Guess what Salon Magazine (more precisely Alex Pareene) found on Michele Bachmann’s website? Her must read list. Guess what book Bachman recommends to the American people? A biography of Robert E. Lee by J. Steven Wilkins. In case you are wondering who Wilkins is read his own words from his book for yourself:
“Slavery, as it operated in the pervasively Christian society which was the old South, was not an adversarial relationship founded upon racial animosity. In fact, it bred on the whole, not contempt, but, over time, mutual respect. This produced a mutual esteem of the sort that always results when men give themselves to a common cause. The credit for this startling reality must go to the Christian faith. . . . The unity and companionship that existed between the races in the South prior to the war was the fruit of a common faith.” (http://www.salon.com/...)
So there you have it folks. Michele Bachmann is asking you to read the work of an apologist for slavery.
Hence, here are a few questions I would like to ask Michele Bachmann:
In recommending the work of an apologist for the slave-holding South, do you believe that slavery was not a moral failure on the part of the U.S.?
In recommending the work of an apologist for the slave-holding South, do you believe that Robert E. Lee should have won the civil war i.e., should the South have emerged victorious?
In recommending the work of an apologist for the slave-holding South, do you believe the South had a right to secede from the U.S.?
In recommending the work of an apologist for the slave-holding South, do you believe your faith permits the ownership of human beings?
Salon Magazine reporter Alex Pareene also reports that after being questioned about the book, Bachman’s campaign removed the recommendation from her website and refused to answer queries regarding the recommendation.
So I urge all Kos readers to contact Bachmann and/or her campaign committee and ask her or them about it. I guarantee we will have some fun.