Posted on 06/07/2011 5:54:01 PM PDT by Bigtigermike
Not surprisingly, Bachmann has come under the same types of snide attack as Sarah Palin from the mainstream media, entertainment industry and left-blogosphere. There is a special place reserved for conservative women in the Democratic toolkit of mockery and derision.
But Bachmann just made a big mistake. I'll repeat what I wrote when Mike Huckabee was considering whether to run again with Ed Rollins as his campaign manager:
Run, don't walk, away from Ed Rollins and the others who think that demeaning Sarah Palin is the best way to advance your campaign.
Sure enough, Rollins having just been hired by Bachmann, is at it again (via Ben Smith):
Michele Bachmann's new top consultant, Ed Rollins, began his tenure with scathing criticism of potential Bachmann rival Sarah Palin. "Sarah has not been serious over the last couple of years," Rollins told Brian Kilmeade on his radio show, Kilmeade and Friends. "She got the Vice Presidential thing handed to her, she didn't go to work in the sense of trying to gain more substance, she gave up her governorship."
He suggested that the contrast would favor Bachmann.
"Michele Bachmann and others [have] worked hard, she has been a leader of the Tea Party which is a very important element here, she has been an attorney, she has done important things with family values."
"She is probably the best communicator [in the GOP field] now that Mike Huckabee's not in there," he said.
Rollins has long been skeptical of Palin, but his new role with Bachmann suggests that criticism will become part of her campaign, though she has publicly praised the former Alaska governor
Michele Bachmann's new top consultant, Ed Rollins, began his tenure with scathing criticism of potential Bachmann rival Sarah Palin.
Hiring Rollins was a mistake. In order to have a chance, you will have to unite the non-establishment wing of the party behind you, and you lose a big chunk of that base when your campaign spokesman trashes Palin.
Additionally, the Democrats and their supporters are going to Palinize you, and already have started. Having your campaign spokesman engage in the same sort of rhetoric against Palin simply legitimizes the tactic, and will hurt your campaign.
Please take advice from someone who likes you. Dump Rollins overboard now, before it's too late.
Update: Ed Rollins is on the Chris Matthews show as this update is being written, and is going out of his way to belittle Palin, including saying that Palin ""doesn't matter if she doesn't run." Rollins also jumped on the Paul Revere controversy. According to Rollins, Palin "has the movie star quality but it doesn't go very far."
Hiring Rollins is an enormous mistake for Bachmann. It could be campaign killing. The people who hate Palin are the same people who hate Bachmann, and no amount of trashing of Palin by Rollins will change that. Bachmann needs to focus on building, not tearing down.
Mrs. Bachmann supposedly hired this goon for Iowa. Heck, she may not make it to Iowa.
I just found her email. I’m on her Twitter list. Earlier I replied to her latest tweet about Freddie and Fannie. I asked her why her new campaign mgr Rollins is trashing Sarah. I stated that it was bad move and she’s only hurting herself.
Ron Paul’s last moneybomb 2 days ago was Ron Paul vs Romneycare - that should give you an idea who Ron Paul dislikes.
Ed Rollins is liberal garbage!
“....knowing that one of her best friends backstabs her like this....”
Sarah actually went out of her way to CAMPAIGN for Bachmann.
I guess Jesus would be disappointed in me; but if I were Palin, that would put the cherry on top of it for me! That scathing attack from Bachmann’s “senior advisor” is not mendable or reconcileable! M. Bachmann and Ed Rollins could both go pound sand if it were up to me!
And it makes me laugh to see people get disappointed by the likes of Bachmann. It's like I always say, if you're disappointed, that just means your expectations were too high. And yet I'm called a cynic. You cannot be too cynical when it comes to politics. It's not possible. It's POLITICS, for crying out loud. Cynicism goes with politics like salt on a pretzel.
or
Website: bachmann.house.gov
You attack Palin you lose 50% of the GOP base, minimum.
Doesn't matter whether she runs or not the emotions do run that deep.
For those candidates, politicians and operatives who don't understand this maxim...they were not smart enough to be in the party anyway.
Backstabbing &*$%#*(*()&&: "I love you, Mitt.
I'll hire Rollins for you.
We will attack (Gov.) Palin (who helped me) for you."
I believe this shows very poor judgement...Ed Rollins was a CNN republican...that alone should have told her....
His attacking Sarah will hurt Michele
Me too. I have gone from “generally positive attitude” towards her to “generally negative attitude” towards her, and it is entirely based upon Rollins’ comments.
There’s a phone number for Bachmann campaign headquarters’ answering machine on the other Ed Rollins thread. I just told Michelle what I thought. Call her and let her know what you think.
651-260-4648
I agree 100%, the passion of defending Palin runs deep like one would defend ones own sister or mother or wife! It doesn’t matter what some may feel about what Palins role should be in the future, a lot of people respect her deeply and a attack against her is an attack against them!
Bachman should know better. Even Ross Perot fired Rollins.
Bachmann has done a handful of questionable things ever since last November’s election, but it was easy to overlook them, since she still seemed to be a scrappy fighter, going after Obama. But this Ed Rollins hire is just too much to stomach. The guy has been a longstanding dirtbag for ages, and, of all things, on his first day he makes it a priority to go around the media outlets to slime not Obama, but Palin. Reflects horribly on Bachman, quite frankly. I’ve lost a TON of respect for her.
Nice graphic, but I’ve written her off.
Mine 3....I didn’t think she was ready for prime time...but i was rooting for her just in case she had the right stuff....Looks like her ego got the best of her..or worse..the elitist RINO establishment did...
So who's really the "brilliant" political strategist? Here you have a supposedly seasoned political operative, and what does he do. He attacks someone who is not a declared candidate, who again - is supposed to be dumb and a quitter rather than build up his candidate. They know that Palin is a force to be reckoned with.
So who's really the "brilliant" political strategist? Here you have a supposedly seasoned political operative, and what does he do. He attacks someone who is not a declared candidate, who again - is supposed to be dumb and a quitter rather than build up his candidate. They know that Palin is a force to be reckoned with.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.