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Bachmann Misfires

In an interview with Laura Ingraham’s show (with guest host Raymond Arroyo filling in), Congresswoman Michele Bachmann blasted the liberal media for their coverage of her gaffe over where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired. (H/T Katrina Trinko of National Review Online)

Last weekend, Bachmann gave a speech in New Hampshire in which she said, “You’re the state where the shot was heard around the world in Lexington and Concord.” Except the state in question in Massachusetts. Today, Bachmann told Arroyo, “We all know there’s a double standard in the media … as we know all 3,400 members of the mainstream media are part of the Obama press contingent…Only if a conservative makes a misstep is it considered interesting.” She also pointed out what little scrutiny Barack Obama received when he said during the 2008 presidential race that he had campaigned across the 57 states.

While we’re at it let us also not forget when Joe Biden told Katie Couric that Franklin Delano Roosevelt had gone on TV after the 1929 stock market crash despite the fact neither a FDR presidency nor television was yet in existence. But imagine if Sarah Palin didn’t know who FDR’s Treasury Secretary was (that would be Henry Morgenthau) the liberal media would fall all over themselves. So Bachmann is absolutely right in her assessment as is amply demonstrated in this editorial by The Boston Globe. She confirms what us conservatives already know all too well.

Yet I don’t think Bachmann is doing herself any favors by making this assertion. Whatever the shortcomings of the liberal media, she can’t change the fact that this was her mistake and a big one at that. The Tea Party movement rightly takes pride in its celebration of early American history. Bachmann hurts both her credibility and that of the Tea Party movement when she makes such an egregious error. If Bachmann makes her voice heard in the public square then she has an obligation to exercise due diligence and make sure she has her i’s dotted, her t’s crossed and her u’s curved. Yes, the liberal media holds Bachmann to a higher standard than it does Obama. Is that fair? Absolutely not. But life is unfair and it’s all the more reason for Bachmann to avoid factual errors in her public presentation.

Bachmann also draws unnecessary attention to herself by reminding people she made this mistake. While Bachmann can’t change the past she does herself no good by dwelling on it. Bachmann admitted her mistake. The best she can do is to pick herself up, dust herself off and move ahead. 

View all comments (92) |

IronDioPriest | 3.15.11 @ 4:44PM

I believe Michele IS picking herself up, dusting herself off and moving ahead.

I don't see the harm in using the opportunity to point at the egregious malfeasance of the media while she's doing it.

NoLib| 3.15.11 @ 4:50PM

Michele Bachmann made a mistake--but an "egregious" mistake? Give me a break. At least she knows there aren't 57 states in the U.S.
She should have admitted her error and moved on. Obama screws up all of the time.

What's much more important to me is she discovered 105 billion in funding Pelosi and Obama secreted into ObamaCare.

Why sweat the small stuff?

Jessica| 3.15.11 @ 6:47PM

Believing that Bachmann discovered secret funding in the health care law is the same as believing that L&C happened in NH becuase she said so. She discovered no such thing - she is lying. Do some homework - educate yourself.

NoLib| 3.15.11 @ 6:54PM

What would you know about education or truth, troll?

I can provide a link to prove Bachmann's assertions, can you prove yours?

Jessica| 3.15.11 @ 7:08PM

You'll probably dismiss this as liberal bias, but here you go: http://www.factcheck.org/2011/.....-it-wrong/

But here's the bigger question - how was $105 million hidden? Was it written in invisible ink? No - it was right there all along, for anyone who read the bill.

Jessica| 3.15.11 @ 7:12PM

And why am I a troll just becuase I want people in government who don't lie to me and don't try to mislead me for their own gain?

NoLib| 3.15.11 @ 7:39PM

You're a troll because you deliberately mislead, and it's 105 BILLION not million. Liberals lie.

Democrats didn't need invisible ink to hide their hundreds of millions of unethical secret funding in the massive 3000 page ObamaCare bill; especially when they gave Republicans very little time to read it before they snuck it through.

Nancy Pelosi admitted as much when she said, "they were going to have to pass the bill to see what was in it."

Yes, you're right, your link is a well-know liberal hack site which has been totally discredited.

Obama claimed there were 57 states so I guess everything else he says is a lie, too.

Grzmlyk| 3.16.11 @ 8:47AM

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/.....nd-exists/

Just sayin.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.16.11 @ 1:52PM

How does "L&C" happen? They are cities. The event that "happened" was the shot heard 'round the world.

What would you know about PPACA? Do you work in the industry? I do. Tell me something about it.

Because, as the National Association of Health Underwriters, who work directly with the Dept of HHS, have told me, they are making up the rules as they go.

Can you name any congressperson who read the bill before they voted on it?

Nobody knew what was in it.

just like that schrill liberal whore Nancy Pelosi told us, "you'll get to see whats in it after we pass it."

"Do some homework - Educate yourself"

Mike| 3.15.11 @ 10:34PM

The $105 was in the bill. There was a vigorous debate about whether or not that money should be in the bill. To cut to the chase, Bachmann was lying to the American people on Meet the Press.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 12:43AM

$105? AmSpec trolls are growing stupider every day. It wasn't debated at all, moron, and you're lying to the Americans on AmSpec right now.

Mike | 3.16.11 @ 8:38AM

Figure the billion was understood by the fawning Teapublicans.

Check the Congressional Record.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 1:18PM

At least you finally did.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.16.11 @ 1:53PM

Debated? Hell, they didn't even read it!

Mike | 3.16.11 @ 2:50PM

Bachmann obviously didn't.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 3:04PM

We know Nazi Nancy didn't!

Grzmlyk| 3.16.11 @ 8:38AM

I'll tell you why Goldstein is sweating the small stuff: Because he is just like the elite "conservatives" who cannot stomach the thought of Sarah Palin leading the party. Obviously, the courageous, brave, honest and very bright Michelle Bachmann simply doesn't pass muster.

He doesn't like the cut of Michelle's jib, don't you know, and so he's trying to undermine her - under the guise of offering friendly advice.

I love the old "conservative" canard - I'm just trying to help you, darling, so please heed my advice: don't be such a moron, because when you're a moron, the Dems will call you a moron. I'm not calling you a moron, of course, but when you act like a moron, you'll be treated like a moron."

Gee, with "friends" like Aaron Goldstein and other elite conservatives, Michelle Bachman needs no enemies.

Yeah, Aaron, let's let the Dems choose the playing field, set the rules, hire the referees, and then, by all means, let's give them the ball.

And then we'll be shocked! Shocked! When we lose the game.

crazy| 3.15.11 @ 5:09PM

Too bad. Should have just shrugged it off as an honest mistake with so many Mass high-tax refugees in the NH tax-free audience.

beebop| 3.16.11 @ 5:54AM

I think that it wouldn't have been allowed to go unnoticed even if she had taken this tact, but agree with you 100%. It is amazing how the left -- which claims to love women, blacks, and gays (though in differing order depending upon the need), are the first to coin and/or rely upon such darling phrases as "bros b4 'ho's," "uncle tom," and "tea bagging" when it comes to argument.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 1:20PM

I understand the vicious, hypocritical attacks from the Left--but the Right, too?

All American American| 3.15.11 @ 5:41PM

Oh Good Lord. Wake me when she bows to the Saudi King. Or perpetuates a billion-dollar fraud (global warming) on the American people. Or has an illicit affair while her spouse is dying of cancer. Or fills out NCAA brackets while the world burns.

Geez can we STOP with the eating of our own for crying out loud!!!!!

Mike| 3.15.11 @ 10:47PM

Were you awake when Bush was holding hands with Saudi Crown Prince Avdullah?

simon templar| 3.16.11 @ 12:32AM

Yeah, we thought that was a bit odd too. So, what's your point, idiot boy? Hello. You are like a litttle kid telling his Mom that his brother did it too when she scolds him about his behavior. Are you awake, mature, and a man? You sound like a little boy.

Mike | 3.16.11 @ 9:14AM

You may want to wipe the spittle from the keyboard of your computer before it is permanently damaged.

On the other hand, please disregard this post.

Tim the Enchanter| 3.16.11 @ 12:30PM

Ah, yes. the good old "tu quoque" argument.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 12:39AM

What's that got to do with Michele Bachmann, clown?

Mike | 3.16.11 @ 9:17AM

I was simply commenting on All American American's hypocritical allusion to President Obama.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 1:21PM

Another irrelevant post from another irrelevant troll.

simon templar| 3.15.11 @ 5:48PM

"But life is unfair and it's all the more reason for Bachmann to avoid factual errors in her public presentation.."

Yeah, and who makes up the rules? I have to bow down to this double standard? I have to be lectured about life being unfair? What do I look like to you, some chump? Am I a second class citizen that needs to bow down to a liberal's dictates and play the game according to his rules? This idiocy you tout can no longer be tolerated. You sir are a fool! You are the very reason why this Republic will fall as you lack the common sense, spine, and brains to save it. You embarass me....grow the f*ck up..and be a man before its too late.

Red Phillips | 3.15.11 @ 5:52PM

Was the remark off the cuff? If not, who writes and proofs her speeches? Doesn't say much for them either.

Sam| 3.15.11 @ 6:34PM

Dabbling in Trutherism doesn't speak well for Ron Paul either.

Red Phillips | 3.15.11 @ 8:13PM

Why was this directed at me?

Ron Paul doesn't "dabble in Trutherism," whatever that even means, but I'm sure he has some supporters who are Truthers. This is inevitable since Paul is an outside the mainstream (and I mean that as a compliment) candidate, so he will have supporters who are outside the mainstream in one way or another as well. And Establishment Romney will have supporters who are Establishment shills. That is how the game works.

Sam| 3.15.11 @ 8:21PM

Yes he does. Google Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich and Student Scholars for 9/11 truth.

Clint| 3.15.11 @ 8:29PM

"A common smear tactic against Ron Paul is that he is a Truther: someone who believes that 9/11 was a conspiracy orchestrated by the government. Here is Ron Paul’s Position on Truthers and 9/11:
"Interviewer: So your position (then we’ll get off this and onto something else) your position then would be that as far as you’re concerned the official story from 9/11 . .. and this is not about the government covering up their mistakes. . . this is about the suggestions from these people who you were talking to in this video that 9/11 was orchestrated by the government: You do not support that theory?

Ron Paul: Absolutely Not!

Interviewer: ok thank you I think that will clear up quite a bit. Let’s get on to something else here."

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

Sam| 3.15.11 @ 8:44PM

Too bad for you there's a lot of information out there that disproves your post.

Ron Paul is a little shady.

Clint| 3.15.11 @ 9:08PM

Too Bad For You.

POLITICO/TargetPoint poll:
The survey, an exit poll conducted by Edison Research at the massive Tax Day protest on the National Mall :
Palin, who topped the list with 15 percent, speaks for the 43 percent of those polled expressing the distinctly conservative view that government does too much, while also saying that it needs to promote traditional values.

Paul’s thinking is reflected by an almost identical 42 percent who said government does too much but should not try to promote any particular set of values — the hallmarks of libertarians. He came in second to Palin with 12 percent.

When asked to choose from a list of candidates for president in 2012, Palin and Paul also finished one-two — with Palin at 15 percent and Paul at 14 percent. "

You're a little Shady.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

Sam| 3.15.11 @ 9:20PM

You're a lot shady, turd.

Clint| 3.15.11 @ 9:30PM

Do Your homework Asshat AgendaGirl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OumAnh8oWbU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihCP3cfS88E

Sam| 3.15.11 @ 9:41PM

Flush yourself Paulturd.

Clint| 3.15.11 @ 9:46PM

Get Bent RINO-CINO AgendaPussy.

Clint| 3.15.11 @ 9:54PM

When the House voted on the current stopgap funding bill two weeks ago, only six Republicans cast a "no" vote to mark their disapproval of short-term funding measures that did not address the entirety of the spending cuts passed by the House.

(Reps. Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, Steve King, Walter Jones, Louie Gohmert and Justin Amash were those six "no" votes.)

Now 48 other Republicans are Following The Real Tea Party Leaders of The House.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

Red Phillips | 3.15.11 @ 10:17PM

Walter Jones is really starting to impress me.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 12:46AM

I'm sure Ron Paul is happy that a freak like you is one of his big defenders. How many pairs of Ron Paul knee-pads have you worn out, pathetic loser?

Clint| 3.16.11 @ 2:26AM

What Are Ys Gonna Do About It RINO-CINO Cupcake Sammy ?

Hmmmm Girl ?

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 2:46AM

Unhinged Ron Paul supporters like you make him look even crazier than he already does. You don't do your hero any favors, friutcake.

Clint| 3.16.11 @ 3:57AM

RINO-CINO Fops Like You make The GOP Ruling Elite look even more Democrat Lite than they already are.
We Tea Party Patriots are gonna purge you RINO-CINO's from The GOP.
We are already vetting Our Tea Party Candidates for The 2012 GOP Primaries.

You're on Your Way Out.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 1:23PM

And Ron Paul will never be in.

Clint| 3.16.11 @ 2:13PM

Dr. Ron Paul is where We Tea Party Patriots need him, as The New Chairman of The House Financial Services Monetary Sub-Committee.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 3:06PM

And that is where Paul will stay--I'm glad to see you admit as much.

Clint| 3.16.11 @ 3:38PM

Dr.Ron Paul will stay when Your RINO-CINO Asses are Purged From The Republican Party.

You Wanna War with The Tea Party ,You Got It RINO-CINO Agenda Girl.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 4:47PM

The only war that's raging is the one in your fevered brain, nutball. Ron Paul is over. Deal with it.

Clint| 3.16.11 @ 4:13AM

Tell it to Ronald Reagan RINO-CINO Fop Sam.

"Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country."
-Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan endorsed Dr.Ron Paul and Dr. Ron Paul was one of only four Republicans to endorse Ronald Reagan in 1976 against Ford.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

Tim the Enchanter| 3.16.11 @ 12:34PM

Ah yes. A nice, useless, pointless, flame war. Something to keep us nice and warm. For a moment there, I thought I was over at DKos.

Mike | 3.16.11 @ 9:19AM

This is why I like the American Spectator. Well reasoned arguments and brilliant repartee.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 1:22PM

Only when you're not here.

Clint| 3.15.11 @ 5:54PM

"All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes.”

Winston Churchill

l5j6| 3.15.11 @ 6:02PM

Aaron, you gotta be kidding? This is of what importance?

None.

Ran | 3.15.11 @ 6:02PM

"Bachmann hurts both her credibility and that of the Tea Party movement when she makes such an egregious error."

"She confirms what [we] conservatives already know all too well."

"Egregious error," huh? Apart from the Frumian alliterative smell there's the portentous over-kill. So Bachmann flubbed one. Bravo-foxtrot-delta. One would expect conservative punditry might be a tad more careful with editing - L-rd knows what credibility might suffer.

gravelagitator| 3.15.11 @ 6:13PM

I wonder if she was ever saved by a corpse-man while visiting the fifty seventh state looking for her birth certificate while her lard assed spouse lectured us about our eating habits?

Sam| 3.15.11 @ 6:29PM

And don't even get me started about the gaffe-prone clown, VP Bite Me.

danny| 3.15.11 @ 8:43PM

gravelagitator, i have been needing a good chuckle all day, what with all the bad crap going on in this world. you just supplied it, thasnks.

danny| 3.15.11 @ 8:47PM

thanks that is. one too many glasses of wine.

I Survived Arlen Specter| 3.15.11 @ 7:28PM

The conservative punditry spends so much time policing the speech & actions of our own that they miss some of the absolute idiocy coming from the current administration. Yes, Michelle Bachmann made a mistake. We all do. The last time I checked there has only been one human being who walked this Earth with no mistakes or sin in His life. One last question to the punditry. Why are all of you so quick to come down on female conservatives? The good ol' boys in the The Stupid Party make dumb mistake after dumb mistake & the punditry is real quick to circle the wagons & defend their blunders. Me thinks the conservative punditry have some sexist hang-ups.

NoLib| 3.15.11 @ 7:41PM

Sexism is alive and well among many male Republican insiders.

Buster| 3.15.11 @ 8:38PM

You call THAT conservative?

Michael L. Hauschild| 3.15.11 @ 8:07PM

She gets far more correct than she gets wrong.

Sam| 3.15.11 @ 8:21PM

She gets the important stuff right.

Mike| 3.15.11 @ 10:50PM

Not really.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 12:46AM

Another worthless turd in the punch bowl.

Tim the Enchanter| 3.16.11 @ 12:35PM

Dang! Thought it was a Baby Ruth!

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 1:24PM

Hope you didn't take a bite.

Andy Texan | 3.15.11 @ 9:27PM

Bachmann for President!! She's right on all the issues that matter, she has the courage of her convictions (unlike that despicable Rino John Boehner), and can refresh her memory on important events of history (if that's so important to the ninnys and nincompoops of the press and blogosphere).

CalMark| 3.15.11 @ 10:18PM

Who is Aaron Goldstein, and where did he come from? One day he appeared as an AmSpec blogger, then writer, distinguishing himself (so to speak) as a RINO (a snarky one, at that) on most things.

A conservative politician makes a silly mistake, not really worthy of notice, but the conservative punditocracy calls it a disaster. Uh-huh.

As for this post, it's The Usual Aaron: self-important, falsely portentous, and (with apologies to the Bard of Avon), "full of sound and fury, and signifying nothing."

Red Phillips | 3.16.11 @ 5:08PM

We often disagree, but Aaron has long been a fixture at Intellectual Conservative. That is where I first became familiar with him. I always assumed he had parlayed his presence at IC into a gig with AS. Hope that helps.

Mike| 3.15.11 @ 10:42PM

"You're the state where the shot was heard around the world in Lexington and Concord."

Grammatically, this sentence makes sense only to people like Simon Templar.

simon templar| 3.16.11 @ 12:24AM

Well, when your messiah improves his geography you can make all the lame crass remarks about Bachmann's understanding of history that you like. Personally, I could give a rats ass about Bachmann's or your messiah's verbal misteps. What I am concerned about is their values, visions, and policies and how they impact this country. This is what mentally healthy adults do....This is the best you can do..liberal boy?

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 12:48AM

Unfortunately for the liberal moron, that is the best he can do. The troll's just more proof that our public schools have failed.

labman57| 3.16.11 @ 12:48AM

Bachmann should have quit while she was ahead -- acknowledge the error and move on.
But no, she had to then resume her role as Supreme Leader of the National TFH Society and play the maligned martyr-wanabee, declaring that the entire MSM is part of a master conspiracy to denigrate her.

Michele, you manage to do that quite satisfactorily with no outside help whatsoever.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 12:50AM

No one whines more than you liberal losers in the Professional Victim's Party. Hypocrite.

Scones| 3.16.11 @ 4:36AM

Might it just be that an individual like Congresswomn Bachmann is working so tirelessly in a perpetual environmental disaster area, a place known as Washington, D.C. and the US House of Representatives?

She's working tirelessly for us (and she's taken many slings and arrows), so showing a tad bit of fatigue might just occur. Goodness, shouldn't we be glad she's taking the issues right to the liberal's zone in New England?

I am glad for her and wish her well. I hope she stays in the fight and keeps trying to help us normal, bedrock Americans.

She's shown more courage (and smarts) in the last few years than most adults ever show in a lifetime.

beebop| 3.16.11 @ 6:02AM

Imagine? She could have gone golfing instead ... or recorded a paen to women's achievements in search of their support while one nation is melting down and another is murdering its citizens ... and filled out her NCAA tournament picks in the limo ride home while awaiting her next shipment of kobe beef!

Mike | 3.16.11 @ 9:22AM

We would be better off if she had done any of these things.

Sam| 3.16.11 @ 1:26PM

We'd be trillions less in debt if Odumbo had never been elected.

Tim the Enchanter| 3.16.11 @ 12:38PM

beebop... hope you're not in too much of a hurry over the kobe beef. I believe it comes from Japan. They're a might busy over there right now.

beebop| 3.16.11 @ 6:06PM

That alone should spur the resident to some action, you'd think.

martin j smith| 3.16.11 @ 8:02AM

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!

Richard_Iowa | 3.16.11 @ 10:01AM

I will posit that Bachman's actual statement is correct, or could be construed as such. Her statement was, "You're the state where the shot was heard around the world in Lexington and Concord." Yes, the shot heard around the world occurred in Lexington and Concord, and NH heard that shot and immediately responded by mobilizing troops, which were in battle within about 4-6 weeks. So, NH heard the shot fired in Mass and responded. That is how I interpreted the comment when I first heard it.

J.P. Travis | 3.16.11 @ 11:46AM

It absolutely was NOT an egregious mistake by Michele. If you live in the Massachusetts area it seems obvious where the Concord of the "shot heard 'round the world" is, but if you're from out west it's fairly understandable that a person might assume that the Concord in question is the big well-known one in New Hampshire. The border is only a stone's throw away from where all this stuff went down.

Yosemeti Sam| 3.16.11 @ 12:32PM

" ... Whatever the shortcomings of the liberal media ...."

You are, um, speaking of PEN1 - right?

Shortcomings?

Indeed - LOATHSOMELY so!

Wayne | 3.16.11 @ 1:00PM

Mr. Goldstein, honestly must you make a mountain out of a mole hill? Who cares if she forgot some facts from her high school history class? What we do care is that we ignored the fact ObamaCare had 105 Billion in funding already allocated and that the GOP leadership is not doing a damn thing about it.

Quit holding conservative women to a different standard than men. It is getting old.

ToonTheNews| 3.21.11 @ 2:00AM

Finally accepting their many gaffes such as Michele Bachmann’s latest and the fact they are obviously not perfect, the Tea Party is attempting to appeal to the American Idol Demographic with a music video. The Michelle Bachman Trio sings "We Know We Weren't Perfect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjcmZtqidQk

Jonah| 3.21.11 @ 7:01PM

What 'many' gaffes, moron?

More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein

http://spectator.org/blog/2011/03/15/bachmann-misfires

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