2012 contender Bachmann seeks to broaden appeal

[onehandle]

Source: AP

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Pigeonholed as a right-wing disciple, Michele Bachmann is offering herself as a presidential candidate who can unite the GOP's disparate base and appeal to Republicans of all ideological stripes. "Fiscal conservatives — I'm one of those. National security conservatives — I'm one of those. Social conservatives — I'm one of those. And the tea party — I'm one of those," the Minnesota congresswoman said repeatedly in South Carolina this past week.

The line, now standard fare as she visits early primary states, provides a window into her strategy of selling herself as more than just a social conservative crusader. Bachmann's ability to overtake rivals Mitt Romney and Rick Perry in the GOP nomination contest may depend on whether she can attract support beyond her core evangelical and tea party constituencies, which gravitate toward her strong stances on cultural issues.

But this year, economic concerns clearly rate above many others with most voters. If she wins the party nod, she will have to court moderates and independents as well as conservatives. Throughout her political career, Bachmann has fiercely guarded and worked to bolster her social conservative reputation.

She has had a 100 percent rating from the influential American Conservative Union during her nearly five years in Congress, based on her voting record. Over the past few years, she rode the wave of the rising tea party and used her frequent TV appearances to stoke a national image as a favorite of the right. As a candidate, Bachmann isn't eager to revisit her past controversial statements even though Democratic and Republican rivals alike use them to paint her as a fringe Republican in the race to challenge President Barack Obama.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/2012-contender-bachmann-seeks-broaden-appeal-132145424.html

---

[Marie Marie]

1. Now there is one crazy, scary, hot mess.

Can't wait for the Republican establishment to throw her under her own fancy bus. Paging: Karl Rove

[lumpy]

30. The Bachmann article pic would be great for an anti-Bachmann

ad. It ain't purdy.

[hlthe2b]

2. Well, she's surely got the "insane" base

Heaven help us if we have that many "crazies" out there that would get her within striking distance of the WH. Geebus

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. Politically insane base is not enough - even in the GOP

You also have to appeal to the nincompoops.

[BiggJawn]

4. "Christian Recontructionist New Apostolic Reformation Dominionist? I'm one of those!"

"7 Mountains whack-a-doodle? Yep, I'm one of those..."

"Religious nut who supports killing homos in Uganda? I'm one of those..."

"Bug-fuck insane? I'm one of those!"

Hey, this is kind of fun...

[Trajan]

5. +1000

[libmom74]

6. LOL

Queen of the Batshit Crazy!

[AndyTiedye]

10. It's All Fun and Games Until the Teabaggers Steal the Election For Her

They control 27 states with 270 electoral votes, so ANY Republican might get elected if they're determined to steal it. Yes, even her. :hide:

[Kennah]

13. Star Fleet ultimately defeats The Dominion

[onehandle]

22. Yesterday I noticed that Amazon Prime just started streaming Deep Space Nine.

All seven seasons.

My productivity has gone down to zero.

[AndyTiedye]

25. The Good Guys Always Win in the Movies

In real life, not so much.

[Kennah]

7. The eyes! Again with the eyes! WTF is it with the eyes!?

[No Elephants]

8. One of Jon Stewart's rare errors: finding a pic of Michele looking crazy is not as hard as he said.

[Prophet 451]

17. Telltale sign of mental illness

Mentally ill people either get these hundred-yard-stare dead eyes (like me) or they get hyperactive, crazy energy eyes like her.

[Javaman]

28. Charles Manson it famous...

michelle continues the tradition.

[AndyTiedye]

31. Those Indicate Her Origin at a Certain Factory in Stepford

[struggle4progress]

9. oh yeah! everybody's gonna want miz teaparty in the oval office holding the nuclear codes!

yeah! yeah! yeah!

:rofl:

[AndyTiedye]

11. What Everybody Wants Doesn't Necessarily Matter

They control enough states to steal the election.

[struggle4progress]

12. Not for Bachmann, I think. And if you really believe they'll try to pull another 2000-style coup,

then you should start organizing against it NOW

I expected the 2000 election to be decided by the House of Representatives: it was obviously going to be very close. I don't think they'll dare try such a coup again, if facing a well-organized public

[AndyTiedye]

32. I Think "Mad Cowboy" is More Likely than "Mad Eyes"

…but whoever they nominate will have the the results heavily tilted in their favor. We need to win by a landslide or they will steal the election.

then you should start organizing against it NOW

I have no idea how, particularly since most of the mischief is occurring halfway across the country.
I certainly don't have the "people skills" to parachute into some place where the culture is totally different and I know nobody,
and to instantly start organizing people. I'm more of a geek. I'm the guy you'd put on the debug console of the voting machine
to try to figure out what they've done to it.

I don't think they'll dare try such a coup again, if facing a well-organized public

But the public isn't organized, and they wouldn't have any motivation to organize against the stealing of an election until after that election has been stolen.
Then it's too late.

[harun]

14. Exactly, this isn't your grandfather's "Democracy" anymore.

[Owlet]

19. Which 27 states would those be? (NT)

[LynneSin]

37. Remember this is a woman who obeys whatever orders her husband gives her

which to me is even more frightening. She is the one running for president NOT her husband!

[treestar]

15. Yet another photo in which she looks insane

the eyes give it away.

WTF is wrong with the voters who sent her to the House?

[Javaman]

29. she looks like a crazy clown...

if she had on any more foundation, I would say she was wearing a mask.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Fiscal conservatives don't vote to default, Bachmann

She's a fiscal vandal.

[no_hypocrisy]

18. Does Bachmann intend to simultaneously run for re-election of her congressional seat

next year?

[Thor_MN]

21. She has until next June or July to decide

She can withdraw from the seeking the presidency and run for Congress as long as she does it soon enough. Can't remember the exact date and hope she doesn't either. Minnesota is better for losing one of it's loons that decided to fly towards DC, Pawlenty. Hopefully, we can get rid of our craziest loon the same way.

[struggle4progress]

26. What prevents her from both running for Congress and running for President?

McCain didn't resign his Senate seat to run in 2008
Biden ran for both Senate and VP in 2008
Kerry didn't resign his Senate seat to run in 2004
Lieberman ran for both Senate and VP in 2000

[COLGATE4]

20. Obviously the shit doesn't fall far from the bat.

[sofa king]

23. I've found a leaked memo....

[cstanleytech]

24. I dont know about the rest of you here but she can broaden here appeal with me

...............she just has to immigrate to another country and her appeal to me will broaden greatly.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

27. Batshit crazy? There's an app for that.

[0rganism]

33. "unite the GOP's disparate base"? WTF?

:wtf: Who wrote this schlock?

The GOP base is composed almost entirely of authoritarian followers who believe damn near anything they're told by Faux, with numerous corporate oligarchs tossed in for flavor and funding. Making a big deal about uniting it is like trying really really hard to mix salt and water.

[and-justice-for-all]

34. She must be reaching out to the Taliban...nt

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LynneSin]

36. Maybe if she gave herself a lobotomy she could improve her appeal

it could only help!