Rep. Bachmann Defies Conservative Tide With Strong Opposition To Govt. Shutdown

Michele Bachmann ^ | 4-5-11 | Frances Martel

[Mozilla]

With the government shutdown looming and Republicans looking increasingly obstinate before it, Rep. Michele Bachmann has staked her place squarely against it. In an interview with CNN’s John King tonight, Rep. Bachmann reiterated her promise to donate money to the troops should their salaries fall victim and pleaded with her colleagues to avoid the worst case scenario.

King opened up the interview by asking Rep. Bachmann whether, as many have speculated, it is the Tea Party caucus that has Rep. John Boehner and the Republican leadership “in a straitjacket” over spending. “The House Republicans have bent over backwards to assure there is not a government shutdown,” Rep. Bachmann argued, then focusing on the individual issues at stake when discussing a shutdown rather than the proposition itself: “I think that we should have a clean bill that makes sure that the paychecks get to the troops on time” separate from the budget bill.

While she did not directly make any defiant statements towards the Republican leadership, her emphasis on moving away from a shutdown rang slightly awry from the rhetoric of many conservative pundits who have no real stake in a government shutdown, like Fox News’ Sarah Palin, who repeatedly tweeted in favor of a government shutdown today.

For most of the interview she kept the message on the future of the military, as troops would be the first to see their salaries halted. Confirming her Twitter statement earlier today that she would donate her salary to a military nonprofit should a shutdown occur.

Instead, she argued, “we need to have the fight on Obamacare.” So no, this is not a sign that Rep. Bachmann has gone “soft”– she still very much opposes Obamacare and called it a central issue for 2012 and for the path to stabilizing the budget.

[Mozilla]

She said similar stuff on Greta tonight as well which angered Dick Morris who favors a shutdown because Republicans might cave in on promises to pass this budget if any agreement is reached. Bachmann says the better budget to argue over cuts is the one for next year introduced by Senator Paul Ryan. As such Bachmann wants a agreement, but will still vote against the bill because it won't defund Obamacare and will stop pay for troops. She thinks shutting down the government will hurt the GOP and tea party plans. But if it happens she will demand she doesn't get paid until Military troops get paid.

Dick Morris was angry because he wants a shutdown if Republicans don't meet at least the 60 Billion in cuts they wanted originally and do what they said in the plan they touted last fall.

SOme Democrat on after Dick said that they wanted a budget last fall, but there wasn't enough votes. Because these goofs wanted to win re-election. I say we are headed to shutdown. Any bill passing the house gets shot down in the Senate and vice versa.

[Huck]

As such Bachmann wants a agreement, but will still vote against the bill

Huh?

[max americana]

I trust a rogue Bachmann than a rogue Republican AKA RINO.

[Mozilla]

Well that is what she said. She will be a no vote because the bill won’t fund Obamacare, but she is optimistically rooting for a compromise.

[gov_bean_ counter]

She played legislator not leader on Greta. Donating her salary to the military is a meaningless political gesture. Just more pandering from a presidential wannabe.

[sickoflibs]

HMMM, Dick Morris, Michelle Bachmann... who is on the firing line? Who is the conservative?

Her stating she wants a shutdown publically would be dooming the whole fight as Newt did in 1995 when he later caved and gave Clinton what everything asked for. Bachmann is smarter than she is given credit for.

[DeskCaptain]

Bachmann is correct. If you control only part of the government, you won’t get everything you want. Hence the compromise.

[sickoflibs]

Same subject and my comment at:#6

[P-Marlowe]

She’s talking out of both sides of her mouth. I’m really starting to disappointed in her statements. “ I was for the shutdown before I was against it. Or was it that I was against it before I was for it. Tell me Greta, what do you think my position is?”

[MichaelCorleone]

-—...whether, as many have speculated, it is the Tea Party caucus that has Rep. John Boehner and the Republican leadership “in a straitjacket” over spending.-—

Notice how it is assumed (probably correctly for most of the Dems and RINO’s) that politicians don’t do their own thinking; how they never take a course of action simply it’s the right thing for the country?

What twisted thinking!

[jeltz25]

I thought she’s against funding Obamacare so shouldn’t she vote yes if it doesn;t? Wouldn’t the no vote be if it did fund Obamacare? That was a bit confusing.

I understand the need for compromise and the potential backlash of a shutdown. But, if the GOP can’t get more than 30B or so in cuts now, what makes them think they’ll do any better with the next budget in the fall?

Ryan’s budget calls for 180B less than Obama’s for FY2012. So, someone needs to tell me how if we can’t even get 30B now, we’re going to get anywhere near 180B less in the fall?

At some point you do have to take a stand. I don’t know if this is the best time, it’s difficult. If we fold on this, though, there’s no way things will get any better as Obama and the dems will know they have our number and that Boehner can’t deliver. They’ll have called the bluff.

[SeaHawkFan]

Bachmann is correct. If you control only part of the government, you won’t get everything you want. Hence the compromise.

When you control the part of the government that controls spending, you control everything; but only if you are willing and courageous enough to use that power.

[tsowellfan]

When you control the part of the government that controls spending, you control everything; but only if you are willing and courageous enough to use that power.

Exactly! We'd still be in Vietnam today if it was another way.

[ladyjane]

I don’t know if this is the best time

If not now, when?

I'm disgusted by all of them in Washington.

Not one of them is able to even say we should stop welfare to illegals. Not one.

They're lined up at the trough. They (and their families) are getting theirs.

[ejdrapes]

When did Bachmann ever say she supported a government shutdown?

[ejdrapes]

She said she would vote against any bill that does not defund Obamacare. But she also said Congress should pass a clean bill just to fund the troops.

[ejdrapes]

She said she would vote against any bill that does not defund Obamacare. But she also said Congress should pass a clean bill just to fund the troops.

[cookcounty]

"“I think that we should have a clean bill that makes sure that the paychecks get to the troops on time” separate from the budget bill. "

I agree. Pay for the troops should be held separate.

Then we can have an argument over Margaret Sanger and her NeoNazis later.

[ejdrapes]

It's not meaningless. Conger should not be paid if the military is not getting paid. I'm glad she's willing to give up her salary.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Go spit in the ocean and see how much the tide rises. Political gesture akin to more legislator pandering.