West Palm Beach, FL, July 31, 2011—Michele Bachmann scares me. Experts suggest fear results from failing to understand, fear of the unknown, and that could explain my issues. Because I don’t understand Ms. Bachmann at all.
We are millions and millions of miles apart in our world views.
Former Minnesota Congressman Vin Weber said Michele Bachmann has sex appeal. Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn. I want a president who is smart, kind, independent, and strong, but who can work with others, form coalitions and is fair. Yep, in my president, I want it all.
Ms. Bachmann’s now infamous confusion over geography was splashed all over the media. For those of you who didn’t hear about it, during her campaign stop in New Hampshire, she said, "It's your state that fired the shot that was heard around the world!" Then she added, "You are the state of Lexington and Concord, you started the battle for liberty right here in your backyard."
At least she didn’t say anything about the New Hampshire Red Sox.
Aside from the giggling glee it granted us, her statement is also incredibly troubling and raises questions about both Ms. Bachmann and her campaign. Did she not know that Lexington and Concord are in Massachusetts? Did her staff not know? Did she not read the speech before she delivered it? While her misstatement was not life or policy threatening, it does raise some real questions about whether this is who we want as our president.
A particular brand of conservative, evangelical Christian religion is a guiding principal in Michele Bachmann’s life. I respect religion and faith and spirituality, but cannot abide hate and exclusion, whether it's evoked in the name of God or Allah or Buddah or Shiva or anything or anyone else. It’s not ok with me. America is a democracy of majority rule but minority rights.
This great country includes a multitude of different types of people, and we need a president who can at least demonstrate tolerance. Unfortunately, Michele Bachmann lacks what I call the tolerance tendency. She first made a name for herself by virulently opposing gay marriage. An interesting side note to her view on marriage is that her step-sister, Helen LaFave, is a lesbian.
Ms. Bachmann also recently signed “The Marriage Vow,” penned by Iowa conservative Bob Vander Plaats. The somewhat bizarre document not only opposes same sex marriage, but also supports federal restrictions on divorce and firing military officers who place women in forward combat roles.
Two fascinating quotes from the document are "recognition of the overwhelming statistical evidence that married people enjoy better health, better sex, longer lives, [and] greater financial stability” and "recognition that robust childbearing and reproduction is beneficial to U.S. demographic, economic, strategic and actuarial health and security."
What are we to do with a candidate like Michelle Bachmann? (Image Associated Press)
Mrs. Bachmann also dislikes, to say the least, followers of Shariah Law, the religious law of Islam. As a legislator, Mrs. Bachmann endorsed a proposal to forbid anyone who espoused or supported Shariah law from immigrating to the U.S.
The press has highlighted Ms. Bachmann’s statements about her relationship with her husband, Marcus. She has publicly stated that, as the Bible requires, she is subservient to her husband in all things.
In a 2006 speech at the Living Word Christian Center, Ms. Bachmann talked about her husband. After graduating from law school, she says, “My husband said, ‘Now you need to go and get a post-doctorate degree in tax law.’ Tax law! I hate taxes—why should I go and do something like that? But the Lord says be submissive. Wives, you are to be submissive to your husbands.”
Huh? Submissive? An adjective meaning: meekly obedient or passive. Subservient? Again an adjective: 1. serving or acting in a subordinate capacity; subordinate. 2. servile; excessively submissive; obsequious: subservient persons; subservient conduct. Again, huh?
People in relationships compromise and collaborate and even sometimes give in. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be in a relationship. But subservient and submissive? It makes me itch thinking about the term. I don’t think I would like it even if someone was “subservient” to me. That said, one of the wonderful tenents of this country is that we all have the right to believe whatever we want, and I do respect beliefs even, if they are different from my own.
But what does that mean for a president? This country has reacted negatively when First Ladies have stepped out of their roles as White House hostesses into the policy realm. How will we react if a First Gentleman is calling the shots?
I will not vote for Michele Bachmann. She raises my hackles and makes my hair stand on end and, no, I don’t understand her.
And yet…
I have a dirty little secret. There is a small part of my brain that hopes she at least stays in the race to the end. Not only does Michele Bachmann raise the credibility of candidates whose only qualification is knowing that Pierre is the capital of South Dakota, she is also fascinating to watch. In a train wreck way. You try not to watch, but you can’t take your eyes off her.
The other reason to like her is the incredible fodder she brings. Every day, every campaign stop, there is a new twist, a new faux pas. Even watching the press try to decide whether discussing her appearance is sexist or how to refer to her husband is fun. For journalists, she is a windfall, full of opportunity.
Ultimately, I have faith that Michele Bachmann will fade from public view, except for appearances in Saturday Night Live skits, as she loses her shiny newness and more qualified candidates bubble to the top. I have faith we will ultimately choose a better candidate to run our country.
And if not, we will have four full years of entertaining adventure to dull the pain of a Bachmann presidency.
Read more by Lisa at Life with Lisa at The Washington Times Communities.
Lisa has an undergraduate degree in International Relations from George Mason University and a graduate degree in Foreign Affairs from The University of Virginia. She spent 11 years as an analyst with the federal government. She is part owner of a research and analysis company, C2 Research, LLC, which specializes in complex research and analysis. Lisa is also a freelance writer, contributing to Donne Tempo Magazine.
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