Michele Bachmann

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Michele Bachman
Representative-elect from Minnesota's 6th district
Term of office: term begins 2007
Political party:	Republican
Succeeding:	Mark Kennedy
Religion:	Evangelical Lutheran
Born:	April 6, 1956 Waterloo, Iowa
Spouse:	Marcus Bachmann

Michele Bachmann (born Michele Amble on April 6, 1956) is the Republican Representative-elect of Minnesota's 6^th congressional district, one of eight congressional districts in Minnesota. She succeeds Representative Mark Kennedy, who vacated the seat in a bid for the U.S. Senate. She won 50% of the votes in the 2006 election defeating DFL candidate and child safety advocate Patty Wetterling and the Independence Party's John Binkowski. She will be leaving her position as State Senator representing Minnesota's 52nd District, which includes Stillwater.

Contents 1 Family Background 2 Joining Carter Campaign 3 Marriage, Law Education, and Reagan Campaign 4 Tax Litigation Attorney for the I.R.S. 5 Protesting Abortion 6 Establishment of New Heights Charter School 7 Opposition to Profile of Learning and School-to-Work Policies 8 Gaining support of EdWatch 9 Education Advisor for MFI 10 Championing Equal Time for Intelligent Design in Stillwater 11 Campaigns for School Board while Speaking for EdWatch 12 Securing GOP Endorsement for State Senator in 2000 13 GOP Primary 2000 Run 14 General Election 2000 15 General Election 2002 16 Political positions 17 2006 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives 18 Personal 19 Electoral history 20 References 21 External links

[edit] Family Background

Bachmann was born born Michele Amble and grew up in Anoka, Minnesota (now in the state's Sixth District). Her parents divorced and at the age of 13 she became financially independent. Graduating from Anoka High School in 1974, she went on to attend Winona State College (now Winona State University). To pay her way through college she worked various jobs including working in Alaska cleaning fish. It was there she met her future husband, Marcus Bachmann (who has a doctorate in clinical psychology).^[1][2]

[edit] Joining Carter Campaign

Michele began dating Marcus Bachmann in 1976 while working together on the Presidental Campaign of openly "born again Christian" Jimmy Carter. Michele was opposed to the January 22, 1973 ruling on Roe v. Wade and Carter's campaign also opposed abortion. (During his run he stated "I think abortion is wrong and that the government ought never do anything to encourage abortion. But I do not favor a constitutional amendment which would prohibit all abortions, nor one that would give states [a] local option to ban abortions."^[3])

[edit] Marriage, Law Education, and Reagan Campaign

After Carter was President, Michele and her future husband Marcus Bachmann attended the Christian documentary film Francis Schaeffer's 1976 “How Should We Then Live?” Inspired by the film, they began to protest abortion by praying outside of clinics and being sidewalk counselors in an attempt to dissuade women from seeking abortions. They abandoned the Democratic Party they felt that the party was/is too supportive of abortion rights and hinders free enterprise.^[1] Michele married Marcus Bachmann in 1978 on his family's dairy farm where they lived and worked for awhile after their marriage.^[4] They then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she enrolled at the Bible-based Coburn School of Law, an affiliate of Oral Roberts University.^[5] In 1980, Michele Bachmann worked for Ronald Reagan’s campaign. She earned a Juris Doctorate at Coburn in 1986, and a Legum Magistra degree in tax law from William and Mary Law School.^[4][2]

[edit] Tax Litigation Attorney for the I.R.S.

From 1988 to 1993, Bachmann was a U.S. Treasury Department attorney in the US Federal Tax Court located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Representing the I.R.S. in hundreds of cases, both civil and criminal, she prosecuted people who underpaid or failed to pay their taxes.^[4][6] She left her career to become a full-time mother (relying on the income of her husband's Christian Counseling Center in the St. Croix valley area^[5]). Her first child, Lucas, was born in 1983. Her other children are Harrison, Elisa, Caroline, with Sophia the youngest born in 1995.^[2] Over the years, the Bachmanns have also taken in 23 foster children, all of them teenage girls.^[5][7]

[edit] Protesting Abortion

The first time Bachmann's political activism gained media notice was at an abortion protest in 1991. She and around 30 other abortion opponents went to a Ramsey County Board meeting where a $3 million appropriation was to go to build a morgue for the county at St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center (now called Regions Hospital). The Medical Center performed abortions and employed abortion-rights pioneer Dr. Jane E. Hodgson. Bachmann attended the meeting to protest public tax dollars going to the hospital; speaking to the Minneapolis Star Tribune she said that “in effect, since 1973, I have been a landlord of an abortion clinic, and I don’t like that distinction.”^[8][6]

[edit] Establishment of New Heights Charter School

In 1993 she joined with other parents of Stillwater to open New Heights Charter School, the first K-12 charter school in the nation (City Academy High School in St. Paul, which began a year earlier as the first charter school in America, starts at an 8th grade level). In Minnesota charter schools receiving public tax money and being tax-exempt nonprofits have to be overseen by a public school district, the oversight of New Heights soon discovered problems. Conflicts arose when many parents and the school district questioned if money from public tax dollars was going towards injecting Christianity into the curriculum. Minnesota State Law prohibits charter schools from using taxpayers' money for teaching religiously motivated courses. Parents charged Bachmann with trying to set up classes on Creationism and advocating "'something called "12 Christian principles" be taught, very much like the 10 Commandments.'" Bachmann and the board of directors also refused to allow the in-school screening of the Disney film Aladdin feeling that it endorsed magic/witchcraft and promoted Paganism. With her directors, Bachmann appeared before the Stillwater School Board to address the concerned group of parents. Feeling that the criticism was an unfounded personal attack she stated "Are you going to question my integrity?" As the critique continued Bachmann and four members of her board resigned on the spot; reportedly viewing the whole controversy as stemming from anti-Christian discrimination.^[2] Bachmann denies the charter school involved any controversy on religious curriculum, "My original hope was that it would be a good academically grounded school. There was a disagreement in philosophy about how much we should be taking on at-risk kids."^[6]

[edit] Opposition to Profile of Learning and School-to-Work Policies

All of Bachmann's biological children were homeschooled^[9], though some attended New Heights Charter School for awhile. It was only when Bachmann was trying to find out why she was having difficulty with the foster children placed in her care that she determined these problems were the fault of the Public School system, "It was the behaviors, trends, attitudes and aspirations (or, in the case of the latter, lack thereof) exhibited by these teens that began to prompt a parental curiosity and concern that would motivate her professional perspective to undergo a new call to consciousness. 'I began to realize as I studied aspects of their assignments that these attitudes and behaviors could be traced to their curriculum,' she explained."^[7]

Bachmann soon gained attention in conservative circles with her outspoken opposition to Minnesota's Profile of Learning and School-to-Work policies.

The Profile of Learning was a program of graduation standards in Minnesota. The criticism leveled at its first segment was that it was administered starting at the Eighth grade but only required Sixth grade competency in Math and Reading for High School graduation. The other segment of the Profile of Learning was criticized for focusing "on attitudes, values and beliefs of students, rather than on transmitting knowledge".^[10]

Minnesota's School-to-Work program was enacted so that Minnesota could get additional Federal funds by complying with the School To Work Opportunities Act passed by Congress in 1994 and administered by the Department of Labor. The Act calls for "A program of instruction and curriculum that integrates academic and vocational learning... [with] Instruction in general workplace competencies, including instruction and activities related to developing positive work attitudes, and employability and participative skills."^[11]

Opponents of School-to-Work like Bachmann, see the program as an attack on the two tiered educational system (where high school students may chose to prepare for either vocational or college preparatory classes to further their post-graduation education). In a 1999 column Bachmann said “School-to-Work alters the basic mission and purpose of K-12 academic education away from traditional broad-based academic studies geared toward maximizing intellectual achievement of the individual. Instead, School-to-Work utilizes the school day to promote children's acquisition of workplace skills, viewing children as trainees for increased economic productivity.” She also criticized its cost seeing it as “a firmly entrenched, egregiously expensive feature of the current K-12 education system.”^[12]

[edit] Gaining support of EdWatch

In 1998 Bachmann's opposition to the Profiles caught the attention of Maple River Education Coalition (now called Edwatch). The group (which has been called "a religious conservative think tank"^[2]) consistently oppossed the Profiles of Learning. Edwatch also advocates equal time for Design Theories in Science Classes^[13][14][15], objects to History Classes using BCE & CE (Before Common Era & Common Era) instead of BC & AD (Before Christ & anno Domini - "In the year of our Lord")^[16],and opposes gay marriage saying "Legalizing 'marriage' for homosexual couples will push that school indoctrination agenda forward very far and very fast for even our youngest and most innocent children. It would establish the legal and moral equivalence of homosexuality in our schools."^[17]

EdWatch represents the feeling among many Christian Social Conservatives that aspects of the Profiles and the School-to-Work programs are attacks on their faith. An example of such is the lectures of Michael J. Chapman, a member of the Board of Directors for EdWatch^[18]. Chapman spoke of the Profiles as a conspiracy against Christianity, “Our children - the citizens, voters, and leaders of tomorrow, are being prepared to accept a future new society incompatible with America’s founding principles and our founder’s Christian worldview…secular humanism and postmodernism redefined the focus and purpose of education away from 'knowledge' for the maintenance of freedom; to 'politically-correct attitudes, values, and beliefs' for the transformation of society.”^[19] In September 1999 Bachmann made presentations with Michael Chapman in the Minnesota cities of Thief River Falls and Hutchinson "regarding Goals 2000, the Profile of Learning, School-to-Work, Workforce Investment Act and local partnerships."^[20]

Throughout Bachmann's political career EdWatch has been her strongest local supporter by backing her activities through its political arm Edaction (thereby allowing EdWatch to retain its tax-exempt status under 501c(4) & 501c(3) tax laws). Bachmann for her part continues to direct anyone hearing her lectures on Public Education reform to EdWatch's website.^[7]

[edit] Education Advisor for MFI

Bachmann's column of Oct 8, 1999, shows that her speeches against the Profiles and School-to-Work programs garnered more attention and support from other conservative groups. In the end of the column it states "Michele Bachmann is an education advisor for the Minnesota Family Institute. ...Minnesota's largest nonprofit, non-partisan pro-family organization."^[12]

Throughout her political career Bahmann has continued to have the support of the Minnesota Family Council (MFC). MFC is the political arm of the Minnesota Family Institute (thereby allowing MFI to remain tax-exempt under 501c(4) & 501c(3) tax laws).

Along with calling for Public School Education reform^[21], Minnesota Family Institute has taken other more controversial positions. They promote “Abstinence only” sex education classes^[22] The group oppose the teaching of evolution (saying “the reigning creation myth is Darwinian evolution”^[23]). The MFC calls for History classes to say "America's founding is rooted" on "Judeo-Christian principles"^[24][25] and have promoted the positions of David Barton (who claims the Founding Fathers agreed that “it is the duty…for our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”^[26][27] Along the same lines the President of the Council, Tom Prichard, wrote “The growing movement in the Christian community for developing a biblical worldview in every area of life — including politics and government — is an exciting development. It will not only enable Christians to intelligently articulate their beliefs and ideas, but it will ultimately help restore society to the way it was intended to operate.”^[28] The Council advocates School Choice including having tax dollars fund vouchers for religious schools.^[29] The MFC reprinted a warning to parents that though it would be a “fault of logic” to say “that reading about witches and wizards necessarily translates into these occult practices”, reading Harry Potter books may be dangerous because it leads to a “desensitization to witchcraft”.^[30] The Council has also claimed that the sexual humiliation aspect of the Abu Ghraib detainee scandal was in large part due to “American television, movies, music videos, and lyrics… [for] normalizing behavior and actions that were previously considered aberrant.”^[31] (Most psychologist see parallels with the Stanford prison experiment).

Throughout her rise in politics Michelle Bachmann’s position against abortion rights garnered her continual support from the Minnesota Family Council, who oppose abortion and assisted suicide saying "Human life is sacred from conception to natural death".^[24] In line with this position they oppose allowing RU-486 to be prescribed^[32]. They are against stem cell research^[33][34] and call for a ban on all types of surrogate motherhood.^[35]

Bachmann’s call for Education Reform combined with her opposition to gay rights also mirrors that of the Minnesota Family Council. The MFC has complained that “Students as young as kindergarten are being told that being gay is as normal as being heterosexual”^[36] The Council has created the SOS: Save Our Students program “to stop the advance of the homosexual agenda in one of the most important battle grounds — the public schools”, and counter “[the] homosexual indoctrination our students are being exposed to — usually under the guise of ‘multicultural diversity’ or teaching tolerance”.^[36] MFC’s “SOS” program advises people to bar support clubs for homosexual students in their local public school (going so far as to provide a list of schools where such clubs exist).^[37]They have also warned against the “Let’s Get Real” film series being shown in public schools which has the stated goal of “encouraging youth to have dialogue about the issues that lead to taunting, bullying and sexual harassment, including racial differences, perceived sexual orientation, learning disabilities, class and religious differences and more.”^[38] MFC terms this as “‘diversity’ indoctrination”. Their statement of opposition ends asking “how many of our children will be bullied by the trainers into believing that homosexuality is good and that those who oppose it are bad?”^[39]

Bachmann’s views continue to mirror the MFC organization she was once an advisor for. She gave a speech at 2004’s “EdWatch National Education Conference” (which was co-hosted by The Minnesota Family Council).^[40] In her talk entitled "The Effects of Gay Marriage on Education", she warned against allowing such topics to be raised in schools “He [the student] goes home then, and says ‘Hey mom, what's gayness? We had a teacher talking about this today.’ The mother says ‘Well, that's when a man likes other men and they don't like girls.’ The boy's 8, he's thinking ‘I don't like girls. I like boys. Maybe I'm gay.’ And you think, that's way out there. Kid isn't gonna think that. Are you kidding? That happens all the time. You don't think that's intentional, the message that's being given to these kids? That's child abuse.”^[41]

Bachmann’s position against allowing Gay Marriage has also endeared her to the Minnesota Family Council she once advised. The groups strong support of Bachmann’s movements on this issue stem from its outspoken positions against gay rights.^[24] The Council was originally named “the Berean League” and was “initially formed in reaction to the Minnesota Council of Churches' 1982 decision to support the repeal of Minnesota's anti-gay sodomy laws.”^[42] In 1983 they were successful against efforts to repeal the ban. They accredited this to Jesus, saying ex-State Senator turned lobbyist Wayne Olhoft “was the person God appointed to lead the new effort”, and “It was God bringing together people who knew what was needed” to defeat the efforts of the Minnesota Council of Churches.^[43] (The MFC continues to post documents saying “Being gay is a sin just like stealing”^[44] and criticizes Christians believing otherwise “‘To accept homosexual relationships as normal is a serious affront to the authority of scripture and to two thousand years of church tradition. The proper Christian view is that homosexual behavior is destructive to individuals and to society. That was never in question among church leaders until homosexuality became a hot political issue. Now instead of leading the way morally, some denominations…are in danger of following society down the path to destruction.’”^[45])

When Michelle Bachmann speaking against Gay Marriage^[46] quoted Edmund Burke “All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.” She was following after Wendell Brown who used the same quote against those calling for the repeal of Minnesota’s sodomy law when he called for the founding of MFC.^[43] (Minnesota’s sodomy laws where repealed in 2003^[47]).

Besides attracting EdWatch and Minnesota Family Council, Bachmann's speechs for Public Education reform also rose her visibility in her local district, and within Minnesota's GOP.

[edit] Championing Equal Time for Intelligent Design in Stillwater

While the foster children in her care where attending Public Schools in the Stillwater School District, Bachmann headed a drive to have Intelligent Design be given equal time with Evolution in Science classes. Mary Cecconi, a member of the Stillwater School Board in 1996, recalls "She wanted to introduce Intelligent Design. And when you hear her talk about Intelligent Design, it makes sense. I believe in giving children all the information out there, too, so they can make their own decisions. But Intelligent Design wasn't even a school of thought, it wasn't even a viable theory."^[2][6] It appears that Bachmann dropped this idea in the next stage of her political career, the run for a seat on the Stillwater School Board, for she "denies that she spoke of creationism in the campaign."^[6] (In the 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District case, a federal court ruled that Intelligent Design is "a religious view, a mere re-labeling of creationism, and not a scientific theory" and was therefore unsuitable for inclusion in a public school science curriculum.^[48])

[edit] Campaigns for School Board while Speaking for EdWatch

In 1999 to further her ideas on school reform and believing that “School board members had some autonomy to reject some standards [of the Profile of Learning]”^[6], Bachmann took the advice of Bill Pulkrabek (then the head of the GOP's chair for the Stillwater District) and ran for the Stillwater School Board.^[2] In a controversial development Pulkrabek had his party endorse Bachmann and four other conservatives to what had always been traditionally nonpartisan positions.^[2] The slate of endorsed candidates also were controversial because many didn’t have any children attending Public School in the district (placing their children in charter schools or home schooling). Many parents were upset by what they saw as an overtly partisan and ideological campaign by the GOP slate. Bachmann’s campaign emphasized her opposition to the Profile of Learning, a state-mandated curriculum that many social conservatives felt promoted secular humanism.^[49] Critics also claim that the GOP was funding the campaigns of its endorsed slate for the Stillwater school board, a claim Bachmann denies.^[6]

In September of 1999, despite running for the Stillwater School Board, Bachmann made appearances in other areas of the State with EdWatch’s Michael Chapman (founder of American Heritage Research, and the author of such articles as “The Christ-ophobic Bias In America’s Curriculum”^[50] and “Education for Sustainable Tyranny: The United Nations Plan for Our Children” ^[51]). They appeared together at Hutchinson and Thief River Falls (93 miles and 335 miles away from Stillwater respectively). She and Chapman also were interviewed at the Minnesota State Fair on KKMS Christian Talk Radio to “critically review the public comments made by Commissioner Christine Jax (of the Department of Children, Families & Learning) and Lieutenant Governor Mae Schunk at the meeting in New Brighton sponsored by the League of Women Voters” ^[52][53] which Bachmann had attended.^[54]

On October 28, 1999, despite the School Board Election being four days away, Bachmann appeared with State Representative Republican Mark Olson at Central Middle School Plymouth/Wayzata (40 miles away from Stillwater). There they presented arguments against the Profiles, before a segment where the standards were defended by Mary Lilsvie and Judy Rohde (of the Department of Children, Families & Learning, and the Minnesota Department of Education respectively). Commissioner Jax and Senator Pogemiller had withdrawn from the event after learning they would face opposition.^[55]

In the November Stillwater School Board elections Bachmann and the entire GOP's slate were soundly defeated,"Collectively, the five endorsed candidates finished dead last in the field."^[2] To date this remains her single political loss. Bachmann continues to place education and public school reform among her top priorities; her critics continue to point out that none of her biological children went to public school (attending either New Heights Charter School or being homeschooled). ^[2][56]

After losing the School Board election on November 2; Bachmann continued with her pre-existing schedule of State-wide appearances with EdWatch's Chapman (the schedule had been drawn up on October 23, while her School Board campaign was still ongoing). Three days after the election she and Chapman appeared in Arden Hills at North Heights Lutheran on Nov. 5; then at Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church on Nov. 11; and Grace Church Roseville on Nov. 30th.^[57] On November 17, 1999, EdWatch began to sell cassette and VHS tapes of Bachmann and Chapman's speeches.^[58] Their appearance in Eden Praire was taped and later was broadcast on Time Warner cable’s public access channel (which aired in Edina, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Bloomington).^[59] Last to go on the schedule in 1999 was a presentation with Chapman at the Willmar Senior Center^[60]. In January 2000 Bachmann and Chapman again went statewide to speak against Minnesota's Educational Standards. They spoke at Way of the Cross Church, Blaine; Bloomington Lutheran School, West Bloomington. In February they spoke at Whitney Senior Center, St. Cloud^[61]; and at Mound Free Church^[62]. Most notably Bachmann and Chapman spoke on January 25th at the Republican Senate District 42 conference, in Calvary Lutheran Church, Edina.^[61] On March 20, they spoke at Kenwood Trail Junior High School, Lakeville. Finally, on April 7, 2000 Bachmann and Chapman spoke at the Fairmont VFW ^[59], this was her last appearance with Chapman and EdWatch in 2000. She began to direct all her energies into running for State Senator.

[edit] Securing GOP Endorsement for State Senator in 2000

On April 1, 2000, the Minnesota GOP held its endorsing convention for the District 56 Senate seat. The result marked a shift towards more social conservatism in the party, Michele Bachmann was given the GOP endorsement over fellow Republican the moderate State Senator Gary Laidig. She succeeded at securing the endorsement despite Laidig being a Vietnam veteran who had held the State Senate seat of District 56 for 28 years.

Both sides have different takes on what occurred. Laidig holds that many of the new delegates had "religious litmus tests...and they were getting support in the churches". He found it distasteful to "bring the pulpit to politics". His differences with the new wave of delegates caused them to view him as "a Republican in name only".^[2] Despite 30 years of loyalty to the party he suddenly had a real opponent in Bachmann. Though she was dismissed by Laidig as not a serious contender, in a stunning upset she won the endorsement on the first ballot getting 62% to Laidig's 38%.^[63]

Bachmann's supporters claim that it was her opposition to Minnesota's Profile of Learning (which Laidig supported) that won her the endorsement. They saw Laidig as "the senator who for years has been opposing the party platform". Her supporters claim "Dr. Bachmann herself, who had no intention of running, was shocked by her victory". They say she only became convinced to run by a "spontaneous and genuine draft effort". Bachmann herself said "I came in wearing jeans, a sweatshirt and moccasins, and I had no makeup on at all. I had not one piece of literature, I had made not one phone call, and spent not five cents and I did not solicit a vote." Laidig maintains Bachmann performed a well executed political maneuver to secure the endorsement and that "She planned this all along."^[2]

While Bachmann continues to insist she was drafted at the convention (as her 2004 interview with the Naples Sun Times shows^[7]) her version of events are at odds with those of Bill Pulkrabek, then the head of the GOP's chair for the Stillwater District. Pulkrabek spoke to Bachmann in 1999, he says she "told him she wanted to run for Laidig's seat. He, instead, encouraged her to run for school board first: 'We talked about knocking off Gary later.'"^[2]

[edit] GOP Primary 2000 Run

Controversy surrounded the Bachmann run for the GOP primary because of the actions of Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Repubican Dick Day. Senator Day had promised to remain neutral in the GOP primary in District 56, but that did not last. His first act breaking neutrality was to publish a personal letter of recommendation for his longtime colleage and friend Gary Laidig in the local newspaper. Far more controversal was his directing funding from the Senate Republican Committee to the Holmquist group, HCS, to call voters in Minnesota Senate District 56 asking for their opinion on an accusation that Bachmann insulted the mothers of the victims of the Columbine tragedy.

Michele Bachmann responded to the situation saying "The Senate Republican Campaign Committee has hired professional phoners to call into our district in order to deliberately spread falsehoods, There is no place for this kind of politics in Minnesota political campaigns. ...This is appalling, absolutely outrageous and totally false. This is push polling and clearly in violation of Minnesota law. It is both illegal and unethical. They must be in a very desperate way to sink to these tactics."

The Chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party, Ron Eibensteiner, personally called upon Minority Leader Dick Day to immediately stop the Committee's illegal advertising. Bachmann's supporters saw the situation as a "Good Ol' Boys" network "opposing the citizens who want to choose their own representative in free and open elections."^[64]

Actively Supporting Senator Laidig where some Minnesota political luminaries (and supporters of Profile of Learning) such as former Governor Arne Carlson and former state Senator and 1998 gubernatorial candidate Joanne Benson.^[65] One of Michele Bachmann's active supporters at the time was then mayor of Saint Paul Norm Coleman (who went on to represent the state in the Federal Senate).

Besides running on educational reform, Bachmann also said her work as a tax lawyer was first hand experience that taxes must be held down and were in need of reform. During this campaign (and in a 2004 Naples Sun Times interview^[7]) Bachmann claimed the title "Doctor" because of her LLM (Master of Laws) degree in Tax Law, this was improper usage in the US where only the legal degree of Scientiae Juris Doctor (Doctor of the Science of Law), which has the same requirements as a Ph.D., is considered worthy of the title of Doctor.

Bachmann went on to win the primary carrying 60% of the votes to Laidig's 40%.^[66] Gary Laidig has since become a lobbyist with clients including the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office.

[edit] General Election 2000

In the general election, Bachmann faced DFL nominee Ted Thompson (a Stillwater lawyer, mortgage broker, and former chief of staff for retired 6th District Congressman Bill Luther^[67]) and Independence Party candidate, Lyno Sullivan (a computer programmer who proposed Minnesota government use software to capture citizen input and save taxes by adopting Linux^[68]).

The GOP’s 2000 election literature called Bachmann “an incredibly hard-working candidate…exceptionally well-versed on the issues”. They also pointed out her level of support “Every parade has at least 75 volunteers walking with her, handing out stickers and literature”, and said “Bachmann is a one-woman dynamo, and she's caught up a good chunk of the district in her enthusiasm. She seems to have mastered most of the campaign fundamentals, including fundraising, volunteer organization, and smart strategy.”^[69]

One of her proposals in 2000 was to "eliminate state corporate and personal income taxes and replace them with an expanded sales tax." DFL canidate Ted Thompson said the plan "spells trouble for low and moderate-income families" and was "dangerous for anyone earning a living from the retail trade in Senate District 56." He said "The plan is poorly thought out, especially for someone who actively touts her experience and credentials as a licensed tax attorney and former attorney for the IRS."^[70]

Michele Bachmann won the State Senate seat with 52%, Ted Thompson carried 43% and Lyno Sullivan carried 5%."^[71] Bachmann's supporters said the race was one of three "won with the battle over the Profile of Learning as one of the defining issues. The teacher's union spent thousands of dollars against each of these winning candidates because Education Minnesota supports the Profile of Learning."^[71]

Reflecting on the race, her opponent Ted Thompson said "A lot of political types didn't think she could win, but she had name recognition because of that school board run." ^[6]

[edit] General Election 2002

In 2002, Bachmann faced a 10-year incumbent, DFL state senator Jane Krentz, after district lines were redrawn following the 2000 census. Bachmann won the election for the new District 52 by 9 percentage points.

[edit] Political positions

Bachmann's positions include:

• Favors privatization of Social Security along the lines suggested by the Cato Institute. ^{[72] [73]}
• Supports President Bush's policies in Iraq and believes the military must "stay the course" there ^[49][74][75]
• Favors leaving the nuclear attack option on the table in dealing with Iran ^[76]
• Favors personal rapid transit and opposes light rail transit and commuter rail transit^{[citation needed]}
• Opposes minimum wage increases ^[77]

Some of Bachmann's local critics say she could be more accurately described as a Christian fundamentalist politician. ^[6] Appearing on the radio program "Prophetic View In The News" to promote her 2004 state capitol rally against same-sex marriage, Bachmann said that "God calls us to fall on our faces and our knees and cry out to Him and confess our sins. And I would just ask your listeners to do that now. Cry out to a Holy God."^[78]

In support of a constitutional amendment she proposed to ban same-sex marriage,^[79] Bachmann said that the gay community was specifically targeting children and that "our children…are the prize for this community."^[78] Bachmann believes that people who are homosexual, lesbian, bisexual or transgender suffer from "sexual dysfunction" and "sexual identity disorders."^[80] She also said that she believes that referring to homosexuals as "gay" is "part of Satan."^[80]

Bachmann supports the teaching of intelligent design in public school science classes ^[81][82] During a 2003 interview on KKMS Christian radio program "Talk The Walk", Bachmann said that evolution is a theory that has never been proven, one way or the other.^[83] She co-authored a bill that would require public schools to include alternative explanations for the origin of life as part of the state's public school science curriculums. ^[84] In October of 2006, Bachmann told a debate audience in St. Cloud, Minnesota, that “there is a controversy among scientists about whether evolution is a fact or not...There are hundreds and hundreds of scientists, many of them holding Nobel Prizes, who believe in intelligent design.”^[85]

Bachmann has been a longtime foe of legal abortion. In 2006, Bachmann stated that she would vote to permit abortion in cases of rape and incest.^[86] In the Senate, Bachmann introduced a bill proposing a constitutional amendment restricting state funds for abortion. The bill died in committee.^[87]

In a 2001 article, Bachmann wrote extensively of her belief that the current governments of the United States and Minnesota State had plans to end the American free market economy and impose a centralized, state-controlled economy in its place. She wrote that education laws passed by Congress in 2001, including "School To Work" and "Goals 2000", created a new national school curriculum that embraced "a socialist, globalist worldview; loyalty to all government and not America."^[88] In 2003, Bachmann said that the "Tax Free Zones" economic initiatives of Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty were based on the Marxist principle of "from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."^[89] She also said that the administration was attempting to govern and run centrally-planned economies through an organization called the Minnesota Economic Leadership Team (MELT), an advisory board on economic and workforce policy chaired by Pawlenty.^[89]

Prior to her election to the State Senate and again in 2005, Bachmann signed a “no new taxes” pledge sponsored by the Taxpayers League of Minnesota.^[90][91] As Senator, Bachmann introduced two bills that would have severely limited state taxation. In 2003 she proposed amending the Minnesota state constitution to adopt the so-called “Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights” (TABOR).^[92] In 2006 Bachmann proposed repealing Minnesota’s alternative minimum tax. Both Bachmann efforts died in committee.^[92]

In 2005 Bachmann opposed Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s proposal for a state surcharge of 75 cents per pack on the wholesale cost of cigarettes. Bachmann said that she opposed the state surcharge “100 percent—it’s a tax increase.”^[93] She later came under fire from the Taxpayers' League for reversing her position and voting in favor of the cigarette surcharge.^[94]

[edit] 2006 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives

Main article: Minnesota 6th congressional district election, 2006

According to Bachmann, God asked her to run for Congress. ^[95] Bachmann received support from a fundraising visit in early July 2006 from speaker of the House Dennis Hastert^[96]. On July 21, 2006, Karl Rove visited Minnesota to raise funds for her election. ^[97] In August, President Bush came to town to keynote her congressional fundraiser, which raised about $500,000.^[2] Bachmann has also received fundraising support from Vice President Dick Cheney ^[98]. None of these visits were made to her district, and most of her fund-raising comes from outside of her district.

The Republican National Congressional Committee has put $500,000 into the race since mid-August, for electronic and direct-mail ads to attack Wetterling.^[2]

According to Bloomberg.com news, evangelical conservative leader James Dobson was “trying to engineer a win for Michele Bachmann” in the 2006 campaign. Dobson’s Focus on the Family operatives planned to distribute 250,000 voter guides in Minnesota churches to reach social conservatives, according to Tom Prichard, president of the Minnesota Family Council, a local affiliate of Dobson's group. In addition to Minnesota, Dobson’s group was also organizing turnout drives in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey and Montana.^[99]

During a debate televised by WCCO on October 28, 2006, news reporter Pat Kessler quoted a story that appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and asked Bachmann whether it was true that the church she belonged to taught that the Pope was the Anti-Christ. Bachmann answered that her “church does not believe that the Pope is the Anti-Christ, that’s absolutely false… I’m very grateful that my pastor has come out and been very clear on this matter, and I think it’s patently absurd and it’s a false statement.”^[100] Bachmann is a member of a church that is part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, whose doctrine teaches that the Roman Catholic papacy is the Anti-Christ identified in Scripture.^[101]

The first publicly released poll, conducted by SurveyUSA for KSTP-TV, showed Bachmann holding a 50-41 lead over DFLer Patty Wetterling in mid-September, with John Binkowski taking 5 percent.^[2] A poll conducted by the Minneapolis Star Tribune and published on October 17, 2006, showed Wetterling holding a 48-40 lead over Bachmann, with Binkowski taking 4 percent.^[102] A KSTP Eyewitness News/SurveyUSA poll conducted Oct. 22-24 showed Bachmann with 49 percent, Wetterling with 43 percent, Binkowski with 5 percent, and three percent of the voters undecided.^[103] On November 1, Reuters published results of a Zogby poll conducted between October 24-29 regarding House races across the United States. This poll showed Bachmann with a ten point lead over her nearest competitor: Bachmann 52 percent, Wetterling 42 percent.^[104]

On October 30, 2006, Majority Watch released the results of a poll conducted between October 24-26. The results showed Bachmann at 48% and Wetterling at 47%.^[105]

On November 7, 2006, Bachmann defeated opponents Patty Wetterling and John Binkowski, and was elected to represent the 6th District of Minnesota in the United States Congress.^[106]

[edit] Personal

Bachmann's husband, Marcus Bachmann, operates a Christian counseling center in the St. Croix valley area. He has a master's degree in counseling from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Union Institute & University in Cincinnati.^[2]

[edit] Electoral history

• 2006 Race for U.S. House of Representatives - Minnesota 6th District
  • Michele Bachmann (R), 50%
  • Patty Wetterling (DFL), 42%
  • John Binkowski (I), 8%

• 2002 Race for Minnesota State Senate - District 52
  • Michele Bachmann (R), 54%
  • Jane Krentz (DFL), 46%

• 2000 Race for Minnesota State Senate - District 56
  • Michele Bachmann (R), 52%
  • Ted Thompson (DFL), 43%
  • Lyno Sullivan (I), 5%

• 2000 Race for Minnesota State Senate - District 56 (Republican Primary)
  • Michele Bachmann (R), 60%
  • Gary Laidig (R) (inc.), 40%

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Michele Bachmann for Congress. Republican National Committee (September 07, 2006). Retrieved on Nov. 10, 2006
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q} Anderson, Jr., G.R.. ""The Chosen One"", City Pages (Minneapolis), October 4, 2006.
3. ^ Hallow, Ralph Z.. "Carter condemns abortion culture", News World Communications, Inc., November 4, 2005.
4. ^ ^{a b c} About Michele Bachmann. Bachmann for Congress (2006). Retrieved on Nov. 12, 2006
5. ^ ^{a b c} Kevin Duchschere, "Senator, mother, rising star", Minneapolis Star Tribune, January 1, 2005
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Anderson, Jr., G.R.. ""Somebody Say 'Oh Lord!'"", City Pages (Minneapolis), February 23, 2005.
7. ^ ^{a b c d e} La Paglia, Bernadette. "Senator lectures on educational complacency", Naples Sun Times, Townnews Pub., Oct. 6, 2004. Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2006
8. ^ Pat Prince, “Abortion issue clouds med center lease plan,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, December 18, 1991.
9. ^ Candidate Michele Bachmann(MN-06). National Republican Congressional Committee (2006). Retrieved on Nov. 12, 2006
10. ^ http://edaction.org/2002/020721.htm
11. ^ http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/stw/sw3swopp.htm
12. ^ ^{a b} Bachmann (Oct 8, 1999). School-to-Work: The Heart of Educational Reform. Minnesota Family Institute.Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
13. ^ Olson, MD, Ross S.. Critique of "Minnesota Draft Science Standards: Working Draft, September 4, 2003". EdAction. Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2006
14. ^ Effrem, MD, Karen R. (January 28, 2004). Science Testimony. EdAction. Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2006
15. ^ Effrem, MD, Karen R.. Political Themes in the National Science Standards. EdAction. Retrueved on Nov. 11, 2006
16. ^ Events & Hot News, January 2005. Edwatch (January 12, 2005). Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2006
17. ^ Alert: Defense of Marriage and School Curriculum. EdAction (March 13, 2004). Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
18. ^ EdWatch Board. Edwatch. Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2006
19. ^ Worldview War in the Classroom: A Three Part Multi-Media Seminar by Michael J. Chapman. Edaction (June 23, 2003). Retrived on Nov. 11, 2006
20. ^ Announcements. Maple River Education Coalition (Aug, 24 1999). Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
21. ^ Outcome-Based Education. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
22. ^ Teen Sex Education: What You Teach Is What You Get. Minnesota Family Council. Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
23. ^ Robinson, Rachel. Adjusting your worldview. Minnesota Family Council. Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
24. ^ ^{a b c} Statement of Principles. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
25. ^ Education researcher says textbooks being rewritten to exclude role of religion in American history. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
26. ^ Barton, David (February, 1997). Barton: Nation's Religious Roots Run Deep (transcript). Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
27. ^ Barton, David. Christian Worldview Expert to Speak to Christian Leaders. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
28. ^ Prichard, Tom. America's founding and Christianity: What do they have in common?. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
29. ^ Choice in Education. Minnesota Family Council (August 18, 1999). Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
30. ^ Beam, Lindy. What Shall We Do With Harry?. Originally Published by Focus on The Family, republished by Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
31. ^ Noble, Scott. What Does the Iraqi Prison Abuse Tell Us About American Culture?. Minnesota Family Council. Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2006
32. ^ Oppose RU-486 Abortion Drug in Minnesota. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2005
33. ^ PFN Culture Shorts for Nov/Dec 2004. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
34. ^ Bohon, Dave. Victory for Values. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
35. ^ Cumming, Jennifer L.. The Proposed Uniform Parentage Act and Surrogate Motherhood. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
36. ^ ^{a b} Bohon, Dave. MFI’s ‘SOS Save Our Students’ program counters gay agenda in schools. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2006
37. ^ Is there ‘gay club’ in your school?. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 16, 2006
38. ^ Respect for All Project October 2006 Update. Women's Educational Media (October 2006).Retrieved on Nov. 16, 2006
39. ^ Anderson, Barb. Video on bullying is latest in pro-gay series. Retrieved on Nov. 16, 2006
40. ^ 2004 EdWatch National Education Conference (2004).Retrieved on Nov. 16, 2006
41. ^ ""The Effects of Gay Marriage on Education" given at 2004 EdWatch National Education Conference: Education for a Free Nation" by Bachmann, Michele held in Bloomington, MN (November 6, 2004).
42. ^ Mary's Election Posse. City Pages LLC (October 27, 2004).Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2006
43. ^ ^{a b} Eastlund, Emily. Twenty Years of Fighting for Families. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2006
44. ^ Being gay is a sin just like stealing. (Originally published in Stillwater Gazette) reprinted by Minnesota Family Council. Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
45. ^ Bohon, Dave. ELCA Congregations in Twin Cities Defy Church, Bible on Homosexuality. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2006
46. ^ . (2004). A Message to Supporters Minnesota for Marriage.
47. ^ Furst, Randy (June 26, 2003). Twin Cities Gay Rights Groups Hail Decision; Conservatives Express Dismay. Originally from Minneapolis Star Tribune, reprinted by sodomy laws.org.Retrieved on Nov. 16, 2006
48. ^ Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District. Wikisource.
49. ^ ^{a b} Black, Eric. ""Profile: Michele Bachmann"", Star Tribune, October 17, 2006.
50. ^ Chapman, Michael (2005). The Christophobic Bias In America’s Curriculum. Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
51. ^ Chapman, Michael (2005). Education for Sustainable Tyranny: The United Nations Plan for Our Children. Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
52. ^ Announcements. Maple River Education Coalition (Aug. 31, 1999).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
53. ^ Challenges And Changes To The Profile Of Learning. Maple River Education Coalition. Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
54. ^ Part II, "Challenges and Changes to the Profile of Learning.". Maple River Education Coalition (July 24, 1999).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
55. ^ Jax & Pogemiller Refuse Debate. Maple River Education Coalition (Oct 27, 1999).
56. ^ Norman Draper, "GOP nod fails to help slate of five in Stillwater", Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 3, 1999
57. ^ HAPPENINGS. Maple River Education Coalition (Oct 23, 1999).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
58. ^ Newest Happenings/Announcements. Maple River Education Coalition (Nov 17, 1999).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
59. ^ ^{a b} Updates & Happenings. Maple River Education Coalition (March 15, 2000).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
60. ^ Elections and Other Coming Events. Maple River Education Coalition (Oct 30, 1999).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
61. ^ ^{a b} Happenings!. Maple River Education Coalition (Jan 4, 2000).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
62. ^ Updated Happenings!. Maple River Education Coalition (Jan 9, 2000).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
63. ^ Republican Senator loses endorsement over Profile. EdAction (April 3, 2000). Retrieved on November 11, 2006
64. ^ Bachmann calls for end to Illegal Campaigning. EdAction (April 16, 2000). Retrieved on November 11, 2006
65. ^ Bachmann wins Primary in SD 56!. EdAction (September, 2000). Retrieved on November 11, 2006
66. ^ Campaign Election Results 2000. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrevial date Nov. 11, 2006
67. ^ "Candidate Bio", Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
68. ^ Sullivan, Lyno. Seeking Zope Volunteers. Lyno Sullivan Volunteer Committee. Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
69. ^ Cronin, Bridget (September 5, 2000). GOP Newsline - General Election Countdown: 63 Days.
70. ^ Thompson, Ted. Bachmann Tax Plan Would Cripple Businesses And Hurt Consumers. Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
71. ^ ^{a b} Minnesota Election Results. Maple River Education Coalition (Nov 10, 2000).Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
72. ^ ""Sixth District Candidate Profiles"", Star Tribune, February 21, 2006.
73. ^ Budig, T.W.. "Michele Bachmann announcement February 14, 2005". Star News.
74. ^ Lohn, Martiga. ""6th District candidates display clear differences on policy"", Pioneer Press, September 21, 2006.
75. ^ Budig, T.W.. ""Sen. Bachmann's entrance into politics was unexpected"", ECM Publishers, Inc., October 5, 2006.
76. ^ Midday with Gary Eichten. Minnesota Public Radio.
77. ^ Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee Hearing, 1/26/05.
78. ^ ^{a b} Senator Michele Bachmann, appearing as guest on radio program "Prophetic Views Behind The News", hosted by Jan Markell, KKMS 980-AM, March 6, 2004.
79. ^ Michele Bachmann's Constitutional Amendment to ban legal recognition of gay relationships.
80. ^ ^{a b} Michele Bachmann, speaking at EdWatch National Education Conference, November 6, 2004.
81. ^ "Interview with Michele Bachmann", City Pages (Minneapolis).
82. ^ ""Schools Should Not Limit Origins-Of-Life Discussions To Evolution, Republican Legislators Say"", Stillwater Gazette.
83. ^ ""Michele Bachmann v. The Theory of Evolution"", Stillwater Gazette, September 1, 2003.
84. ^ S.F. No. 1714, "School districts science curriculum design requirement"; introduced 83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004).
85. ^ Senator Michele Bachmann, Bachmann-Wetterling-Binkowski candidates’ debate. October 7, 2006, Voter's Choice Candidate Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the St. Cloud Area, the St. Cloud Times and the St. Cloud Women of Today. Apollo High School in St. Cloud.
86. ^ Bachmann speaking at Boutwell’s Landing seniors community, September 21, 2006. Videorecording.
87. ^ Lawrence Schumacher, “Bachmann banks on moral issues”, St. Cloud Times, October 19, 2006. (Sources: Minnesota State Senate, Office of the Revisor of Statutes)
88. ^ Michael J. Chapman and Senator Michele Bachmann, "How New U.S. Policy Embraces a State-Planned Economy", article distributed by EdWatch, 2001
89. ^ ^{a b} Senator Michele Bachmann, EdWatch conference, October 10-11, 2003.
90. ^ G.R Anderson, “Somebody Say Oh, Lord! Livin' on a prayer: Michele Bachmann sets her sights on D.C.” City Pages, February 23, 2005.
91. ^ Eric Black, “Bachmann is convention front-runner” Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 4, 2006.
92. ^ ^{a b} "Lawrence Schumacher, “Bachmann banks on moral issues”, St. Cloud Times, October 19, 2006. (Sources: Minnesota State Senate, Office of the Revisor of Statutes)", St. Cloud Times.
93. ^ Patricia Lopez, “Pawlenty proposes cigarette 'user fee'”, Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 21, 2005.
94. ^ Taxpayers’ League of Minnesota, “Are High Cigarette Prices Making You Angry?”, 2005.
95. ^ The Bachmann Record: Bachman Describes how God told her to run for congress..
96. ^ "Hastert for Bachmann"", Minnesota Public Radio, June 28, 2006.
97. ^ "Rove to Help Bachmann Raise Campaign Cash".
98. ^ Cheney Headlines Today's Fund Raiser.
99. ^ William Roberts, "Republicans Falter in Bid to Mobilize Christian Conservatives", Bloomberg.com New, October 19, 2006..
100. ^ WCCO, Campaign Dialogue 2006, October 28 2006..
101. ^ WELS Doctrinal Statements: Statement on the Anti-Christ..
102. ^ "Eric Black, "Minnesota Poll: Wetterling leads Bachmann 48% to 40%", Minneapolis Star Tribune, October 17, 2006.".
103. ^ "KSTP Channel 5 Eyewitness News, "Bachmann Still Leads In 6th", October 25, 2006.".
104. ^ "John Whitesides, "House Control in Range for Democrats: Reuters Poll", November 1, 2006.".
105. ^ "Majority Watch, results for Minnesota 6th District".
106. ^ "Joshua Freed, "Ellison, Walz grab seats, Bachmann holds 6th for the GOP"".

[edit] External links

• Michele Bachmann Congressional campaign site
• MPR Michele Bachmann resource page
• Bachmann's page on Minnesota Senate site
• The Bachmann Record (an anti-Bachmann information website.)

Preceded by: Mark Kennedy

United States Representative for the 6th Congressional District of Minnesota Starts 2007

Succeeded by: Incumbent

Minnesota's delegation to the 110th United States Congress

Senators: Amy Klobuchar (DFL), Norm Coleman (R) Representative(s): Tim Walz (DFL), John Kline (R), Jim Ramstad (R), Betty McCollum (DFL), Keith Ellison (DFL), Michele Bachmann (R), Collin Peterson (DFL), Jim Oberstar (DFL) All delegations: Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands