The Strib has an article about Bachmann's plans for congress:
'We can hardly wait'
In her first week in Washington, Bachmann has talked more about tax cuts and education than her social conservative positions.
Her religious allies say they don't mind.
"That's what she needs to do, but we know where she'll come down on these other issues," said the Rev. Louis Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, which is gearing up for a fight with Democrats over what he calls anti-Christian hate-crime legislation protecting gays and lesbians. "We can hardly wait to talk to her as 'Madame Congresswoman.' "
For now, she has much else to think about, calls to return, and congratulations to acknowledge for making history not just as the state's first Republican woman in Congress, but only the third woman ever.
The guards pulling the busy Sunday afternoon shift at the National Archives didn't know any of that, and she wasn't telling.
"It was funny," she said, "because the security guard standing right by the Constitution was making jokes and trashing congressmen ... In a humorous way. Not personalities, but congressmen in general."
Having survived the most expensive House race in Minnesota history, and possibly one of the most negative, Bachmann heard nothing new.
Instead, she's arrived in Washington as a ray of sunshine in a gloomy GOP establishment stunned by a storm of voter discontent that gave both houses of Congress to Democrats.
Yes - that Lou Sheldon - who led a contigent that brought urine filled balloons at attendees at a gay pride celebration in Orange County.
"I wanted my first act as a congresswoman-elect to be to save money for the people back home," she said.
This week, most of her time has been taken up in "congressman school," learning how to put together a staff, vote and how to keep out of ethics controversies.
Michele broke new ground on several ethics issues when she was a State Senator. The one that stands out is the testimonial video she did on the senate floor for Unity Works video. |
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