Bachmann: The XX Factor - Is sexism to blame for the MN Congresswoman's decline in popularity?

Al Jazeera ^ | January 6, 2012 | Cliff Schecter

[2ndDivisionVet]

Have we lost ye, Michele Bachmann?

The answer would seem to be yes, as the sharp-tongued, googly-eyed Minnesota Congresswoman suspended her presidential campaign after receiving only five per cent of the Iowa Caucus vote in the state where she was born.

To put that in perspective, Michele Bachmann only got 6,000 more votes in Iowa than Johann Sebastian Bach. It was the culmination of a stunning turn of events over the past few months, after her candidacy surged when she won the Iowa straw poll in August.

Soon afterwards, however, her poll numbers went south faster than General William Tecumseh Sherman. Why did that happen? And what does it tell us about the vestiges of sexism still present in our political culture as a whole, and specifically on display among the far-right Christian conservatives currently dominating the Republican Party? A lot, actually.

As someone who looked upon the possibility of a Bachmann presidency with much the same anticipatory glee as I would walking barefoot up Mount Everest or drinking Liquid Drano, one might not expect me to possess even an ounce of sympathy for the Congresswoman.

Sure, I think she's a few kernels short of a corn dog, but then again I am of much the same opinion about Newt Gingrich and either of the Praying Ricks (Santorum and Perry). To base Republican voters, however, preemptively bombing Iran, giving Ryan Seacrest tax cuts on Ascot purchases and sowing firearms into one's forelimbs are likely a part of the panoply of "ideas".

So loony musings were not why Bachmann was kicked to the curb.

'Women's submission'

But I have a sneaking suspicion that gender - and, specifically, Bachmann's lack of a Y chromosome - had a lot to do with it. According to Taylor Marsh, author of The Hillary Effect: Politics, Sexism & The Destiny of Loss: "Once Rick Perry rode in, Bachmann was ignored. By virtue of his macho Texan maleness, he was automatically elevated, even as her debate performances remained stellar."

Or to put it the way writer Michelle Goldberg did in The Daily Beast: "She stumped as much as Santorum, had staff problems no worse than Gingrich’s and made lesser gaffes than Perry."

So how was it that the Texas Two Thought stole her thunder when he entered the race?

Many Christian Right leaders and the voters who dominate the primary in Iowa preach women's submission, so is it really a stretch to believe they thought a female politician should adopt the same role? The optics were certainly there, when during a debate on "family issues" in November, almost out of instinct or perhaps expectation, Bachmann got up to pour water for her male colleagues seated around a table on the stage with her.

There was plenty of other evidence, such as when the Union County, Iowa GOP Chair told an AP reporter, "I've noticed that when her name is mentioned sometimes that there's a lot of men that wouldn't vote for a woman."

Some of Bachmann's advisers agreed with this sentiment.

Comedian and fellow Minnesotan Lizz Winstead - who has toured for Planned Parenthood and is passionate about women's issues - went so far as to tell me, "when I put my tinfoil hat on, I almost think they push forward women of no substance like Bachmann and [Sarah] Palin, because [women such as] Olympia Snowe and Kay Bailey Hutchinson might actually succeed".

When I put my tinfoil hat on I also suspect similar things, but no "conspiracy theories" are even necessary for me to conclude that sexism still plays an active role in our politics - particularly on the extreme right of the GOP.

*******

Cliff Schecter is the President of Libertas, LLC, a progressive public relations firm, the author of the 2008 bestseller The Real McCain, and a regular contributor to The Huffington Post.

[CynicalBear]

Her campaign was built on the false premise of a win in the Iowa straw poll. When you’re willing to pay more for people to vote for it falls flat.

[miss marmelstein]

She did a great job. Plus, the more she was in the picture, the more polished she got. And she’s beautiful too. So was Palin and they had to take her down. Makes all the drabs currently serving in Washington look worse than ever, I guess.

She left the campaign with great class and dignity. Hope to vote for her someday.

[Pappy Smear]

I voted in the Iowa Caucus, and there is no way I was going to vote for her. While I may agree with some of her stated opinions, it is also my opinion that she is a giant phony.

What bothers me is she came in to Iowa claiming to be an Iowan, and trying to suck up to Iowa voters. Ok she lived here until she was 13. Fine. But she always seemed to tout that. Fine.

But when she was in Waterloo, and mentioned how she was happy to be in the hometown of John Wayne. Fail. Every good Iowan knows that is Winterset. And Waterloo was the hometown of John Wayne GACY. Ok, everybody gets an oops.

But then she was in Ames, and said she was happy to be at the University of Iowa. No. It is Iowa State University. And anybody from Iowa knows that.

Candidates go from town to town, and probably forget where the heck they even are. I get that. Newt could make that mistake. Romney, Perry, Paul, whoever. But when you continuously claim to be an Iowan, and you make that mistake, you are either a moron or a phony. I don't think she is a moron, and I'm sure not gonna vote for a phony.

Seeya Michelle, thanks for playing.

[roostercogburn]

She lost me when I heard her bellow for the 5000th time “Make Obama a one term president”. If she had stopped at 4999 she would have still had me.

[shhrubbery!]

"Once Rick Perry rode in, Bachmann was ignored. By virtue of his macho Texan maleness, he was automatically elevated, even as her debate performances remained stellar."

This is absolutely right. Perry's entrance started Bachmann's downward slide.

It's not the only reason Michelle went downhill. She was hurt by some statements she made that got wildly distorted by the MSM.

But Perry was the proximate cause.

Then he shot himself in the foot.

[jaydee770]

Cliff Schecter: “...STRAW-MEN!! GET YER’ STRAW-MEN RIGHT HERE!!...”

That’s completely unfounded, yellow journalism. I didn’t care for Bachmann, but it was because she failed to convince me she was capable of leading; didn’t inspire, motivate or put forth a compelling argument for my vote. That pretty much goes for the rest of the GOP candidates.

Contrast her with Palin who couldn’t shake the media off her with pepper-spray and who also has a proven track record of drawing HYOOGE crowds and motivating folks to open their check-books in spite of the mountains of unfounded, undeserved mud slung at her.

Sexism he says? Sounds more like Schecter’s wishful thinking, projection, or whatever his hang-up is.

[2111USMC]

Good grief.

(That’s my best Linus Van Pelt impression.)