Star Spangled Staggers

US politics from outside the beltway

"My mommy doesn't need fixing", says 8-year-old to Michele Bachmann

"Shameless" maybe but this little boy shines light on Bachmann’s strained relationship with the LGBT

By Mark Jenner Published 07 December 2011 19:47

When it comes to Michele Bachmann and the LGBT community, it's fair to say that relations are fairly frosty. Look no further than the Minnesota Congresswoman's support for a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex civil unions. Then there was an exchange in town hall in Iowa where Bachmann explains to the leader of the Gay Straight Alliance at the local high school that's its fine for gay people to marry, erm, so long as it's not with a person of the same sex. And of course there is the clinic co-owned by Bachmann and her husband, much maligned over its pretentions to "pray-the-gay-away" as this undercover video from Associated Press highlights.

So when an eight-year-old boy named Elijah wandered up to Bachmann during a recent meet-and-greet event in South Carolina -- where the congresswoman was promoting her new book Core of Conviction: My Story -- she hardly expected him to be an undercover assailant acting as the vanguard of this ongoing battle with the LGBT community.

As the video shows Bachmann is first unable to hear little Elijah, and learns over the desk to get as close as possible to him. The whole thing was like asking someone to come closer and closer and then shouting "boo!" except this time it wasn't "boo" but something that was equally shocking: "My mommy, miss Bachmann, my mommy's gay but she doesn't need any fixing." It's worth watching this video just for the look of utter shock on Bachmann's face. The mother -- apparently encouraging the boy's statement -- is then shot a look which, "if looks could kill, would have left Elijah an orphan" (as LGBT website Dallas Voice memorably points out.)

Later Bachmann took to the airwaves with Glenn Beck to call this act "shameless", excoriating the mother for her eagerness to use her child as a political pawn. Critics on Twitter also vented anger at what looked like a child being forced to deliver a prepared line. Beck asked: "How do you navigate in that kind of world where you're being -- I think -- set up to look like a homophobe. Are you a homophobe?" Bachmann vehemently denied being so and stated that the "agenda-driven community wants to climb up on my platform and make their issue my issue and paint me as someone that I'm not."

But the (unidentified) woman who videotaped the confrontation, disagreed with the idea that the boy had been forced by his mother. She told Chicago Now that the boy was the one who wanted to approach Bachmann:

"His mom was going to say something to her, but she got nervous and told me she wanted to leave. We were about to step out of the line but Elijah cried out, "Nooo!" He grabbed onto her coat and pulled her back in the line, saying he wanted to talk to her....[W]hen we got up to Michele, he got a little stage fright. His mom just didn't want him to not say it because he was afraid, because she knew he would regret it if he didn't."

Whatever the motive the LGBT community can comfort themselves with the thought that Bachmann's chances of winning the Republican nomiations -- barring a miracoulous turn-around in fortunes -- seem pretty bleak. After all it's not Elijah's mum that needs fixing, it's Bachmann's views.

Tags: Michele Bachmann

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19 comments

Fri, 2011-12-09 00:27 — Orthodoxcaveman

D.Wain writes "Gay marriage" is an oxymoron. Can't be any worse than the...

1. Bullshit marriage - ones that only last for 24 hours.

2. Violent or forced marriage - these have a long tradition (about 5000 years) and are generally bad for women.

3. Celebrity marriage - ones for publicity purposes only and can be repeated as necessary.

4. Tory marriage - in which a gay (usually) male Tory MP marries a woman and has two children in order hide his sexuality and advance his career.

Fri, 2011-12-09 20:47 — Orthodoxcaveman

@A. Hole

"At the end of the day there is no faction within a democracy that should be above criticism".

You forgot to mention "smug tossers".

Mon, 2011-12-12 14:08 — John Cheese (not verified)

They should have "staged" the 8 year old to ask for an end to world hunger at the same time.

Sat, 2011-12-10 00:41 — A. Cole (not verified)

Othodoxcaveman

Yes I also forgot to mention sanctamonious liberal/left wing pricks as well!!!

Fri, 2011-12-09 12:24 — A. Cole (not verified)

At the end of the day there is no faction within a democracy that should be above criticism.....whether these be Muslims, Christians, Jews, Conservatives, women, Liberals, blacks, whites.....and deviant minorties like homosexuals!!

Fri, 2011-12-09 13:11 — A. Cole (not verified)

ohNoUdidn't

Thank you for that video...it reminded me of the good old days!

Fri, 2011-12-09 15:07 — Fraziel1

Christians often force unsavioury opinions on their kids and indoctrinate them. They have no right to complain about someone elses kid, who may or may not have been prepped, chinning them for their nutty bigotted religious views.

Thu, 2011-12-08 19:16 — Derek Wain (not verified)

It is shameful for gay activists to exploit and manipulate a 8-year-old to advance their radical homosexual agenda. "Gay marriage" is an oxymoron, since marriage means "a permanent union between one woman and man."
For 5000 years, "marriage" has meant "a contract between one man and one woman", not some other random combination of humans because it feels good. That definition of marriage is the bedrock of human society. MB's response meant that society should not endorse gay marriage by giving it the high status of "marriage". Ignore the perverted and false "interpretations" of her comments by gay media bloggers. She remains the most principled Constitutional Conservative on the American political stage.
This was a particularly moronic screed on MB's commonsense response and instruction to clueless gay activist students. The radical left, gay media no longer even pretends to report political news but instead feeds us radical left gay propaganda.
The argument for "gay marriage" is equally valid (and equally invalid) for 1 man-2 women and for 2 women-1 man; etc. The logical extension of allowing "gay marriage" is legalizing polygamy.

Thu, 2011-12-08 19:56 — Ian5

I'm a fence sitter on this one..can't see if either version can be proven.That said Bachmanns position is an absolute disgrace in this day and age..Derek I'm not sure I accept single sex MARRIAGE, but set aside having a family, I do believe a formal legal option MUST exist where LGBTs can commit too each other and obtain the life benefits that a committed heterosexual couple can have..Pension, inheritance, next of kin status, tax etc. I can;t see how monogamy of any kind leads to polygamy.. I've two downs of the gay community 1) I hate camp, 2) I'm not happy with Gay adoptions, but my concern is with the psychological effect on the child, the bullying potential is enormous, no problem with the moral character of those adopting. time will resolve that one for me. Campophobia has no cure.

Thu, 2011-12-08 20:19 — ohNoUdidn't (not verified)

Yeh we have a big problem with polygamy where civil partnerships have been legalised, Derek. You think gay marriage is an oxymoron? Well, Bachmann is against civil unions. The truth is that people like you no longer have to 'allow' anything. Certain rights are inalienable, and after 5000 years of persecution, prejudice and hatred (as you note) it's time to confront the ugly and reprehensible views that cause so much damage to society at large and to the individuals in particular. This woman isn't fit to lead the free world. She's be more at home, i'm sure, in the many places in the world that still imprison and execute people for being gay.

Thu, 2011-12-08 20:19 — John Cheese (not verified)

Single people should have the same rights as married or gay-unions too- inheiritance- 401K transfers, health bennies if not married, etc. amke it a complete level playing field.

Thu, 2011-12-08 20:21 — ohNoUdidn't (not verified)

@Ian'Camp' hates you too.

Thu, 2011-12-08 20:26 — A. Cole (not verified)

Of course 'Mommy needs fixing'.If gay was the norm then how would the human species be able to produce future generations????

Thu, 2011-12-08 20:43 — ohNoUdidn't (not verified)

@Ian here is a good resource you can use to promote your views: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=v3S24ofEQj4

Thu, 2011-12-08 20:46 — Kibby (not verified)

Um...A. Cole, people are either born gay or born straight. They don't wake up one morning and choose to be one or the other. I think you can agree that the human race is not going to become extinct anytime soon. Giving homosexuals the right to marry the people they love isn't going to change that.

Thu, 2011-12-08 20:55 — ohNoUdidn't (not verified)

Oh so sorry at @Ian. That vid was meant for @A.Cole.

Thu, 2011-12-08 21:06 — Pollik

Well, if anyone is interested, here in the UK civil partnerships (the nearest thing we have to gay marriage) are lasting on average slightly longer than the average marriage.

Oh, and homosexual behaviour has been observed in 1500 species.

Homophobia has been observed in just one.

The incidence of being gay in the UK is slightly more than the incidence of being a natural blonde...guess we better have a witch hunt for all those "not normal" bottle blondes, too, eh?

The arguments for demonising homosexuality, as they once did left handedness, just don't stack up.

Thu, 2011-12-08 23:40 — Maria111

Bachmann “remains the most principled Constitutional Conservative on the American political stage.”
Considering Gingrich’s multiple adulterous affairs she should be ahead. Yet note that she is behind Gingrich as far as the support of the loudest Constitutional Conservatives Rush Limbaugh (thrice married drug addict and dodger of military service thanks to his anal cyst) and Ann Coulter (a childless and promiscuous bad mouth). The Limbaugh’s cyst would not be mentioned if not his many abuses against war veterans.
Bachmann the ignoramus:
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/bachmann-the-constitution-and-slavery/
http://www.redstate.com/leon_h_wolf/2011/09/13/michele-bachmanns-constit...

Fri, 2011-12-09 18:37 — Ian5

@ohNoUdidn't Camp can hate me, it is after all an affect, not a result of being homosexual. In regards to my views on homosexuality I've openly discussed them with my gay friends, who have given up dragging me to camp/drag nights. They also understand my concerns over the possible, (note possible) problems a child may face being brought up in a single sex home. bullies are bullies are bullies. I know I'm he one that looses out, no Graham Norton show....I'll live with it.