As we all watch the 2012 Republican presidential nomination fight unfold, whatever you do, don't underestimate Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). Or to quote a former half-witted President, don't "misunderestimate" her.
While lack of tact, facts and the ability to speak the English language undermined Sarah Palin's bid, Bachmann's history, constitutional and economic gaffes haven't slowed her down a jot.
While a horrid state of the union response doomed Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindahl's hopes for higher office, Bachmann's psychotic-looking Tea Party response into the wrong camera didn't phase her.
She was unable to doom her own reelection effort in 2008 by going on Hardball with Chris Matthews and claiming Obama and members of Congress were "Anti-America."
If you look through my Michele Bachmann Bizarro World, you will find countless embarrassments and controversies.
Not even proof that her husband Marcus' clinic performs Cure the Gayness therapy will slow her down.
But why?
The secret lies in the way she has built her base.
She wasn't thrust upon the scene like Sarah Palin.
She wasn't hoping to parlay her Tea Party state of union address into a possible run for President.
Her constant media appearance have steadily raised her profile. Her team of staffers are relentless in building her email and contacts list. This little vignant encapulates why nothing has been able to stop her so far:
- Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a Tea Party favourite, rallied the thousands of conservatives who gathered for the opening day of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC on Thursday. A natural cheerleader, she addressed the essentially white upper-middle-class crowd as "an exciting group of people" composed of "problem-solvers". She even complimented CPAC attendees on their physical appearance: "You are all incredibly good-looking," she said. And she promised to pick up the bar tab for the 11,000 attendees at "5.30 pm this evening".
[my emphasis]
(guardian.co.uk)
The reason that anyone is taking this liar, kook and bigot seriously -- the reason pundits are not dismissing her presidential bid immediately -- is her organizing abilities. Unlike Sarah Palin who has exploited her sudden fame, Bachmann's built up her support the hard way. No gaffe, debunked lie or controversy will sway her supporters.
Here's what happened when two MPR reporters went to the Marriott:
- After being given a room number, Mark and I searched the winding halls of Washington's Marriott Wardman Park hotel looking for Bachmann's event. Instead of coming across an open bar, we found ourselves in a cramped hallway filled hundreds of young students who make up a large number of the CPAC attendees.
Bachmann staff members asked them to line up and were handing out forms for each to fill out. From a glance at a distance, the forms included information about where the attendees go to school and their email addresses.
After waiting in line, the students were herded into a small room, crowded with more Bachmann staff, photographers and the Congresswoman herself. Each person got a quick photo-op with Bachmann and was then handed a baseball jersey that said "Bachmann 12" on the back, and a free drink voucher good at the Marriott's lobby bar.