Bachmann formally announces presidential bid in Waterloo, Iowa
By T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter
With an elegant, flag-brighten brick home for a backdrop, Sixth Congressional District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann today (June 27) in Waterloo, Iowa, formally announced her candidacy for president of the United States.
Bachmann spoke for about 20 minutes to an audience gathered on the rain-dampened lawn of a historic home in downtown Waterloo.
Sixth Congressional District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, formally announced her candidacy for president today (June 27) in Iowa. Bachmann is off for the East Coast this week for campaign stops. (Photo by T.W. Budig)Waterloo.
Bachmann, as she did the Sunday night at a larger gathering in a Waterloo ballroom, leavened her speech with family stories and praise for the values she sees guiding the residents of Waterloo, her home town, and Iowa at large.
She spoke of taking the forgotten voice of Iowans to the White House.
“Just as I brought your voice to the halls of the U.S. Congress,” said Bachmann.
Bachmann in her speech depicted the federal government as bloated, nonresponsive, corrupt — trying to snuff out the American spirit.
The American people have the answers.
“Not our government,” said Bachmann.
Bachmann gained one of the louder rounds of applause of the morning by slamming the Federal Affordable Health Care Act — “ObamaCare,” to critics.
“We can’t afford this unconstitutional health care law that will cost us too much and deliver so little,” she said.
In turning her attention to Democratic President Barack Obama, Bachmann charged the president “leads from behind” and has failed to stand up for Israel.
Bachmann, husband Marcus at side to help guide his wife through the crowd, shook hands, autographed photos, and had photos taken with well wishers after completing her speech. (Photo by T.W. Budig)stand up for Israel.
“We can’t afford four more years of Barack Obama,” she said.
Still, Bachmann spoke of much more uniting the country than dividing it.
The problems facing the country don’t have party tags, she explained.
“They’re problems created by both parties,” said Bachmann.
Bachmann styles herself a constitutional conservative.
“We can win in 2012, and we will win,” she told the audience.
Bachmann also won another strong round of applause by mentioning the Tea Party movement, saying liberals are wrong in depicting the fermentation as made up by the right-wing of the Republican Party.
The Tea Party, which Bachmann is nationally identified with, is an amalgamation of Republicans, disaffected Democrats, others, Bachmann explained.
“It’s a very powerful coalition the Left fears — and they should,” she said.
Bachmann waves to the supportive audience after finishing her speech. (Photo by T.W. Budig)
Bachmann is expected to travel to Manchester, N.H., and Myrtle Beach, S.C. for campaign stops tomorrow.
She has four campaign events scheduled in South Carolina on Wednesday.
DFL State Party Chairman Ken Martin doesn’t think much of Bachmann’s run for the White House.
“The truth is, Rep. Bachmann does not have a single success that she has delivered for Minnesotans– just a long record of divisive rhetoric, extreme policy positions, hypocrisy and shameless self-promotion. Her support for ending Medicare and ‘weaning’ people off Social Security is proof enough that Michele Bachmann would be a terrible President,” said Martin.
Some criticisms of Bachmann come from fellow Republicans.
Former Minnesota Republican Party chairman and former Bachmann chief of staff Ron Carey in a recently published letter in the Des Moines Register said when he “inherited” the Bachmann campaign and congressional offices he found them “wildly out of control.”
“Stacks upon stacks of unopened contributions filled the campaign office while thousands of communications from citizens waited for an answer,” Carey wrote.
“If she is unable, or unwilling, to handle the basic duties of a campaign or congressional office, how could she possibly manage the magnitude of the presidency?” Carey asks in the letter to the editor.
Carey argued that voters need to look at the accomplishments of candidates.
He goes on to back former Republican governor Tim Pawlenty.
“He will make a great president. I know Michele Bachmann very well. She is a faithful conservative with great oratory skills, but without any leadership experience or real results from her years in office,” wrote Carey.
“She is not prepared to assume the White House in 2013,” he concludes.
