Minnesota Representative, Michele Bachmann, will appear as Ms. November in the 2010 calendar of “Great American Conservative Women”. Her popularity has even been recently transformed into an action figure, right along with other politicians like Obama, Madam Secretary Clinton and ,yes, even Sarah Palin. Bachmann has been dominating the national cable news airwaves for much of 2009 and Googling her name conjures up about 662,000 items. Not half bad for someone less than three years on the job.So, how does the public feel about Michele Bachmann? Well, according the the New York Times, the general public opinion among her constituents is either, "they adore her or they loathe her."
On Capitol Hill, Bachmann is looked upon with contempt by Democrats "who see her as a wacky purveyor of outrageous claims and criticisms." She seems to boast a certain appeal to motivate conservatives and aggravate Democrats.
On Capitol Hill, Bachmann is looked upon with contempt by Democrats "who see her as a wacky purveyor of outrageous claims and criticisms." She seems to boast a certain appeal to motivate conservatives and aggravate Democrats.
In recent months, Bachmann has made an outspoken name for herself: one against Democratic proposals on health care reform. She has even gone as far as to suggest that privacy rules for school-based clinics could open the door to a new wave of young girls' getting referrals for abortions. And she claimed that through the new health care reform, illegal immigrants will have access to taxpayer-subsidized health care, which according to the New York Times is one among a list of comments that the Democratic National Committee has attacked as false.
Through it all Bachmann has been facing fierce comparisons to fellow female Republican, Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 candidate for vice president. The conservative talk show host Sean Hannity has introduced Bachmann as, "the second-most hated Republican women in the country," ranking second to none other than Ms. Palin herself.
Still, Bachmann—a lawyer, former state senator and mother of five who, with her husband, has opened their home to 23 foster children—has not so far objected to the speculation, particularly to the comparisons to Palin.
"Sarah Palin is a dedicated mother, committed public servant and strong political figure who has fought hard to protect life, the family budget, and freedom," said Bachmann, noting that Palin's pre-release book was already selling in enormous numbers, while "Nancy Pelosi's book sold a paltry 2,737 copies in its first week of sales," in 2008.