Posted on 09/14/2011 6:05:05 AM PDT by freespirited
Up to now I’ve thought Michele Bachman was the most impressive performer in the GOP field, going toe-to-toe with the “big boys” in the field, out-arguing them on several occasions, and introducing serious constitutional arguments that the rest of the field (even Perry) are too timid to attempt. She’s right to go after Rick Perry on the issue of mandating the use of the Gardisil vaccine, along with the issue of “crony capitalism,” both of which get at the issue of a potential president’s sense of the reach and limits of state power. Perry is a mixed bag on this (as is Romney obviously) and he should be pressed hard to explain himself and refine his views.
But her embrace of the wacko idea that the vaccine is dangerous or causes autism, mental retardation, or other risks is simply irresponsible. Is Bachman, Glenn Reynolds quipped, trying to go after the Jenny McCarthy vote? (Glenn also links to Jonathan Adler’s quick take on this, which is the same as mine.)
Bachman passed along with complete credulity the claim of someone who she says came up to her after the debate attributing her child’s mental issues to the vaccine. I’ve heard a few people speculate darkly about whether such a person actually exists, or whether Bachman made it up or is trimming a bit from something she was told another time. You’d think our inquisitive news media would find this person and investigate, or that the person would now step forward (or that other people with similar claims would now step forward). Above all, this is a political mistake as well as a scientific one, as it has shifted the focus from Perry’s use of power to Bachmann’s scientific credibility—a lose-lose for everyone.
Which raises the last point. NBC Nightly News last night went to some trouble to attack Bachman’s views on the Gardisil vaccine. Fine; but why doesn’t NBC or the other major media perform the same service when anti-vaccine quackery comes from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or Jenny McCarthy? No mystery here.
Guess what? Teens have sex. Even conservative teens. They make mistakes. I know it’s hard to believe but it’s true.
“Mark my words: the GOP and the media will winnow the field of canddiates one by one —”
Paul will always be out there. He’s not doing to this to get into the WH and there will always be a significant number of crazies who go for him.
You’re being realistic. Jesus is not going to show up so we must choose a flawed human being. We go for the best we can get—no one is perfect.
“Its depressing to see that all of these people who weren’t supporting Bachmann before have decided to continue not supporting her.”
Big difference between not supporting Michele vs being anti Michele. She just turned a lot of people against her.
How is that in any way relevant to my post?
I understand you don’t like her, but there’s no need to campaign here.
Your fixation on the sex lives of other people’s children is weird.
>> I’m afraid conservatives will just not accept a woman candidate. <<
Nonsense. If a woman with the intellectual seriousness, political sophistication and natural poise of a Lady Thatcher should enter the GOP fray, she’d win hands down.
Jeanne Kirkpatrick is dead, and Lynne Cheney is now too old. Sarah Palin is not a serious person, as witnessed by her quitting the Alaska gov’s job for reality TV stardom. And Michelle Bachmann has now proven herself to be a (Jenny) McCarthyite demagogue.
That doesn’t leave us much to choose from. But in 2020, when Pres. Romney steps down from his 2nd term, GOP nominee Rubio might select Nikki Haley as his VP running mate. In other words, there’s light at the end of the decade!
Good, you can have him.
If you really think this is the only example of Perry’s corrupt cronyism, you’re dumber than your posts here at FR. There is a BIG difference between being ‘not perfect’ and being a corrupt bastard.
Do you really think Convergen isn’t going to come out? Thrombovision? The entire Emerging Technology Fund being used to funnel money to Perry contributers?
These things will not stand national scrutiny.
>> Obama’s incompetence as an excuse for Bachmann <<
Good point. Too many posters here and on other Bachmann-related threads seem to think that “two wrongs” can “make a right.”
Which again helps Romney. If it comes down to Perry v. Romney it’s Perry in a heartbeat.
Weak.
Bachmann isn’t ready for primetime. She makes a nice Rep, but that’s the Peter Principle for you.
Palin’s in the same boat. They’ll both be good conservative voices, but they’re out, not for their sex, but for what they lack in standing, seriousness and experience.
Almost right. When th eissue of the EO was being fought out in the press and legislature, Perry said some very emotional things to defend the EO and avoid legislative action. But, some time after that he acknowledged that the EO was a mistake and that he should have gone to the legislature.
I don’t support government mandating any vaccine - including MMR, etc. because of parental rights, but I don’t believe that Bachmann really takes that position. I think it was just an opportunistic attack on Perry. I don’t expect the R candidates to be as conservative as I am, but I don’t like Bachmann’s pettiness on this one. I hope this was a one-off episode for her.
We don’t want someone who is entrenched in politics, but we want someone with experience.
Weak, yourself. Sarah’s an amazing woman. If you can’t see that, I kinda feel sorry for you.
Whoa! I’m new to Perry and these stories are leaking out all over the place. What the heck is Thrombovision?!
As you said, the national media is NOT going to suppress this stuff.
Yep, that's just exactly what I'm itching to get a bit more of back in the White House. I can never get enough of it! :)
I agree about Bachmann. She had to make a splash and she used this issue. The Gardasil issue is the most tempting of the Perry scandals (there are many more) because it's so blatant and has so many different facets. There's something in it to tick off just about every kind of voter.
The Thrombovision scandal, which is very similar to what happened at Solyndra, is just not as red meat as an issue involving cronyism AND nanny statism all wrapped in one. But it's an example of shocking political arrogance from Perry yet again.
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