Video: Michele Bachmann and Piers Morgan spar about gay marriage

Hotair ^ | 03/06/2012 | TINA KORBE

[SeekAndFind]

Last night on his show, Piers Morgan hosted Michele Bachmann for the full hour and, in one segment, tried pointedly to elicit her reaction to recent controversial comments from actor Kirk Cameron.

Last week, Cameron told Morgan he thinks homosexuality is “unnatural and … detrimental and … ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.” Cameron’s remarks shocked not only Morgan, but also the online universe: The exchange trended on Twitter for about 36 hours.

Perhaps in an effort to repeat that PR success (what good free pub for Piers!), Morgan last night again and again asked Bachmann about her views on gay marriage. Bachmann initially attempted to deflect the subject entirely with a simple statement: “I’m here as a member of Congress; I’m not here as anybody’s judge.”

That statement was certainly uncharacteristic of candidate Bachmann, who willingly engaged on any issue, but not necessarily uncharacteristic of Congresswoman Bachmann, who, at various points in her career, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to stay focused on a particular issue of passion. Her role in the fight against Obamacare is proof enough of that. Last night, she clearly wanted most to talk about the security threats that face the nation and about jobs and the economy — and she saw the gay marriage debate as a distraction.

Still, Piers persisted, suggesting that Bachmann has been “judgmental” in the past, to which Bachmann took offense. Eventually, the show host evoked a bit of fire from the congressw0man. She brought up the double standard against advocates of “traditional values” and submitted that rhetoric is more heated against the religious than it is against gays.

Shortly thereafter, Bachmann declined to engage further. “I think I’ve had enough of this conversation,” she said, still smiling. “We’ve beaten this horse to death.”

A few thoughts:

1. This interview reminds me why I love Michele Bachmann. She’s well-spoken but still lively. She might maintain eye contact for unnaturally long spans of time, as Saturday Night Live’s Kristen Wiig portrays her, but she never sounds like a robot. She always sounds human and projects warmth and integrity.
2. The interview is also a nice piece of evidence that it’s not GOPers who are obsessed with social issues. Fact is, folks like Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann can’t not engage on social issues because (a) MSM interviewers will never not bring them up and (b) MSM interviewers won’t just let conservative opinions stand; they’ll push for an explanation. When’s the last time you’ve seen an interview like this in reverse — a show host pushing a lib for an explanation as to why they support gay marriage?
3. Given No. 2, GOPers might be better served to just engage on social issues without shame. These are debates conservatives could and should own — in part by turning them around. They say it’s bad TV form to ask questions of the interviewer, but that might be what we conservatives need to begin to do. “Tell me, Piers, why do you think the definition of marriage is malleable? What about homosexual relationships is the same as heterosexual relationships? What’s different?” We don’t need to ask “gotcha” questions, either; we just need to ensure that we don’t debate an issue until the two sides establish their underlying assumptions.

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO

[scbison]

I would also ask reporter of where the acceptance of homosexual behavior ever worked? Ancient Greece, Rome? Then describe a homosexual male sex act and then ask is that safer than smoking?

[cripplecreek]

Shortly thereafter, Bachmann declined to engage further. “I think I’ve had enough of this conversation,” she said, still smiling. “We’ve beaten this horse to death.”

Perfect response to the Alinsky tactics. Talk freely about the issues on our terms, seize the battleground, and end the conversation when we choose to end it.

[Batman11]

For pete’s sake, stop going on these shows!!!! The SRM are our enemies! When they ask you to go on their networks tell them to ESAD! How hard is this!!

[Mozilla]

Piers is a Loon. But I am glad the author realizes why I supported Bachmann. IT is about the same reason I now support Santorum. But Bachmann and Cain were to me better than the rest who ran.

[cripplecreek]

For pete’s sake, stop going on these shows!!!! The SRM are our enemies! When they ask you to go on their networks tell them to ESAD! How hard is this!!

And get our message out through telepathy? Face it, conservatives have no choice but to deal with the media that exists or fade into obscurity.

[cripplecreek]

My choices were Bachmann, Cain, and Santorum in that order.

[throwback]

I don't think she was quite the nut everyone made her out to be on the Gardisil issue either. I thought I heard on Ingraham’s show that there were news stories about some bizarre side effects from it.

[Mozilla]

Those were my choices too. I also hoped Jim DeMint, Allen West, Sarah Palin or Paul Ryan had run. But they didn’t.

I really hope Romney loses to Santorum in Ohio today and other states. My state of Kansas has a caucus on Saturday. I plan on going. Thing is at 10am. I’m voting for Santorum. Romney will be the only candidate not in the state.

I have no idea why Kansas went to a caucus format. Used to be a voting primary. But they went caucus since 2008. This year it will have a better chance of making an impact.

I like that is is days after Super Tuesday so it is not lost in the shuffle of states. But right after. Next door In neighboring Missouri, they have another vote next week. I expect Santorum ill win the state again.

Again, I don’t get Missouri. The Vote last month was a test vote. The delegates will be picked up with the vote next week.

[Kazan]

Cameron’s remarks shocked not only Morgan, but also the online universe: The exchange trended on Twitter for about 36 hours.

We have a conservative website claiming Cameron's beliefs are shocking? What was shocking about the comments except to moral relativist, liberal Hollywood types?

Piers Morgan is depraved idiot that gave up the only gig, America's Got Talent, that anyone ever watched him on.

[Venturer]

Is Piers Morgan a Homosexual? Has he ever tried it?. If not why not. If he feels it is normal why hasn’t he tried it? He might like it.I think he probably would.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

He certainly seems to be obsessed with gay marriage. Is there something he’s not telling us?

[faucetman]

“For pete’s sake, stop going on these shows!!!! The SRM are our enemies!”

NO, go on them all and make minced meat out of them, like Michele did. Like Newt does. Use the occasion of the interview to make OUR points. Screw answering their loaded questions.

To quote Romney (close anyway) “you get to ask the questions you want, and I get to give the answers I want.”

[ilgipper]

She did become unhinged during the Gardisil issue. I had been very complementary of her campaign up until that point, but she completely fell off her message and kept doubling down on this issue. Perry had the lead then, and had taken the front-runner lead, and she got very desperate. I love Bachmann...in the House, and will help her stay there, but she was not yet ready for the big stage. It became very obvious starting when Perry grabbed the lead from her.

[faucetman]

“homosexuality is “unnatural and … detrimental and … ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.”

ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. There is no disputing this.

[LetMarch]

That’s correct, why should it be a shock to approve that which unnatural and abnormal.

It would have 30 to 50 years ago to even whisper or speak in public or in mixed company to normalize such so called “lifestyles.”

Now some want it to be approved and taught in our public schools and universities.

I think of Romans 6:1-2: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid[don’t even think it]..........

[SECURE AMERICA]

(Cameron told Morgan he thinks homosexuality is unnatural and detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization. Cameron’s remarks shocked not only Morgan, but also the online universe )

Why would these comments shock any intelligent human being?
Does no one read history anymore? All civilizations that allow perversions to become acceptable and the “norm” all fail or fail to thrive.

[SaraJohnson]

This pervert is a sexual harasser, obsessed bothering women about his butt action. I think Americans don’t have gay sex on the top of their National agenda as the simple minded Brit does.

Someone - tell him Americans have a lot to worry about right now and his butt pleasure and lifestyle is not one of them.

[cradle of freedom]

In over four thousand years, there has never been a civilization that approved same sex marraige until about ten years ago.

[cradle of freedom]

Consevatives need to get their talking points in order before going on these shows. Why can’t Conservative thinkers put together strong valid ideas about what is wrong with homosexuality and what is right with heterosexuality?