Bachmann: I’m scholarly
(CNN) - Newly declared Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann defended her past gaffes Tuesday by touting her background as an attorney and small business owner.
“People can make mistakes and I wish I could be perfect every time I say something, but I can’t,” Bachmann said on CNN’s “American Morning.” “But one thing people know about me is that I’m a substantive, serious person and I have a strong background.”
The Minnesota congresswoman addressed her most recent slip up when she incorrectly said movie star John Wayne was born in Waterloo, Iowa, Bachmann's native city and the site of her presidential announcement Monday. Wayne was born in nearby Winterset.
“John Wayne’s parents first home was in Waterloo, Iowa and he was from Iowa and of course the main point I was making are the sensibilities of John Wayne, which is patriotism, love of country, standing up for our nation, that positive enthusiasm is what America’s all about,” Bachmann said. “And that’s of course my main point.”
When asked if it is harder to prove herself because of her gender, the three term representative said “people just need to know what a person’s background is.”
“I'm introducing myself now to the American people so that they can know that I have a strong academic scholarly background, more important I have a real life background,” Bachmann said.
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Steve, New York City wrote:
I confess that I stronly DISLIKE Bachmann. However, I also believe that some people might be punching "below the belt" because of her gender (and that is totally unfair).
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Bachman throws somve punches way below the belt, too, you know. I don't recall any negative comments since her *official* candidacy announcement posted here can be called below the belt. Even some were, they were probably responding to where they thought heard her voice originating.
What did it for me was the fact she backed Palin in 2008...that just shows she lacks judgement & common sense skills.
She has no chance of becoming POTUS....therefore, whatever she says from this point on is simply political suicide.
The faster she dies off the better!!!
Last year the president said he visited 57 states, I hope he can visit even more this year.
What she means is; I`m smart; smarter than most of you that would challenge me in interviews.
After all, I scored well enough on LSATs, got accepted to a law school [somewhere] and crammed for, and passed, the bar exam [I guess in Minnesota].
But she was a tax attorney; that`s what she`s bragging about. Said another way, she was a non-value-added person whose job was to help corporations and wealthy individuals skirt their responsibility to pay taxes. She has helped contribute to the National Debt by shuffling paper.
Now this may have been "legal". That does not make it HONORABLE or worthy of admiration when considering who we want in the Oval Office.
Scholarly? Rep. Bachman, no one is questioning whether or not your degrees are genuine. People simply question the degree from which you view the world.
Maybe it's her "scholarly background" that's the problem. Oral Roberts U. No wonder she's ignorant.
Scholarly to me means reflective with a solid interest in academic research. If she has those two attributes, she hides them well. But, despite what Chris Matthews says, what the world sees may not be the real Bachmann, if we take her word that she's scholarly.
This is a politician who, like all Republican politicians, is playing to the Know Nothing (literally) wing of the party where ignorance and a warped view of values are applauded and intelligent discourse is the subject of derision.
Why is it that the voices of so-called patriotism and "love of country" always attack the conventions that make this country what it is: the press for Sarah Palin, separation of church and state for Bachmann. Other countries have a word to describe these people: Mullahs.
It is never a good sign when you have to defend your intelligence.
With the Gaff's she's pulled over the last few days she either needs to start writing her own stuff or at least proof read it before she makes a spectacle again.
You can bet she isn't going to use the smaller government stuff or dropping government subsidies until after Iowa.
I can just about hear Koch wispering in her ear.
Is she aware that John Wayne, the actor, was a draft dodging drunkard who believed in segregation. Don't confuse the man with the roles he was paid to act
You might be able to learn by rote and learn for tests if you study really hard, but that doesn't make you smart or scholarly. It might not even make you educated outside your NARROW scope.
Intelligent people look at all the information before making a claim or decision. Intelligent people accept new data for evaluation and, if shown to be off course, correct. You are a multiple (and yet, ironically confused) zealot – your supposed Conservative "values" are in sharp and constant conflict with your Christian beliefs (what WOULD Jesus do?).
Do these people who jump on to declare their candidancy for President, do their home work first. This is the toughest job in the entire world and no one should take it so easily. I wish there should be someone who is counting the gaffes of Michelle, as she looks she will overtake the current Vice President's gaffes he made!
People will believe anything...especially when being told what they want to hear. Bachman campaign strategery number one: confirmation bias, it works.
Michele Bachmann may have when to law school and was a small Big Business owner. But her saying that you have to be born In Iowa, to be patriotism ,love of Country. Or standing up for for our nation. well let me tell you are nuts, and once again you are taking about something you know nothing about. You may be book smart ,but that It . you are not about the Real America,s , or the Real American People. I sever three years In the Military. If being shot at does prove you love this Country , than you be a Lawyer doesn't even come close. Or if you are In Congress or the Senate doesn't come close to the People that sever In the Military and being shot at and a lot of us even die for this country. so I don't think any body love this country more that someone that sever in the Military and was going to give his/or her live for. But you Republican want to make It hard on the one that did sever , with your budget cuts. You tell me how many RICH or Big Business owner that sever In the Military. I'LL tell you all most none. And It doesn't matter what state you are from I'M sure there people who standing up for our Country and has Patriotism,love of country. So I say If the RICH have to pay more Taxes than they have to pay more taxes. Or let them go to Afghanistan or Iraq and let them get shot at for a year. You Republican think of Patriotism, love for country Sucks.
kevin wrote:
Is she aware that John Wayne, the actor, was a draft dodging drunkard who believed in segregation. Don't confuse the man with the roles he was paid to act
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No doubt she is aware of those facts. She is simply counting on the collective ignorance of the American people. When questioned about it, she will no doubt point to his hollywood image, not his personal life.
If Bachmann believes that intelligent deisgn is a science, she is not scholarly.
If she can't tell the difference between John Wayne and John Wayne Gacy, then she is not doing her own homework and is by definition not scholarly.
If she needs to shrilly protest to the American voters than she is indeed scholarly, then she is not scholarly.
In short, Michele Bachmann needs to spend some serious time getting her act together and getting it together fast ... otherwise we might begin to mistake her for Sarah Palin or (Oh No!) Christine O'Donnell.