Michele Bachmann: The Tale of Two (Or Three) Candidates

By now, we all know Republican Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann had a bit of a schizophrenic week. After officially announcing her plans to seek the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination, her popularity is surging. The latest poll in New Hampshire shows her gaining 8 points since May, and running second to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Good news for her in Iowa, as well.

But then, the controversies. Tom Petty is none-too-happy that she used one of his songs at a rally. It was revealed that her husband has called homosexuals “barbarians” who “need to be educated” and “disciplined.” And this, regarding the darling of the Tea Party:

As Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., tours the country criticizing government as too big and too expensive, the Republican presidential candidate has come under mounting scrutiny over public dollars flowing to family business interests.

There's $259,000 in federal subsidies paid since 1995 to a family farm of which Bachmann is a part owner. Another $30,000 went to Bachmann and Associates Counseling Clinic in the last five years from various state government agencies, including a small payment logged the day after the congresswoman's official 2012 kickoff.

In addition, at least $137,000 came from Medicaid-backed programs for patients using the mental health clinic run by her husband, Marcus Bachmann.

And the gaffes. First confusing the serial killer John Wayne Gacy with the actor, John Wayne. And then mixing up John Quincy Adams with John Adams.

So, we have a candidate surging in popularity, prone to controversies AND gaffes. Never seen that before, huh?

I watched Michele Bachmann’s announcement with interest. And read the text of the speech several times. I saw – unlike Sarah Palin – a hard-working, self-controlled politician. Some sentimentality, yes. But little if any nostalgia for the good-ole-days. And yes, probably principled. And no, not a brain surgeon. My suspicion is that she knows she is prone to gaffes, and like all of us on the workplace, strives to mitigate the possibility of messing up.

Her supporters won’t care about the controversies. And frankly, I think Republicans who are on the fence about who to support will look less at her gaffes, and more at her principled stances and hard-working nature, if she can keep the latter two up.

Working hard and maintaining principals, even while making mistakes – it’s the American way.  She'll get a pass for it.