In the wake of yet another history gaffe by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) -- in prepared remarks, she placed the first battle of the American Revolution which occurred at Lexington and Concorde in New Hampshire (not MA) -- MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell asked if this was the result of Bachmann's incompetent staff or what. He said he really didn't know the answer.
I may have an answer to your question, Lawrence.
First, let's start with the vid from MSNBC to refresh your memories.
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In yesterday's Minneapolis Star Tribune, Kevin Diaz wrote a front page article entitled "Brand Bachmann." Sadly, the made this a premium story so you can't read it unless your a dead tree subscriber or want to pay them money to see it.
Aside from finally correctly analyzing Bachmann's lying, conspiracy theorizing and constant gaffes, Diaz interviewed her former Chief of Staff.
- Critics say that Bachmann's shoot-from-the-lip style and her propensity to keep her own counsel have led to a growing pile of headline-inducing exaggerations and misstatements.
(No link available, premium content at the Strib)
And then the Baghdad Bob of Minnesota politics, former MN GOP Chair Ron Carey, provides some amazing honest sounding insight. Carey was her Chief of Staff for a while (he's currently on Pawlenty's 2012 Prez team so he may have ulterior motives) so he's our best source for first hand material on this:
- "It was a challenge, and still is, to keep her facts totally correct," said Carey, who served as Bachmann's top aide for six months. Carey, who now supports Pawlenty for president, says that he and others on her congressional staff would sometimes work overtime to clean up her inaccuracies, which he attributes to a thirst for attention, a fast pace and a "swashbuckling" style that sometimes ignores advice.