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Michele Bachmann's First Big Mistake - Hiring Ed Rollins (Update: Ed double-downs on Palin again)
Legal insurrection ^ | Tuesday June 7, 2011 | William Jacobson

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.


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: 2012; bachmann; bachmannimplosion; palin; quittermeme; rollins4romney; romneydirtytrick; romneyspew; sarahpalin
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To: Bigtigermike

He went on Chrissie’s show?

Wow, what a fatal cut to Palin that will be. It means both of Matthews’ viewers saw it!

heh


101 posted on 06/08/2011 3:52:29 AM PDT by Daisyjane69 (Michael Reagan: "Welcome back, Dad, even if you're wearing a dress and bearing children this time)
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To: Bigtigermike

Backmann just lost the nomination this week.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

Her (only) possible way out of what will be a historic collapse of support, at this point will be to publicly chastise Rollins and fire him.

Not accept his resignation.

Say it in public. “you’re fired, this is not how I do business”.

Ms. Bachmann, wake up. You are way, way off course.


102 posted on 06/08/2011 3:59:28 AM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (BUY AMERICAN. The job you save will be your son's, or your daughter's)
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To: Bigtigermike

Michelle I love both you and Sarah,but if this is your first and Most important Hire and your Strategy then GOOD BYE. FIRE THIS HACK,DONT DO THIS! Period


103 posted on 06/08/2011 4:20:56 AM PDT by ballplayer
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To: Bigtigermike

“The Empire Strikes Back!!!

I seriously doubt Michele appreciated what was transpiring when Ed Rollins “appeared” to “run” her campaign.


104 posted on 06/08/2011 4:23:42 AM PDT by mo ("If you understand, no explanation is needed; if you do not, no explanation is possible")
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To: Bigtigermike

If Bachmann doesn’t know that she needs to apologize publicly, as that’s how the remarks were made, then she’s not ready for the Presidency.


105 posted on 06/08/2011 4:44:08 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (America! The wolves are at your door! How will you answer the knock?)
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