Bachmann; Character, Core Convictions & The Caucus
Michelle Bachmann graced the small city of Aiken, SC in her Core of Conviction tour and it was a great experience. As much as I would like to convey expertise as a field reporter I was fai nervous. I have had the opportunity of meeting representatives and local officials but never a presidential candidate. In person she’s a lot shorter than I thought. She strolled into the bookstore almost 30 mins past the scheduled start time of the signing and addressed the press with swift ferocity. My first impression beside her being shorter than on television was she exuded vocally what she lacked height wise. Not saying I was intimidated but I don’t doubt she is a strong leader after her introduction. Her address to the press though confident, I could see it was spoken by rote. Of course I know she does it several times a day but it came across a bit too robotic for me. Questions were opened for discussion and there was a pause and almost surprised look on the face of the press. I was standing between the Aiken Standard and Augusta Chronicle newspaper associates and none spoke up. Luckily another reporter to my left (unsure of her affiliation) spoke up which kind of prompted me to ask a couple questions of my own, and we were the only two to who asked questions.
I definitely should have rehearsed my questions but nonetheless they came out smooth despite the knot in my throat. My first question was general, to the extent of how she felt about the race thus far to which she replied she felt great and that they are picking up speed etc, etc… I kind of didn’t press record during that part (FAIL). The second question was concerning Pastor Cary Gordon out of Sioux City Iowa endorsing Rick Santorum; how she felt about it and would she considered being on a ticket with Santorum as vice president if her campaign seemed to lose speed. She replied with a smile expressing her admiration for Pastor Cary Gordon and saying she feels very good coming up to the Iowa caucus and concerning Santorum she has always considered “him” as a great vice President if she is elected as President I liked that response.
Honestly all of this occurred over a span of possibly 5-8 minutes, I’m sure as a result of them being behind schedule. However during the signing I was able to speak with Bachmann’s Press secretary, Alice Stewart who was able to speak in more detail about Bachman’s campaign and character.
Travis Thomas (Me): Alice how do you feel about the race thus far, where you’ve come from, where you are, and where you’re going?
Alice Stewart: Well, were encouraged given that we’ve really had a chance to explain our positions and were we are on the issues related to voter’s interest. Once they get to peel back layers on the different candidates they will see that Michelle is the consistent conservative candidate. She has not tripped up on any of the issues she has not wavered. She has been steadfast on key issues for republicans, such as life, marriage, obama care, immigration, tarp, all these issue she has held the true conservative republican line. Whereas, all the other candidates have flip-flopped in some way, shape, or form. She has been the one that has been steadfast and stuck to her core on the issues and as more people get to know where she stands on the issues and on the right side of the issues more people are coming her way. With moving forward toward the caucuses we have a great ground game in place Iowa we started late getting into the straw poll and were building a ground game, I don’t know why you think that’s funny (I was smiling).
The key is we started a good ground game before the straw poll and were continuing to build on that. She loves to get out here and meet people and visist with them and the good thing people in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina the people don’t let the polls, pundits or the press tell them how to vote. They make their decision based on face to face contact with the candidates and they have the opportunity being in this state so were gonna work and talk and visit with these people to the very last moment because its a great process. It’s important as people are picking the next president they should have the opportunity to meet and Michelle is gonna give them every last opportunity to visit and ask questions and interact with them and were gonna do that straight into the caucuses and were encouraged.
Travis Thomas: That was a lot. So, on the lighter side what do you all do on the tour bus in your free time?
Stewart: Free time…? ha ha there is no such thing as free time, work, work, work all the time! Every now and then we go for a walk or a run.
Thomas: You guys gotta watch some movies or something…?
Stewart: Yeah we watch movies on the bus there are more girls than guys usually so we end up watching a chick flick.
Thomas: Ok that’s suffice ha ha. Personally knowing Michelle how would describe her character wise when cameras are off? I find today candidates sometimes attempt to separate their private lives from their public lives and even faith. Of course as I believe the way you conduct your private life is a reflection of how you will lead in the public arena.
Stewart: I agree 100%; case and point; Michelle has been happily and faithfully married to the same man for 33years, you make a commitment to someone you honor it and she has done that with her husband and she has done that with the people. She has pledged to represent when she tells them this is my word she follows through and that’s important and that’s important for voters to look at. People who say their personal life is not a reflection of their public life, that is wrong. Her faith is also important to her, people who say their faith doesn’t influence their politics, that tells you their faith isn’t very important to them. Her faith is very important to her, her personal life is very important and are a reflection of how she carries out her politically life cause she operates from her core when it comes to her personal life and her political life and thats something people respond positively to.
Thomas: Lastly, as a nation leaders have consistently dealt with the fruit of bad policies or problems in our nation instead of going to the root of the issue. This is the essence of totheroot.org to peel back the layers of symptoms, consequences, and such and get to the core error of the issue. Issues like abortion, homosexual marriage, and other are a vicious attack on family which is the most basic infrastructure of our nation. Will Michelle have the tenacity to fight and not compromise in the face of criticism and public approval on core issues plaguing our nation? Will she choose a path of incrementalism which we’ve been at for over 30 year as it relates to abortion or fight for complete eradication?
Well, to get “to the root” of the life issue, she is for life she is for life from conception to natural death and there is no wavering or breaking it down. There is no, “I partially stand for life or I partially don’t” she is 100% pro-life no ifs, ands, or buts, and she has been that way consistently in her personal and politically life she is a mother of 5 and a foster mother of 23 she has lived a life that demonstrates her commitment to life. Never once has she been pro-choice and flip flopped, as the other candidates have. As you said to get “to the root” of the life issue she is pro life and has never wavered.
Thomas: Thank you for your time.
Stewart: Welcome.
With the Iowa caucus just around the corner all presidential hopefuls are probably on edge. We will all just have to wait and see the outcome of January 3rd. Although its not the final say as to who will win the election it gives us conscious consideration of who has a chance.
