Bachmann Speaks to Sellout Crowd at Ohio Fundraiser

‘This week we saw the final betrayal of Israel’

Rep. Michele Bachmann speaks at a Republican fundraiser in Archbold, Ohio, May 20, 2011. (Photo credit: JD Pooley / AP via USA Today)

News Services / St. Cloud Times
May 21, 2011

ARCHBOLD, Ohio — U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, a leader in the conservative tea party movement and the speaker at a Republican fundraiser Friday night, sounded the kind of call to arms that a presidential candidate would make.

The Minnesota Republican, the guest speaker at an Archbold fundraiser organized by U.S. Rep. Bob Latta told reporters that she’ll announce in June whether she’ll join fellow Minnesotan Tim Pawlenty, the state’s former governor, in running for the party’s nomination.

She dubbed herself and Mr. Pawlenty “the Minnesota Twins.”

In her speech to the Lincoln Day dinner, Bachmann served up the kind of talk the crowd came to hear — a lot of criticism of President Obama, the price of fuel, national health care, and the direction of the nation.

About 750 people squeezed into the hall for Ms. Bachmann’s speech, at $25 per ticket.

She said President Obama is the first president, going back to Democrat Harry Truman, “not to stand with Israel.”

“The President’s policy has been either to ignore or insult our very dear ally and friend, Israel. This week we saw the final betrayal of Israel when the President came out and said Israel must return to pre-war 1967 borders and also shrink a little more than that,” she said.

She said she was committed to repealing “Obamacare,” which she declared “socialism,” and said that she is 100 percent anti-abortion, from conception to natural death, and behind marriage between a man and a woman. …

Bachmann said she’d make the decision [on whether to run for president] in consultation with what she called her “large family,” including her husband of 33 years, five biological children, and 23 foster children.

“So there’s a lot of people we have to consult in this decision,” she said.

“No matter who goes into the race, that does not have any bearing on whether I go in or don’t go in” … she said. …

The three-term member of Congress said she believes President Obama is beatable in 2012.

“Yes he is, absolutely. I firmly believe he will be a one-term president,” she said.

Although Bachmann had said she might announce her presidential plans in May rather than June, she said she has decided to wait.

“I look forward next month to make an announcement about my plans for president of the United States one way or the other so I’m thrilled to be in Ohio,” Bachmann said during interviews before dinner. …

Bachmann told reporters she’d make a good candidate because “I’m a bold, strong, constitutional conservative and I’m willing to stand up and fight for our values that people are concerned about. They want us to take the country back and it’s my firm conviction that we have to start making things in the country again and so my focus will be on jobs in the United States so that we can make things here again.” …

Full story

Video

Michele Bachmann pays visit to Northwest Ohio
(WTVG-TV 13, Toledo, OH, May 20, 2011)

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Related reports on this site

Michele Bachmann: Eyes on the Prez (May 16, 2011)

Bachmann Running for President (March 24, 2011)

Michele Bachmann Found in Ohio (March 1, 2010)

Michele Bachmann Eyes ‘Madam President’ (Sept. 9, 2009)

Michele Bachmann’s March of Folly (2009-2010)

Michele Bachmann Up-Close (2010-2011)

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — May 23, 2010

Immelman vs. Bachmann Petition

One year ago today, I posted a link to the nominating petition to help me gain ballot access as an independent candidate to challenge Rep. Michele Bachmann for her U.S. House of Representatives seat in Minnesota’s 6th Congression District.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: Two Years Ago — May 23, 2009

Rocket Strike on Green Zone

File photo of previous Green Zone attack. (Photo credit: DPA)

Two years ago today, on May 23, 2009, I reported that a Katyusha rocket blasted Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone overnight, killing a civilian working for the U.S. Department of Defense.