Washington (CNN) - Seeking to recover her once-impressive standing in the polls, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann on Monday continued to position herself as the most conservative candidate in the Republican presidential race.
Speaking to about 50 Republicans and more than a dozen reporters at the socially conservative Family Research Council in Washington, Bachmann targeted unnamed GOP opponents in terms she usually reserves for Democrats.
"Unfortunately for too many Republicans, they also aspire to be frugal socialists," she said, apparently targeting GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney. "The reason President Obama and some Republicans can get behind socialized medicine is because they share the same core political philosophy about the purpose of government."
"We cannot preserve liberty for ourselves and our posterity if the choice in next November is between a frugal socialist and an out-of-control socialist," she added, the latter phrase a reference to Obama.
Bachmann called for a full repeal of Obama's health care reform law and claimed that Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry do not understand how to roll back the legislation.
Romney says he will grant waivers to states wanting to opt out of the law, while Perry says that he would overturn the law by executive order. Bachmann called both plans naive and said a "full scale repeal" of the law can only happen through Congressional action.
On a host of issues abortion, taxes, same-sex marriage, foreign aid and the federal judiciary Bachmann portrayed herself as "the candidate you can trust in office."
Bachmann is eager for a second look, especially in the must-win caucus state of Iowa, from the social conservatives and tea party activists who fled her campaign in September and moved to Perry, businessman Herman Cain or former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
After winning the closely watched Ames Straw Poll in August, Bachmann sunk in the polls when Perry joined the race and captured the imagination of Republican primary voters. After Perry's similar collapse a month later, Cain moved into the void and soared to the top of the polls.
And with Cain now facing allegations of sexual harassment, Bachmann is trying to remind conservatives of her consistently conservative bona fides and full-throated opposition to all-things-Obama.
Bachmann is mired around 3% in national GOP polls, although her numbers are slightly higher in Iowa, where she is staking her campaign.
"This election season has been full of surprises," Bachmann said. "I can assure you there are no policy surprises with me. I am far from a perfect person, as all of you know too well, but I know who I am and I will never deviate from the principles that I have fought for all of my life."
She drew one of the sharpest lines in the sand on the matter of abortion, appearing to jab Romney and Cain, both of whom have faced questions about their pro-life principles.
Cain recently said that women and families should be able to choose abortion in cases of rape and incest, remarks that drew swift criticism from staunch abortion rights foes. Romney, meanwhile, said that abortion should be "safe and legal" when he ran against Ted Kennedy for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts in 2004, but he has since moved to the right on the issue.
"I am both personally and publicly pro-life and our candidate has to do more than just check the box on the issues of life," Bachmann said. "They have to have a proven record on standing up for life. I believe it is the role of government to protect life from conception to death. I'll never be confused about that issue and you won't find YouTube clips with me advocating anything else."
From CNN Politics
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I wonder why Michele did not include the spendful fascists in the republican party who drove our economy in the ditch in order to help the elitist aristocracy of the wealthy.
are you still here? Why bother. Go back to MN and pack your bags because the people in your district will hopefully boot you from the office you've held
When all else fails, turn on your own kind. You can talk about being pro-life all you want but that won't create 1 job. You've aslo said you can get gas prices to $2 a gallon. You must be running for the president of fantasy land. You have no control over gas prices. If you did, then why did one of your own, George Bush, allow it to soar above $5. You have no credibility what so ever.
I guess if Bachmann is calling the Prez a socialist, then it is fair play to call her a GOP reactionary.
Wait – what? Michelle Bachmann associating with KNOWN SOCIALISTS??! Isn't that the same as 'Palling around with terrorists' ? Black is white, night is day, Bachmann 'courting socialists' ??
First of all, the average GOP presidential contender (and believe me, calling them 'average' is being kind), wouldnt know what a socialist was if one bit them on the posterior. If I had a nickel for every time I heard some ignorant apologetic for the GOP/TP call the president a 'socialist', i could pay off the national debt, and have change to spare. Secondly, How many socialists are there in the Republican party? I mean, Really? That is like saying 'Michael moore's ultraconservative fan base' or 'Bill O'reilly's gay pride parade'. It simply makes no sense.
So of course it makes sense that it came from Michelle Bachmann.
That's right, missy, bring them in to the world so they can starve or serve in wars.
So at what point will she just drop out of this race and go do the job (which she really struggles to do) she was elected for? I mean seriously, she knows she will not get the nomination yet she is out here trying to sell herself!! I think a law should be enacted that if you are a sitting Politician in the US Congress and you seek the Office of the President you should resign your seat immediately!!!
That can be read another way........that Bachmann is an extremist, who has zero interest in the human condition of our citizens.........which is how I have viewed her, all along.
She makes some good points, but her driving force, is not government, but rather religion, and I oppose ALL of the religious agenda of the GOP party, 100%. If they can't leave the church issues, in the church, then they can't get my support, no matter what religion they espouse.
Religion in government, in the US, is no less dangerous, than the religion in government, in Iran.
When can we make it official that she never has anything reasonable, rational or even remotely worthwhile to say?
Speaking to about 50 Republicans and more than a dozen reporters at the socially conservative Family Research Council in Washington, Bachmann targeted unnamed GOP opponents in terms she usually reserves for Democrats.
I am amazed that she could find 50 people that will still listen to her bash every person in any party just because she cant think of any viable soultions to the countries current problems, she was useless in congress and said no to Everything and now thinks she is experienced enough to handle the toughest job in the world.
She is not that bright. She can "position herself as the most conservative" all the way to the right just before Nazi but the majority of us are sick of these extremists. As is clearly evident extremism has not helped anyone keep a home or open a business. This short slightness and there for not serious. If she was serious she would keep an eye on the general election and by making herself "most conservative" she would lose the moderate votes and the election. Since she is not serious and as I said is quite clear she should bow out and return to Washington and complete the job the people of her district sent her there to do and stop wasting time and money.
Is Bachmann ready to call Medicare socialism? It is a government-run health insurance system.
Actually, all insurance is socialism. A person buying insurance is spreading the risk that he or she may get sick, get into car accidents, and so on, to the rest of the society. Those who are well pay the premiums to cover those who are sick, with the hope it will be there when they need it.
Err...a 'frugal socialist'? What does that even mean?
Frugal: Sparing or economical with regard to money or food.
Socialism: a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
So a 'frugal socialist' in the GOP is a republican penny-pincher who advocates socialist principles?
Interesting...I guess?
Representative Bachmann, please explain your remarks in view of the defintionof socialism: "a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole."
Doesn't fit the facts huh, so stop misleading the American people for your own ends.
Dear Michele, when a person drops from a higher height and breaks any part of the body, the recovery always becomes difficult. This applies to you too. You dropped sharply in polls and trying to revive them seems to be a dream!
Bachman, " the most conservative candidate in the Republican presidential race". Sure, but the most of this or that on the edge of political spectrums simply make you an extremist. We surely don't need (nor do voters support) an extremist, left or right. We need a capable president who understands the "middle of us", the middle class and its problems. The silent majority. Bachman's flavor of the moment has worn out, all that's left is her right wing nutcase philosophy. Puns intended.
Desperation is driving Bahmann's campaign. Her tone is getting extremely shrill.
"frugal socialists"? Republicans? This woman is so far to the right, she can't even see the middle. When you have moderate Republicans being bashed as socialists, it's time they threw in the towel. They are outside the mainstream.
"I am both personally and publicly pro-life and our candidate has to do more than just check the box on the issues of life," Bachmann said. "They have to have a proven record on standing up for life. I believe it is the role of government to protect life from conception to death. I'll never be confused about that issue and you won't find YouTube clips with me advocating anything else."
Wait, what? She believes it is the role of government to protect life from conception to death? Just not against medical problems, then? lolol
She rails against socialism yet has received farm subsidies. Typical hypocrit.
Bachman's goal in life is to eliminate the government so there is no protection whatsoever from the multinational corporations that have but one purpose in life- making money. And that is as it should be. But they shouldn't be policing themselves because that is a clear conflict of interest and as we've seen during the Bush years- entirely unworkable. I do agree with he ron one thing though, it is very clar where she stands- somewhere in Fantasyland.
If she evens wants to come close to getting back in the race, she needs to specifically lay out a jobs plan. Just saying, "cut taxes will generate jobs" doesn't cut it. All the republicans say that, so unless she can say how, in details, how many people over what time frame, she is an also-ran. Perry's job plan is no less than a ten year plan... not good enough and only for a million people?
LOL. "Speaking to about 50 Republicans and more than a dozen reporters", Not going so well, is it.
Michelle Bachmann has done absolutely nothing in her time in Congress except oppose everything (even what has been proposed by her own party). She has proclaimed herself the head of the "Tea Party Caucus" in the House and has managed to pretty much tie Speaker Boehner's hands on everything. If a proposal isn't to her liking, she has her caucus withhold its support. If Boehner is forced to get Democrats to support it, she accuses him of pandering to the Left. The best thing for the country would be to allow her to win the nomination and lose both her House seat and the National election. Then we would be rid of her.
Bachmann never lets the facts or the truth interfere with her rants. If only she would really investigate, research a subject or even tell the truth about the polls she would be somewhat believable. However, she can not seem to bring herself to do any of these things and the American see this little un-convenient fact. Bachmann really needs to go back to MN. that's about the nicest thing I can say about her.
In our history we have tested the boundaries between the powers of the Federal government and the powers of State and local government. The term "frugal socialist" is clever. Will Bachmann embrace the Confederate political philosophy she is advocating?
If we had listen to mccarty we would not have gotten into this (socialist) mess we are in today. Bachmann is authentic and so pro american (patriotic) it will be wise to listen to her. All this lady desires is to make regular americans lives safe and better. So why do liberals hate her so, is it because they have an opposite agenda for us?
How about Corporate Socialists, like Koch Brothers?
When a politician truly wants to serve his/her people and shows actual care for their well-being, they are labeled socialists. If you are in an accident and not have insurance, where is her "governments role to protect from conception to death"?
So, she is Pro-Life? Is she against the Death Penalty then? And if she really wants to protect life from conception to death, then she would seemingly want people to have access to Health Care, right? But we can't let caring for our citizens get in the way of our "Anti-Socialism Rallying Cry". It just doesn't make sense to me...
Communism is a social, political and economic movement that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless and stateless communist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production. Sounds basically like the Republican platform: NO classes means no class warfare. The 1% have all the money, the other 99% have no money; that’s virtually moneyless. The Republicans want no government regulationswhich would leave us stateless. Uh huh, yea, go republicans.
Definition of SOCIALISM
1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done
Can she tell me which candidate has advocated for this?
If there's one thing Michele knows, it's socialism. She's been enjoying it's benefits for years by taking government handouts and welfare for her family farm and her business. Both would fail without the socialist support.
MIchelle it's amazing you being on a socialized medical plan is fine but it's a sin for the rest of us........
Health care costs are rising at double digits Mickey. I want out of OBCare too. So once repealed, what's your plan to reign in health care costs? Hello?............Hello, Ms. Bachmann?..........Are you there?..............
What does Bachmann want for health care coverage? She is against Obamacare, Romney's health care coverage in MA, medicare, employer health care coverage....What does she think low income families are supposed to do for health care? Should they pay the same insurance premiums that she and other rich people pay? The ones who don't have health care are the ones who cannot afford health insurance. It is not cheap! It is also not cheap for some middle class families.
The repugs like to throw the word socialist around like they do the word terrorist. They need to look at their corporate and trickle down policies to see where the real socialism lies.
The US is already a socialist country. HALF pay zero fed income taxes but enjoy all of the benefits of society. For the half that pay taxes, it is a progessive income tax structure
One out of six are on food stamps and millions more have free housing and healthcare.
It's extremely frightening that a person like her can attract enough of a constituency to get elected to high office. There are crazy people everywhere, but why would someone want one of them to represent him/her in Congress?
We must concede that she is right. With the exception of Santorum, she is the only candidate that qualifies as a full fledged religious fanatic. [ I suppose those two would constitute the Right Wing Dream ticket.] If your goal is to impose a Christian Taliban government on the US, Michelle is your man... excuse me woman. .
Let's see, she is trying by gain more support by moving even further to the extreme. Maybe she's only smart when set next to Sarah Palin. Elections are decided by the relative moderates in the middle. Bachmann needs to just give it up and get remind Romney, who is the only republican with a chance of beating Obama.
Look, I like a lot of what Ms. Bachman has to say, and I appreciate that she's had a consistent message during her campaign. But there is absolutely no way _NO WAY_ I am voting for a woman for president. Not now, not ever. I don't care how good of a platform she's running on. It's a man's job, and my vote will go to a man. Now, if she can get one of the more appropriate candidates to adopt some of her ideas, then she will have done a valuable service and I would encourage her to fulfill that role instead.
Bachman should look up the definition of socialism before she makes a fool of herself by misusing the term. So should the rest of the Republican candidates.
I live in her congressional district. Trust me, America, she is a looney toon! If you don't trust me, do some research on the countless misrepresentations and outright lies she spews on a daily basis and form your own conclusions. Also, I would like to hear her explain how forcing a rape or incest victim to carry a resulting pregnancy to term is pro-life.
Yeah Michelle, of course. The only hope for this country is that we continue to allow the wealthiest to accumulate more money through tax breaks. Also, we must deregulate everything, so businesses can have their way. The little guys? F 'em, their almost dead anyway. Great plan. What a bimbo.
Any nation that keeps its poor fed, educated, and doesn't allow their people to die on the streets has a Socialist component. Why would that in any way be a bad thing or concept. The question really is about the levels of spending. Bachmann will bring us $2 gas through the "free market" & vast quantities of people to wash our windshields for 50c while we're there (unless we become one of them).
I vote for the smartest person, period. The Repubs have not had the smartest person running for a VERY long time. How are you going to protect people's lives from conception to death by NOT guaranteeing health insurance? She can't answer that because all of her(and the others) ideas are not rational and usually contradict some other idea she had before. This is not a Theocracy and basing your governing on a religion that not everyone you represent shares, is completely arrogant. I'll stick with the smart guy.
"They have to have a proven record on standing up for life. I believe it is the role of government to protect life from conception to death.”
Michele must be off her meds. This isn’t the usual conservative mantra. I know she and the other wingnuts are all foaming at the mouth at the thought of controlling / legislating women’s reproductive rights, since their schizophrenic philosophy compels them to protect the fetus at all cost and then to quickly wash their hands of any and all moral responsibility once that child enters the world. As for government protecting life until death, that’s hilarious. Ron Paul made it pretty clear that if a person is seriously ill and un-insured, well, that’s just too bad for them. Bachmann and the other freaks from the conservative sideshow are no different from Paul. It seems they get to decide who’s worthy of being protected.
Any country that keeps its poor fed, educated, and keeps people from dying on the streets is Socialist to some degree. Is that really a bad thing? Don't we in USA take care of our own? Bachmann is pro-life, unless it comes to those that are actually already living. She would prefer a baby be born into poverty to then starve rather than the mother make a choice that is hers & her family's alone.
How can any person in effect say "let them suffer" or "let them die", on some primitive backward principle?
I'm a Canadian and we have had "socialized" medicine since 1945, where medical care is available to all.
It has it's problems like all systems, but no one is refused help.
The U.S. is the world leader in many things, but not in health care, where politicians are willing to sacrifice millions of people.
Someone please sanely and rationally explain this.
Thank you.
A last gasp out of desperation from Bachmann. She's finished, and she can't face the reality of it. She sees the attacks on Cain working, and thinks she may get a side show started for herself, by pointing fingers. Bachmann is the latest Titanic....thankfully.
Republicans like her, calling anyone that doesn't agree with them a "Socialist", is why I left the party.
She's fringe, and if the far left and far right need to understand anything it's that most of the country is centrist. The only way a republic can operate is by compromising opposing views to come up with a mutually beneficial solution, even if all sides don't get everything they want. She doesn't want to be President she want's to be dictator.
Mitt Romney a socialist? Please. And Barack Obama isn't one either. Does the word actually mean anything to the people who throw it around so much, or is it just a convenient term of abuse?
Yes, let's get rid of socialist programs like health care and social security... what? That alienates three quarters of Tea Partiers who themselves are retirees on Medicare?
Nevermind...
"I believe it is the role of government to protect life from conception to death."
I wonder how she justifies this against her views on capital punishment.
But she's one of them!!!! What are we missing? She like bail-outs, she voted for Bush's med D program, for the Patriot Act, farm subsidies (that she personally receives), she loves lots of pointless military actions abroad. She's a democan-republicrat too. She needs to come out of the closet and admit her fault.
Well she IS right. Most republicans practice a form of Socialism, One very close to the Communism in China. Redistribution of the wealth straight to the wealthy, with the marginalization of the lower class.
"I believe it is the role of government to protect life from conception to death. "
unless that life is those who cannot afford healthcare. Then let em die right?
From Bachmann's perspective Richard Nixon qualifies as a socialist After all, not only did he start the EPA, he also proposed a national healthcare plan fairly similar to President Obama's. Come to think of it, probably over 70% of Americans qualify by her definition. Especially those who support Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
What Bachmann really does not understand is the COUNTRY is politicaly center-right, and she cannot be elected by "pure conservatives". There simply are not enough of them (us). In a general election vs Obama she would be extremely lucky to take ONE state.
I really wish politicians would stop using these stupid buzzwords and explain how they're going to solve specific problems, instead. It's ridiculous to hear these people running for President acting like they're opposed to big government. It's like someone who wants to be a CEO but says they're anti-corporation.
Human care from conception to death is not Bachmann's cup of tea. This issue of death is more about punishing women for their sexuality than a concern for human life. I'll believe a concern for human life when we have national healthcare and a solid social net when corporations do a dump on the people. Where is the concern for human life when a baby is born and the mother cannot take care of it? Or something happens years later and the mother and baby are living on the streets? Different story, what?
@thomas detroit – you ask "where is her 'governments role to protect from conception to death'?" – well, they did...just happens that in the accident the "to death" clause was invoked.
Remember, the GOP is against health care laws, and so while all in favor of protecting the unborn fetus, once born, they couldn't care less in reality.
The whole socialist argument is laughable. Republicans started using that word because they thought it would enrage Americans against Obama, then they came to find out that things are so bad and dysfunctional in this country that a large segment of Americans view socialism as a better alternative. That's one argument they tried to manipulate and lost control over. Then you tack on their extremist behavior and agenda and now it's turned into socialism vs. facism..in that argument socialism will win every time. Until they figure that out, using that term just makes them look even more delusional.
Modern medicine isn't about profits – it's about outcomes. Every nation with better healthcare than the United States can offer has a government-sponsored healthcare system of services and insurance. Medicare needs improving, but it is a wonderful system and the Republican efforts to kill Medicare is enough reason to vote them out.
With some luck, maybe she can recover and become the Republican nominee for POTUS. In this case, President Obama can spend the campaign season at Camp David, relaxing.
Does all that mean that she and her family going to reimburse the Federal Government for the funds they received in the operations of their business? She takes federal funding to help her family business.
She can never be elected to anything higher than what she is elected to now. There is no way she could be governor let alone President. She speaks too much hate.
The woman is out to lunch, ok? She hasn't a clue about any of the issues that will drive this general election; she will be lucky at this stage to keep her seat in the House. For all Obama' s failures, he has accomplished much during his three years so far, and has tried perhaps too hard to rise above partisan politics in order to serve the American people. Given the field of candidates currently on offer by the Republican party, and the vitriol and poor thinking coming from most of them, it would seem that the two most likely to beat Obama in the general election are also the least likely to win the Republican nomination; and they will have the hardest time vetting and promoting a highly-qualified VP candidate to strengthen the ticket further. Bachmann's numbers are not good, and in a tough job market and poor economic numbers the last thing the electorate has time or patience for is a candidate spewing nonsense about wedge issues and slinging mud with ideological labels the candidate doesn't correctly understand. To be quite honest, I could be a better Republican candidate than any of these people.
Don't people get that redbaiting is no different than racism. It is clumping a huge group of people with individual traits and differences together based on some flimsy preconception that they are all alike. Calling everyone on the right facists or nazis is just as wrong as calling everyone to the left of conservatives communists or socialists. The redbaiting has to stop. It is simply idiotic generalization and smear tactics.
interesting that conservatives would use the word "socialist" as if it was a dirty word, yet back the military
as if it werent the largest example of socialism our government can come up with.
I fail to see why, if people want healthcare COVERAGE for all is equated to "socialism". I fail to see why the wealthiest country in the world does not have healthcare COVERAGE for all it's citizens. I fail to see why people like Representative Bachmann and the Tea Movement backers (Koch, Armey and others) have been able to fool the former GOP (the party is no longer Grand). Its just too bad that a few on the nut wing side of the Republican Party has put our Congress in gridlock and so vitriol that virtually none of us middle class just want to enjoy lifers have any trust in our government. Thank God we can have trust in the Lord's will and I pray that eyes and hearts become open to the greater good.
I get so sick and tired of progressives being called "socialists" by the right wing and cons. How about we progressives begin to call cons and the right "fascists" to even things out.
Bachmann is inexperienced and not a visionary thinker. Most of her opponents are just as disappointing. Mitt Romney at this point should win the nomination since Cain has serious sexual harassment issues. Overall, I think Obama's chances of getting reelected have gotten better as most Republican candidates have imploded prior to any primaries. It is sad though to not have leaders worthy of trust. There are some worthwhile Republicans who choose not to run such as John Thune, Lindsey Graham, and Dick Lugar.
"Bachmann on Monday continued to position herself as the most conservative candidate in the Republican presidential race."
This woman is an embarrassment to the country and particularly to Republicans. All she knows how to do is push buttons with talk of socialism and in the process show what a complete idiot she is. The Republican party has moved significantly to the right over the past 20 years, and she wants to be seen as the farthest right candidate of is now a far right party.
Can she really be stupid enough to believe such a candidate would have any chance of being elected in a general election? She can't get elected without the independent vote, and independents will not vote for a religious zealot right-wing fanatic.
That sais, since Huntsman doesn't have a chance, Bachmann might as well bring attention to the sad state of the once great Republican party.
If the wealthy and the well off get tax breaks and subsides to continue to make record profits and hire noone or lays off thousands to increase theirprofit margins. This country will become aa socialist state because the people will overthrow the capitalist power system and replace it with a more humanitarian way to run a nation insttead of the greed and unethical way we run this country. People will get tired of these corporate power buying politicans and funding fake political movements like the tea party. Just like the wizaard of oz there is a coward behind the curtain
Well, well. If government's role is to protect life from conception until death, then she'd damned well better change her tune about universal health care. Would she want to have the weight of millions of unnecessary deaths on her conscience just because people who can't afford health insurance are dying for lack of medication and medical care? Think about it, Michelle – you've opened up a can of worms for yourself with this one!
Funny how Michelle Bachmann is all for less government interference in the private lives of Americans unless it deals with some religious issue she is personally against. Then it is OK for the government to interfere. Bachman stated 'I believe it is the role of government to protect life from conception to death.' on one hand but wants to do away with the Earned Income Tax Credit. Someone who only makes $20,000 a year should be able to somehow find a way to pay something to the Federal Government, according to her. She wants the federal government to get out of the way of businesses doing business but wants the federal government to dictate how the RELIGIOUS institution of marriage is defined. Shouldn't the religious institution of marriage be defined and handled by churches instead government?
As of January 2010, the annual salary for a Representative in Congress was $174,000. There is an automatic cost of living increase each year unless Congress votes to decline it. If they serve 5 years in office they qualify for lifetime benefits that includes a pension, health care and social security.
The very idea of any member of Congress calling anyone a Socialist is disengenuous at best. The health care debate was truly disgusting when you consider members of Congress sought and are still seeking to deny their constituates benefits they themselves enjoy.
OWS may not have a clear message but that's because they are not run like a campaign and don't have millions of dollars annoymously donated to their SuperPac via a 501c annonymous shell corporation to take out tv ads to get their message out.
Maybe all they want is the same thing these members of Congress already enjoy, financial security for the later stage of life and affordable health care. If that is going to happen then we need them to stop being part of the problem and start providing some solutions to get job creation going again. Isn't that what we have been asking them to do for four years now?
How many Republicans use liberal, socialist and communist as if they meant the same thing? Its as if I said that conservative and facist meant the same thing.
Heh. Wow.
50 people and a dozen(ish) reporters?
Great turnout, Michelle.
(I do have to admit that there might be some sort of legit reason for those numbers to be that low. Like if they had the meeting in a Burger King bathroom.
This woman would have to have had some legislation passed in order to know how to roll it back...................lol
Hmmm...look at what she (and other Republicans) say about "life" – She said, "I believe it is the role of government to protect life from conception to death." Well yeah, unless a) it's the government (local or Federal) executing people, or b) the Feds sending our young off to an unjustified war (like Iraq) to kill others, then they're all gung-ho for it. Hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis over the last 7+ years doesn't seem to phase her/them.
Tony nailed it that all insurance is a form of 'socialism', Bachmann obviously doesn't get that either.
Yeah – these Republicans are so dead set against any form of 'socialism' until and unless it's the kind of socialism that hands out subsidies to corporations or bail outs to banksters and Wall Street.
Let's see, preaching one thing while practicing another is called what, hypocrisy?
AlaskaPalin, read David and thomas detroit's comments just below yours. Covering Wall Street's losses while they kept their winnings is Socialism. How about the money we give to big oil, and the big corporations? Those of us in the middle and lower classes are funding millionaires and billionaires, and that's ok with you. But give the elderly the money they paid all their lives, or take care of the least among us, and that's wrong? Those are some unbelievable values there honey.
I laugh every time I hear one of these Republican tea partiers call someone a socialist. This lady is in Congress.... does she not have government health insurance? What about the socialism that's alive and well in our country- CORPORATE socialism? In my opinion these people help the socialist cause because the more they go around trying to denounce everyone as a "socialist" simply because they disagree with them, more and more people will realize was socialism is, and how it isn't this apocalyptic end-of-the-world system.
"The reason President Obama and some Republicans can get behind socialized medicine is because they share the same core political philosophy about the purpose of government."
No Michelle..... The real reason is because they share the same special interest money that owns our government.
Just like you. They have money masters they need to be accountable to.
"On a host of issues abortion, taxes, same-sex marriage, foreign aid and the federal judiciary Bachmann portrayed herself as "the candidate you can trust in office."
Er... um how about them jobs Michele???
How about jobs? Eh? Posture all you want in the bathroom; but out here in the real world – real people are REALLY suffering.
Using the label socialists the same way that they used communist in the 50's just annoys me. Every successful 1st world country in the world, including the US, has a mix of socialism and capitalism. Either one on it's own is dangerous. The US has many socialistic policies that few American's would accept being cut.
Capitalism is the fire dept watching a house burn down because the owner 'forgot' to pay the annual dues and his neighbor having the fire dept wet his house down to stop the fire spreading since he had paid. Is this what people want? laying dying on the side of the road and ems not helping because you have not paid any taxes or your annual dues?
"That's right, missy, bring them in to the world so they can starve or serve in wars."
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How about Option 3 – it's called BIRTH CONTROL. It's simple, safe, and effective 99.99% of the time. In my heart of hearts, I think conservatives, myself certainly included, would be thrilled to see 99.99% of the unwanted pregnancys prevented were birth control utilized. Granted, not all abortions are a result of failure to use birth control. We all know that. But please – to have the mindset of "it can't happen to me" when you look around at a world populated by almost 7 billion is totally preposterous.
Bachman says she "believes it is the role of government to protect life from conception to death. In that case, how can she and other pro-life advocates condemn socialized medicine which by its very definition is governmental
protection of life?
Yes, we must rid ourselves of our socialist institutions! So no more fire or police departments and no more road repairs! I'm sure the free market will take care of stopping crime and will put out houses that catch on fire!
Michele Bachmann know she can;t get gas prices down to two dollars a gallon because the President doesn't have any control over gas prices so she just lying about that. And she all about Corporate Socialists because she back by the Tea Party and that mean she work for the Koch's Brother. Michele Bachmann Is just to dumb to know when she done.
Wire Palladin, S.F. got it right! Who wants a president who doesn't have the ability to recognize socialism? We need a need more influence of Walter Rauschenbusch style socialism.
got to love politicians like this one – drop in the poles – start brainstorming – mmm what can I do – I know I will make an outrageous claim about another person and that will propel me back to the top – yeah thats the ticket and the faithful sheep will buy into it – the truth doesn't get you anywhere only scandal & innuendo! The ultimate punchline on all of this is the fact that after all these "Repubs" get done beating each other up – attacking – denouncing the other guy's plan as the Shinola that it is – - they will all rally behind the annointed ONE when he goes up against Obama in the election – & suddenly the annointed ONE's idea will be like God giving Moses the 10 Commandments – and Obama will be the devil! AND Yes if the Repub was in office the same would be going on by the Demos! We need a new system and we need it soon if this country is to be saved!
Clearly Bachmann doesn't understand the term socialism.
Wait for it... wait for it... Just when she starts to hear backlash, she'll say that she heard it from someone else and she was just repeating it. I'm just waiting for her to bring back McCarthyism. You know, being in politics used to be a revered and admirable position.
its the "governments role to protect life from conception to death".... please.... so where does her government stand on health care ? A basic human need.
Stunning incredulous incompetent hypocrisy. Bachmann has done NOTHING for MN06. Bachmann has never had a paycheck that wasn't a gummermint paycheck and even her "tax collector" IRS career was largely maternity leave while her inheritance rich Wisconsin family collects farm subsidies for not planting with YOUR tax dollars.
Could there be anything less mainstream than sucking up to the Family Research Council & Tony Perkins???
God is supposed to tell you to run FROM these people, not to them.
Much more at dumpbachmann dot com
I turn off the lights when I’m not in a room to conserve energy. I lower my thermostat to conserve on my gas bill. I drive the speed limit to conserve on paying higher gasoline prices. I even recycle aluminum and plastics to conserve the environment. I must be a frugal conservative. I am the new and improved Republican. Not.
These republicans ALL make me sick. Portraying any care measure for another individual as socialism. Does she know that all other civilized countries in the world have already passed universal health care–and have not dissolved into communism.
I wish somebody would ask Michelle what would be her plan for somebody too ill to work? too retarded? Deny care and let them die? Or, hurry the process and put them down?
As a lifelong republican who was active in party long before Michelle's indoctrination at Oral Roberts University, she is an offensive Fascist playing on falsehoods and promoting a witch hunt mentality. Those of us that believe in personal freedom, freedom of thought, freedom to practice or not practice a faith, respect of fellow human beings and uplifting our society with opportunity, education and a TRUE Christian view of protecting the downtrodden, see you for the baffoon you really are....hence the poor ratings you so rightfully deserve. I don't doubt that you are intelligent....I just don't like you. You represent the worst in our society...cold, heartless and unforgiving. Christian? NOT IN MY BOOK and I expect that 97% of the republican electorate sees you as the opportunist you really are. Shame on you for using your misguided faith as a platform to attempt to control the destiny of free men, women and children in this country. Me, Socialist..Hardly...Constitutionalist...definitely! Power to the 99%
It's only socialism if it goes to someone other than her or her's. Isn't Medicaid helping to fund her husband's clinic? What does she think that is? The hypocrisy is stunning, and frankly I'm sick of it.
Those who levey charges of socialism to the right should hold themselves to the same standard and recognize their quasi-fascist leanings
Fair is Fair, social conservatives have been against birth control, family planning, and sex education, so I would suggest you talk to some of your fellow travelers to enlighten them. I agree with your sentiments ( oddly enough) but with Tony Perkins and others cluttering up the landscape with their obcession with sex, you've got your work cut out for you.
@felix
"Clearly Bachmann doesn't understand the term socialism"
Oh, there's a lot more than "socialism" that she doesn't understand.
Living in the state of MN, I find it interesting how the "socialism-is-the-root-of-all-evil" rhetoric constantly coming from this inflammatory ignoramus always avoids that fact that she has received farm subsidies for years from the government!
Someone needs to tell this dolt that TOO BIG TO FAIL IS CORPORATE SOCIALISM!!!!!
She actually said "...I believe it is the role of government to protect life from conception to death. I'll never be confused about that issue and you won't find YouTube clips with me advocating anything else." At the same time, she accuses anyone who advocates any involvement of the government in insuring health care for those citizens of being socialists. I guess that government role only applies only to conception and death, and nothing in-between.
i'm SOOOOOOOOOO tired of gop'ers using "socialist" 1) as an insult and 2) in an inappropriate context. they all need to go back to school and understand the different forms of governance. what they call democracy i call oligarchy.
CNN why are wasting time on writing articles on Bachmann when she has zero chance of winning and then you have Ron Paul that actually does have a chance at the GOP nomination and yet he is totally sidelined.
What????? You're STILL here?
Can we just end the hard headed dogmatism and find a solution? We need a creative mix of capitalism and socialism...either one by itself doesn't work...
Well...if she does win the republican candidacy, its another guaranteed second term for Obama. Right now, he's the best candidate – GOP needs to step up a bit and find someone who the REST of the country will elect if they want the office back.
Capitalism as originally conceived doesn't take into account the current complex, interconnected state of the world. Unbridled capitalism doesn't work. And why is it capital can move freely across borders but labor cannot? That is why it's a rigged game...
Of course Bachmann is using the current definition of socialist, which basically is "everybody else out there but me." The term no longer has any real meaning, thanks to talk radio and the Tea Party. Let me give you another word - "hypocrite: one whose actions belie their words," as for example, someone who wants to abolish "government health care" while at the same time taking in 23 foster children whose health care was provided by the state.
This is why this conservative will not be voting for a republican again this year. No solution, just name calling!
the repos once again eat their own. If this keeps up they won't have any candidate to run. Just as well OBAMA BIDDEN 2012
"They have to have a proven record on standing up for life. I believe it is the role of government to protect life from conception to death..." –Bachmann
Didn't she also say that the other "frugal socialists" (republicans) and "out of control socialists" (Obama) have the wrong/same political philosophy?
"The reason President Obama and some Republicans can get behind socialized medicine is because they share the same core political philosophy about the purpose of government."–Bachmann
Isn't socialized medicine the governments attempt at playing "the role" of "protecting life from conception to death?"
I believe she is confused...either she is not very intelligent/savvy, conflicted, or duplicitous. Either way, she claims to be for freedom and liberty but wants government to legislate morality/ethics, and how we all should conduct our lives.
We"re so tired of hearing the ridiculous positions taken by Bachmann on virtually all issues in which compassion, kindness, tolerance and generosity should be major concerns, . It won't be long until she is publicly silenced by thinking people, and returns to Minnesota in time to lose her next congressional election. The nonsense of all the Republican candidates seeking the nomination is nauseating. Anyway, Preaident Obama will beat whomever they select.
Say she wins the primary, is she going to change her position later on to gain the votes of non-hardcore-t-party lunatics to win the general election or she really believes this nonsense will work with us all?
She pays lip service to Ronald Reagan and yet the "socialist" Earned Income Tax Credit was greatly expanded under him. He also raised taxes several times. Bachmann spouts buzz words without fully understanding what she's saying.