Bachmann Hypocritically Attacks Crony Capitalism Again at Value Voters Summit

Article about Bachmann at the Value Voters Summit at the NY Times. The money Quote: “You won’t find YouTube clips of me speaking in support of Roe v. Wade,” she said. “You won’t find me equivocating or hemming or hawing when I’m asked if marriage is between one man and one woman. You won’t find me paying off big political donors with big political favors.” Really? Who is this guy?

Bachmann Desperately Appeals to Her Theocratic Base

Is Bachmann taking her pastor problem Bradlee Dean's advice and ditching the economy issues and doubling down on the Leviticus issues? We'll find out more this weekend when she speaks at the 2011 Value Voters Summit. Atlantic Weekly: Faced with a slide into near-irrelevance in the Republican presidential race, Michele Bachmann is playing her last card: a hard pitch for the votes of Christian conservatives. Bachmann posted a web video Thursday touting her support for "protecting life and traditional marriage." Near-simultaneously, her congressional office announced she's introducing a bill in the House aimed at limiting abortion rights. Earlier in the week, she held a conference call touting her "pro-family" views with a national social-conservative group. The moves seem to amount to a last-ditch strategy to bolster her faltering campaign with a pitch based on some of the right's most potent wedge issues. Read the whole thing. And there's that silly anti-abortion "heartbeat" bill she introduced the other day and she can't stop talking about DADT... yeah, she's desperate. Here's Team Bachmann's new video affirming that she is still the tip of the spear:

Michele Bachmann's Pastor, Mac Hammond Defends His Endorsement of Her from the Pulpit

Strib here. Recently, my wife and I announced to our church that in our personal time we would be assisting the presidential candidacy of U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann. This announcement was not a pulpit-based endorsement of Bachmann's campaign. Rather, it was an honest and courteous disclosure to members of our church before they would otherwise have heard this news in the media. Unfortunately, as we learned after Bachmann came and spoke at our church some years ago, certain outside groups continue to question our tax-exempt status with the IRS. They would like to see our congregation and its leadership silenced on matters of politics. Whine, whine, whine.

Michele Bachmann Reiterates Promise to Reinstate Don't Ask Don't Tell If She Becomes President

She's really becoming desperate for the theocrat vote. Bachmann also addressed 'DADT' repeal, and vowed to reinstate the policy: "It worked before and what it says is the issue of sexuality is one that doesn’t come up and people aren’t allowed to be open about it because the United States military is unique, its not a social experiment.”

Republicans Oppose the Michele Bachmann-Bradlee Dean Amendment

MPR reports: Republicans join effort to defeat marriage amendment Posted at 5:46 PM on October 6, 2011 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments) Filed under: Same Sex Marriage Amendment, Political parties Some prominent Minnesota Republicans announced today that they'll work to defeat a constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage. Members of the Log Cabin Republicans and Republicans Against the Minnesota Marriage Amendment joined forces with Minnesotans United for All Families. During a news conference, former gubernatorial candidate and long-time Republican advisor Wheelock Whitney said he was donating $10,000 to the cause and urging his friends to do the same. "There's nothing, absolutely nothing in my Republican value system that supports marriage bans in our constitution," Whitney said. "So, I strongly oppose this amendment as a lifelong Republican." Whitney was joined by Dale Carpenter, Susan Kimberly, Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, and Richard Painter. Will Michele Bachmann take time out of her presidential campaign in order to campaign for the Bachmann amendment?

Another Useless Bill Introduced By Michele Bachmann

She's going after the theocrat vote at the so-called "Values Voters" conference with this. Bachmann Introduces Pro-Life Heartbeat Legislation Related Documents Americans United for Life Family Research Council (Heartbeat Protection Act) National Right to Life Ohio Right to Life Susan B. Anthony List (Heartbeat Protection Act) Wisconsin Right to Life (Heartbeat Protection Act) Heartbeat Protection Bill MCCL Letter Heartbeat International Washington, Oct 6 - Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-06) introduced legislation today to require that abortion providers make the heartbeat of the unborn child visible and audible to its mother as part of her informed consent. Bachmann issued the following statement about her bill: “A pregnant woman who enters an abortion clinic is faced with a decision that will forever change two lives. That’s why she must have the very best information with which to make that decision. The ‘Heartbeat Informed Consent Act,’ that I introduced today, would require that abortion providers make the unborn child’s heartbeat visible through ultrasound, describe the cardiac activity, and make the baby’s heartbeat audible, if the child is old enough for it to be detectable. “A study by Focus on the Family found that when women who were undecided about having an abortion were shown an ultrasound image of the baby, 78% chose life. An unborn baby’s heartbeat can be detected as early as five weeks after conception and ultrasound technology is an amazing medical advance that provides a window for a pregnant woman to see her unborn child. My legislation will not only enable this technology to be better used to protect life, but also to ensure that a woman who is considering abortion is finally able to give full and informed consent.” The “Heartbeat Informed Consent Act” has 29 original cosponsors, and can be read here. It has been endorsed by: National Right to Life – “We commend you for working to ensure that the technology that allows us to see and hear an unborn child’s heartbeat is used to benefit women by making them more fully informed.” Family Research Council – “…it is only logical that a patient be fully informed as to the specifics of what she is about to undergo, being afforded the opportunity to observe or listen to the heartbeat of the unborn within her own body.” American’s United for Life – “This bill provides concrete, positive, and effective steps for Congress to protect women’s health.” Susan B. Anthony List – “The Heartbeat Informed Consent Act is about trusting women and assuring that they have access to accurate, real-time information relevant to the decision they are facing.” Heartbeat International – “We support your legislation calling for the ultrasound option before consenting to abortion because it will give each woman the opportunity to see for herself that 22 days after conception her baby’s heart is beating.” U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Ohio Right to Life Wisconsin Right to Life ###

Sad Day - House Panel Votes for Klobuchar/Bachmann's Bridge Boondoggle

A very sad day for the future of the Saint Croix River, National Parks and the environment everywhere. Read about it at MinnPost and Stillwater Patch. UPDATE: Karl Bremer at Ripple in Stillwater: If the Klobuchar-Bachmann bill opens the flood gates for billion-dollar bridge exemptions to the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act becomes law, the blame will rest squarely with Minnesota Democrats Klobuchar, Franken and Dayton. Bachmann never could have passed this bill on her own. She has shown zero interest in anything but promoting herself for president since she first began publicly speculating about running last year, and has not cast a single House vote since August 1. Once Klobuchar and Bachmann get their way, river advocates everywhere should be on their guard. Despite the authors’ claims to have written a tightly drafted bill that will trash only the St. Croix River, the next time developers on any protected river want to change the rules of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, they’ll merely have to point to the Klobuchar-Bachmann Boondoggle Bridge exemption and say “I want mine now.” Read the whole thing.

Video of Bachmann Bravely Running Away from Grinnell Students

Exclusive video from the Scarlet and Black: More video at Towleroad.

Minnesota Right-Wing Blogger Mitch Berg Throws Bachmann Under the Romney Bus

Mitch Berg on his Shot in the Dark blog: Romney? He’s not a Tea Party favorite, but most of the Tea Party is driven by common sense, not purist ideology; the Tea Party is as much about rejecting socialism as it is adopting pure conservatism. And that may sum up Romney’s appeal; he’s not a pure libertarian ideologue; nobody will ever mistake him for Ron Paul. But he’s conservative enough on the issues that matter – the economy, business – and he’s got a lifetime of experience actually executing on that ideology, unlike the current resident. So yeah, if Romney is the nominee, I won’t need to hold my nose to work and vote for him. He’s not perfect, but he’s way more than “good enough”. On a stage full of candidates who would all be better than Obama on every issue, Romney (along with Perry and Cain) stands out from the pack on the issue – the economy. Mitch Berg mentions Herman Cain, but does not mention Minnesota presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann. Here's audio of Berg talking about Michele Bachmann with Bradlee Dean about back in 2009, (Berg has gone mum on Bradlee too) Why won't Minnesota Republicans support the only Minnesota candidate in the GOP POTUS race? Bachmann, Berg and pals back in the good old days:

Bachmann's Pastor Problem Bradlee Dean Posts Video of School Disruption on You Tube

A segment from Bradlee Dean's My War movie: Some highlights about the Ministry of Hate's Arkansas High School invasion reported in Eureka's Lovely County newspaper in an article titled "Right wing' school assembly offends and angers" (2/23/05): Teachers had concerns the Bradlee Bunch was endangering the health of the students: The music was so loud a concerned staffer distributed literature detailing the threat of permanent damage to children's hearing ability, including that of about 135 7th and 8th graders bused in from the middle school. Topics from Bradlee Dean's lecture to the captive audience: Following the musical assault, lead speaker Bradlee Dean, founder of Minneapolis-based YCRBYCH, spoke about his life as a reformed cocaine addict. Speaking at a blistering pace while writhing from one foot to the other, Dean shouted about homosexuality, abortion, divorce, single-parent families, liberal politicians, the news media, gun control, the Kennedy assassination, creationism, Christianity and the sanctity of virginity. Dean said pornography increased by 97 percent when Bill Clinton was President and opined that "blaming Columbine on guns is like blaming spoons for Rosie O'Donnell being fat." Not content to harangue the captive audience, he divided them into two groups: After two hours in the gym, the boys, girls and faculty were divided into separate groups. Dean faced immediate opposition from some of the teachers corralled in the EAST lab. Teachers' initial comments included: "This is propaganda;" "I was completely offended;" "Faith-based nonsense;" and "You shouldn't even be here." According to teachers Bradlee Dean's lecture was clearly as theocratic as his radio shows: One teacher asked Dean what the "Jesus song had to do with drug awareness?" He responded, "There is nothing in our Constitution or founding documents about separation of church and state," and characterized evolution as just a theory. English teacher Cathy Remenar explained the difference between evolution and creationism, saying "one is scientific theory and one is religious theory," and added that it is the school's obligation to teach the former but not the latter. Dean sped into a rap about the need for more corporal punishment and too much free speech and permissiveness in schools, adding that Dr. Benjamin Spock's son committed suicide. Girls were told that having premarital sex would make them "leftovers": In the girls' assembly, Amy Deitchler walked out when a female YCRBYCH staffer told the young ladies they would be serving "leftovers" to their husbands if they lost their virginity before marrying a "God-fearing man." Unlike Bradlee Dean's video which claimed unnamed students supported the Bradlee Bunch , the newspaper quoted students who were offended by the lecture: Walk-out Kristen Cuypers, said, "They're selling us propaganda. I don't think I should be told how God affects my life." Allyson Pokrzywinski, a junior, said, "I don't think this is legal. This is a violation of our rights. I believe in separation of church and state." Ashley Smith said, "They're trying to create fear by stereotyping." Read the whole article. Also read Andy Birkey's MnIndy article that mentions other YCRBYCH school invasions. If Bradlee Dean has video of the entire assembly he should put it up on You Tube so we can see for ourselves what really happened. There's snippets of video of one of their assemblies in this YCRBYCH video, why not put the entire assembly video up on You Tube? Here's a news report about another school invasion in Phelps Wisconsin:

Bachmann Chickens Out of Pumpkin Patch Event

Des Moine Register: Grinnell, Ia. – Michele Bachmann’s appearance at a fundraiser on a pumpkin farm here this evening was delayed and then curtailed after several dozen Grinnell College students showed up. Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman, was to speak at an ostensibly open event in the hayloft of a barn at Carroll’s Pumpkin Farm during a fundraiser for the Iowa Family Leader, an advocacy group for socially conservative issues. But the event’s 5:30 start time came and went with no sign of the candidate after the event space filled up with college students, some carrying signs. Bachmann ended up not appearing until about 6:40 – after a truck from the Poweshiek County Sheriff and two police cars arrived on the scene and officers cordoned off part of the farm with police tape. Bachmann instead met privately with theocrat donors: Rather than speaking publicly from the barn – which was festooned with Bachmann campaign posters and clearly arranged for her to speak – Bachmann met with Family Leader donors privately in a house on the property and then took a short walking tour with farm owners Danny Carroll – a former state lawmaker – and his wife. Bachmann bravely runs away again....

Bachmann's Hypocritical Stance on Eminent Domain Returns... in Texas

Bruce Bower's rant at his Texas GOP Vote blog: Have any of you seen the news reports and videos of illegals climbing the huge curved topped, barbed wire laced fences at the US/Tijuana border? What about the videos of illegals climbing two fences and crossing a river in El Paso/Juarez? Well, it seems Michele is the winner. Building a 2000 mile fence will save the Republic. If a fence in Juarez and Tijuana doesn’t stop them, if a river on the southern border of Texas doesn’t stop them, if the almost impassable mountains in southern Arizona doesn’t stop them, and if the Atlantic Ocean between Cuba and Florida doesn’t stop them, why would a 2000 mile fence with hundreds of mile of open country and no posted guard houses stop them? Let’s put it to Ms. Michele this way. Will she start by putting a fence across the border of Minnesota and Canada? Why not? It’s wide open and unguarded just as much as the southern border. Sure, Canadians aren’t streaming across the border taking the dishwashing, lawn mowing and ditch digging jobs that American’s are clamoring for, but it seems that history tells us that an actual terrorist was captured trying to cross the Canadian border into Washington State. Hummm? Let’s also ask Michele Bachmann this, is she going to use the normal Washington, D.C. approach with the land owners in South Texas and condemn and confiscate their land to build the fence. Will she use Eminent Domain to steal the 100 year + family owned ranches? Will she steal 20 yards, 50 yards, 1000 yards of the ranch owner’s river bank property to build the fence? Will she take all of the private property and the constitutionally guaranteed rights that go along with it from the ranchers that have watered their live stock in the only water available for 10’s if not 100’s of miles in order to build “Her Fence”. Good questions. Bachmann claims to be a foe of emininent domain, but Dump Bachmann has had several posts about her hypocrisy on the issue: Curiouser and Curiouser on Bachmann and Eminent Domain (August 25, 2005) Is Michele Bachmann Still Concerned About Eminent Domain? (July 01, 2007) WEALTHY EMINENT DOMAIN ADVOCATE HOSTS DICK CHENEY FUND-RAISER FOR MICHELE BACHMANN ( February 19, 2009)

In Spite of "Sputtering" Campaign, Bachmann Vows to Stay in the Race for the White House

The LA Times reports Michele Bachmann is finding the going tough in Iowa... but, she says she's in it to win it: We're very grateful for where we're at right now," Bachmann told reporters after a recent rally in Cedar Rapids. "We think we are positioned perfectly right now." Also positioned perfectly (we hope) is the official release date of "The Madness of Michele Bachmann" - scheduled to be in bookstores December 12, 2011. Speaking of.... The brilliant, pseudonymous "Spotty" , the multi-talented doyen of the award-winning Cucking Stool blog created this wonderful promo video for the Dump Bachmann book featuring some of the clever Drinking Liberally denizens of the 331 Club: The Madness of Michele Bachmann

Bradlee Dean Sends Press Release Crowing About NY Times Article

A press release from Annandale's longhaired, tattoed, track-suited, gay-hating, teabagging, morality-mullah: OPENING MINDS, ONE SONG AT A TIME, ONE SCHOOL AT A TIME MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Conservative, hard rock drummer and preacher Bradlee Dean has spent years making local waves in Minnesota and now the New York Times has sought him out with a feature story on the front page of the New York Times Style Section, Sunday edition. Bradlee Dean is founder of the non-profit organization, You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International and has been surrounded by controversy lately due to his tough talking conservative, pro-family and pro-life message, geared for the last decade plus, at public school students – 330 schools in 22 states. With 47% of Americans considering education their highest priority (Fox News Channel Presidential debate, 9/22/11) Bradlee has taken to the streets, literally, educating and restoring American values. Kids today have un-American, unconstitutional and illegal agendas thrown at them 24/7: international baccalaureate, evolution, homosexuality, drug programs, a disdain for our forefathers, and most importantly, they have not been educated on the price of freedom. Bradlee Dean is bigger than life with a potent and timely message – HOPE and personal responsibility. Undoing the revisionist history taught in the public education system has long been an uphill battle, but he remains undeterred and he has no problem strutting the line between church and state. Dean incorporates his metal core band, Junkyard Prophet, into his program. Their latest album "The Price," has sold more than 40,000 physical units, which as an independent band, relatively unheard of in this day and age of digital downloads. His assemblies aren't without controversy, as is depicted here when a principal decided to abruptly terminate his program and had police squad cars 'escort' team Dean to the Arkansas border. Bradlee has expanded his repertoire to include a wallop packing, fast paced 5 part DVD Series, My War and a graphic novel of the same name. Even Rachel Maddow has stepped into Dean world, for which Mr. Dean and his ministry have filed a defamation and false-light lawsuit against NBC, MSNBC and the host herself regarding remarks Dean made on the radio, about Muslims who are calling for the execution of homosexuals in America. Bradlee Dean is a man with a mission and his war wages on. SOURCE You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International There's a link to the NY Times article on the Bradlee Bunch website with the following screenshot of the dead-tree edition of the NY Times with pictures of Michele Bachmann and her pastor-problem:

Bachmann Says Loss of Two Staffers is Part of Her Long-Term Plan

Des Moine Register: Council Bluffs, Ia. – Michele Bachmann said the loss of two top staffers today was a part of her presidential campaign’s long-term plan and a natural response to a new phase in the GOP race.

Happy Birthday, Ripple in Stillwater!

A year ago, ace investigative reporter and Dump Bachmann contributor Karl Bremer set up a little blogger mill along the Saint Croix River and ripped a forest of scoops into many board-feet of award-winning journalism.

As Bachmann's Campaign Sinks, She Warns "Don't Settle"

For anyone still interested, her campaign strategy:

Michele Bachmann's Response to Petition Emails About Bullying in the Schools in Her District

This was Michele Bachmann discussing a bullying bill during her time in the Minnesota Legislature: Tammy Aaberg, the mother of Justin Aaberg, a gay teen in the Anoka-Hennepin school district who committed suicide, and had been bullied in the schools delivered petitions to Michele Bachmann's Office. Now Bachmann has finally responded. From: Representative Michele Bachmann Sent: Mon, Oct 3, 2011 1:12 pm Subject: A Message from Congresswoman Bachmann October 3, 2011 Dear _____, Thank you for taking the time to express your concerns about anti-gay bullying and harassment via the CREDO Action petition. As your Representative for the 6th district of Minnesota, your views are very important to me and I appreciate hearing from you. Unquestionably, bullying is wrong. I agree that no student should feel belittled or threatened by peers at school. All human lives have undeniable value, and I urge parents, teachers, and students alike to champion this fact in our community and to address instances of bullying promptly and firmly when they occur. As one of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives representing the Anoka-Hennepin School District, I am very aware and concerned about the cases of bullying and suicides that have occurred there. In response, my office has been in communication with both school officials and with individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide. We all desire to see bullying brought to an end and the best interests of students served in our schools. Again, thank you for your commitment on this matter. I assure you I will continue to be a listening ear for any constituent wishing to express his or her view on this or any other issue. Sincerely, Michele Bachmann Member of Congress When Bachmann has been questioned about this on the campaign trail, she says this isn't a federal issue.

Andy Parrish Jumps From Michele Bachmann's Sinking Campaign

The AP reports longtime Bachmannista Andy Parrish and another staffer have quit the campaign. Parrish and her scheduler are reported to be heading back to Minnesota to Bachmann's congressional office. Andy tweeted this on September 30th: But, Saturday... a bizarre tweet: Flashback a few years... watch for the purse-holder at the end of this video:

Bachmann Boondoggle Bridge legislation up for markup in House committee October 5

Reposted from Karl Bremer's Ripple in Stillwater blog which is exactly one year old tomorrow: The markup on Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s bill to do an end-run aroundthe Wild & Scenic Rivers Act in order to build her Boondoggle Bridge across the St. Croix River is Wednesday, October 5, in the House Natural ResourcesCommittee. Bachmann’s bill, H.R. 850, is one of about 20 bills thecommittee is expected to deal with at Wednesday’s meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. CST. It will be streaming live online atthe committee’s website. Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar has introduced a Senate version of Bachmann's bill, S.1134, that was heard in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks July 28. You can use this form to send the committee your comments onBachmann’s legislation. For some ideas on where else in Minnesotawe could spend $360 million on bridge repair and replacement rather than thisBridge to Nowhere, you can start with this recent report. To discuss the issueof the precedent this bridge would set for other rivers protected under theWild & Scenic Rivers Act, check out this past article. For background onone no-cost option the city of Stillwaterand Minnesota department oftransportation have so far ignored--reducing the frequency of the bridge's lift--read this. Jim Erkel of the Minnesota Center forEnvironmental Advocacy gave an excellent presentation at a recent forum on theproposed Stillwater bridge. You canview it here. For details on a more sensible bridge proposal that costs hundreds of millions of dollars less and significantly less in environmental impact, go here. Please send your comments to members of the House NaturalResources Committee before Wednesday. Tell them this bridge is an environmentaland economic disaster that will result in a horrible precedent for thedevelopment of other protected rivers nationwide. Tell them there are far moresensible bridge solutions to crossing a protected scenic riverway than with a $680million, 65-mph freeway bridge just 6 miles from an existing eight-lane freewaybridge. Tell them this is the wrong bridge at the wrong time.

John Tevlin's Take on Mac Hammond's New Role in Michele Bachmann's Campaign

Check it out here. there is a certain inevitable synchronicity to the news that the Rev. Mac Hammond, our local televangelist from Living Word Christian Center, has joined the campaign of Michele Bachmann. So, we have a pastor who has fought with the IRS for decades, teaming up with a former IRS lawyer in a presidential campaign with an anti-tax platform. Beautiful. On the face of it, we have Bachmann's desperate attempt to solidify the far right of her evangelical base by appealing to Hammond's "prosperity gospel" followers, who espouse the religious variant of Gordon Gekko's Wall Street slogan that "Greed is good." Give your soul -- and money -- to the church and you will be rewarded. It's not just Hammond's congregation of about 9,000 she's after, but the extended prosperity gospel network, including the resources and fortunes of the godfather of the movement, Kenneth Copeland. What's in it for Hammond is less clear, except a national profile and an ability to spread his message should Bachmann turn her flailing campaign around. As he told me during his only lengthy media interview back in 2007: "Our mandate is to exercise greater influence in the community than the ungodly elements seem to exercise." But Hammond's new role, which he says is personal and apart from his pastoral role at LWCC, also comes with risks. Federal laws prohibit religious leaders from endorsing candidates from the pulpit, something Hammond did, and apologized for, in the past. In fact, one church-state watchdog group said Hammond may have already done it again by announcing his role in this campaign.

AUDIO: Bradlee Dean Offers Michele Bachmann Advice on Her Faltering Campaign

You know your campaign is in big trouble when the tattooed, tracksuit mullah of Annandale gives you advice. On the Sons of Liberty radio show Saturday (podcast here.) Bradlee Dean talked at length about last week's NY Times article in the Style section on Bradlee Dean (Bradlee liked it a lot). The audio excerpt below is Bradlee and Jake offering Bachmann advice on how to recover her lost campaign momentum. Some quotes: "Back to he New York Times piece, the article was a piece on me and Michele Bachmann in accuracy - that I know her from a handshake and that is... that's it and nothing more, nothing less. Sorry lying media." "When Michele Bachmann first started out, it was all principled, based on the truth and by the word of God and based on our Constitution. Not that anything she talks about today has changed, but I did notice that Michele is using the same talking points as other candidates are." Listen: