MUDFLIX: Gay Barbarians at the Gate – Marcus Bachmann as First Dude
In this clip, Keith Olbermann talks to Ken Vogel of Politico about the potential trainwreck, or elevation of the Bachmann campaign.
With the less than inspiring, less than electable GOP lineup, Michele Bachmann is actually rising in the polls. What kind of “First Dude” would this oft-compared to Sarah Palin potential candidate bring to the White House? Marcus Bachmann, a Christian counselor hasn’t been bashful about his social conservative opinions. Last we checked, he referred to gays as “barbarians.” Nothing like reaching out to 10% of the population. But, clearly, it’s not the 10% that they are concerned with. Keith asks if Bachmann’s strategy is simply to rally the motivated and homophobic base to get to the polls, ensure her candidacy via a primary win, and then… hope that God takes care of the rest?
Good question.
There’s no doubt that Palin believes “God opened a door” for her last time. OK, granted he slammed it on her head pretty decisively in the general election, but still. We have to wonder if this brand of conservative zealot simply takes it one step at a time and is more concerned with gaining the nomination at this point than in actually winning. The bullet has to be in the chamber first, if you’ll pardon the firearm analogy.
Keith wonders whether Mr. Bachmann’s over-sharing of his feelings toward the LGBT community will increase her popularity with the base, or whether his wife will try to “keep him in the closet” for the rest of the campaign.
Bachmann displays the tendencies. The eerie part in his interview is “Barbarians need to be disiplined.” It’s disgusting that he would consider the people he claims to be helping as “Barbarians”.___ “Need to be disiplined”?___ It’s almost as if he’s mimicking or parroting someone who had a profound and lasting effect on his past life, or imprinted it in his mind.___ Kind of something you would expect Norman Bates would say in “Psycho”.___ How much is known about his childhood, or up-bringing? Were his parents radical Christians? Or did he just get this warped through osmosis?
You and me both Lennie17
Yes, leenie. Me three. It’s so good to have Keith back…
Because the current crop of Republican candidates scare the bejeezus out of me, I am going to deliberately choose to put a positive spin on the upcoming political season.
As Ken Vogel suggests, the participation of Bachmann and others like her are pushing the (slightly) more moderate (or less batsh!t crazy, depending on your particular viewpoint!) candidates even further to the right in order to compete with them for the primary election. In these days of constant and immediate media, everything you say in public has the potential to haunt you forever. Years ago, a candidate could moderate their platforms during the general campaign to appeal to a wider audience but, these days, nothing disappears and nothing can be hidden once it’s out there in the intertubes (see Anthony Weiner’s, well, weiner!)
However, the further right they go for the primary, the more moderates and independents will flee from them during the general, and the better chance we have of re-electing a sane person to the White House.
I hope.
I agree, Leenie. However, that also means that we could see a strong Independent emerging, or even a 3rd Party. I still don’t rule Palin out. She’s just that unpredictable, and just that much in need of the spotlight.
Hope I’m wrong.
But you’re right — the division in the GOP gives us hope.
I find “Let go and let God” to be an overly simplified version of cluelessness with these folks. They go along doing whatever it is that they want, blissfully unaware of how they are affecting those around them whether it’s people in their own family or those they encounter in the street and when the stuff hits the fan they “let God fix it”.
I really hope that a rabid homophobe like Mr. Bachmann, AND his wife cannot not be elected Nationally. I really think that anti-gay crap just doesn’t fly anymore with the general public, only the pockets of Christian fascists are obsessed with what men do in private.
Palin and Bachmann’s Social Conservatism is a very dangerously manipulated idea. The fundies have taken it far past the general ideas of “real” conservatives.
As a socially Progressive Liberal, I find them all horrendously over the top. And frankly, I fear them. I am one of the ones they hate. And they do hate.
There was an article on the Bachmanns on HP yesterday. The comments are very revealing and many supply links to support their strong viewpoints that Marcus is indeed “in the closet,” and not in the way Keith is saying. If you watch the videos supplied, it makes it difficult to argue. Another Ted Haggard in denial & self hatred of Gays trying to convert gays. If she becomes a serious contender, my bet is that he will have some of his secret companions coming out of the woodwork.
Interesting, because when I watched that video of Marcus Bachmann that was exactly my take on him. Something about his mannerisms and the way he described gays (aside from the insane barbarian comment). But then I thought that I was the one stereotyping and kind of dismissed it.
Personally, I wish Michele Bachmann would just give it up and then her husband can be whoever he is without us having to know more than we do. That one interview with him was more than enough.
Good post, AKM.
Hey, lately I’ve been trying to digest Leah Burton’s column at
http://godsownparty.com/blog/2011/06/definition-social-conservative-dominionist-politics/
My biggest takeaway right now is to recognize the dog whistle phrase, “social conservative”, really needs to be expressed better, and more directly, as “religious politics”. I’m still slowly wading through her extensive Dominionist commentary, but, then again, it’s involved and complicated… and extensive!
Elsie. Leah is the person to read. This is a complicated subject and you could not find a better source for your information. It took me alot of reading but i think i understand enough. Should you have questions i believe she would be happy to help -should she have the time.
Leah’s work is excellent.
The talk2action.org website also contains extensive info on Dominionism:
Here are a few links:
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/5/114652/6239
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2010/1/20/131544/037
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2005/12/5/10810/4239