[Lotyqnag]

@ZIP
Totally agree with all your points except the one regarding Africa. Not to beat this to death or to pile on, but I think you are being overly generous with respect to your interpretation of her Africa remarks.

And what exactly were her Africa remarks?

Do we have an exact quote? Nope.

Do we have any context in which these remarks were made? Nope.

Do we know when these remarks were made? Nope.

All we have is a reference to an unspecified incident by an unnamed source.

[brorialsibers]

We'll have the verbatims or something close, soon enough, than we can all decide.

[Aozenee]

She has to be kidding...


http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.c...CC739C176D3675
Bachmann praises Obama's win, now
By: Daniel Libit
November 6, 2008 07:05 PM EST

After suggesting that Barack Obama had anti-American views in an exchange three weeks ago with MSNBC host Chris Matthews, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) told Politico Thursday that she was “extremely grateful that we have an African-American who has won this year.” She called his victory “a tremendous signal we sent.”

“I have not seen the United States as a racist nation,” said Bachmann, who represents Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, in the east-central part of the state. “In my district, I don’t sense racism, and that’s why I’m thankful that hopefully this will send a national signal across our country that America is not a nation made up of racists. ... On the same hand, I hope that the national media will not confuse disagreement with Obama’s policy positions with being consumed [by] racism.”

Some analysts had written off the linguistically intemperate Bachmann as a casualty of her calamitous “Hardball” interview, but she graduated to being a sophomore in the House of Representatives in Tuesday’s election.

In a telephone interview, Bachman said she was gratified that voters in her district didn’t “let the media intervene” in the race, which she ultimately won by three points over Democratic challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg. But in surveying the wreckage to her party that the election wrought, Bachmann was quick to acknowledge that, going forward, “clearly the views and opinions of conservatives won’t be prevailing.”

As she looks ahead to her next term in Congress, Bachmann, a former U.S. Treasury attorney who now sits on the Financial Services Committee, said she’s hoping for a spot on the House Ways and Means Committee, the panel charged with writing tax legislation and bills affecting Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlement programs. Minnesota Rep. Jim Ramstad, a nine-term Republican who is retiring, is currently the only Minnesotan on that committee.

“My husband and I were Joe the Plumbers,” said Bachmann, referring to the 42-employee Christian therapy business she and her husband started, as well as the ubiquitous plumber from Ohio who was elevated to the status of Everyman during the campaign. “I think my business background and tax background works very well on Ways and Means.”

Bachmann said that she had always expected her race to tighten toward the end, but she seemed willing to accept the connection between her gaffe on “Hardball” and the closeness of her race.

“My opponent did not do a stellar job fundraising,” Bachmann said, noting that it was only after her interview on MSNBC that “there was money coming from [the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee] and outside money, and that significantly impacted race.” Fundraising records show that her challenger raised more than $1.3 million in a week.

“What that did is, it opened the door for a phenomenal outpouring of negative media coverage. It was the echo chamber of the left media, and it was overwhelming, and that was difficult to overcome that level of vitriol.”

Bachmann said that aggressive Democratic organizing in her district this year, combined with the “great resources they had in trying to defeat me in ’06” made reelection a breakneck climb.

“I had laid a strong foundation,” Bachmann said, explaining how she pulled out the win. “That is something we knew all along. For two years I worked enormously hard in the district.”

“People knew that I am a serious member of Congress, that I take issues seriously, and that I worked extremely hard. ... They know I’m not a nuanced politician that waffles and changes my mind with whatever is popular at the moment.”

After raising her national profile in cable news interviews about the presidential race and energy issues, Bachmann said her primary focus going forward will be the concerns of her constituents. She said her party would have to wait to see the specifics of the Democratic agenda, then offer “positive” alternatives.

“It was a decisive win [for Democrats] on every level: presidency, House and Senate,” Bachmann said. “Even in Minnesota, we passed a state sales tax increase. That’s pretty phenomenal when you think about the difficult environment of the economy. The fact we could pass a tax increase and have such a strong Democratic showing ... it just shows what an overpowering Democratic year this was, and that’s why I feel very gratified to have survived the storm.”

A previous version of this story said that Rep. Jim Ramstad lost his seat in Tuesday’s election. He is in fact retiring.

© 2008 Capitol News Company, LLC

[yazetaw]

Even worse ^ Bachman won

“My husband and I were Joe the Plumbers,” said Bachmann, referring to the 42-employee Christian therapy business she and her husband started ... Please, someone: Drive a stake through the heart of JTP and put us all out of that misery.

(I'm confused. Does the Bachman business offer therapy to recovering Christians?)

[bs44MhUW]

After suggesting that Barack Obama had anti-American views in an exchange three weeks ago with MSNBC host Chris Matthews, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) told Politico Thursday that she was “extremely grateful that we have an African-American who has won this year.” She called his victory “a tremendous signal we sent.”

“People knew that I am a serious member of Congress, that I take issues seriously, and that I worked extremely hard. ... They know I’m not a nuanced politician that waffles and changes my mind with whatever is popular at the moment.”

Didn't she just do exactly that?

[Zhgpavye]

Sore losers (Palinistas?) :

Obama's nation has begun.

Join the (Patriotic, Resilient, Conservative) Resistence.

Welcome to Obama’s nation...

The “transformational” figure who will “change the world” is now in charge, and he’s on a mission. Emboldened by an overwhelming electoral victory and a near-supermajority in Congress, President-elect and his allies are preparing to implement his liberal, “post-American” agenda. Simply put, what President-elect Obama and the Pelosi-Reid Congress have in store has the potential to rapidly move America to the socialist Left.
1 million citizens resisting...

Who can stop the Obama agenda? Only an unprecedented idea-based Resistance from freedom-loving citizens can prevent the full implementation of Obama’s march to the Left. That’s why Grassfire.org is seeking to identify and mobilize grassroots citizens who will Join The Resistance — an alliance of patriotic, resilient and determined conservatives who will not forsake their principles. Our goal? One million citizens joining together by Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009.
The Resistance States:
As an American citizen, while I will show respect to President-elect Obama, I oppose the far-Left and socialistic elements that comprise the centerpiece of his agenda. I recognize that it will take a patriotic and resilient Citizen Resistance to block implementation of this agenda and I join with others who oppose these threats to our liberties.Items on their agenda:

Defend rights of the unborn

Reform taxes / eliminating the IRS

Uphold broadcast decency standards

Expose and defeat the ACLU

Defund Planned Parenthood
Oppose radical global warming activism

[AricGoffgog]

[raskrutkaseo]

Overview:

Grassfire.org


Stated Purpose:

Building a proactive alliance of conservative citizens who can make a difference in our nation.


Tax Status:

501(c)(4)


Political Orientation:

Republican


Profile:

Grassfire.org, an Iowa-based "alliance of conservative citizens," has disseminated messages supporting President Bush's re-election bid.1

Grassfire began a campaign of pro-Bush and anti-Kerry ads in late 2003. (2) Grassfire's first ad, in December 2003, chronicled torture of Iraqi people at the hands of Saddam Hussein, and asked viewers to tell Congress and the media that they support President Bush. The second criticized the pro-Democratic organization MoveOn.org, and urged viewers to show groups like MoveOn.org that "right-minded Americans" support the president. The third ad castigated John Kerry for voting against military spending, supporting gay rights, and opposing both tax cuts and the balanced budget amendment. (3)

The group appears to harbor particular enmity for MoveOn.org. It is sponsoring an "I support the commander in chief petition," which also declares: "I am also deeply concerned about the damaging efforts of radical leftist organizations like MoveOn.org who continue to use the media to distort and mislead the citizens of our nation—in hopes of undermining the confidence and credibility of our president." (4)

Grassfire solicits contributions on its Web site. To those who contribute $30 or more the group promises to rush a copy of "our top-selling book, 'George Bush: On God And Country.'"

Grassfire employs Shirley & Banister Public Affairs as its public relations firm. (5) That firm is headed by Craig Shirley, who was a member of the team that developed the "Willie Horton" ad in 1988. That ad blamed Gov. Michael Dukakis (D-Mass.), who was the running for president against Vice President George H.W. Bush, for a furlough program that allowed Horton to spend a weekend out of jail during which he raped a woman. (6, 7)

Currently, Shirley's firm serves as a consultant to the Republican National Committee, the National Rifle Association and the Law Enforcement Alliance of America. In 2002, Shirley served on the board of directors of the United Seniors Association. (8)

Grassfire failed to comply with Public Citizen's request to view its IRS application for exempt status within the statutorily required 30-day period. Because the organization did not return telephone calls, Public Citizen contacted Shirley & Banister in hopes the firm would help obtain the forms. The e-mail request made its way to Shirley, who copied Public Citizen in a reply to one of his staffers:

"Public Citizen is an ultra-leftist, anti-conservative, anti-Bush organization. If they bother you one more time, please advise me soonest and I will have the lawyers alert the FBI and the Virginia Attorney General's office to investigate [Public Citizen Senior Researcher Taylor] Lincoln and Public Citizen for any and all laws they may have broken and to prosecute both Mr. Lincoln and Public Citizen to the fullest extent of the law." (9)

An official from Grassfire called the next day to arrange to send the forms to send the forms to Public Citizen.

________________________

1. Grassfire.org Web site. Available at www.grassfire.org. Viewed on September 3, 2004.
2. Grassfire.org Web site. (Available at www.grassfire.org. Accessed on May 21, 2004.)
3. Grassfire.org Web site. (Available at www.grassfire.org. Accessed on May 21, 2004.)
4. Grassfire.org Web site. (Available at www.grassfire.org. Accessed on May 21, 2004.)
5. Max Pulsinelli, Shirley and Bannister Public Affairs account executive, e-mail to Public Citizen Senior Researcher Taylor Lincoln, May 18, 2004.
6. Mark Humbert, "GOP Ad Men Ready For Cuomo," Associated Press, Nov. 21, 1991.
7. Steven W. Colford, "Bill vs. Bush: How Experts Would Position Each For Victory In Fall," Advertising Age, May 18, 1992.
8. Public Citizen's analysis of data contained in the New Stealth PACs database. Data collected from groups' Web sites and annual tax forms, press reports, academic papers on activities of independent political groups and interviews by Public Citizen research staff.
9. Craig Shirley e-mail to Shirley & Banister Account Executive Max Pulsinelli and Public Citizen Senior Researcher Taylor Linoln, May 18, 2004.

Copyright © 2008 Public Citizen. All rights reserved.

[enlinnyGoob]

MoveOn.org certainly played it low-key (but effective) during this past election, which was a wise decision after having generated so much public enmity from those on the right.

[v74ClzKY]

McCain adviser ousted in conflict uproar


By BEN SMITH
5/15/08 7:56 PM EST
Updated: 5/16/08 9:39 AM EST



Photo: AP

Shirley’s firm, Shirley & Bannister Associates, was paid
more than $22,000 by McCain for work this February and
March to win conservative support.

John McCain's campaign asked a prominent Republican consultant, Craig Shirley, to leave his official campaign role Thursday after a Politico inquiry about Shirley's dual role consulting for the campaign and for an independent 527 group opposing the Democratic presidential candidates. The campaign also released a new conflict-of-interest policy barring such arrangements.

Shirley, a conservative public relations veteran, doubled as a consultant to McCain and to Stop Her Now, a 527 group barred from coordinating its activities with presidential campaigns. He is not currently on the McCain campaign’s payroll but will also step down from his role on McCain’s Virginia Leadership Team said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.

"If you're working for a 527 involved in the presidential race, you won't have a named role in our campaign,” said Rogers.

Under the new policy, a copy of which was provided to Politico, “no person with a McCain campaign title or position may participate in a 527 or other independent entity that makes public communications that support or oppose any presidential candidate.”

Shirley’s firm, Shirley & Bannister Associates, was paid more than $22,000 by McCain for work this February and March to win conservative support. Stop Her Now has paid the firm more than $155,000 since 2007 for public relations work.

Shirley said Stop Her Now wasn’t the sort of group airing hard-hitting, factually questionable attack ads that have given 527s a bad name, but rather a “lighthearted” effort.

“This is not the nether regions of 527s,” he said.

But his background is in some of the hardest-hitting Republican attacks on Democratic presidents and presidential hopefuls.

He was reportedly a member of the team that tarred Michael Dukakis with the “Willie Horton” ads in 1988. In 2004, his company did public relations work for the movie "Stolen Honor," which attacked John F. Kerry for undermining the treatment of Vietnam Veterans.

In a recent editorial, Stop Her Now’s main backer, Richard Collins, explained his recent move to change his group’s name to “Stop Him Now” and devote it to attacking Barack Obama. Collins attacked Obama’s “full-throated liberalism” and his ties to the “corrupt politics of Chicago.”

“Obama’s style may be different, but his radical agenda is just as dangerous” as Hillary Rodham Clinton’s, Collins wrote.

Shirley’s firm registered the domain name stop-him-now.com in March; it redirects browsers to the Stop Her Now site.

The website ran animated parodies of Clinton and now runs parodies of Obama, recently imagining a visit by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright to the Obama White House. Shirley’s work was to promote the website and spread the word about its other promotional activities, including airplanes trailing “Stop Her Now” banners over Democratic presidential debates.

One recent anti-Obama cartoon features an Oval Office exchange between President Obama and Wright, whom Obama summons as his “spiritual adviser.”

“How may I serve you my brother?” asks the animated Wright.

“Is love black and white?” asks the fictional Obama.

“No — it is black,” shrieks Wright.

“Really?” asks Obama.

“Goddamn right,” the minister replies.

"That's what I'd thought you'd say," says a reassured Obama.

Campaign finance experts expressed surprise that a McCain consultant would moonlight for a 527, a dual role that could trigger inquiries from the Federal Elections Commission.

“It doesn’t mean conclusively that the activity was coordinated, but it raises a facial issue regarding coordination,” said Kenneth Gross, a campaign finance lawyer at Skadden, Arps. “It’s certainly possibly that things fly under the radar screen, and I don’t want to be too harsh, but it’s certainly something the campaign should be on the lookout for.

Rogers said the campaign had not been aware of Shirley’s role.

Both Shirley and the campaign denied the 527 and the campaign had coordinated activities, and there’s no evidence that they did.

“When you involve the same people, there’s at least the risk that coordination will be found,” said Rick Hasen, a Loyola Law School professor who specializes in election law issues. “The question is why a campaign would want to run that risk — especially a campaign like McCain’s or Obama’s that tries to put itself out there as supporting campaign finance reform and opposing 527s.”

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis moved to avoid a recurrence of the situation with his conflict-of-interest policy, released late yesterday. It also sought to stem the impression that McCain’s campaign is run by lobbyists — a characterization Democrats have tried to make since it was reported that a senior adviser, Charlie Black, made lobbying calls from McCain’s signature bus, the Straight Talk Express. Davis himself is currently on leave from his lobbying and consulting firm, and the campaign removed two other officials this week for work they’d done on behalf of Burmese junta.

Davis’ directive has five points:

1. McCain aides may not be registered lobbyists or foreign agents, or make money from those practices.
2. Volunteers must disclose their status as lobbyists or foreign agents, and may not participate in making policy on the areas they lobby, or lobby McCain or his staff.
3. "No person with a McCain Campaign title or position may participate in a 527 or other independent entity that makes public communications that support or oppose any presidential candidate.”
4. No McCain campaign vendor may work with a 527 or independent group without a pre-approved legal “firewall.”
5. As McCain has said before, “anyone serving in a McCain administration must commit not to lobby the administration during his presidency.”

The memo establishes a new vetting process, requiring campaign aides to fill out a questionnaire on their status and to provide proof to the campaign legal department that they’ve terminated outside contracts.


© 2008 Capitol News Company LLC