Michelle Bachmann: Queen Of Silly

When Newsweek magazine recently featured Michelle Bachmann on their cover in what was deemed a controversial photograph, I was tempted to say a few things. In the end, I didn't weigh in.

For the record, I think Bachmann is a real hottie. A very pretty lady I never get tired of looking at on the boob tube. However, I get very tired of listening to her spew idiocy. The Newsweek cover with her spacey gaze might have been unfair, but then again, it might be suggestive of a side she often shows. Too often for me take her seriously as a presidential candidate.

I'm just going to point to two recent examples of her silliness. Don't get me wrong, I disagree and find goofy at least 80 percent of what she says. But the two examples I'm highlighting in today's post are, I think, unforgivable examples of a politician trying use dead celebrities to score popularity points and making a fool of herself in the process. And these flubs are unforgivable in this age when most of the folks with money (and many who can't afford it) has access to the internet through their cell phones. I mean, good grief, how hard is it to do a little fact checking to avoid looking a dunce when you open your mouth?

First, when kicking off her campaign in Waterloo, Iowa she made reference to The Duke, actor John Wayne, whom she said hailed from Waterloo. Even going so far as to say

Well, what I want them to know is just like, John Wayne was from Waterloo, Iowa, that's the kind of spirit that I have, too.

The oops here is that it was the notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy who was from Waterloo. And it can certainly be hoped that it isn't Gacy's spirit that she wishes she had.

Then there was yesterday's incident that I saw on NBC's evening news. (If you missed it, Huffpo has the video here.) I couldn't help laughing when she, pretending to be a big Elvis Presley fan, kept wishing him a happy birthday on the anniversary of his death. Now no true Elvis fan would do that. Which suggests to me she is just your typical politician stretching to associate with any potential voting bloc. Unfortunately, she's making a fool of herself doing it.

She later tried to clarify and correct herself by saying "As far as we're concerned, he's still alive in our hearts." The "we" being the Elvis fans, whose attention she probably just lost. Okay, he still lives there. But what has that to do with this very unfortunate mix up? It would be similar to wishing JFK a happy birthday on November 22, wouldn't it?

I suppose a Christian like Bachmann wouldn't think wishing a dead person a happy birthday is that strange. After all, they usually think of the departed as leaning over Heaven's bannister watching the goings on "down here." And Elvis could not possibly have gone to Hell, right?

As far as his Christianity, that seems to be overblown somewhat. His religious view, according to the accounts of those who knew him best, was a strange amalgam of very vague Christianity with a heavy dose of New Age wackadoo. That being the case, I submit it is just as reasonable to suggest that he was reincarnated in Amy Winehouse and is now between incarnations and unable to receive birthday wishes.

[Side note: Yes, I'm an Elvis fan. But I'm a fan of his singing. From a personal perspective, I find him every bit as silly as the would-be president who is rubbing her face in his legacy, hoping some of his popularity will cling to her. And yes, I think what happened to Winehouse was sad, but exactly the same type of squandering of life and talent that Elvis is now noted for.]

Candidate Bachmann bears watching (for comedy relief, anyway). I look forward to her campaign.