Posted on 11/04/2009 6:37:33 PM PST by markomalley
The aide who helped turn Rep. Michele Bachmann into a controversial mainstay of cable news has informed colleagues that she’s quitting — just as the firebrand Republican congresswoman prepares for her biggest media moment yet.
Multiple sources have confirmed that Michelle Marston, a veteran Hill aide, is leaving Bachmann’s office.
In an e-mail exchange with POLITICO, Marston declined to say why she’s going.
“I’m just not talking about it, and frankly I don’t think there’s a story here,” Marston wrote. “Now, the thousands of people calling our office to tell us [they’re] coming to Capitol Hill tomorrow — that’s a story.”
Marston was referring to the prolific Bachmann’s latest political brainstorm, a “house call” on the Capitol Thursday to which she’s invited Fox News viewers and other conservatives to march with her through House office buildings, “find members of Congress, look at the whites of their eyes and say, ‘Don’t take away my health care.’”
The idea was hatched by Bachmann and a small clutch of allies at the member level, and aides say that the response to it has been so overwhelming that the conservative Republican Study Committee has been tapped to help with the arrangements for the event on the West Front of the Capitol.
The image of travel-ready conservatives flooding the hallways of the Capitol complex to confront members of Congress may not be one that Republican leaders are too keen to project.
A conservative Republican House member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested that Bachmann’s views — and her willingness to state them — make it hard for her to keep staff.
“When your captain’s crazy, it’s time to find a new ship,” the lawmaker said.
Marston replaced Bachmann’s former chief of staff, Rich Dunn, last February. She beefed up Bachmann’s outreach operations with the aim of getting her out in the public eye more often.
“She looks like the type of person who you would invite in to have a cup of coffee at your table,” Marston said at the time. “There are a lot of people who are good, smart, well-meaning, well-intentioned members of Congress, but they speak to the people like they are members of Congress. Rep. Bachmann talks to people like they are people.”
But when Bachmann infuriated liberals with the suggestion that then-Sen. Barack Obama and other Democrats in Congress held “anti-American” views, Marston acknowledged that her boss wasn’t for everyone.
“You either love Michele Bachmann or you don’t love Michele Bachmann at all,” Marston said in an interview with POLITICO last fall.
I honestly don’t think these facts, at least as in this story, tell us ANYTHING about why the staffer is leaving. She could be getting a divorce and having to uproot her home. Her husband could just have been diagnosed with cancer and she wants to have more flexibility in her schedule. She could just be tired.
Yes, she could be in some sort of difference of opinion on how to do things in Bachman’s office, but I honestly don’t see any clues in the reports so far.
I disagree respectfully.
I think you do both.
And I think the willingness of the peeps to go to D.C. is a very, very important development.
Or maybe the member is just “conservative” according to the author’s views. Or maybe he is made-up altogether.
If I understand your post, I believe you missed the point of my comment. I was referring to the "conservative Republican House member" who referred to Bachmann with the comment: “When your captain’s crazy, it’s time to find a new ship,” the lawmaker said.
They have been doing that for 40 years, ever since Goldwater. Being polite will not stop them.
Something like this will give the Democrats ammunition to use...especially if someone gets in a shouting contest with a Dem Congress-critter.
There will be Democrat congress-critters within ten mile of the Capitol on Friday. Heck, they couldn't even face a few angry voters at town hall meetings.
So by using the third person, you admit that you are not a conservative?
Freudian slip, or...?
Cheers!
In other words, a fictitious house member.
Politico has long been a leftist hit-piece machine, at least as far back as Fred Thompson and the primaries.
Cheers!
You don’t have to go so butt out!
Funny how conservative lawmakers. . . Palen and now Bachman. . . . are the target of anonymous, thinly sourced, put downs. Amazing that intrepid reporters seemingly can’t find similar anonymous put downs of Pelosi, Reid, Obama.
Don't worry Michelle, we are going to be there tomorrow in force to support you. From what I have heard from my brethren in the Northern VA Tea Party movement, the turnout tomorrow is going to be huge. See you at noon at the Capitol.
Oh, that guy. He is definitely not “one of us,” either.
Thomas Jefferson
Yep. Silently waiting for democrats to give us a turn is about as intelligent as a steer waiting for slaughter. The democrats have gone round the bend and are bent on the extinction of all future political opposition.
The pressure needs to increase steadily.
conservative Republican House member
Yeah right...Who? Dede Scozzafava?
Oh we know THAT! Which is why we are taking our party back. We told them we were coming months ago, we showed them we are coming in New Jersey, Virginia and NY - 23.And tommorrow we will show them that they are not to carry water for the Obama Junta socialization of our nation. If they continue to not listen, we will oust the lot of them.
Where do I send my resume?
You are wrong. We must keep the momentum up and strike now while the scent of victory still lingers in the air. The blue dogs and other Dems fearful of being reelected must understand that we will not relent or stand down or rest on our laurels. Pelosi wants to put ObamaCare up for a vote on Friday. We must let them know that the people are still angry and watching and will hold them accountable. 912 was the opening salvo, not a one shot affair.
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