Bachmann Jumps in, Turns Down the Heat

WATERLOO - I've been hearing for years about Michele Bachmann, the flame-throwing congresswoman from Minnesota, the sharp-tongued shrillinator from Stillwater.

Then I finally get to see her in person, and it turns out she's the smiley uniter from Iowa. Her presidential announcement speech, in the town where she lived until age 12, reached a rhetorical temp of roughly 72 degrees. Comfy.

“Through all of the rancor of the campaign, let us always remember that there is much more that unites us than divides us. Our problems don't have an identity of party, they are problems created by both parties,” Bachmann said as she announced her candidacy Monday morning in front of the Snowden house. She vowed to be a voice of “reasonable, fair minded people.”

She did get in a few good whacks at the president, calling him a one-termer to enthusiastic applause, but still, not much rancor. And yes, I get the strategy. Sleep tight in that blanket of reasonableness, lamestreamers.

“I often say everything I need to know I learned in Iowa,” Bachmann told Iowans.

And here I thought these were going to be pander-free caucuses. All the candidates were going to kick ethanol subsidies and even tell us that although our State Fair may be very good, they'd hardly call it “great.” But now, the apparent favorite is claiming that although her congressional seat is up north, her heart has always been here.

But what's your stand on Floyd of Rosedale?

Who can blame her? Any candidate in her shoes would do the same thing. It's a great story. But what do Minnesotans think?

“We're going to keep her seat warm for her as long as legally allowed,” said Terry Kopp, a Minnesotan who was a college Republican at the U of M with both Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty, another Gopher seeking the White House. He says she'd be welcomed back if this presidential thing fizzles.

Iowans I talked with like her Iowa ties. But ...

“No, it doesn't make a difference,” said Lynnette Gleason of Clarksville. Lora Heit of Evansdale agreed. “It's interesting and fun. The important thing is what's she going to do in the White House?”

Gleason is unemployed and says she's looking for a constitutional conservative who can get the country back on track. Heit, a music teacher, wants a “real Republican.” “No RINOs,” Gleason interjects. They both like Bachmann.

Heit said she wants a candidate who will shrink the influence of government and fix what she sees as a culture that's out of whack. "We don't need to be told which light bulbs to use," she said. "I'm worried about the next generation. I'm worried about the young people."

Ben Woods of Cedar Falls is also hunting for a job and a candidate. He's also looking at Mitt Romney, and he liked Bachmann's conservative message and measured tone. “I think she's the only one who speaks for Midwesterners,” said Woods, who plans to caucus and attend the August GOP straw poll. “I thought she was really genuine.”

In politics, genuine is in the eyes of today's beholders. So, behold, Michele Bachmann, Iowa nice.