Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Bachmann's Birther Weasel Words

I suppose George Stephanopoulos is mad as hell and he's not gonna take it anymore when it comes to prominent Republicans and their birther bullshit. On Sunday, Stephanopoulos took on Hair Combover for Men President Donald Trump, and this morning his guest was Tea Party darling Michele Bachmann, who took time out of her schedule receiving "messages from the Mothership" to answer some questions. While she basically blames President Obama for the extension of the Bush tax cuts, conveniently forgetting that the GOP used unemployment insurance extensions and payroll tax cuts as hostages, she's also questioned about the never ending birther nonsense that they won't let go.



Yes, she's congenial in her answers but for me, it wasn't good enough. They can't step away from the "I'll take the president at his word" talking point which casts just enough doubt in the minds of conspiracy theorists. And while she agrees with Stephanopoulos that it's a dead issue and there are more important things to worry about, she struggles to hold on to it with her fingernails by suggesting Obama "introduce" his documents. "Introduce" as in "to make known for the first time." She says it twice.

MB: "... I have no problem giving my birth certificate, it wouldn't bother me at all. I've got one, its authenticated, take it." 
GS: "Well, but so does the president. According to the bill 'a candidate for president or vice president shall attach to and file with the affidavit a copy of the candidate's birth certificate certified by the appropriate official in the candidate's state of birth.'" 
MB: "That's right." 
GS: "Well I have the president's certificate right here. It's certified, it's got a certification number, it's got the registrar of the state, signed. It's got a seal on it. And it says: 'This copy serves as prima facie evidence of the fact of birth in any court proceeding.'" 
MB: "Well, then that should settle it. That's what should settle it. I take the president at his word and I think -- again I would have no problem and apparently the president wouldn't, either. Introduce that, we're done. Move on, end of story." 
GS: "Well it has been introduced. So this case - this story's over." 
MB: "Well as long as someone introduces it, I guess it's over." 
GS: "It's right here." 
MB: "There ya go."
Clinging to the tiniest shred of doubt, still talking as if this hasn't been dealt with for the last three years, she still uses the present tense, "as long as someone introduces it..." So, sorry Michele Bachmann, no credit. Those are weasel words.

I used to think Michele Bachmann was just dumb. Now I think she's diabolically duplicitous. She'll say anything she needs to in front of whatever audience to gain acceptance. Don't be surprised if she casts doubt on what she just said today, and flip-flops tomorrow back at her Fox News home base.

2 comments:

Ron Paul said...

Remember when the GOP stood for balanced budgets, individual freedom and isolationism.
The Republican Party has run up these deficits, we want the federal government to be in our bedrooms and between our women and their doctors, we started two wars instead of ending them like the Korean War and were supposed to stop the Vietnam War the Democrats started. We have lost our way!

So why waste our time with these fools who use their racist rhetoric, like this Marilyn Davenport and Donald Trump with his birther unproven myth, why do we allow our Fox news people to keep talking down our country. Don’t they know we can win the next election with optimism and hope instead of the current rhetoric, that the sky is falling, if we are not careful we will end up like chicken little where no one will listen to us.

Broadway Carl said...

No, Ron Paul. I don't remember when the GOP stood for balanced budgets, individual freedom and isolationism because it was before my lifetime and I'm in my mid 40s. The Republican Party you describe no longer exists. It's like asking to remember the Dixiecrats of the 50s and 60s. The thing is, though, those Dixiecrats are now Republicans.

Marilyn Davenport and Donald Trump are relevant because they are the new Republican Party. The Tea Party has co-opted and chance of the economic and social moderates in the GOP from having a voice. They don't know they can win the next election with optimism and hope because they mock and criticize "hope and change," remember that? They don't believe in hope and their optimism is reserved for the wealthiest members of our society.

Believe me, as a liberal I actually yearn for a political system filled with serious adults on both sides instead of hearing the constant drone of fear, faux patriotism and scientific denial from immoral jokesters who tout family values. It would be so much better for all of us.

 
ShareThis