Posted on 11/04/2009 6:37:33 PM PST by markomalley
The aide who helped turn Rep. Michele Bachmann into a controversial mainstay of cable news has informed colleagues that she’s quitting — just as the firebrand Republican congresswoman prepares for her biggest media moment yet.
Multiple sources have confirmed that Michelle Marston, a veteran Hill aide, is leaving Bachmann’s office.
In an e-mail exchange with POLITICO, Marston declined to say why she’s going.
“I’m just not talking about it, and frankly I don’t think there’s a story here,” Marston wrote. “Now, the thousands of people calling our office to tell us [they’re] coming to Capitol Hill tomorrow — that’s a story.”
Marston was referring to the prolific Bachmann’s latest political brainstorm, a “house call” on the Capitol Thursday to which she’s invited Fox News viewers and other conservatives to march with her through House office buildings, “find members of Congress, look at the whites of their eyes and say, ‘Don’t take away my health care.’”
The idea was hatched by Bachmann and a small clutch of allies at the member level, and aides say that the response to it has been so overwhelming that the conservative Republican Study Committee has been tapped to help with the arrangements for the event on the West Front of the Capitol.
The image of travel-ready conservatives flooding the hallways of the Capitol complex to confront members of Congress may not be one that Republican leaders are too keen to project.
A conservative Republican House member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested that Bachmann’s views — and her willingness to state them — make it hard for her to keep staff.
“When your captain’s crazy, it’s time to find a new ship,” the lawmaker said.
Marston replaced Bachmann’s former chief of staff, Rich Dunn, last February. She beefed up Bachmann’s outreach operations with the aim of getting her out in the public eye more often.
“She looks like the type of person who you would invite in to have a cup of coffee at your table,” Marston said at the time. “There are a lot of people who are good, smart, well-meaning, well-intentioned members of Congress, but they speak to the people like they are members of Congress. Rep. Bachmann talks to people like they are people.”
But when Bachmann infuriated liberals with the suggestion that then-Sen. Barack Obama and other Democrats in Congress held “anti-American” views, Marston acknowledged that her boss wasn’t for everyone.
“You either love Michele Bachmann or you don’t love Michele Bachmann at all,” Marston said in an interview with POLITICO last fall.
"Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) just finished up a conference call with conservative bloggers in preparation for tomorrow's Tea Party Patriot anti-health care reform rally she's hosting at the Capitol. TPMDC joined the call and asked Bachmann about the big story coming out of her office today: the resignation of her chief of staff, which some Republicans speculated was due to media stunts like the one she's hosting tomorrow.
Bachmann refused to answer questions about the resignation, saying tersely, "out of respect for privacy, I don't comment on personnel matters."
Pressed on whether her staff has been upheaval over the Bachmann-led Tea Party Rally tomorrow, Bachmann again refused to respond. "I've already given my answer," she said."
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/bachmann-refuses-to-speak-about-chief-of-staff-resignation.php
Michele upsets people on the hill...she actually says what she means and means what she says...and she does not have the appearance of being a careerist (unusual for either side of the aisle)
So, what are they implying with these words? That Bachmann is some kind of bird?
Give ‘em hell, Michelle!
It sounds like she and the aide had a not uncommon difference of opinion on something job-related. But the left will keep after this aide and keep picking whatever woulnd is there until she dumps some dirt for their smear machine.
I wish pubs would fight fire with fire.
The only three conservatives I know of who are dishing it out are O’Keefe, Giles, and Breitbart.
Takes one to know one. LOL
Question: When are we going to stop eating our own?
While I love Bachmann’s spunk and her conservative values, I have to look at this from the perspective of “what if somone on the left did this?”.
This would come off to many as a bit over the top. I’m just hoping that conservatives overplay their hand now. I think the message is out and everyone is aware that we’re ready to make a comeback.
I realize that you have to keep the fight up, but I think we can accomplish more by finding and getting behind conservative candidates that can win. This strikes me as an act of desperation...and it very well might be. I just think that yesterday’s results will get us further than going around the Capitol and showing up Congress-critters.
When you’re fighting a battle......you learn VERY QUICKLY who your ‘friends’ are. Give em’ HELL, Bachmann!
So the so called conservative House member is too cowardly to take possession of his or her pot shots. Why should anyone pay attention to this wimp.
This article just proves that the left is ALMOST as scared of Michelle as they are of Palin. The dream ticket for me would be Bachman / Palin, only because Michelle has more experience in Washington.
What the libs do when there is a conservative in the White House is no different, and they do it daily. So much so that it gets lost in all their noise.
I dont believe that old shhhh dont use my name official, probably Anita
Overwhelming force is the best in most cases.
good-bye!
May I suggest you take some time to research a few of the antics and statements from liberal and Marxist Democrats?
The Republican party has had far too many General McCellans countering the left. We could use a few General Grants.
An aide quitting at an inopportune time is not us "eating our own." We don't know the motivations of the untimely departure - we have no idea if she is one of us.
Amen
If you have something to say they say it with your name attached. In the case of a whistle blower I would give some cover, but this is far from what happen here. This is basic knife in the back. I would even question whom determined the speaking individual was a conservative? The reporter with blinders on? One can wonder if it ain’t just made up for with out a name it is as good as that much no way to second source it right?
Typical leftist baseless character assault.
This "lawmaker" needs to look no further than the White House (aka the RED House) for a true *crazy* captain.
Yes...I do see what the left does...and I think they are nuts when they pull stuff like this.
This almost reminds me of that kook from Code Pink that confronted Rumsfeld. I thought she was nuts...and I think the media is going to portray this as “conservatives are nuts”.
We need to be smart about how things are done. The TEA parties are great. Speaking out is great. The message is getting through.
Something like this will give the Democrats ammunition to use...especially if someone gets in a shouting contest with a Dem Congress-critter. If that happens, it will be all over the internet and all over the media.
I wouldn’t put it past the Dems to deliberately goad people into shouting matches just for this purpose. We are bringing the fight to them now. We don’t need to go over the top.
I could be wrong about this...really. I just don’t think this is a good idea.
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