Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is in a bit of hot water over a copyright infringement. Bachmann's latest attack ad against Tarryl Clark uses the Minnesota State Fair logo without permission.
Bachmann accuses Clark of raising taxes on the corn dogs, deep-fried bacon and beer people consume at the fair via her meat puppet, Wide Stance Jim. They use the logo twice in their ad. First at the 0:11 mark and then for the last 4 seconds of the ad.
Fair spokesperson Brienna Schuette said the Bachmann campaign "did not get our approval" to use the logo in the ad. Fair officials are looking into what steps to take to protect their intellectual property.
(MinnPost)
"It's unfortunate. We don't want the perception out there that we're endorsing her, we don't endorse anyone," [State Fair spokeswoman Brooke] Dillon said. "So of course our logo was misused and we want that taken down as soon as possible."
Dillon said the Fair hasn't decided whether to take legal action. Bachmann's campaign says it's looking into the matter.
(MPR)
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) simply has a problem with the truth. Especially when the truth doesn't jibe with her version of reality. She claimed that 1 million people attended Glenn Beck's rally last Saturday in DC:
"We're not going to let anyone get away with saying there were less than a million here today," she hollered later at her own gathering near the Washington Monument. "We were witnesses."
There's only 1 problem. It's nowhere near the truth.
CBS News: Commissioned AirPhotosLive.com, which estimated the crowd at 87,000. With a 9,000-person margin of error, the real number could be anywhere between 78,000 and 96,000.
(Dump Bachmann)
Beck and his looney's brigade pumped this event up as HUGE. Millions were going to attend and send a clear message to Obama that they're sick of it (depending upon whatever "it" happens to be).
So ... let's just compare and contrast a couple of pictures. Here's one from Beck's rally and two from the 1995 Million Man March which was verified at over 1 million:
I'm Zach Rodvold, Campaign Manager for Tarryl Clark's campaign for Congress against Michele Bachmann in MN-06.
Last week, Michele Bachmann took her name-calling to the airwaves with an ad attacking Tarryl and her record. This week, we're telling Minnesotans what they really need to know about Tarryl in a new TV ad.
The ad, called "Need to Know," begins airing later today thanks to the financial support of over 30,000 supporters, and we wanted you to be among the first to see it. Check it out here:
As opposed to Bachmann's attack ads, ours features real people - Tarryl's family, faith leaders, veterans and business leaders who support her and believe that Minnesotans need to know that Tarryl has been standing with and for our communities her whole life. She's one of us.
Hi, I'm Carrie Lucking, the Communications Director for Tarryl Clark's Campaign for Congress in Minnesota.
Last Tuesday, Michele Bachmann introduced us to "Jim the Election Guy" in the first of what will apparently be a series of attack ads. In it, "Jim" calls Tarryl Clark names - with a smile on his face. Very "Minnesota Nice" isn't it?
No one knows who "Jim the Election Guy" is, but today, we'd like to introduce you to Jim the Actual Voter. Actually, we'd like to introduce you to three of them. All are named Jim, all actually live in the 6th Congressional District, and all are sick and tired of Michele Bachmann's nonsense.See what they have to say about it:
We all knew that this would happen eventually. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) would start running television ads. To nobody's surprise, the ad is negative.
Today, Michele Bachmann is airing her first ad of the campaign season, and it's no surprise she's gone negative - distorting reality and calling names. Bachmann has no record of accomplishment to run on, so she's resorting to more of the same recycled negative attacks - and putting $239,000 behind them this week alone.
If Michele Bachmann spent any time in her district, she would know that these are exactly the type of attacks that voters have had enough of. Instead, she's traveled the country, skipping events in Minnesota to headline a rally in Dallas just this past Saturday.
(Daily Kos)
It's time to start the fight back. Please stop on by Tarryl Clark's donation page and contribute. Every drop in the bucket helps.
I'm Zach Rodvold, Campaign Manager for Tarryl Clark's campaign for Congress.
Today, Michele Bachmann is airing her first ad of the campaign season, and it's no surprise she's gone negative - distorting reality and calling names. Bachmann has no record of accomplishment to run on, so she's resorting to more of the same recycled negative attacks - and putting $239,000 behind them this week alone.
If Michele Bachmann spent any time in her district, she would know that these are exactly the type of attacks that voters have had enough of. Instead, she's traveled the country, skipping events in Minnesota to headline a rally in Dallas just this past Saturday.
While Bachmann travels the country, Tarryl Clark travels the district, attending over 30 community events in the past 30 days alone. Talking directly to people in the district, Tarryl hears time and again that voters are sick of Washington's - and Michele Bachmann's - ways.
Make no mistake, thanks to her special interest supporters and right wing activists across the country, Bachmann has big money. And they're going to spend it running a campaign that's straight out of the Karl Rove playbook.
Rep. Michele Bachmann has a habit of saying some pretty crazy stuff. We might be willing to cut her some slack in that she might have misspoken, but considering the sheer volume of conspiracy theories, bald-faced lies and kookiness that comes out of her mouth, it is possible she meant what she said:
She says the Germans used "U2 boats" to sink U.S. ships during World War II. Achtung baby!
German subs were were nicknamed "U boats" because of their "U" classification by the German navy. The U-223 struck the Dorchester off Newfoundland, and it sank in less than 30 minutes. Hundreds of men died. The chaplains sacrificed their life preservers so that GIs might live.
Is anyone surprised Bachmann's mangling military history again? After all, this is the congresswoman who used the failed Charge of the Light Brigade as a rallying cry for tea party victory.
(City Pages Blotter)
There are three reasons why Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) got elected and has been reelected twice. First, she's in a conservative district. Second, Patti Wetterling and Elwyn Tinklenberg didn't run very good campaigns against her. Third, the media ignores her insanity, lying and bigotry.
Aside from redistricting (or losing a seat), there's not much we can do about problem number one. Tarryl Clark is addressing number two by running an excellent campaign.
MPR has taken a first step in addressing problem number three. They've got a little thing they call PoliGraph at which they analyze politicians and candidates statements. They finally analyzed something Bachmann said:
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann had some choice words for a recently passed $26 billion bill meant to aid states hit hard by the economic downturn.
"Taxpayer money will essentially be laundered through the public employee unions, and spent to reelect those same Democrats this fall," Bachmann said on the Aug. 10 episode of FOX News's Freedom Watch with Judge Napolitano.
The next day, she clarified her point on another FOX News program, saying, "Quite literally what will happen is this money will be shifted over to public employee unions. The unions will skim off the top; they'll put a good portion of that into political action committees."
Their ground-breaking analysis reaches a conclusion we've been trumpeting here at MPP and upon which the good folks at Dump Bachmann have been hammering since forever: Bachmann is a liar.
The Verdict
Bachmann is wrong to say that the state aid will be "laundered" through public employee unions and used to help reelect Democrats. In fact, the bill is clear that the money can only be used to keep teachers on the payroll.
This week, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Social Security and the promise that after a lifetime of hard work, Americans and their families will not grow old in poverty.
When Social Security was signed into law during the Great Depression, economic instability was a part of everyday life, especially for seniors. Today, some retirees depend on Social Security as a supplemental source of income that helps them get by. For others, it is their only source of income.
We've been celebrating Social Security's anniversary all week. In St. Cloud on Tuesday, Senator Amy Klobuchar and I met Charolette, who is 87. She told us that Social Security helps her get by, but she's worried about the future. "You wonder about your kids," she said. "Once I get upstairs, I can't help them anymore."
I'm committed to Charolette, and to her children and grandchildren. I will fight to protect Social Security. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, on the other hand, has said we need to be "weaned off" of Social Security. I think we should get what we pay for. We pay into Social Security so we have a stable retirement. We should be able to depend on that.
I'm Joe Cupka, Political Director with the Minnesota DFL in the 6th Congressional District, where Tarryl Clark is running to defeat Michele Bachmann. Here's an on-the-ground update from our district.
Our unprecedented grassroots campaign has always operated with the same goal: be everywhere all of the time.
In order to meet that aggressive goal, we've done over 40 parades in 40 days, knocked on tens of thousands of doors, and attended dozens of community events - and we'll keep turning up the heat during fair season here in Minnesota.
County fairs give communities the chance to come together and celebrate the traditions Minnesotans share - blue ribbon pies, carnival rides, truck and tractor pulls and demolition derbies (just to name a few).
And August fair season is already off to a fast start.
Tonight I will join millions of Americans as we gather this evening for block parties with friends, neighbors, local first responders and community leaders for National Night Out. These celebrations highlight our shared desire to build and sustain safe and healthy communities.
Building stronger communities has always been front and center in my life -- whether it was when I began my career, as a mom, or as State Senator.
In my first job after college, I counseled at-risk teenagers and their families. As part of my work I developed the Young Adult Program which provided shelter for homeless teens, as well as counseling and a safe community for them. As a founder and first staff person of the Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, I worked with neighbors and churches to promote shared responsibility while building homes with soon to be homeowners. And as a mom, I volunteered in my church and in my kids' classrooms. To me, we make the biggest difference when we work together to strengthen our neighborhoods, schools, and communities.
But building safe and healthy communities won't happen unless we are willing to stop the rhetoric, listen to one another, and work together to get results.
I'm Nathan Clark and my mom, Tarryl, is running for Congress in Minnesota's 6th District.
This weekend, we have two very big reasons to celebrate.
Today is my mom's birthday, and last week, we celebrated one year on the campaign trail. That's why we're celebrating throughout the District this weekend, and nothing says happy birthday - or happy anniversary - like direct voter contact!
A couple of weeks ago, we knocked on nearly 4,000 doors in less than eight hours. This weekend, we're holding 17 doorknocks throughout the district. That's the kind of campaign my mom runs - a campaign that is at your doorstep, in your inbox, online, and on your phone (did I mention that we have an iPhone and Adroid app?)
For my mom, the best birthday present she can get is to have an army of volunteers out meeting people and spreading the word about our campaign to take back the 6th District.
Yesterday, I wrote about how the Missouri teabaggers are angry with Rep. Michele Bachmann for backing Sen. Roy Blunt in the primary even though the teabagger base of the party hates him. How do Republicans in leadership positions really feel about the Tea Party members who volunteer for the Republican party? They have a very low opinion.
Yes, that's right. Former Field Staff and Political Director for Bachmann and now the main writer at MN Democrats Exposed, Luke Hellier wants Missouri teabaggers to "shut up" and accept Blunt. And he's dumb enough to actually tweet how he really feels.
Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) Tea Party Caucus is up to 49 members. But the party leadership are nervous. Today, Minority Whip Eric Cantor indicated he wanted nothing to do with it.
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) told the Richmond Times-Dispatch today that he would not be joining the caucus, because the tea party is "better left with the people," and not Washington politicians:
Cantor explained in an e-mail interview that the tea-party movement is "certainly not of Washington and in that respect it's better left with the people." [...]
"Part of what is so inspiring about the tea-party movement is that it is not structured like a political party and, instead, is a truly organic, grass-roots effort," Cantor said. "The movement was born outside of Washington and includes people of all political stripes - Republicans, independents and Democrats - who have come together out of frustration with their government in an effort to force it to change."
Minority Leader John Boehner and Cantor have to be nervous about another litmus test for the Republican party. Personally, I think it's great. The earlier we can identify a candidate as a teabagger, the earlier we can associate them with nutjobs like Bachmann.
A new report from Change.org reports that Target's CEO has also given a donation to Rep. Michele Bachmann.
When it rains, it pours. In the case of Target, and their $150,000 donation that filtered its way to an anti-gay candidate running for governor in Minnesota, it's a virtual tsunami. Around the country, thousands of folks have expressed outrage that the retail giant would give financial resources to a political candidate with some notoriously anti-gay positions and friends.
Now comes word, courtesy of Abe Sauer at The Awl, that Target's CEO has personally given the maximum contribution allowable to one of the most anti-gay politicians in the entire United States - Rep. Michele Bachmann.
For those interested in a quick crash course on Rep. Michele Bachmann's position on LGBT issues, here are a few statements attributed to self-appointed queen of the Tea Party movement.
* If gay marriage were to become legal: "[Gay marriage] is an earthquake issue. This will change our state forever. Because the immediate consequence, if gay marriage goes through, is that K-12 little children will be forced to learn that homosexuality is normal, natural and perhaps they should try it."
* On people who are gay or lesbian: "If you're involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it's bondage. It is personal bondage, personal despair and personal enslavement."
* Asked whether she hates gay people: "No, but ask my kids! (laughter)"
It should also be noted that Rep. Michele Bachmann voted against repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and voted against expanding hate crimes legislation to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity (and in so doing, managed to compare LGBT people to pedophiles).
All of that earned her a $5,000 check from Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel, the maximum individual contribution allowable by the Federal Election Commission. Oh, and to top it off, Gregg Steinhafel's wife Denise gave Rep. Michele Bachmann $5,000, too.
And the hole Target is in gets a little deeper ...
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is in a bit of hot water over a copyright infringement. Bachmann's latest attack ad against Tarryl Clark uses the Minnesota State Fair logo without permission.
The Verdict
