Michele Bachmann, A Fiesty, Frontier Type

What is happening to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in the press just stinks, but I am impressed with how she is handling herself.  She is not my candidate, but there is a great deal about her that I like.  For starters, she is a Norwegian Lutheran from Minnesota, and so am I. 

My maternal grandfather was a Blaisdell.  His people have been in this country since 1635.  But, both of my grandmothers came from Norway, and as is typical, their’s was the culture I was raised in.  Minnesota is the only state I know where marrying into a different synod of the Lutheran church is referred to as marrying outside your faith.  It is a blue state (which adds considerable weight to the broad appeal of both Bachmann and Pawlenty) which has grown much of its political muscle within its university system. 

I think those solid roots are helping Michele Bachmann confront the prejudice she is facing now in the media.  Rep. Bachmann is the first female Republican from Minnesota to serve in the House of Representatives.  She has a law degree and a career as a business woman, yet she was asked whether or not she is a, “flake” in a new interview.  On the surface, this may seem a question pertaining to her tendency to use the wrong word when speaking off the cuff.  But that is not the point of the question at all.  First of all, every one of us misuses the King’s English when speaking casually.  Put us on camera and under pressure and it happens more frequently.  During the last campaign I heard Candidate Obama make a speech to a group of Native Americans and make reference to the Ute Indians, pronouncing the name oo-tay instead of youte (rhymes with lute).  If George Bush had said the same thing that clip would have been on the David Letterman show for two weeks running.  But Obama made the gaff so not a thing was said.  Unless you are exceedingly glib speaking spontaneously is a mine field.  And, frankly, I’ve seen glib.  Glib is President Clinton saying he’s never had sex with that woman.  Glib is highly over rated and usually refers to how smooth a liar someone is. 

No, the real point of the question was:  Since you are a woman you are not given the same latitude as a man in casual errors.  You are accountable in ways a man is not.  You are kept to a higher standard, because you have more to prove.  By virtue of your sex, you are in need of closer scrutiny.  The proof that the question was sexist is in the question itself.  You ask a man if he is lying, or to prove his point, or for clarification, but you don’t ask him if he is a flake. 

To her credit, Bachmann met that question head on, referencing its insulting nature.   She did the same later that week when another reporter tried to goad her into sparring with Sarah Palin.  Instead of rising to the bait, Bachmann called the reporter on trying to promote a cat fight.  Would they try the same with two male candidates?  No, they would ask about differences on issues, not emotions.  Of course, what might really bug the press about Palin and Bachmann is that here are two Republican women who have achieved high office not by being married to a philandering President like Hillary Clinton or by being the child of a U. S. Congressman like Nancy Pelosi, or by having independent wealth or accident of birth.  They have made it on their own hard work and merit.  My how that must chap a few butts.