Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann (1956-) is a Republican U.S. Representative from the state of Minnesota), first elected in 2006 and quickly rising to national prominence.

2008 Campaign

During the 2008 campaign, on October 17, she suggested, on MSNBC, that that being liberal was "anti-American," and, according to many listeners, implied this to Barack Obama; Bachmann said that the media should investigate members of Congress to see if they were "pro-American" or 'anti-American." Colin Powell said that he had endorsed Obama, in part, due to comments such as hers, which he regarded as needlessly divisive.

A week later, she said "I did not say that Barack Obama was anti-American, nor do I believe Barack Obama is anti-American. He loves his country, just as everyone in this room does...Nor did I call for an investigation of members of Congress for their pro-American or anti-American views. That is not what I said."

Positions

Religion and politics

At the present time, a number of political analysts see Bachmann and Sarah Palin as strongly attractive to the more conservative wing of the U.S. Republican Party, both being charismatic women who appeal to strong emotion in the political "base". Some note that on the other end of the political spectrum, Nancy Pelosi also appeals to the base, although she has much more actual political power; while Barack Obama is certainly liberal, he positions himself more centrally than Pelosi.

Bachmann ran for Congress after six years as one of the most socially conservative members of the Minnesota state senate. She is a member of the Republican Study Committee, the House conservative caucus.

In 2006, she appeared with George W. Bush, accepting his endorsement

Education

Before she held elective office, in 1993, she helped to start a Stillwater, Minneapolis, charter school that ran afoul of many parents and the local school board due to conflicts over church-state separation but receiving public funds. "After Bachmann and company were driven out of that venture, she became a prolific speaker and writer on the evils of public education in the years leading up to her failed school board run. By all accounts, she made herself into a formidable presence. "She's articulate, attractive, and speaks passionately," says Mary Cecconi, who spent eight years on the Stillwater School Board. "Actually, she is ferocious."

"On the stump in 2006, Bachmann still calls education reform one of her "number one priority" issues, along with tax reform and homeland security." Her critics, including non-evangelical Republican, mention religious conservative think tank called EdWatch, and contend that none of her five children has attended public school.

Recent activity

On November 5, she held a rally at the U.S. Capitol, formally directed at rejecting the health care bill to be voted on, in the House. House minority leader John Boehner, appearing on the platform said "This bill is the greatest threat to freedom that I have seen," (R-Ohio). Rep. Todd Akin (R-Missouri ) asked for the Pledge of Allegiance because "it drives the liberals crazy" to hear the "under God" part.