One DFLer has declared her candidacy for the nomination to run against Michelle Bachmann in the newly redrawn 6th District. Bachmann greeted the news by putting out a request for “emergency contributions” to help her fend off a challenge from Occupy Wall Street-ism with its “lazy handout culture” that would “fundamentally transform the America we know and love into [a] socialist haven.”
For your dining and dancing pleasure, I’ll append the text of the urgent fund-raising email at the bottom of this post, after just a brief scene-setter:
The redistricting map was a bit of a good news-bad news joke for Bachmann, but the good was better than the bad news was bad. The bad news was that her Stillwater home was redistricted into a DFL dominated district, dominated by St. Paul and its immediate suburbs, represented by Democrat Betty McCollum. McCollum will seek and be favored to win re-election. But the good news for Bachmann is that the new Sixth District, which contains most of Bachmann’s current constituents, is a considerably more Repub-friendly district – so much so that Bachmann is expected to easily win re-election in November and doesn’t even have to move into the district to do so. (Turns out, there is no legal requirement for a congressman or woman to live in the district they represent.)
In her three previous congressional races, Bachmann had faced DFLers who were believed to have some chance of beating her, although none of them did. The new district makes Bachmann safer.
The one DFLer who has so far indicated she will run is Ann Nolan of St. Cloud, an attorney who has twice run unsuccessfully for the Legislature. You never know, but her entry is unlikely to put Bachmann onto the national race-watchers list of endangered incumbents.
In her introductory interview with the St. Cloud Times, Nolan said she has been inspired by Occupy Wall Street and sees the campaign as a “real opportunity for a candidate to raise the economic issues that the Occupy movement is talking about.” This is not a line that a professional messaging specialist would have recommended for use in that particular district. But it’s a free country.
And it was also a free shot for Bachmann, whose fund-raising email went thus:
Dear [Bachmann Supporter],
Just hours ago, press reports broke the news that a self-identified Occupy
Wall Street supporter and ‘community activist’ will challenge me for
reelection to Congress. Announcing her candidacy, my opponent claimed she
was inspired to challenge me by Occupy Wall Street. Do you really need to
know any more?For the past six years, I’ve represented Minnesota’s sixth district,
fighting for the principles and values that you and I both share:
individual liberty, personal responsibility, and a government that spends
less than it takes in. By touting the values of Occupy Wall Street, my
opponent clearly favors the opposite: a lazy handout culture where big
government is king. This is the America that the left seeks to impose on
the American people, but it is a fate that I refuse to accept.That’s why I’m asking for your immediate assistance in making an emergency
contribution to help me defend against my Occupy Wall Street opponent of
$25, $50, $100, or any amount up to the legal limit
($2,500).The threat that Occupy Wall Street poses to our conservative values this
November cannot be overstated. With President Obama as their cheerleader,
the left will spend millions between now and November to re-elect him and
replace conservatives like me with Occupy-branded liberals who will cheer
at every big-government Obama initiative. For them, this is their last
chance to fundamentally transform the America we know and love into their
own socialist haven, and I know you won’t stand for it.In the months ahead, my campaign to represent our values in the United
States Congress will not be easy. In addition to the attacks from Occupy
Wall Street, just weeks ago, a Minnesota court arbitrarily drew my home out
of the district where I have raised my family and represented in Congress
for the past six years.This means I will now have the challenge of communicating with tens of
thousands of new voters — even as Democrats like my opponent lie and
mischaracterize my record — and I’m depending on you to provide the
resources necessary to make that happen.Will you make an emergency contribution to my campaign today and ensure
that your voice for our conservative values continues on in the United
States Congress?While my opponent embraces her Occupy Wall Street roots, I’m proud to be
running on my conservative record. Our country can’t afford the dangerous
policies advocated by Occupy liberals and, with you by my side, we’ll
ensure that they don’t get anywhere near Washington, DC.Thank you for your continued support and prayers. It truly means the world
to me.Sincerely,
Michele Bachmann
PS. The end of the financial quarter is fast approaching and, with an
Occupy Wall Street member now running against me, the media will use the
numbers that we report as an indicator of our strength as a campaign. Will
you please make an immediate emergency contribution of $25, $50, $100, or
any amount up to the legal limit ($2,500) to show our campaign has the
momentum to win?
Wasn’t she the person that was running for President of Iowa?
What’s she doing back here?
Government handouts
Of course the Bachmannns have never accepted any …. 😉
Going after Occupy-Wall-Street-ism
I have no problem with Mrs. Bachmann running for Congress in a district in which she doesn’t live. It’s perfectly legal, and others have done it. In fact, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Chip Cravaack end up as a legal resident of New Hampshire. If the people in the 8th District like him enough to elect him, even if he decides to live 1,000 miles away, that’s their choice.
The fund-raising letter, however, is something else.
It’s not necessary for her opponent(s) to lie and “mischaracterize” Mrs. Bachmann’s record to make her appear to be the neighborhood crazy lady. Her record – legislatively, largely nonexistent, save the new St. Croix bridge, which would surely be criticized as “pork” if it had been sponsored by a Democrat – and her public statements speak for themselves, and show a woman who might be a loving foster Mom, but who otherwise is the one more often doing the lying and mischaracterization. The attacker is busily characterizing herself as the victim, which simply illustrates the point.
Unfortunately, Ms. Nolan’s politically naive approach is making it easier for Mrs. Bachmann – who keeps reminding us that she is “not a politician” – to return to the House of Representatives for her f-o-u-r-t-h term. As long as residents of the 6th District are content to be represented in Congress by a Sarah Palin clone – that is, an embarrassment who hasn’t done much, and who doesn’t know much – then that’s probably what they’ll get.
Cravaack’s NH problem is that, while you don’t have to be a resident of your district, you DO have to be a resident of the state the district is in.
Bachmann and “Socialism”
I know that the word “Socialism” has been thrown out there by Bachmann and others on the Right, however, I really don’t think they understand the true meaning of the word “Socialism” or perhaps they don’t feel the need to understand the word. Come up with a ‘dirty’ word or catchphrase and let the uninformed run with it. Nothing that I’ve seen from President Obama or anyone in power in our Government has even come close to passing mandates that would classify as “Socialism”. I’m sure that all Socialist around the world are laughing at a select few Americans who are screaming “SOCIALIST!” at our current Administration.
Socialism
Is a term for a political system that is based on state ownership of ALL property — there is no private ownership. Even China and Cuba don’t come close (in North Korea there’s nothing worth owning; their system is better termed ‘incompetence’).
In the United States, it has become a less polite synonym for ‘my worthy opponent’.
Socialism
I believe you’re talking about the communist nations that control almost all private enterprise. In the democratic socialist countries of Western Europe and other areas, private enterprise is allowed and encouraged. An example of this that locals can relate to is Ikea Corporation, a Swedish firm.
Socialism in the modern context
is government usurping a marketplace, like health insurance for example, dictating what the product will look like, and then mandating that all the people buy it. The key being forcing all people to participate *whether they need it or not.*
Some people would consider any government-mandated collectivism, like participating in social security, as socialism but since some people are allowed to opt out, it’s debatable whether it’s pure socialism although rich people get a social security check whether they need it or not.
The fact that you SAY
something is socialism doesn’t make it so.
Dang, I wish Betty would come out and say that
“Nolan said she has been inspired by Occupy Wall Street and sees the campaign as a “real opportunity for a candidate to raise the economic issues that the Occupy movement is talking about.”
My bad…
Thanks, David. Of course you have to live in the state, even if not the district. Brain cramp after reading about the dire fiscal emergency Mrs. Bachmann is suffering from. Apologies to all.
OK, I’m confused…
….Crazy Mickey sez because she wants to fight the “lazy handout culture”, she wants people to simply give her up to $2,500 for absolutely nothing in return.
Carpetbagging candidates.
I know, Rep. Bachmann doesn’t have to live in the 6th District in order to run for re-election. But at least her former opponent had the decency to move to Duluth when she decided to go after Cravaak’s seat.
Carpetbagging
Never heard of anyone that changes as much as Tarryl. She lost big time to Bachmann and moves to an easier place where she runs third in her own party. And because of that, she is going to ram it down the party’s throat and force a primary because she is going to lose big time in the DFL endorsement. Bachmann didn’t move, though most of her district remained the same.
Too much paranoia
“my opponent claimed”
I don’t believe we’re past the filing period yet and we’re a long way from endorsement. It’s a little early to think this person will be the ultimate Democratic party candidate. I should file just to see if I can get my name in a Bachmann fundraising letter. I’d frame it and show it to all my friends.