Meet the Bachmann

Sunday, December 18
Meet the Press
David Gregory, interviewer
NBC

Michele Bachmann stumbled through a cringe-worthy interview with David Gregory. Bachmann did not inspire a great deal of confidence, on the contrary she seemed almost desperate in her attempts to gain a foothold in this GOP race. When asked if she agreed with Congress and President Obama's decision to raise the debt ceiling, she adamantly condemned them for exacerbating the nation's debt. Gregory showed her a poll that said 58% of polled people supported that decision, which only increased her accusations. She said the U.S. is acting like Greece and Italy, not like a first world country. Apparently, no one told her that Greece and Italy are first world countries. Forty five seconds of pure awkwardness followed as Bachmann made broad debt-crisis statements and Gregory tried to interject to correct her accuracy. Bachmann has possible the worst record of making inaccurate statements of all the G.O.P. candidates and this interview did nothing to assuage those accusations. Gregory asked Bachmann about some of the more pointed attacks she has faced from fellow candidate Newt Gingrich. Bachmann apparently (for she never answered the question directly) does not believe Gingrich's attacks are sexist, although his condescending words disturbed her. She insists that she is a serious candidate and intends to win Iowa. It is upsetting that Bachmann continues to make incorrect statements. The general public cannot be expected to go find fact-checks, so, inevitably, some portion of voters will accept her false statements are truths. It is extremely irresponsible of a candidate mislead votes in this way. Primarily, these frequent inaccuracies will hurt Bachmann's credibility among political figures and news sources. The Des Monies Register already cited it as a reason Romney, and not Bachmann, received their endorsement. Bachmann's growing reputation for spewing falsities will decrease the number of endorsements from important politicians and the media.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/