THE SITUATION ROOM

 Transcript
Feb. 27, 2009 — 16:00 ET

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Let me go back to … the conservative conference here in Washington right now, CPAC, as it’s called.

Michele Bachmann, congresswoman, Republican, from Minnesota, she was referring to the new chairman of the Republican Party, Michael Steele, an African-American, and she — she said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R), MINNESOTA: Michael Steele, you be the man. You be the man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Causing a little stir out there.

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: Is that appropriate, not appropriate, just funny, or what?

RON CHRISTIE, FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT BUSH: No, I think it’s kind of stupid.

“You be the man”? I mean, for goodness’ sakes, you’re talking about the chairman of the Republican Party, and she’s making some sort of hip gesture? I hope it wasn’t trying to be a racial gesture.

I — look, we need to … add to our party. We need to get more people in the party, youth, diversity and whatnot. That kind of comment is just ridiculous. …

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Related report on this site

Is Michele Bachmann a Flake? (May 17, 2011)

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She Be In Da House

Tildology.com
Feb. 28, 2009

Rep. Michele Bachmann’s “you be da man” remark prompted this photoshopped image on the Tild~ blog:  

Watch rap version of Bachmann’s “Michael Steele, You Be Da Man” (00:48)

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Who’s Leading the GOP?

Mike Barnicle, substituting for MSNBC “Hardball” host Chris Matthews on Friday, Feb. 27, 2009, discussed Rep. Bachmann’s “you be da man” remark with David Corn of Mother Jones magazine.

Transcript
Feb. 27, 2009

MIKE BARNICLE, GUEST HOST: Also, we’ll admit it, we here at HARDBALL just love watching what’s going on at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. Face it. Can you really beat Congresswoman Michele Bachmann saying to the new African-American chairman of the RNC, Michael Steele, quote, “Michael Steele, you be da man! You be da man,” unquote? … That’s in the HARDBALL “Sideshow.”

[…]

BARNICLE: Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, we have heard from her in the past. She was off camera, I believe, complimenting Michael Steele, the new Republican chairman, on his speech. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), ALASKA: Michael Steele, you be the man. You be the man. [Note: The transcript incorrectly identifies Rep. Michele Bachmann as Gov. Sarah Palin.]

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNICLE: I mean, David, what can you say about that? I mean …

CORN: You know, she is her own story. What can I tell you? She came on air and she said that Barack Obama wanted to — hated America. And also, the other night, Michael Steele was sending slum love out to Bobby Jindal. These guys, they’re trying to be hip, trying to be cool, and they’re making all sorts of faux pas.

Bottom line is, I don’t think they’re addressing what people are going through or experiencing in their own lives, as they look at the crumbling economy around them. And until they start to do that, they’re going to be in a big hole.

BARNICLE: I’m telling you, I think the convention’s being held in Roswell, New Mexico. I’m sticking with that. David Corn … thanks very much.

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Mike Malloy — Hip Hop Bachmann

Posted on Rochester Populist
March 1, 2009

Cross-posted on “Bachmann Watch” at St. Cloud Times Online.