Does Michele Bachmann 'Walk the Talk?'

It’s common these days to hear media talking heads refer to Michele Bachmann as the “Tea Party favorite” in the upcoming 2012 GOP primary race. Unlike Governor Palin who has always stated that the Tea Party doesn’t need one specific leader, Bachmann has tried to cast herself into such a role. She created a “Tea Party Caucus” in congress and gave the “Tea Party response” following Obama’s State of the Union Address last January.

The Tea Party is comprised mainly of independent-minded small government activists who are sick and tired of the way Washington is operating. These are people who are fed up with DC insiders cutting deals with officials at the expense of this country’s future. A bloated, centralized system of government with too many payouts has spawned the biggest grassroots movement in recent history. A person who professes to speak for such a group of patriots at the highest level had better “walk the talk.”

While Bachmann may talk a good game, her actions are leaving many with questions that she has yet to adequately answer. Steve Bannon discussed one of these questions during a recent interview with PV Radio that Ian posted on Friday, concerning her family receiving large sums in Medicaid payments for their clinics.

“And I think quite frankly, she’s got to learn to answer questions. Like Chris Wallace asked a very straightforward question, she had every opportunity to explain this. And she gave quite frankly, an unacceptable answer. The answer was very misleading. And that’s just not going to wash, particularly if you want to hold the banner of the Tea Party, you’ve got to almost be a purist. That means, if you believe in limited government, then you’ve really got to believe in limited government. You can’t talk about limited government and take the benefits from the large state.“

Despite being an unlicensed “therapist” practicing a controversial form of counseling, Marcus Bachmann received more than $137,000 in Medicaid payments for his clinics in Minnesota. According to Michael Isikoff:

Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., has forcefully denounced the Medicaid program for swelling the “welfare rolls.”

The amount is a much higher than the previously reported sum of $24,000 that she answered for during that interview with Chris Wallace. Isikoff writes:

The previously unreported payments are on top of the $24,000 in federal and state funds that Bachmann & Associates, the clinic founded by Marcus Bachmann, a clinical therapist, received in recent years under a state grant to train its employees, state records show. The figures were provided to NBC News in response to a Freedom of Information request.

The $161,000 in payments from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to her husband’s clinic appear to contradict some of Michelle Bachmann’s public accounts this week when she was first asked about the extent to which her family has benefited from government aid. Contacted this afternoon, Alice Stewart, a spokeswoman for Bachmann, said the congresswoman was doing campaign events and was not immediately available for comment.

Questions about the Bachmann family’s receipt of government funds arose this week after a Los Angeles Times story reported that a family farm in which Michelle Bachmann is a partner had received nearly $260,000 in federal farm subsidies.

When asked by anchor Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” about the story’s assertion that her husband’s counseling clinic had also gotten federal and state funds, Bachmann replied that it was “one-time training money that came from the federal government. And it certainly didn’t help our clinic.”

At another point, she said, “My husband and I did not get the money,” adding that it was “mental health training money that went to the employees.”

But state records show that Bachmann & Associates has been collecting payments under the Minnesota’s Medicaid program every year for the past six years. Karen Smigielski, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services, said the state’s Medicaid program is funded “about 50-50″ with federal and state monies. The funds to Bachmann & Associates are for the treatment of low-income mentally ill patients and are based on a “fee for service” basis, meaning the clinic was reimbursed by Medicaid for the services it provided.

By stating that the payments were a “one-time” payment, Michele Bachmann was dishonest with the audience. She was clearly trying to downplay the issue, perhaps knowing that it hurts her credibility with that large group of grassroots conservatives across the country that she seeks support from.

Medicaid payments to her husbands business isn’t the only issue the congresswoman is going to face tough questions about. Michele Bachmann waves the Gadsden flag and calls herself an “outsider,” yet she hired many DC “insiders” to run her campaign. She came under some heat for hiring Ed Rollins, but most of those criticisms died down when her people had stated that Bachmann forced Rollins to apologize to Palin’s staff. I never saw any press accounts one way or the other whether Rollins actually apologized, or if those where just more empty words from Team Bachmann. Perhaps someone in the press will look into that one day.

Steve Bannon was right when he spoke about holding the banner of the Tea Party. The people within the movement won’t allow politicians to use their cause to simply advance themselves. They are aware and educated activists who are not easily fooled. When an elected official stands with them and speaks their language, they had better back it up with their actions.

I've never seen people so paranoid over someone who supposedly is no threat to Palin. I see posts that so and so won't support Bachmann because of her ineffectual leadership of the tea party caucus, then others who slam her for (in their minds) trying to cast herself as the leader of the tea party by creating the tea party caucus. Palin Derangement Syndrome indeed.

"I see posts that so and so won't support Bachmann because of her ineffectual leadership of the tea party caucus, then others who slam her for (in their minds) trying to cast herself as the leader of the tea party by creating the tea party caucus."

Pure lunacy. BTW, she has repeatedly credited whatever success the Tea Party Caucus might have in pressuring the GOP to hold the line to the larger Tea Party movement. As for the impression being given of "casting" oneself as the leader leader of the Tea Party movement, here is an article from last year by the Tea Party Patriots: http://www.teapartypatriots.org/BlogPostView.aspx?id=2d180076-dcee-4106-8aca-8991b2722fa1 They are a loose coalition of about 2500 - 3000 local groups and are by far the biggest group to bear the name. They took issue with Sarah being portrayed as the Tea Party leader after scoring a hefty sum to speak at a Tea Party convention:

"Palin’s contract, according to Shreeve, who had a look at it, called for her to be paid $100,000 for the event. It also included $18,000 for private jet travel for her and her entourage."

Oh Boohoo!!! Reagans 11th commandment is all you people can spew in defence of Bachman and her weak WEAK resume. When her having ZERO executive experience comes up its “What about Reagans 11th?” IT IS ISSUE’S THAT MATTER BECAUSE THIS COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER AMATEUR, SAY ONE THING AND DO ANOTHER, LEARN ON THE JOB PRESIDENT!! Ive said it before, “Grow a pair and man up or GET OUT OF THE GAME!! Some of us are serious about saving this country and we WILL NOT have ANOTHER unvetted candidate! If you dont like that, you had better stock up on tissues because its going to be a long looong year or so for you crybabies!!

Reagans 11th commandment is all you people can spew in defence of Bachman and her weak WEAK resume.

I think that is fair game, just it is fair game to ask how Presidential it is to go camping with Kate Gosselin and her eight kids on a reality TV show.

Claiming Bachmann has sold out to Romney, is a RINO or part of the establishment are absurd lies told by those that have no morals or ethics.

That is THE MOST IDIOTIC comparison I believe I have EVER heard!

Only idiotic completely out of touch with reality. Yes, quitting as governor to rake in millions and star in reality shows with Kate Plus Eight IS going to be narrative Obama uses against Palin if she is the nominee. The race won't be about his record but about portraying Palin as a money-hungry quitter that left when the going got tough.

That makes her just as vulnerable, if not more so, than Bachmann.

Keep believing that B.S. At least you have the lefties talking points down. You sound as ignorant as they do. If you had done just a small hint of research on Palin you would know those lefty talking points wont hold water. You would rather jump on board with the candidate with the WEAKEST resume out there because she talks a good game rather than do a little “vetting” of your own to find the BEST candidate to lead us out of this mess we are in. Cry foul all you want, but its people like you who will give Obama another four years by nominating a WEAK, UNEXPERIENCED candidate like Bachman.

So let me see if I understand this, Bachmann is a liar and on welfare because her husbands clinic accepts medicaid? She is also on welfare and a hypocrite because a farm that she has some ownership of receives farm subsidies, just like every other farm?

No, there's quite likely logical and acceptable answers to the questions raised. The problem is that Bachmann hasn't provided those answers yet and has come across as evasive. She needs to answer the questions directly to put the issues to rest.

For example, on the Medicare issue, it might (as an example... I'm not saying this is actually the case) be because some government regulation or other required the practice to accept Medicare. That's a reasonable answer, and if that were indeed the case, just pointing it out (and optionally, going off on a rant about the effects of such regulations) would be the end of it.

You sound as ignorant as they do.

No, those claiming Rick Perry has been bad for Texas when Texas has the best job growth, by far, in the nation and one of the best economic growth rates is the one that is ignorant and spewing liberal talking points.

Cry foul all you want, but its people like you who will give Obama another four years by nominating a WEAK, UNEXPERIENCED candidate like Bachman.

It's disingenuous argument. You're the one attacking the best potential candidate with a chance of winning by spewing lies about him -- Rick Perry. Perry has an economic record to run on that guarantees victory against Obama barring a dramatic economic turnaround.

Meanwhile, you're embracing a candidate that the highest negatives of any candidate expect, perhaps, Newt Gingrich, and does the worst of any candidate in head-to-head polling with Obama.

LOL.... Rino`suck was trying to persuade everybody here for the last 6 weeks or so that Palin is his favorite/first choice. That`s what he has been telling me, now he admits finally by referring to Gov Palin as “your candidate” that he has been lying all along.

The guy is an impostor

First you say Palin is your first choice, then it was Bachmann, now it is Perry

Who is it that you are really working for??

Who is it that you are really working for??

I guess I am a lot like JimRob, who sees hope for Bachmann, Palin and Perry.

Bachmann is the best candidate in the race right now. Perry is the most electable candidate with a record to run that would crush Obama.

I guess that sort of reasoning goes over the head of a zombie that would rather see Obama reelected if candidate doesn't run or win the nomination.

If Perry is a RINO and a lousy candidate, explain to us why Sarah Palin would give a ringing endorsement of him on multiple occasions:

MAY 31, 2011 .... Palin plugs Perry: "I really like him" .... Unprompted, Sarah Palin brought up Rick Perry's name yesterday as a strong presidential candidate. "I think he would be a fine candidate.... we have a lot in common. I really like him.

Governor Sarah Palin's Endorsement of Governor Rick Perry

"That's why I am supporting Governor Rick Perry for re-election. He does what is right regardless of whether it is popular. He walks the walk of a true conservative. And he sticks to his guns – and you know how I feel about guns!" ...... Sarah Palin, January 17, 2009

I would NOT be so presumptuous to say that I was like JimRob, as you have claimed for yourself. Perhaps if he took a real close look at both of our posting history`s, he might toss us both..who knows?

But I can tell you what he would not find! He would not find one unkind word about Gov Palin from any of my posts, I adore her!

You on the other hand have repeatedly trashed Sarah, her children, and everything they take part in.

Last I heard this was still Palin Country, if you have a link for me that says otherwise, lets see it.

You on the other hand have repeatedly trashed Sarah, her children, and everything they take part in.

Wrong. I go after her certain supporters of hers, ones that embarrass her, that feel the need to spew hatred and lies about other conservative candidates.

You have a lot of gall complaining about attacks on conservative candidates when you spend most of your time here spewing the most vile lies about Michele Bachmann. If you don't like criticism, grow up and stop launching unprovoked attacks against conservative candidates.

I have attacked ONE CANDIDATE and ONE only...Michele Bachmann in my opinion has disqualified herself by attacking Gov Palin by way of Ed Rollins, and then not apologizing.

I am honest about it, not hiding anything, I do not respect Bachmann.

A look into your history by anybody that is interested, shows you repeatedly trashing very good long time posters here...NOT SPEAKING OF MYSELF, talking of highly respected posters here.

You are just constantly fighting with Palin supporters, I could mention several of their names but would be inappropriate...Lets just say that 1 of them works very closely with the big guy and is a woman, a very high profile, long term fantastic leader here..not going to mention her name.. the list is long.

Maybe we ought to just avoid each other

There you go, spewing those lefty talking points. Perry will give this country over to illegals just like he has Texas. You can spew all you want about Perry, but you cant tell me Im not seeing what I see when I walk out my front door. Ive watched him operate for years as a conservative ONLY AT ELECTION TIME! Texans have lost their state and nothing short of a war will free it from the hispanics who are swiftly taking it over, thanks to politicians like Rino Rick Perry and voters like you who cant pull their heads out of their asses long enough to let reality slap them in the face. One day you will wake up but it will be too late. Just as the socialist liberals are now deeply embedded in our gov. while people where sounding the alarm and no one cared, now it may be to late to dig them out and turn this country around.

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