Unfortunately, it was the conservative woman taking down the conservative woman. Michele owns her own missteps here.
What politician doesn't misstep?
It is a fact that Perry used an executive order to pass this, bypassing the legislature.
It is a fact that Perry wishes he had done it differently.
It is a fact that the government was trying to have some involvement in people's private medical decisions.
It is also a fact that this was not a true mandate, because people could opt out. So Bachmann did misstep when she characterized this as a mandate.
Normally, a politician missteps and then carries on. But the media (and some Republicans) smell blood and are trying to take Bachmann down over an issue in which I think she was more right than wrong -- and I would say that Perry was more wrong than right. I'm not against Perry, I am merely unhappy that people are using this to justify their disapproval of Bachmann.