Michelle Bachmann Ban On Porn?

[LDAHL]

I agree with what James Taranto had to say on the subject of Mrs. Bachmann:


“Suppose Bachmann gets the nomination. She will be asking voters, in effect, to take a flier on a politically talented but inexperienced lawmaker with unusual religious views and a history of irresponsible statements. Last time they did that, they ended up with Barack Obama. This time, if they don't do it, they'll end up with Barack Obama.”


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903480904576510271119903298.html?m od=WSJ_Opinion_MIDDLETopOpinion

[Spartana]

It might be beneficial for Mrs. Bachmann to do a little reading about women like Angela Merkel, Benazir Bhutto, Helen Clark, Indira Ghandi, Margaret Thatcher, Dimla Vana Linhares Rousseff, Golda Meir, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, etc. No argument that there are unique challenges to a woman taking the reigns in a "mans world", but if the woman is strong enough it can be done.

While I agree with Alan that it shouldn't matter if she were a woman or not (in my ideal world at least), I think that if a person is in a leadership position where they are breaking barriers, that studying others in the same situation can really help - certainly can't hurt - to understanding the desires of people they will be serving and potential obstacles she may face. But, as a woman, I really find that comments like her's about submissiveness scare the behoovies out of me. Not only because it implies that she needs to be lead by her spouse in an almost childlike way (and maybe men in general) but because, to me, it seems she does not see women as equal to men (i.e the word "submissive" implies something much different then "respect" IMHO - respecting your spouse means honoring their beliefs even if different from yours, whereas submitting means doing what they say even if it is against your wishes). While that's all fine and dandy in her personal life since it doesn't effect me, but in public (i.e. presidental) life she has the opportunity to make public policy that may/will effect all of us. Will she keep her personal believes out of her public policy making? I'm doubtful. To me it is the same as a white supremacist saying that blacks should be submissive to whites. They have every right to believe that in their own lives, but I wouldn't want to see someone who holds that kind of view as my president no matter how great their politics were in other areas.

[Gregg]

“Suppose Bachmann gets the nomination. She will be asking voters, in effect, to take a flier on a politically talented but inexperienced lawmaker with unusual religious views and a history of irresponsible statements. Last time they did that, they ended up with Barack Obama. This time, if they don't do it, they'll end up with Barack Obama.”

+1.0

[Gregg]

I see what you're saying Spartana, and it makes sense. Hopefully Mrs. Bachmann's true views, whatever they are, will become apparent as the campaign goes on. With the level of media scrutiny placed on the candidates she won't have much opportunity to say anything off the record so we should be able to get a handle on what she really believes.

[San Onofre Guy]

I just wish that Ron Paul wasn't getting too sucked in by the wackos in the Republican Party. He seems to be the only one saying the freedom includes bringing our troops home and keeping out of other countries business.

While I am at it I am sick to death of "liberal" California taking away my ability to enjoy being nude on a small portion of state beach without fear of being issued a citation.

Come on people freedom is at stake here!

[Alan]

I see what you're saying Spartana, and it makes sense. Hopefully Mrs. Bachmann's true views, whatever they are, will become apparent as the campaign goes on. With the level of media scrutiny placed on the candidates she won't have much opportunity to say anything off the record so we should be able to get a handle on what she really believes.

What makes anyone think her true views haven't already been made known?

[Zigzagman]

While I am at it I am sick to death of "liberal" California taking away my ability to enjoy being nude on a small portion of state beach without fear of being issued a citation.

Come on people freedom is at stake here!

Watch out for the "Freedom Riders In The Sand" the new right will not tolerate such activities!

Vote for Paul - Legalize Weed!!

Peace

[Gregg]

What makes anyone think her true views haven't already been made known?

You are correct Alan. I should have said Ms. Bachmann's views are not known to me. I suspect a lot of other folks aren't sure about her for the same reason. That reason is that I have only taken the chance to listen to sound bites so far. Those may or may not give an accurate representation of Michelle Bachmann, I don't know yet. I do not fault the candidate for that. Over the course of the next several months I expect the sound bites to accumulate in such a way as to provide a clearer picture (for me) of what Ms. Bachmann stands for. It may not be an ideal or completely accurate method, but is a product of my own apathy brought on by the knowledge that I am about to be bombarded with campaign rhetoric, commercials and completely inane commentary from the media for more than a year to come.

[JaneV2.0]

Barack Obama has "unusual religious views?" Could you expand on that? He seems pretty mainstream middle of the road Christian to me.

In this strange country of ours, no one who espouses an even mildly off-center spiritual path can get nominated to high office, let alone elected.

[LDAHL]

Barack Obama has "unusual religious views?" Could you expand on that? He seems pretty mainstream middle of the road Christian to me.

In this strange country of ours, no one who espouses an even mildly off-center spiritual path can get nominated to high office, let alone elected.

Here's what Taranto said:

"Where the parallels get interesting, though, is in considering why her detractors regard Bachmann as "crazy." Much of it comes down to religion. "Bachmann belongs to a generation of Christian conservatives whose views have been shaped by institutions, tracts, and leaders not commonly known to secular Americans, or even to most Christians," writes Ryan Lizza in The New Yorker. Lizza attributes to Bachmann "a set of beliefs more extreme than those of any American politician of her stature."

He does not mention that the man she seeks to challenge had a "spiritual mentor" who described AIDS as a racist U.S. government plot, said of 9/11 that "America's chickens are coming home to roost," published Hamas propaganda in the church newsletter, and thundered from the pulpit: "God damn America!" Obama's mentor's beliefs might have seemed normal in the faculty lounge or the offices of The New Yorker, but they were not commonly known to Christians, or even most secular Americans."