Upon meeting Marcus, Michele was inspired to join the pro-life movement, opposing abortion and abortion providers. The Bachmanns prayed outside of abortion clinics, and counseled those considering abortion on other options. At that time, Michele and Marcus were working with and supporting Jimmy Carter, who went on to become a Democratic president. The Bachmanns became disenchanted with Carter over his support for legalized abortion, and they went on to vote for and later work for President Ronald Reagan. Mrs. Bachman gained attention from the media in 1991, when the couple took part in a protest of the appropriation of $3 million for a new morgue at a local hospital that performed abortions. Michele Bachman at the time made statements to the Star Tribune which brought her some notoriety.
In view of her strong views regarding abortion and the sanctity of life, it isn’t surprising that Rep. Bachmann became somewhat entangled when the Chris Wallace interview took a turn in that direction. Wallace brought up the fact that earlier that week, Bachmann had called Mitt Romney to task for saying he, Romney, would not sign a pledge on abortion. Wallace quoted Bachmann: "This is not the time for the Republican Party to up a candidate who is weak on the pro-life issue or has a history of flip-flopping over it."
Wallace asked, “Question: Mitt Romney is weak on pro-life?”
Bachmann: Well, President Romney — not "President Romney..."
Wallace: Governor Romney.
Bachmann: Governor Romney had a history of varying his position on this issue. I think, clearly, we need a candidate who is pro-life. That's reflective of our party. It's reflective of my position throughout my life.
Wallace: And Mitt Romney is not?
Bachmann: Mitt Romney; Mitt Romney has to say what he is. But I will say that if he is saying now that he is pro-life, this was a tremendous opportunity for him to demonstrate that by signing the Susan B. Anthony pledge. And I think it's disappointing that he didn't.
Chris Wallace didn’t hold back on disclosing concerns about the Bachmann Clinic. He was debating the Bachmann claim to being a “fiscal hawk.” In Wallace’s words, “The Los Angeles Times has a story out today that says for all your talk of being a fiscal hawk, that, in fact, you have gone after federal and government — excuse me, state government money over the years, both personally and professionally…A counseling clinic — excuse me, run by your husband got almost $30,000 in state federal funds. A farm, in which you are a partner, got almost $260,000 in federal subsidies. And over the years, you sought more than $60 million in the state earmarks and more than $3.7 million in federal earmarks. Question: that's a fiscal hawk?”
Article comments
1 - Steve
Wallace was pretty tough on her and insulted her with the Flake question. I like her better than Palin although Palin is probably more popular at this time with voters.
2 - Tommy Mack
When the editor Weekly Standard says her position on the debt ceiling is silly and irresponsible, the word hubris comes to mind.
Tommy
3 - Baronius
Reporters are trying to get the candidates to attack each other (mostly, to attack Romney), but there's very little of it happening so far.
4 - Diana Hartman
"The Bachmanns now have 23 or more young people, teenaged girls, living as foster children in their home in Stillwater, Minnesota."
This statement isn't true.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services licensed Bachmann for foster care in 1992, a license she held for 7.5 years until 2000. She was allowed three children at a time for a total of 23 children. All of them arrived as teenagers. The last one arrived in 1998
5 - Baronius
Diana - Yeah, that sounds more reasonable.
6 - Glenn Contrarian
Hey, guess what? Ms. Bachmann now says that the Founding Fathers "worked tirelessly to end slavery."
She also said that John Quincy Adams, who was a small boy during the Revolutionary War and did indeed eventually work to abolish slavery, should be counted as a “Founding Father.”
Of course, not long after all this took place, Ms. Bachmann's "fans" decided to start editing the Wikipedia's entries on the founding fathers and on John Quincy Adams to reflect her particular version of history.
Interestingly enough, the same fans decided to change John Wayne's birthplace from Winterset, Iowa, to Waterloo, Iowa. Why? Because Ms. Bachmann told a Fox News reporter that she was proud to be in the town where John Wayne was from, because she embodies his ideals. Problem is, John Wayne was not born in Waterloo...
...but "Killer Clown" serial killer John Wayne Gacy was.
Yes, this is the same Michele Bachmann who is now running second behind yawner Mitt Romney...and who is considered by many pundits to be the most likely GOP presidential candidate for 2012. Woo-hoo!