Michele Bachmann Says She’s More Conservative Than Newt, Talks Iowa Strategy
Michele Bachmann, also known as “Bible Spice” among liberals, doesn’t flirt with the center when talking politics.
As the country becomes more polarized and middle ground gets harder to find politically, Bachmann is happy to be as far right as she possibly can be. Case in point on last night’s Fox News show the O’Reilly Factor, Bachmann spoke to host Bill O’Reilly about how much more conservative she is than arch-conservative Newt Gingrich. Bachmann pegs Gingrich and Libertarian Ron Paul as her most fierce competition in the lead up to the 2012 campaign, and lists off a whole set of points supporting her contention she out-conservatives Newt.
Bachmann managed to shoehorn her denial of climate change, opposition to health care reform and unwillingness to be cordial to Democrats into one crazy soundbite. She rages:
“Of course because Newt Gingrich wants to legalize 11 million workers. That’s not what conservatives want. He is for the $700 billion TARP bailout. I’m not. He was the originator of the backbone of Obama care. I brought 40,000 people to Washington to fight against Obama care. He sat on the couch with Nancy Pelosi and it’s all over global warming and I have been fighting it and fighting on every front. So there is no question.”
O’Reilly, for his part, agrees with Bachmann that illegal immigration is an issue that should be dealt with, and pointedly asks her how she plans to round up and deport people in a reasonable way. Bachmann deflects, mentioning “consequences” and saying that 50% of Mexicans have moved “north of the border,” but failing to back up her talking points with facts and or actions. The discussion of how to deal with immigration culminated here between O’Reilly and Bachmann:
O’REILLY: I’m not justifying it I’m just saying on human basis, I don’t think it… theory is one thing. Dragging people out, putting them on a bus with their children crying is going to be quite something else.
BACHMANN: It can be done. That’s the thing. It can be done and
O’REILLY: It can be done but at what cost?
BACHMANN: It’s… but you know what it’s time we start acting like a first world nation and enforce our laws. Other nations enforce laws. Let’s do it.
O’REILLY: All right but you’re taking a very tough stance in a human way.
BACHMANN: It’s time… it’s time we do take a tough stance. But I’m a compassionate person but we have to get tough on illegal immigration. It’s hurting a lot of people.
At that point, the conversation turned on a dime to Bachmann’s prom experience. Do you think Michele Bachmann has the leadership skills to back up her talking points, or is she just pandering to Fox News viewers?
