuality and claim it can be cured- a left-handed person who writes with his right hand IS STILL LEFT HANDED! But to all the fearmongers worried about the Bachmann clinic techniques, don't concern yourself about them. They are trying to understand something they cannot. All of this has NOTHING to do with Michelle Bachmann being the next president of the US, does it?
Can we all hope this is the first step in the trumping of this idiot! Praise Jesus, I hope so!
Is there still freedom of religion in this country? Are you saying if someone runs a Christian Counseling center they can't run for president? A lot of Christians believe in what the Bible says about homosexuality being a sin (and therefore a choice). So naturally they will counsel gays in what they believe. That doesn't mean that they would force (as a politician) gays to become "ungay" it just means that that is what they taught in their counseling center. Many gays believe they are "born gay" is it wrong for someone else to believe differently? Homosexual activists demand tolerance but they refuse to tolerate someone else's difference of opinion. America 2012...
Bachmann finally exposed for what she truly is – another Republican Nut Job. The GOP sure seems to attract them in droves.
"We have to understand barbarians need to be educated. They need to be disciplined ..." So...now homosexuals are ignorant barbarians who need to be disciplined. And we want to elect this guy's wife as president?
That was so thoughtful of her to care. As thanks, maybe gay people should get together and start a clinic to cure Michele Bachmann of her stupidity.
The real hypocrisy here is Madam Tea Party and her husband put this religious hokum into medicare for payment as health treatment! Not only is she marketing religious instruction as healthcare, much as revival tent heretics,but they are getting funds from the government for it- The same funds she wants cut for legitimate needs.
I guess she would know there is waste in the program- she is the abuser!
The progessives and gays here are complete hypocrites, what you wish would happen to Republicans is just as evil as the biggest ultra religious homophobes.
A celebration in NYC for gays finaly being able to get married and all over the place are those Os, one sided political support for a guy who himself is against gay marriage. Meanwhile a majority of these attending would at the very least wish me and my family harm for being a conservative, even though I supported gay marriage like many other Republicans.
This is absolutly disgusting. I can't believe that people actually think that being gay is a sickness..... Gays are born this way and they are allowed to love whoever they wish to.
So the Bachmann's think you can cure gay? When are they going to come up with a diet with no shellfish & pork?
Hopefully the poor gays can be treated successfully of their problem.
Is there a cure for stupid?
I'm surprised Ed Rollins, a rather smart and savvy republican political consultant, has joined the the Michele Bachmann freak show. Guess he needs the money.
Another republican candidate?!? Quick, Activate the homophobe alert machine!!! Find a statement to use against them!!! We must motivate our mindless base of droning ism-seeking zombies (racism, sexism, homophobism...) to attack at the polls. We must feed the zombie hordes twisted data or they may fall into zombie hibernation fail to swarm the polls. ARISE OH ZOMBIE HORDE!!!!
I keep hoping our society will stop thumping bibles and quoting archaic things written by humans (not God) thousands of years ago and just follow a few basic commandments: Be decent to one another (which would cover murder and coveting the neighbor's wife), and "Do not demand everyone else be just like you, because you ain't so special, baby"... But that's never gonna happen, I'm afraid.
And to think this is the type of person that is running for president of the U.S. My question would be to the American people, are we that stupid or are we just caught up in a whirl wind of controversy with corrupt politicians & such that we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. Why can't people just leave others alone, why is it that someone else is always in line to tell me what is good for me, when it is something I don't want. I could go on and on, but this is another class example of what our society is coming to, people running for office that want to push their agenda on everyone else. GET A LIFE BACHMAN
Ok, so let's assume that it is possible to "convert" a person from gay to straight. All you fundamentalist Christians who support this, are you telling me that you would allow one of your children to marry someone who has been "converted"? You truly believe, with all your heart, that this person will remain faithful to their spouse and will be a good partner in life? They will be happy and share their happiness with their spouse and their children? They will raise well adjusted families? They won't suppress their true feelings with drugs or alcohol? Really???? This is what you believe???
Where do the right wing tea party folks find these crazies, then try to make them president. I guess having a black president have run them all crazy, lord help us.
If her and her husband's practice is as unethical and possibly illegal or she is taking government hand-outs then perhaps her running for office is the best thing to expose her. The right demanded Obama's birth certificate in full form, then why can't We the Other People Demand the Bachmanns divulge their business practices ... everything as long it doesn't cross the lines into patient privacy. We can do that and not let up until we get what we want. The right is right about one thing, the left is weak ... and it's time the left step up and give the right their own medicine. In this case it should be the people's right to know.
I wonder how many failed cases at this center wound up attempting suicide?
I will not vote for this person. She signs documents before reading them and will not answer a simple question. She cannot be President.
I'm sure others have said it, but we need to cure people of religion, not homosexuality.
Don't worry, Bachmann doesn't have a chance at getting the nomination. They're just keeping her around for laughs until the real candidates show up.
If you don't like gay marriage blame straight people, they're the ones who keep having gay babies.
Well this is a deal breaker. This dirty little secret will blow right up in her face on the campaign trail.
Thank God that someone is trying to help these poor people.. hopefully next are the pitiful liberals
APPARENTLY MICHELE BACHMANN'S HUSBAND IS AS HYPOCRTICAL AS SHE
It is hypocritical for Bachmann to wail against federal government assistance when she and her husband take federal welfare to run their fake youth clinic; especially when their clinic use federal funds to discriminate against gays.
It suppose its fair. I've had a "Tea Party Rehabilitation Clinic" going for almost a year now. Its been very successful if I say so myself!
You can't fix stupid.
Before she cures gays (HA HA) she needs to cure insanity in her own family. Anyone who thinks this women is intelligent and should be President, also needs to have their heads examined.
Glad to see someone trying to help these gay people. God knows they need it.
but can we cure christians?
Quoting Frank Brady –
"there is no credible evidence, capable of replication by disinterested investigators, to suggest that homosexuality is anything by a dangerous obsessive/compulsive behavioral disorder."
And what's your issue about homosexuality, as you call it, all about Frank?
Homosexuality is innate and cannot be changed or cured; science proves that. Stupidity is innate and cannot be changed or cured; Bachmann proves that.
I would like to ask Michelle Bachman at what point in her life did she choose to date boys?? Think about it......IT'S NOT A CHOICE!!! Leave people alone and stop playing God.........he does not make mistakes!!
I'll never understand why Rethuglican, conservative, right-wing, religious fanatics think they can force other normal people to accept their deviant views and lifestyle. They love to tell other people how to live their lives, while their own lives are in shambles. The Christian (esp. Catholic, Mormon, Evangelical, and Southern Baptist) Taliban in this country are going to face a violent wake up call soon if they keep trying to spread their hatred, intolerant views and actions on normal Americans.
She also wants GOP hopefulls to sign a pledge of fidelity. I thought we did that when we took MARRIAGE VOWS you moron. This women is a total waste of DNA.
Seriously? This is what they are giving us for a candidate? Good grief, between this idiot and Palin, I'm almost starting to miss Hilary Clinton. I can't imagine the harm they are doing trying to make people into something they're not – telling them that who they are isn't ok. People like this are the LAST thing we need. And no, I'm not gay. I'm Catholic and I believe we should love people for whoever they are. Pride always was the first sin.
I just want to say why is everyone picking on the Barbarians? Let he/she "Bachmanns" who is w/o sin cast the first stone. Judge not lest ye be judged by the same measure.
All I can say is I would rather be surrounded by people who are accepting than people who are not. So perhaps your heaven is made just for "you hypocrites" and maybe homosexuals and other sinners who love God will have our own heaven. I sure don't want to be in any place with hypocrites.
Well, he's just as kooky as she is. May God bless and keep these two, far away from us.
Crazy is as crazy does.
How does a business like this even exist? There are only a few people stupid enough to believe this works and they all appear to be running for the republican nomination for president. Without medicade or insurance fraud, this "clinic" can't possibly stay in business.
This woman is another Palin... a fraud and DISGRACE !
The clinical definition of homosexuality is a mental illness. There are many kinds of mental illnesses that are treated. Why is it suddenly offensive to apply that to homosexuality as well. Keep in mind that homosexuals are not a race or gender. It is an abnormal behavior, and changing laws to redefine it as normal behavior will cause future problems for society.
I think she's just around to be Palin's foil because Palin will seem so reasonable after this quack.
I can't believe these religous people can't keep thier hands out of other people's business. These people are religous nuts! If your gay, it's not by choice, at least that my thought about it.
Never heard anything so bent., This woman is crazy. Is this freedom of America or is she the regligious judgement we get to choose. I believe in God but I believe we are judged on who we are as people and our faith. If we take a positive path in life we are in Gods hands. For President? Imagine what else she will do.
Maybe it's just me, but it doesn't seem like Bachmann is forcing her beliefs on anyone.....the people who go through this know what they are getting into. As a Christian myself, I am getting tired of people saying that just because we do not believe that homosexuality is moral that we have hate in our hearts towards these people. That is NOT true. If someone I knew told me they were homosexual, I would love them just as much as I did before. That doesn't mean I would agree with their lifestyle, but I would pour my heart out in prayer over them. It's also hilarious to read these post about Evangelicals or whatever, saying hateful things about "Hateful Evangelicals." A little hypocritical don't you think?
When it comes to the whole respression thing, all I can think of is the "Help, help, I'm being repressed. Come see the violence inherent in the system." It does beg the question of what is this company doing with federal funds it receive and what would they do with someone who comes to accept their homosexuality but has other problems? I wouldn't say that they advocate violence on those that don't accept their Christian attitude, but what good would they do?
To be "cured" of something shouldn't you have to prove it is a disease or disorder?
I wish the clinic could teach methods of repressing Michelle Bachmann's mouth.
Women like Bachmann and Palin set the women's movement back decades. Honestly, why is it that the bonehead female politicians are getting attention and not the intelligent ones? I know they are out there. Reveal yourselves and run for president.
Man I wish this woman would just disappear. Her and her right wing religious nut job beliefs think they can cure being gay with christian counseling. Wow what an idiot.
If there's a cure for this.. I don't want it... don't want it.
I am a TOTAL LIE! The Bachman's are a RACKET!
I don't want a bigot as my President. Period. Also, why is it that every right-leaning conservative Christian feels that it's their duty as Christians to save everyone from homosexuals by pointing out the several places in the Bible where the immorality of homosexuality is discussed, but they somehow forget the places in the Bible where it says to treat others as you would have them treat you, love thy neighbor, and, most importantly, that God is the only one with the right to judge. Pick the book up and read it again, but this time, pay attention. And stop trying to save the world. It's already been done.
these politicians never fell to discuss me with passion ...
they are a bunch of sickos who happen to go for the positions, and control our sorry country ...
shame on us all to let them do this unopposed ...
Shouldn't this "report' be in CNNs Belief Blog ?
Can I start a clinic that uses this same therapy to reform all conservatives, so that they aren't conservative anymore.
After all, hey, being conservative is a choice, right? Let's teach them how to suppress these desires.
I think we need to "cure" Bachmann.
This is why religious nuts should never become president. My feeling is that anyone who believes in an all powerful being that tells them specifically what to do should never be president. Well anyone who believes in God in my opinion should not be president. But you must work with what you got
Dr., uh, Markus Bachmann (unlicensed), a purse just fell out of your mouth. Did you buy it with federal funding?
With messed up people like this in powerful positions.... the debt is the least of our problems – these are the people that promote free speech as long as it is something THEY support; these arethe book burners. These are the people that we fought wars against to avoid this repressive ideology – If this continues, I'm going to pack up my wagon and head somewhere else – I am tired of fighting against these lunatics that have brainwashed half the country....Let them implode – I'll go somewhere more progessive – plenty of choices....It makes me just sad
I guess she can't cure moronism lol
Too bad there's no cure for stupidity. I'd like to send Bachmann to that clinic.
Well, if she becomes president, then I am 100 percent certain The world will end in December..
They sure get alot of government monies for their so-called business, 125,000 for one, 250,000 for their farm in subsidies, and several thousand for another business.... No wonder she thinks government should stay out of peoples affairs...someone should check them out....
To say you can never change is the most depressing thought in the history of the world.
My question is........Does this mean her clinic can turn str8 people Gay as well? My only hope is she gets some fashion types from the gays before she changes them. Not sure I would want my first female president dressing like a man.
Does she compare running a small business to running a country like the US!? LOL =DDD
It seems Bachman wants to fix every thing with prayers? That's nice, I hope that her prayers will provide her with the help she needs.
If she thinks that "gayness" can be cured with prayers, or any other way, then she believes that pigs can fly and that she can fix what brother Bush screwed up with diligent prayers, LOL. ; )
If the Bachmanns really wanted to make themselves useful, they'd open a clinic to "cure" Tea-Baggers.
I live in her district and I sincerely hope she runs for President so she will have to give up her senate seat here. She is an embarrassment and I want her out of office. And I do not believe there is ANY chance she could win a Presidential election.
please stop telling our teenagers it's wrong to be gay. they were born that way and they tend to commit suicide when they are ostracized. of course the people who put their lives in danger be it from suicide or violent killers believe they are doing the right thing for God. JERKS!
As a gay man I welcome this woman as the Republican candidate for president. It's time we have it out once and for all with these religious zealots about their feelings on gay people and expose them for who they truly are, bigots in every sense of the word, hiding behind ideology. These people need to understand, our closet doors are open and there's no room in there for us any longer!
Why the misquote? He didn't say God would do it, he said the therapy would do it! I guess without the "god factor" the sexiness and interest for a lot of people just isn;t there!
""If I did this and worked his therapy program, God [that] would perform a miracle and I could no longer be gay," Ramirez added he was told."
She is running for President, not her husuband.
i think it's scary how much traction this nut has received..She could be the next president.God help us all
I was a big fan of hers to run for President at least a year ago before it was popular. But now her coming out with this Anti Gay and Porno is not smart at all and whoever hercampaign adviser is must be working for the other side. Bachmann is toast now.Or she is going the way of the Donald now and just getting things off her chest and not real serious about running.She should of stuck to what she has been saying the last couple of years that got her notice now with this new out of left field stuff she just cooked herself. I wouldn't be surprised if Bachmann drops out in the near future. I think I'm going to start to support Rick Santorum now.
Even if it was a conscious decision (to be homosexual), who cares?
If I like hamburgers (or "choose to like hamburgers"), then it's none of your business. You can be a dietician, vegan, etc.–you're still not going to impose your beliefs on me, nor should you.
I want to know if this Bachmann clinic gets Medicare and Medicaid payments. If they do accept government payments, doesn't that make her a hypocrite? Does our government pay for these ridiculous religious "treatments"? Of course, Bachmann could write them up as something else.
She's repulsive and he's a FRAUD.
Bachmann...hilarious! Sure, she can run a country...ha ha ha. Ridiculous.
Keep it up Michelle. You are only pushing the moderates away with every ridiculous word you speak.
The only people who take Michele Bachmann seriously are the people in Minnesota's 6th Congressional district, which essentially includes the bibile belt area of the state, counties north and northwest of the twin cities between Lake Elmo, where the "clinic" is located, and St. Cloud. This is all so interesting, because the twin cities has one of the largest GLBT communities in the country. Michele Bachmann and her husband are out of touch with reality, and want to push that reality off onto the rest of us. Its true for every state what is happening in Minnesota. The Republican Party has swung totally far, far right wing in both its economic and ideological policies. They no longer represent most of the country's values. Its time we throw them out en mass come next election.
A, Gabriel wrote:
Michelle is NOT a hater; that is what liberals always say when someone disagrees with them, someone with morality in theirs lives. The gays are turning out to be the true haters because they are so narrow-minded and such name callers.
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I think you may misread the article. The only person calling people names is Marcus Bachmann. He referred to gays as *barabarians.* That quote was from him, not anyone else. This is how lies get out.
You American need someone like her. As president.
We will see the family values exposed when family skeletons start coming out like Palin's Bristol act. Lots of things to come till the election time.
I would assume these people went to this clinic because they wanted to be "cured". Why else would they go there? While I disagree with the premise that homosexuality is something you choose and can be cured of, if that's what people went there for and they are offering a path to do that, then what's the problem? Should we also outlaw accupuncture, chiropractors or homeopathic medicine?
Can I get tax dollars too if I promise to cure certain people of their tendency to vote republican? How can a politician like her profess to be concerned about our huge deficit and take our tax dollars for hubby s phony schemes .
It amazes me how many of the conservatives that I have met cry intolerance if you tell them that their views on LGBT people are hateful. You don't respect my beliefs; I won't respect yours. Deal?
This "clinic" is a brainwashing program, and even though it is legal, it isn't ethical.
There is nothing wrong about her or her intentions. She is trying to correct what is not naturally right. That doesn't mean she hates homosexual people. Right now we are living in a world where religion and tradition is "wrong" and everyhting that contradicts them is right. I believe this article is biased.