Bachmann: Swine Flu Happens Under Dem Presidents
Michele Bachmann is at it again: Attributing flu pandemics to Democratic presidents.
Bachmann did an interview with the right-wing Pajamas Media, and had this to say:
"I find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out then under another Democrat president Jimmy Carter," said Bachmann. "And I'm not blaming this on President Obama, I just think it's an interesting coincidence."
As the Minneapolis/St. Paul City Pages points out, Bachmann has the 1970s flu outbreak all wrong. It happened in 1976 when Gerald Ford was in office.
This also shows just how shallow Bachmann's historical understanding is. She could have easily also referred back to the infamous 1918 Spanish flu pandemic -- Woodrow Wilson was president at that time, don't you know!
Josh
Matt
Eric
Add Bachmann to the list with Limbaugh and the CWA.
... I can't believe I'm actually successfully making a list of Republicans claiming a flu pandemic to be a hoax.
April 28, 2009 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
...corrected link: "the CWA".
April 28, 2009 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
To clarify: by CWA, you mean the right-wing group Concerned Women for America -- not the far better-known Communications Workers of America. Your initial reference puzzled me, because the 55,000 flight attendants who are CWA members have been very public with their converns about swine flu.
April 28, 2009 8:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
My apologies to the Communications Workers of America.
April 28, 2009 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's sort of amazing how such incredibly stupid people can find creative new ways to be stupid.
April 28, 2009 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Beyond stupid. In another, more reasonable age, Ms. Bachmann would have been institutionalized long ago as a run-of-the-mill paranoid schizophrenic.
April 29, 2009 12:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes and how totally off the intellectual mark this woman is, after all, a she's a Representative from one of our states. It is truly amazing how really stupid some political folks really are. It simply shows that any old thing can get elected in some areas, no matter if they are dumb as a stick, or if they have no concern for American's safety. It was saddening to me when I thought my cousin who lived in her district may have voted for this woman. My cousin, a long time Republican states that she simply could not vote for someone so lacking in just plain common sense. It is a sad situation for my cousin. She assures me that she would never vote for such an incompetent person as Bachmann because no matter the party label Bachmann's lack of intellectual honesty makes her unacceptable.
April 30, 2009 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK Democrats, take the gun away form Bachmann's head so she isn't forced to say a new stupid thing every day. Well, she must have a gun to her head. Surely nobody would act like this voluntarily, would they?
April 28, 2009 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
It gets her in the news every day, doesn't it? Who ever heard of Michele Bachmann before she started saying idiotic things?
April 28, 2009 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Josh Marshall was onto her way back in like 2005 when she practically date raped GW Bush after a State of the Union address.
What district is she from? She's got to be embarrassing to someone in Minnesota - I think of it as such a logical and reasonable state.
April 28, 2009 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
i'm from mn, and she embarrasses me! not that i live in her district, but still...
April 28, 2009 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
MN-6 - a Republican fungus infesting a largely Democratic state.
If we do lose a seat after the 2010 census, I hope the Dems have the good sense to redistrict her in with either Betty McCollum or Keith Ellison.
April 28, 2009 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ellison v Bachmann in any debate would be amazing. If she didn't just spontaneously combust from a combination of fear, paranoia, jungle fever and psychotic delusion, it would be worthy of pay-per-view to view an erudite African American Muslim wipe the floor with her sorry racist, xenophobic self.
April 28, 2009 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK. We've got the RNC chair asking "How could we have known swine flu would happen?" and this MN wingnut kissing the former president who gutted Health & Human Services and the FDA -- and somehow the Dems are to blame for swine flu. Brilliant. I'm starting to have an epiphany as to why old Arlen decided to leave the party.
April 28, 2009 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
The gift that truly keeps on giving.
You'd think (well, I would) that the Republicans would like the attention off Specter and the 100 day anniversary (the more attention Obama gets, the more the public probably approves). And so it makes sense to discuss the flu in a meaningful way.
But no. Let's get out there and say crazy ass stuff about who's responsible for the flu. That's the way to get the spotlight!
April 28, 2009 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's like they want to lose more elections.
April 28, 2009 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bachmann is auditioning for SNL. I know it. You know it. The whole world knows it.
(ok. ok. she might not know it.)
April 28, 2009 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
See? You try to parody these clowns and you just can't. No matter how goofy you try to make them look, they always manage to make themselves look even goofier.
I do believe Bachmann is in "certifiable" territory now. And that is not an exaggeration. If there's any justice in the world, she's going to end up in a rubber room.
April 28, 2009 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've seen this happen a lot with the GOP, they don't just blame Democratic Presidents for what happens in their first few months in office, when the die was set by the previous GOP President. They have to go further and blame JFK for events in 1960, or Bill Clinton for events in 1992. Now it's "President" Jimmy Carter "in 1976."
April 28, 2009 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes - the disconnect between this and their rhetoric is simply stunning. Welfare recipients are supposed to show personal responsibility and be accountable for their actions; GOPers somehow are absolved of all responsibility for anything despite holding the 3 branches of government for most of 8 years. Not sure what it is that the GOP are drinking these days, but I'd like to have a sip before I go to the Pearly Gates to have my chat with St. Peter...
April 28, 2009 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jimmy Carter was elected in 1976 and it says so right there in the Google.
April 28, 2009 6:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like to refer to this phenomenon as "Homeschooling by Religious Conservatives: A Cautionary Tale"
April 28, 2009 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't forget - 9/11 was basically Clinton's fault. If he hadn't forced the FBI to look into all his affairs they could have been waterboarding Mohammed Atta before Labor Day.
April 28, 2009 7:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Go PALIN-BACHMANN 2012!!!!
April 28, 2009 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about Bachmann & Beck '12.
April 28, 2009 6:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Funny, I thought the swine flu was under Gerald Ford.
Hey Republicans are still running against Bill Clinton.
Will they ever care about the country rather then their philosopy
April 28, 2009 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Abuse of the word "interesting" is the true sign of an intellectual lightweight.
"Hey Bachmann, why exactly do you find that interesting?"
"I don't. Just tryin' to make Dems seem spooky 's all."
"OK, thought so, just checking."
April 28, 2009 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I LOVE THIS WOMAN!!!!!!! Not in the biblical sense of course.
April 28, 2009 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Her psychopathology knows no bounds.
April 28, 2009 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
She is queen Asshat!
April 28, 2009 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
And she forgets Legionnire's Disease as well - another Republican President viral disease.........
April 28, 2009 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even the poorest, illiterate rice farmer in a "3rd world" country has more brains than the US voters of the Bush/Bachman 'base' who voted this nut into office.
April 28, 2009 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
And there was an Asian flu outbreak in 1957-58 under Ike (another Republican)
April 28, 2009 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republicans try to connect Obama to Carter's one term presidency in any way they can. Just sad!
April 28, 2009 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin & Bachman Siamese twins separated at birth...
April 28, 2009 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jon Stewart HAS to pick up this little story.
April 28, 2009 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Clearly, according to Bachmann at least, even viruses have the good sense to be Republicans.
April 28, 2009 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
/wingnut
April 28, 2009 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Three cheers to MSNBC reporting this early today, noting that "this would have been interesting if Rep. Bachmann had the correct information", going on to point out that Gerald Ford was President during the epidemic, not Carter. The Three Amigos of the GOP--Bachmann, Santorum, and Palin. What new stupidity will flow from their itty bitty brains?
April 28, 2009 7:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Michelle Bachmann - crank up the crazy and rip off the knob!!!
April 28, 2009 7:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's just bat-shit crazy.
I wonder if she ever thinks about actual policy and stuff. Or is she just too busy fashioning tin-foil hats?
April 28, 2009 7:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Her hobby is to take rational thought and turn it into origami.
April 28, 2009 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's tough. Usually the GOP floats nonsense stories and they either stick around or get debunked and disappear. Either way we wish aloud that the media would ignore their nonsense the next time.
With Bachmann, however, it's just too enjoyable hating her. She obviously won't repeat this information nugget tomorrow because it turned out to be false, but I don't really want the media to stop covering her bulls**t because the next will be even crazier than this one. Unfortunately, though, eventually something she says will stick and there won't be any way to kill it. Then we'll be sorry.
April 28, 2009 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm.. that's weird. I was just thinking about how economic depressions seem to happen during Republican administrations.
April 28, 2009 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
DF, don't forget how the scourge of AIDS hit the world under the Reagan administration. Of course, some extreme opinions talk about how AIDS was a punishment from god. Then again, there is SARS under GWB. Faux causality games are so much fun!
April 29, 2009 2:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Aren't they though? Good to see you, CT.
April 29, 2009 7:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, DF. I haven't really been gone, however, I've been lurking since about Jan 21. It was clear from that date that it wouldn't be really prudent to express myself here. (It was explained to me actually.)
Then again, I've seen the level of discourse dip precipitously here. A few poor folks who went against the "in crowd", immediately got labeled as me (mostly because they came onto the board around Jan 21), just as Bwakfat/Workerbee immediately thought I was someone from CSPAN that she tussled with. Some people have limited imaginations, I guess, their universe is closed so anyone who they don't like become the same person! Just as Obama has pointed out that you can't torture and not lose yourself, so too, you can't act like a mob imposing restrictions on a political board and not look like those who are ideologically opposite of you. Bullying tactics are bullying tactics. Hence the drop in real intelligent discussion like during the primaries.
Anyway, you were enough to make me pop up and comment in public. The last 100 days have been interesting to say the least. Wish I could say more. Suffice it to say that while people here sniff at the MSM, the sources of news these people go to instead are just as poor.
I miss our previous conversations on the previous incarnation of this site.
PS Did you notice that high speed rail is on the national "to do" list? Yep!
April 30, 2009 3:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's only an "interesting coincidence" if you happen to be a "paranoid schizophrenic."
April 28, 2009 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gee, every time I've had flu, it's been during a Republican administration. (Early in 1976 and around 1990. You don't forget flu that easily.)
April 28, 2009 9:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I still think it's interesting that 9/11 happened under a coalition GOP-Shadow government.
April 28, 2009 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well. . . now the idea is out there, and we'll be hearing this latest conspiracy from every red-faced, right-wing blowhard. Whether it's true or not doesn't really matter; red meat for the hungry masses.
April 28, 2009 10:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shame on the people of St Cloud if they reelect this dip shit. Stupid does not begin the describe this dope
April 28, 2009 10:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
What she is implying is that flu outbreak is a punishment from God for electing a Democrat.
April 28, 2009 10:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for explaining what would otherwise be totally inexplicable. I wonder if the morons in her district are kicking themselves for re-electing this sh*tforbrains. Maybe not. Intelligence and rationality are not requirements in the new Repugnicant party, may they disappear soonest! "Interesting" that she may be a catalyst for their ultimate demise. What an embarrassment!
April 29, 2009 2:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't it also an interesting coincidence that the really horrific banking/credit crises throughout our history - the ones that spread through the "real" economy like a pandemic - always happen toward the end of longish periods of mostly Republican rule? (1893, 1907, 1929, 2009)
Of course there is a difference between that and Representative Bachman's interesting coincidence. Democrats didn't actually cause the flu.
Parenthetically, I have to wonder if Bachman is giving a sly wink to religious wing nuts who see God's wrath (at liberals, of course) in every natural disaster, a la Phelps, Hagee, Robertson, and Falwell.
April 29, 2009 12:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
I may be in the minority here but I want the occasional Michelle Bachmann to stay in Congress to display to people just how fringe/outrageous the GOP can be. The ideal would be a sitution where there was a matching fund, where half of it was going to her and half of it to Dems going against Republican incumbants. Keep the GOP crazies I say.
April 29, 2009 12:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
What a complete moron!
April 29, 2009 12:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
For anyone who thinks the American century will continue as it has for the past 50 years (la di da), here's the rebuttal.
April 29, 2009 4:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
"What she is implying is that flu outbreak is a punishment from God for electing a Democrat."
It may even be worse. She may be implying that the Democrats loose this stuff on a helpless populace in order to further enslave them with rules, regulations. That seems to be Rush's take on global warming. It's all projection: the Republicans ruled eight years by terrorizing the country; naturally, they accuse the Democrats of their own sins.
April 29, 2009 6:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have been checking on this swine flu tracking website http://www.swine-flu-tracker.com/ on and off for the last couple of days now and its kinda scary seeing how it this strain of flu is spreading
April 29, 2009 6:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's that kooky look in her eyes that frightens me
April 29, 2009 9:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think someone at pajama media needs to get out of bed and have some coffee.
April 29, 2009 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
fucking jackass this woman is.
April 29, 2009 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
This woman has the reasoning and emotional maturity of a 5 year old.
April 29, 2009 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
The corrected headline should read "Bachmann: Swine Flu Happens Under Democrat Presidents." It just adds spice to what she said, and I like spice.
April 29, 2009 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink