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Bachmann: ‘The People’ Don’t Care That I Called For McCarthyite Investigation Into ‘Anti-American’ Liberals

On Oct. 17, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) appeared on MSNBC’s Hardball and called for a McCarthyite investigation into the “anti-American” activities of liberals: “I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out, are they pro-America or anti-America?”

Yesterday in a Minnesota Public Radio debate, Bachmann dismissed the significance of her remarks, saying that no one in the state even cares:

BACHMANN: Well Gary, that is not an issue that has been a part of the campaign, and it’s not a part of the campaign, and it’s not what people are interested in. If they were, that’s something we’d be talking about. But it isn’t what people have been asking me about. More than anything, they’re nervous about their pocketbook —

Q: Nobody is concerned about your comments on Hardball?

BACHMANN: Not when I’ve been out. … The only people who bring that up are the media. It’s not the people.

Listen here:

Unfortunately for Bachmann, Minnesotans were paying close attention to her comments and strongly disapproved. According to a recent MPR poll, nearly four in 10 voters said that were less likely to support Bachmann after her comments on Hardball; just 8 percent said they were more likely. Additionally, letters to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune were overwhelmingly against Bachmann:

The newspaper received more than 150 letters on Bachmann’s statement, only two of which took the congresswoman’s side. John M. Huberty of Elk River asked, “I, for one, would like to know exactly how one qualifies as anti-American in her eyes.” St. Louis Park Mayor Jeff Jacobs wrote, “Democracy depends on people who have the courage to stand up [and be critical]; for it is only from the crucible of disagreement among Americans that the best decisions are made.” “The only thing that needs to be investigated is Ms. Bachmann’s sanity,” according to Mike Gibson of Seattle. And Norman Korn of Eden Prairie wrote, “The ghost of Joe McCarthy is back and representing the Sixth District of Minnesota. Have you no sense of decency, ma’am?”

Her Democratic opponent, Elwyn Tinklenberg, said that he raised $620,000 in donations within five days of Bachmann’s gaffe.

Transcript:

Q: Do you think that the media should be investigating Barack Obama and members of Congress for their possible anti-American views?

BACHMANN: You know, Gary, that is not what I said in recent remarks. And the number one thing that people have been concerned about when they talk to me when I’m all over the district campaigning, has been on the bailout. That’s their main concern. They’re very upset about the bailout —

Q: We’ll talk about the bailout, but —

BACHMANN — and they thank me over and over again for that.

Q: But in terms of that particular issue, do you think the media should investigate Barack Obama and members of Congress for their possible anti-American views?

BACHMANN: Well Gary, that is not an issue that has been a part of the campaign, and it’s not a part of the campaign, and it’s not what people are interested in. If they were, that’s something we’d be talking about. But it isn’t what people have been asking me about. More than anything, they’re nervous about their pocketbook —

Q: Nobody is concerned about your comments on Hardball?

BACHMANN: Not when I’ve been out. I’m going to a Chamber luncheon afterward. I’ve been to more Chamber luncheons this last week. I’ve been out yesterday in an energy forum roundtable. I’ve been out in St. Cloud for various meetings. The only people who bring that up are the media. It’s not the people.

6:00 — Anti-American remarks — no one cares9:00 — Says she has a reputation for working across the aisle20:00 — Bachmann running away from Bush — What happened to the kiss?

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Money going toward her opponent: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/10/22/Bachmann_admits_Obama_misstatement/UPI-82231224703239/

Topic of the day: Bachmann’s remarks had readers’ keyboards smokingThe hot topic for Star Tribune letter writers this weekend was Sixth District U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann’s appearance…www.startribune.com