Among the more disgusting aspects of Washington life and politics is the anonymous attack by “former aides.” About the only thing that can be said for certain about such attacks is that they’re cowardly. As for their veracity? Their anonymity makes them immune to further questioning and renders us incapable of discerning whether they even had the access or first-hand knowledge they claim. All we’re left with are rumors — rumors elevated to national attention because they’re reproduced in reputable outlets.
Last night it was Michele Bachmann’s turn to be eviscerated by “former aides.” The Daily Caller reported (and Drudge picked it up) that she suffers from — wait for it — headaches. Apparently these former aides (medical doctors, no doubt) believe she’s “incapacitated” by migraines and this makes them “terrified” about her condition if she’s president.
Terrified? What magnificent patriots they are! What a public service they’re performing! If only these brave defenders of the Republic would identify themselves so that we can ask them a question or two. For example, you say that she’s “incapacitated,” but in one of your lurid examples despite her headaches she actually “managed to attend several events in California, including an appearance before a California chapter of the Eagle Forum and a fundraiser in Palm Springs.” Does “incapacitated” mean what you think it means? Or, if your definition of “incapacitated” includes trips to “urgent care centers” (a fancy name for a walk-up clinic), what do you have to say about this list of presidential ailments? If these aides get the vapors from a migraine or two, I’m glad they’re off her team. After all, presidential politics is tough stuff, and we can’t have excitable, backstabbing aides lurking around — ready to betray their boss for the thrill of a Drudge hit.
Exactly one week ago, I wrote that Michele Bachmann should prepare for the Sarah Palin treatment. As Glenn Stanton noted today, the Left is coming after her with its customary class, accusing her husband of being gay. But now anonymous conservatives have bared their claws. I suppose such betrayals are inevitable in politics, but they are still intolerable.
One thing is certain, however, I prefer a headache-suffering Michele Bachmann to a bike-riding President Obama. And it’s not even close.
Wow, I guess that means this country never should have elected FDR or JFK.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell, maybe not, but not for reasons of health, at least of the physical type.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe only migraines I’m worried about are those the American people get as a result of Obama’s disastrous Presidency. Bachmann gets migraines??? - Seriously, that’s weaksauce.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLearning that Michele Bachmann suffers migraines was (for me) much like learnng that John McCain suffered torture.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNote the interesting word choices:
“she won’t be equal to the stress”
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse“Bachmann’s mood plunged”
“Bachmann fell apart”
Would Mr. French have taken this position had the aides to John Edward's gone forward with their plan to derail his nomination in 2008 had he gotten close enough?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGood question. I'm always unimpressed by "anonymous aide" sourcing. I would hope that Mr. Edwards' aides would have had the courage to go public with their convictions. Anonymity is necessary only in the most extreme of circumstances and renders any report inherently unreliable. If you can't cross-examine the witness (so to speak), it is much more difficult to discern the truth.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGood point about the cross-examination.
I assumed in the Edwards case that it would have been done anonymously to avoid answering the tough questions about why the aides worked on a campaign they knew they were going to have to derail in the event that their client was successful.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is a real problem with today's conservative media: you are so sensitive to the asinine attacks of the fringe left that you repeat them, over and over, in an attempt to point out how asinine they are. This is exactly what the left wants.
If this attack gets play on CNN or in the NYT, by all means, rip them. But the Daily Caller? Really? If you're going to respond to every garbage post on that site, you are just a puppet for the left, and a field-tester for any invented attack they can think of.
Let it go. Please. There must be more productive things to write about, and better ways to help the cause.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI entirely disagree. Preemptive strikes reveal the mischief in time to counter it and also orient the coming conversation in helpful ways.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOh, so they should just wait until these accusations w/o sources hit the front page of the NYT like the McCain affair stories in early '08 before commenting. Great idea!!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs Prof. Jacobson at Legal Insurrection noted, as far as I'm concerned Ed Rollins is on his own in dealing with these kinds of attacks. A few weeks ago, Rollins attacked Palin (who helped Bachmann with fundraising last year) and asserted that Bachmann was the superior "attractive" female candidate. I never bought Bachmann's after-the-fact attempt to distance herself from her campaign manager's tactics. I'm not impressed with claims that she has been "betrayed."
The DC article does have a noxious smell to it, but the migraines are a legitimate issue (or question) to be raised.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHeat. Kitchen. Comes with being the frontrunner, or at least one of them.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell, sure, so David French shows up with his fire extinguisher, as we will all undoubtedly find occasion to do. Good for him. What's your point?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe point is that David French seems exercised that people would stoop so low as to criticize Bachmann. Jeez louise, it comes with the territory.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes, it comes with the territory, but to NOT push back gives the impression it may be true, or acceptable journalism instead of the sleazy report it is. If Bush43 had only fought back his last year in office, the Republicans might not have been slaughtered in 2008.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf the economy hadn't cratered and people's IRA's fallen by half, gee, the Repubs might have done a lot better in 2008. Come on, pushback (or the lack thereof) didn't decide the 2008 election.
I don't mind Devid French pushing back on the story. But the OMIGOD-THEY'RE-ATTACKING-MICHELE shouting, complete with exclamation points, is a bit much.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCasey, I think we'll have to agree to disagree on the punctuation. I take Elaine's side in this particular style issue, while I assume you're with Mr. Lippman (Youtube below):
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseEvery Republican contender will be savaged by the media, sooner or later. Noone is immune. This is just the beginning for Bachmann, I predict it will get much, much worse.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWilliam Pitt, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln and William Gladstone suffered from chronic migrain headaches. The Greeks thought it was a sign from the Gods. Lincoln was a manic depressant. Mary Lincoln and the Confederacy would have depressed a Hyena. Michelle Bachmann is in good company.
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