Michele Bachmann 'Horrified' and 'Appalled' by Media 'Politicizing' Shooting of Friend Giffords
As media quickly accused conservatives of inciting the tragedy in Tucson two weeks ago, they ignored the fact that one of those they were pointing fingers at was a friend of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' (D-Ariz.).
On Monday, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) told Fox News's Bill O'Reilly what it was like for her that fateful Saturday morning to not only find out that someone close to her had been shot, but also that she was being accused of causing it (video follows with transcript and commentary):
BILL O'REILLY, HOST: Now, last week a terrible week in the country Congresswoman Giffords who you know very well by way, right? She came in with you, right?
BACHMANN: Yes, we came into Congress together. So we have a lot of the shared -- same shared experiences. She is a lovely, wonderful friend.
(CROSS TALK)
O'REILLY: Did you talk to her a lot? Were you guys, pals?
BACHMANN: Yes we were friends. We were. And we also appeared together on television once in a while as a point counter point. And I have a great deal of respect for Gabby.
O'REILLY: And she is a nice woman, right? She is not one of this bomb thrower hater or anything like that, right?
BACHMANN: She is -- she is a wonderful, lovely individual. And you know, we shared her experience when she got married. And so it was really fun to serve with her in Congress.
O'REILLY: Ok, so she gets shot. And then I'm sure because she is your friend, as soon as you hear that she is shot, I mean, you are emotionally you know, going "what can I do? And you know, sure, anybody's friend who gets shot reacts that way.
And then within hours, then, your picture is up there along with Sarah Palin and me and Glenn Beck and other people as accessories to the murder because other people were murdered, six people were murdered and her -- her wound.
And -- and I just wondering, and I want you to be honest with me Congresswoman. And you're always honest. But I want you to go a little bit further than you usually do. When you first heard that, those vile accusations, what went through your mind?
BACHMANN: Well, I was horrified because they were politicizing a tragedy that had happened to my friend. And I was almost rendered speechless. I -- I didn't go on TV for a long time after that because I was appalled that the media would completely abandon the truth in this situation.
Anyone watching this within two minutes knew that this was a deranged lunatic. And to -- to use names of people in the media that people had a political grudge against just struck me as so not only unhelpful but just wrong. It was wrong. And this is Gabrielle.
(CROSS TALK)
O'REILLY: Ok so when you -- when you Michele Bachmann -- when you see an injustice like this do you get angry? Do you get sad? What -- how do you -- what happens to you as a person?
BACHMANN: Well, first of all, I was crying. When I heard about this I was crying. My tears were flowing. I -- I couldn't believe that this has happened to someone that I knew, that I respected. And, again, I can't wait to give her a standing ovation when hopefully she marches through those doors in the House of Representatives.
But I was just appalled at the way they treated her. I felt like we needed a sacred interval of time. Gabrielle deserved a sacred interval of time, because this should be about finding the truth. And the media seemed like they could care less. They wanted to pin your name, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin. All they could do is look for someone that they could point their finger to but they could care less about the truth. And anybody could see that. And it was just appalling to watch it happen.
(CROSS TALK)
O'REILLY: All right --
BACHMANN: So I didn't want to get into it, I didn't want to get into the middle of it and dignify what they were saying.
(CROSS TALK)
O'REILLY: -- so -- so you -- and I can understand that. All right, because you knew her. Now -- so you get sad and you -- all right. Now, I get angry. That's how I deal with injustice. I get angry. That's me.
So then I came on Monday night and I don't know whether you saw it or not and I just ripped them. I -- I just, bang. "New York Times," Krugman, MSNBC, just missile after missile after missile. And then the game was on; the game of who was right and who was wrong and this and that. They lost as President Obama's speech indicated, they being the far left.
BACHMANN: Ok.
O'REILLY: They lost. So, do you think that the victory is temporary or is the far left damaged now forever in this country?
BACHMANN: Well, I think already quite a few people in the media are somewhat discounted or seen as dinosaurs because they aren't truthful. And again, I think shows like yours, for instance, I think are highly rated because people feel they can come here and they can get a big dose of the truth. That's what people want.
And so for all of those people that were out there with their wild hair ideas, I really think that they have hurt their credibility enormously because people simply want the truth. That's the casualty out of all of this.
(CROSS TALK)
O'REILLY: All right, well, I think you're right.
BACHMANN: -- aside from Gabrielle.
O'REILLY: Because that MSNBC outfit; big, big reorganization over there.
BACHMANN: Yes.
O'REILLY: Bernie Goldberg is going to deal with a little while.
Congresswoman thanks very much. We appreciate it, we'll be watching you tomorrow night.
BACHMANN: Bill thanks.
Bachmann of course was right: The big casualty here other than those that were shot and their families was to the media.
Once again, America saw the true colors of so-called journalists today, and it wasn't pretty.
The President's speech in Tucson the following Wednesday as well as the upcoming State of the Union might currently be diverting attention from the media's deplorable performance following the shootings, but America is not likely to soon forget the way its press behaved during this national tragedy.
The only question remaining is what the long term consequences of their actions are.
Will the ratings of ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and PBS continue to plummet along with subscriptions to leading newspapers in the country like the New York Times and the Washington Post?
Will these organizations be economically forced to start acting as news outlets rather than left-wing propaganda tools?
Good questions both with answers emerging in the fullness of time.
(H/T Right Scoop)
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I'm used to the MSM being
I'm used to the MSM being lying scum. Just another day here.
Mendacity!!
The truth? The MSM can't handle the truth. The MSM is a group of ignorant, immature, illogical, biased liars ( have been for decades in America). They and the left in "education" have done nothing but build mistrust, misunderstanding, and hatred for years. They have caused most of the problems we face today. And that's the truth!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal" (progressive)
The GOP Women Have Courage
Once you get away from Jim DeMint, Allen West and Mike Pence, most of the Republican men are a bunch of wimps. Thank God for strong Republican women like Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin and some real promising newcomers like Nikki Haley and Susana Martinez.
BW222...
Hear! Hear! Throughout the Bush years---silence from the RINO men. Gutless insiders. You are right--it's ironic that it has taken the women to stand up and defend the truth.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal" (progressive)
Very true, Ives
I posted this earlier, but it bears repeating.
Michelle Bachman's "address" tonight, after Paul Ryan's, is going to be aimed at the Republicans....she's going to do some RINO herding.
Thankfully.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Hmm...I wonder if Michelle
intends to herd all those RINOs into the vacant re-education camps where she claimed Obama would be incarcerating our nation's youth.
Lots of warm lemonade and stale cookies going to waste.
;-)
Jer
No...she's going to herd them back to their seats
...where they can stop providing cover for cowering democrats.
Kumbayah is for babies.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Well, Blonde...
I'm with you and Michelle on the buddy seating nonsense.
Jer
It's Kabuki Theatre, Jer
Total BS!
These people are terminally stupid if they think it's back to business as usual with a little bit of sleight of hand, so silly as this sham the media is hawking as "prom night". As Obama would say, elections have consequences.
An aside, as an attorney, what do you think of some of the Supremes not attending as a result of Obama's insult last year?
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
They should never attend
The SCOTU justices are to be a separate branch under our Republic. They are supposed to interpret all of the laws and actions of the other two branches as they relate to the original founding documents (specifically the Constitution). They shoudl not be present at the SOTU address. They have no place there where they can be exposed to the partisan politics which regardless of their abilities (they are human after all) they could certainly be swayed by the power of the other two branches. Just my opinion, and I know they read papers and watch news but being in close proximity to the sesspool that is the Congress and Executive branch, the stench is bound to rub off.
By the way, since I'm sharing, I think this sitting together thing is stupid too. Not to be too gross but it doesn't matter where the peas, carrots and potatos sit in the stew, if the meat is rotten your gonna get sick! Just saying.
LOL, Disaster Master...welcome to the club
Yay! Another foodie. :)
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
TY, TY, TY
I'll be here all week......no really, I'll be working at all three of my jobs, all week, no days off, no vacation. Is that what the One is going to talk about tonight? Someone go take that guys money he is working too many jobs so no one else can get one?????.......I read these blogs while I have my lunch, ergo the food analogy............where is my napkin?????
See how good my manipulation skills are?
Jer is against it, for at least 2 more years.
Blonde..
I think it would be a serious mistake for any of the Justices to boycott the address for that reason. Obama was wrong to publicly scold them last year over a court decision with which he happened to disagree. Roberts silently mouthed "not true" or something similar (which was caught by the cameras and I believe adequately and graphically expressed the dissatisfaction with Obama's statement).
Any further response now--a year later-- would appear petty, undignified, and unnecessarily defiant. But, let me re-emphasize my opinion, which I believe to be the consensus, that Obama was out of line in voicing criticism of the majority of SC Justices in that manner and in that forum.
Jer
Point of order...
Alito mouthed the words, "Not true."
What he should have done is stood up and shouted, "YOU LIE!"
Because he did...
Point taken, C-town...
So I batted .500. Besides, Alito...Roberts...Roberts...Alito: One brain, two robes.
Jer
→ But Jer
When Joe Wilson said "You Lie", he was addressing the President's claim that the Supreme court had suddenly opened the floodgates to special interest groups in the election process.
And Obama answered "that's not true"
And having used the exact same words as Joe Wilson, he isn't held to the same standard as Wilson?
Are you actually submitting that it's OK for the President to lie?
Why, yes, I believe you are.
Sorry for the interruption, Cool....
but for a moment there I thought you were eliciting my opinion, until I noticed you were actually having a conversation with yourself.
Carry on.
Jer
Thank you Jer
And thank you for the endorsement of my assessment of your post.
It's not always hard to decipher what you're trying to say.
You're welcome, Cool...
and your exceedingly liberal definition of "endorsement" is duly noted.
Jer
Good morning Jer
See you haven't lost your touch. Yoy've wandered so far out into left field you're out of the ball park. Better come back before you get lost out there.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
FOUL-BALL!
: ) see my smile face.
It's amazing
It's amazing how the left just assumes that two people can't be friends if they don't agree, point-by-point politically with each other .... they just don't get that friendships are built on something deeper than political ideology.
But aside from the media's ghastly attempt to make this tragedy about politics, rather than about mental illness, most simply ignored the fact that Giffords was a friend to the republican party. She was a Blue Dog, a democrat in a conservative state. In fact, she voted more often with republicans than she did with democrats (her voting record is public information) although on some high profile bills like health care, she did vote with democrats. She was no friend of Nancy Pelosi and opposed her bid for speaker. Democrats did not campaign for her last November and Reid, Pelosi and Obama simply left her to fend for herself as she fought in the toughest campaign of her life. They also didn't campaign for Gifford's neighboring congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, who was defeted by republican paul gosar in the election. Not one prominient democrat came to Arizona to help either of these two Arizona democrats campaign to retain their seats .... and that's because, as blue dogs, they didn't fit the democrat mold.
But, that's not the story the media will tell, because they want to spin everything so that it fits their republicans-are-evil/democrats-are-good philosophy.
MSM Not Damaged Enough
It is painfully obvious that the MSM wasn't damaged enough to get them to come to a consciousness of how they've betrayed the public and their own craft and need to subsequently make corrections. Being offended that they were exposed for their hypocrisy, they doubled down on fallaciously politicizing the tragedy rather than the normal reaction of being contrite and repentant.
"Pivot" seems to be the hot buzz word recently and the MSM should wake up and "pivot" toward objectivity, reason and journalistically responsible reporting. However, that would mean abandoning the political and activist agendas in which they are so heavily invested. They would become pariahs and would be exiled from the elitist bubbles. They would have to suffer the indignity of becoming a lowly, yet noble and honest journalist far below their current cast.
Michelle is Great
I really like her. She has class and integrity and no matter how the left howls she stands tough and really does inspire. She is addressing those RINOs and putting them on notice. It was the Republican Party that stood in the way of bigger gains in the House and Senate. They violated Reagan's 11th Commandment and didn't support the Angles, O'Donnels and others enough. When they choose the candidates and not allow the will of the people to guide the party, they lose. Not appointing Tea Party candidates to seats and the like is disheartening as well. They forgot who brought them to the dance. No noise from the leftys! You can comment all you want about Sarah and Michelle but you are not going to pick our candidate again! If We the People pick Sarah, Michelle or anyone else to represent us then run your best guy/gal and we will see what happens. Oh and do it without personal attacks, lies and deceit. This is a Republic and the politicians represent the people, not the media and the Progressive cause. They are less than 20% of the American people. Not this time, not ever should they be aloud to monopolize the dialogue. Hmmmmmm.....think that is why Michelle is doing this on line???????? Yeah, dumb like a fox my Mom used to say.
Palin/Bachmann 2012
ignore TOTUS*
Look behind the curtain. I have been posting links for months on important changes Obama is making behind the scenes. Lets review and then Jer can start accusing me of wearing a tinfoil hat.
ENERGY: Obama is not allowing and in fact is closing coal mines. At the same time "federalizing" lands in 37 states. As a result, removing state authority over energy resource areas. While giving a contract to Russia to mine for uranium in Nevada. Giving a contract to China to build a windfarm in Tx using Chinese equipment, turbines, and technicians. The moratium on oil and gas drilling on the east coast done for 7 years. He lifted the moratorium in the gulf but only 2 rigs have been allowed to resume drilling. He gives $2 billion to PetroBras(Brazil) to drill experiemental wells at 15,000 ft, the same kind of rig by BP used to justify the moratorium. Add that he has given $1 billion to Mexico to drill in the gulf. Heading this push are radicals like Carol Browner and Lisa Jackson. Along side all these closeted moves, the Admin has also installed new regs requiring refineries to increase the % of ethanol in gasoline. This will increase the use of fresh water and corn to make less efficient fuel while making the new regs so restrictive that these refineries are now having even more difficulty producing gasoline regardless of the price of oil.
DIVISIVENESS: He has used his friends "useful idiots" to continue to spew racial divide in this country by demonizing the tea parties. Doesnt matter that minorities have now greater representation on state and federal level, due to the tea parties, ever known in the history of cour country. He has sent his idiots to demonize the evil rich and blame all our troubles on "corporate" America. In the meantime, he has radicals like John Holdren and Cass Sunstein pushing for eugenics to rid the country of the "unproductive" in our society. Money to abortion clinics as a "right for women" when in actuality the intent is to cause a decline in the population of minorities who are the majority of "entitlement" recepients.
PARMACUTICALS AND MEDICAL CARE: A recent study published in a Phillidelphia newspaper has not made the headlines. It talks about the decline and shortage of prescription drugs in this country. The media concentrated on the shortage of drugs used for lethal injections but failed to mention other important drugs used for treatment of cardiac problems, Flu, BP and other illnesses. John Holdren has written thousands of pages of new regulations making it even more difficult for parmacutical companies to do R &D for new drugs. While cutting medical payments for medicare and medicaid causing a financial burden to the states. After ObamaCare was passed, Nancy Sebillius created an entirely new agency to oversee drug industry along with the 26,000 health care commissions to be created with ObamaCare. Interesting to note, Andy Stern is now on the board of directors of one of the largest pharm. Co's in this country. Added, Sebillius takes her knew agency and one month later moved it out of DHH when Rep. threatened to repeal ObamaCare. By executive order very recently, Obama has ordered $1Billion to be spent building a government run R&D facility for new drugs.
AGRICULTURE: This administration along with the radical "greenies" in congress have passed several provisions thru various regulatory agencies controlling farming. They have instituted regs limiting farming lands to protect the delta smelt, a useless bait fish, protect the useless harvest marsh mouse at the cost to taxpayers. For instance, Pelosi's little earmark to save the harvest marsh mouse costs taxpayers $34million.Senate Bill 510 was recently passed by both houses. This bill has already been changed and added regulations(as I predicted weeks ago) that gives the dept of agric, even greater control over use of chemicals not just for farmers but food producers as well. While doing so to american food producers, have lowered standards for the import of foods from China. Knowing that China includes banned chemicals in these foods as well as anti-biotics. This S-510 also gives Dept of Ag. the authority to stop produce markets at open fairs, street vendors, and can even have the authority to control the size of your garden in your backyard. They will have the authority to eventually reguire you to have a permit to have a garden.
Everyone thinks that Obama is a progressive that plans to slowly build a greater govt, controlling wages and taking over private industry. He is hedging his bets by taking over the very essentials citizens will need to even survive. Food, energy, medical care and the industries needed to produce these goods are the very things he is taking control of by massive regulations quietly done behind the curtain.
Dont pay attention to what he reads off a teleprompter. Try to find out by doing your own research as to what his plans really are going on behind the scenes. Many NBers have shown education, knowledge and professional experience in many different fields and industries. Look up the changes in those areas you are most knowledgeable and you will begin to understand the far reaching powers being abused by this administration without the will nor knowledge of the American people.
This is my rant in opposition to the SOTU.
The damage is getting far
The damage is getting far worse. Read the difference in wording between the Clinton executive order to review regulations, and Obama's actual order - not his announcement. The difference: the use of weasel words authorizing redistribution.
Post updates*
Just adding information to my rant(see above post)
http://weaselzippers.us/2011/01/26/obama-regime-seeks-to-have-all-web-surfing-tracked/
http://hotneews2010.blogspot.com/2011/01/v-for-victory-or-w-for-walmart-dhs.html
This one hits very close to home. Bobby Jindal has been trying to inform people of the truth regarding the moratorium, but of course, the media is not interested.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/01/ongoing_disaster_in_the_gulf.html
I ask all viewers and NBers, please do your own homework. Study, not the new regulations he was talking about, but the ones he is implementing already.
And another update: Dan Issa has begun a committee investigation into some of the EPA regulations put in place without congressional approval. Supoena's were issued. Carol Browner has resigned.
Thanks Deuce
Great info here. I wish more folks were talking about this bs. I know some of it is omited on purpose, but I also think, whats left of the media fear's this Admin.
Thanks Boudin*
Just trying to do my part offering small contributions to fight propaganda. I cannot run for political office but I can rant.;-)
A proud patriotic American and I am cajun too!
Keep it up, Cajun!
You're doing a yeoman's job with these issues here.
Great stuff, mon amie.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
'Horrified' and
But not at all surprised.
Ever wonder how much "cross
Ever wonder how much "cross talk" is noted in a transcript of an O'Reilly interview? You expect to see that in a debate or with several guests involved, but in an O'Reilly interview with one person you get him stepping on his guests answers, so eager is he to hear his own voice. He must have been relatively restrained in this particular interview, as the transcript of Bachmann's answers didn't show him cutting her off in mid-sent-