Michele Bachmann's opponent pounces as she tries to back down

[ProSense]

Bachmann backs off BP defense, as GOPers distance from Barton

Rep. Michele Bachmann on Wednesday appeared to back off her criticisms of the Obama administration’s plans to have BP pay for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, as other Republicans weighed in the plan: Rep. Joe Barton apologized to BP for the escrow fund, while Republican Rep. Jeff Miller called for Barton to step down from his leadership post on the House energy committee. Meanwhile, Bachmann’s opponent this fall, DFL Sen. Tarry Clark, pounced on Bachmann’s earlier criticisms, stating unequivocally, “I stand with taxpayers” — not BP.

On Tuesday, Bachmann said that a $20 billion victims escrow amounted to “wealth redistribution,” urged BP executives not to be “chumps,” and said the Obama administration was “fleecing” BP. But on Wednesday, she told CNN, “I’m not here to shill for BP. That’s not the goal. BP clearly is at fault here. They need to pay every last dime of damage and that’s what needs to be done. But at the same time, we don’t want these payouts to become political.”

Sen. Clark seized on Bachmann’s earlier statements.

“Let me be clear: I stand with the victims of this tragedy and the American taxpayers. They are the ones who deserve to be defended,” Clark said in a statement. “But instead, Congresswoman Bachmann has risen to the defense of BP. Holding BP accountable for this disaster is not ‘fleecing’ it. It’s making sure they do what’s right by the citizens of the Gulf whose livelihoods are threatened and by all Americans who want the Gulf cleaned up.”

She added, “Michele Bachmann refuses to hold BP accountable — but I will. Make no mistake, I stand with taxpayers, not BP.”

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[vaberella]

1. Go Clark. n/t

[FSogol]

2. K & R. n/t

[Raster]

3. This hideous environmental catastrophe should be hung around the neck of every politician that ever

uttered "drill, baby drill" like a rotting chicken carcass.

[SunsetDreams]

4. exactly !

[dflprincess]

5. Looks like Bachmann will have to pull out wedge issues

like "abortion on demand" & Gay marriage to win. Tarryl (not Tarry, btw the Minnesota Independent should know better) Clark could have tape of her taking suitcases of money from Tony Hayward but, in her district, the wedge issue crap is apt to work.


http://tarrylclark.com/

[rbixby]

22. Sad but true

I didn't think that the 6th was that red until I moved to Minneapolis and the difference was like night and day. I still kind of wish I could vote there, because I'd love to vote for Tarryl Clark!

[Bitwit1234]

6. And the closer we get to November the more

Bachmann's mouth is going to cause her more trouble. She just can't help herself.

[DrToast]

7. I think she's pretty safe

If we couldn't knock her off in 2008, I don't know how much luck we'll have this year.

[ProSense]

8. You never know.

People may be tired of her crap.

[tammywammy]

16. I just hope enough in Minnesota followed her advice and didn't turn in their census

Bachmann's district is the most likely to go if they lose a representative.

[Arkana]

17. We just got to her opponent too late in the game.

This time we have a year's headstart to boost Tarryl Clark high enough to beat that loudmouth Sarah Palin wannabe.

[AspenRose]

9. Yes!

Where do I send my support? Crazy woman Bachmann has to GO. She makes Katherine Harris look like a Rhodes scholar.

[Mister Ed]

15. Tarryl Clark's website

http://tarrylclark.com/

[Phx_Dem]

10. When Batshit Bachman backs down, it must be bad.

[ProgressOnTheMove]

11. At least the GOP are showing how oily they really are all these clips should be played non stop in..

November.

[treestar]

12. Wealth redistribution?

OMG, she's even against paying civil claims - this isn't even taxation!

Batshit insane does not begin to describe this woman. She makes Palin look all right.

[golfguru]

13. How are the polls looking for Clark & Bachmann?

[Cha]

14. Biiii-oootch!

"That’s not the goal. BP clearly is at fault here. They need to pay every last dime of damage and that’s what needs to be done. But at the same time, we don’t want these payouts to become political.”

[depakid]

18. It's almost better to have Bachmann around spewing off her crazy

High profile caricatures like her can be useful.

[KurtNYC]

19. Very telling: on Wednesday, she told CNN, “I’m not here to shill for BP. That’s not the goal. "

You see? Shilling for BP was the goal in DC on Tuesday. But Wednesday on CNN, the goal is to distance herself from her shilling!

It's Freudian.

[cascadiance]

20. Bachmann Turnip Overdrive went too far!

[Blue Owl]

21. I wanna see Bachmann's political career covered in sticky, black gobs of oil...

I'm visualizing it right now, in fact.

It brings me mild pleasure.