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Progressive Poll Finds Minnesotans Call Bachmann An Embarrassment
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)
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A new poll from three progressive groups finds that Minnesotans are embarrassed by their state's most famous Representative, Michele Bachmann. Even independents in state -- some of the group Bachmann supposedly speaks for as a national leader of the Tea Party movement -- are embarrassed by her time in Congress.
The Research 2000 poll, sponsored by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy For America and Credo Action, found that just 29% of Minnesotans say they're "proud" to have Bachmann in Congress while 56% are embarrassed.
But those numbers change significantly when the specific Minnesotans Bachmann represents are asked for their opinion of her.
In the 6th district, which Bachmann has represented since 2007, 47% say they're proud of her, while 39% say they're embarrassed. In the neighboring 7th district which borders the Dakotas to the west of Bachmann, voters are also split on her. Forty-five percent of 7th District respondents, represented by Rep. Colin Peterson (D) since the early '90s, said they were proud of Bachmann. 40 percent called her an embarrassment.
Along party lines statewide, the numbers aren't especially surprising. A vast majority of Democrats (87%) are embarrassed by the firebrand Bachmann, while a large majority of Republicans (58%) are proud of her. Just 12% of Republicans said Bachmann was an embarrassment, and just 8% of Democrats say they're proud of the job she's doing.
Among independents, though, the numbers are a surprise. As a national leader of the Tea Party movement, Bachmann has rallied independents nationwide in the past year. But the same can't be said of independents in her home state. According to the poll, just 26% of independents in Minnesota are proud of the job Bachmann has done in Congress, while 62% call her an embarrassment.
The PCCC/DFA/Credo poll was first reported by the Minnesota Independent this morning.
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Michael A
February 12, 2010 10:34 AM
Firebrand is too generous and not necessarily negative. Firebrand is someone who aggressively promotes a cause and stirs unrest in promoting that cause.
What is she? A loon with no cause. What is her cause? I don't know what it is other than to promote herself by saying idiotic things. That's not a firebrand that's a self-promoting fool, like rambo of the great northwest.
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sbv
February 12, 2010 10:43 AM
of course progressives would be embarrassed by her; unfortunately she keeps being re-elected by those in her district she speaks to. are the divisions in this country? let me count the ways; starting with the divide between the educated - "oh their elites, lets invalidate them as socialist," and those who are superficial and proud of it.
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acf_ma
February 12, 2010 10:45 AM
I would feel better about the poll if it hadn't been identified as a "progressive poll" because any time something is identified with a political slant or position, the outcome of its efforts or statements has to be considered in that light. How were its questions written, how were the participants chosen, are two questions that could have a significant bearing on the poll results. Even the spiel of the poll takers could affect participants attitudes. OTOH, I'm not surprised. She spends too much time trying to incite controversy.
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tduff
February 12, 2010 11:18 AM
Then do not vote for her.
http://randomthoughtstd.blogspot.com/
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BrookJolley
February 12, 2010 11:55 AM
I'd like to see her numbers compared to Al Franken's.
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Nathan
February 12, 2010 12:02 PM
I am from Minnesota, and let me tell you, it is a big state. Most of the state, especially the liberal Twin Cities and the unionized Iron Range in the north are solidly democratic. But the Sixth is as batshit crazy as Bachmann is, which is all that matters. Tarryl Clark is going to have a tough time trying to unseat her.
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benintn
February 12, 2010 12:04 PM
I grew up in Minnesota, and even though I'm in the "red" Bible-belt state of Tennessee, I can tell you that as a proud Bible-believing Evangelical Christian, I find Michele Bachmann to be a totally embarrassing. Not just as a native Minnesotan, but as a fellow Christian. She gives Jesus a bad name.
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IClaudia
February 12, 2010 12:15 PM in reply to benintn
benintn -- I just cracked up over "She gives Jesus a bad name." And I am still laughing. Seems to me that ought to be tough to do.
And it really confuses the issue. As a Democrat, do I then say, "Go, Michele."
Oh, gosh -- all I can manage is to sit here wondering, "What would Jesus do?"
And I am still laughing. . . .
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kenga
February 12, 2010 12:37 PM in reply to benintn
A quote I ran across yesterday, that is apropos.
And which I wanted to share.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Mohandas Gandhi
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darkrhyme
February 12, 2010 12:24 PM
Ol' Goat Eyes has that crazy look that ain't never going away.
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Marinus van der Lubbe
February 12, 2010 12:26 PM
Meaningless MudBrain Michelle meandering and muddling to most Minnesotans by now mummified by her mass hallucinogenic machinations and muttering stand motionless as she collects her farm subsidies....
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jacks45
February 12, 2010 12:50 PM
Would you like to swing on a star,
carry moonbeams home in a jar
and be better off than you are
or would you rather be a Republican?
He’ll rant against the Liberal, the Commie, the Queer
he’s happiest when wallowing in fear.
His mind is narrow but his back is broad
He’s quite, quite certain that Barack’s a fraud
and by the way if you hate majority rule
You may grow up to be a Republican.
Oh would you like to swing on a star,
carry moonbeams home in a jar
and be better off than you are
or would you rather be a Conservative?
A Conservative’s a fella who believes in hard work
he thinks that Pelosi’s just a jerk.
He’s for smaller government and prayer in school
but no new taxes – that’s his Golden Rule
But if you love guns and several foreign wars
You may grow up to be a Conservative.
Oh would you like to swing on a star,
carry moonbeams home in a jar
and be better off than you are
or would you rather follow Rush?
Now Rush he’s a fan of small d-mocracy
with just a touch of jingo and hypocrisy.
He’s got all the answers to our nation’s ills
and he’ll sure explain ‘em as he’s poppin’ those pills.
So if your brain has been lately turned to mush
You maybe oughta follow Rush.
Not all your Fascists step like a goose
There are more and more on the loose
Spreading lies and heaping abuse.
They’re so much better than you are
That’s why they’re shootin’ down your star.
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Schmed
February 12, 2010 1:38 PM in reply to jacks45
Excellent! Well done!
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Max Thrax
February 12, 2010 1:14 PM
We can go round and round about why the US is in taters, and we do, but the real reason ultimately is the death of the Enlightenment. Bachmann and her supporters murder reason everyday and the media plays ball. A Republic filled with uneducated, backwards and willfully ignorant people cannot succeed. In a healthy Republic, teevee talking heads wouldn't beat around the bush with these people, but the media coddles and encourages. God I hate these people.
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Schmed
February 12, 2010 1:40 PM in reply to Max Thrax
The authoritarians like to keep the masses dumb. Dumb people are so pliable and easy to misdirect. So, they bought all of the media and commenced to the dumbing down of the masses.
They aren't about democracy. They're about control.
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bluebell
February 12, 2010 2:16 PM
Well, you have to remember that in Minnesota we are all above average.
Democrats ought to be more worried about us disillusioned liberals in MN-5.
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acf_ma
February 12, 2010 4:14 PM in reply to bluebell
Why are you disillusioned? Is it because you voted for Democrats, and they haven't produced the change you expected, or has your political philosophy has turned around and the tax cuts, and privatization of SS and Medicare as proposed by Republicans now sound like fiscal policy you like? If it's the former, then walking away from Democrats in the next elections might result in putting Republicans in control. Is that the alternative you want to see? If it's the latter, then voting out Democrats still might put Republicans in control, and I suggest you have made a poor change in political philosophy. Republican policies put us in this hole we're in, and continuing to dig by proposing the same ones, will only put us deeper if they win and get to implement them again.
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