Michele Bachmann of course refused to walk back her comments that the Obama administration is a "gangster government" on Meet the Press this week, but as Steve Benen noted, she also seems to have a great deal of trouble with any consistency to this argument.
Of course not. Bachmann started using this line nearly two years ago -- it never really caught on with anyone else -- so she obviously isn't prepared to walk it back.
Indeed, it's part of a larger case the hysterical right-wing lawmaker has pushed repeatedly: this White House reminds her of an organized crime syndicate, using ruthless, Chicago-style hardball tactics intended to intimidate anyone who gets in the president's way. It's absurd, but it's a picture Bachmann has tried to paint.
What's interesting, though, is that Bachmann has also made the exact opposite argument, just as often.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) launched a verbal assault on President Obama this weekend, claiming that his foreign policy stance was so weak that it made "Jimmy Carter look like a Rambo tough-guy."
I can see one argument or the other, but both at the same time?
President Obama, we're told, is both too tough and too weak. He's overly aggressive and overly passive. He's a ruthless mobster and a feeble pushover.
Is it too much to ask that right-wing personalities pick one or the other? They can't both be true.
He's correct but consistency and telling the truth aren't exactly Michele Bachmann's strong points, are they? As long as she's never punished by the electorate for her nonsense, she's got no reason to stop.
Transcript below the fold.
GREGORY: Let me ask you about 2012. There's talk that you're considering a run for the presidency. And I wonder what you make of how people react to you. A lot of people think that you are an extremist, somebody who, you know, as you've done in the past, called the administration "a gangster government," is far more interested in fueling anger than becoming something of a consensus politician who can attract widespread support. How do you react to all that?
BACHMANN: I haven't made a decision either way about plans for 2012. What my concern is, is that our country move forward and that we regain a sound financial footing. I don't believe that Barack Obama has done a good job as president of the United States. I think that's beared out statistically on everything from anemic job creation to the out of control spending and deficits. The economy is simply not improving. Just consider, the day before the president took office gasoline was $1.83 a gallon. There are places today in the United States where it is over $4 a gallon. It didn't help that the president had the Interior secretary cancel 77 oil leases as soon as the president came into power. We can do so much better. And that's what I'm talking about with people in the next few months. We need to think very strongly--a second administration of Jimmy Carter wouldn't have done this country any favors. We need to make sure we don't have a second Barack Obama administration.
GREGORY: You've referred to the Obama administration as a gangster government. You've said that this President has anti-American views. Do you believe that still?
BACHMANN: I believe that the actions of this government have-- have-- been emblematic of ones that have not been based on true American values. Just consider Obama Care. Over 900 waivers have been given out to unions and protected special interests that are linked to the president.
GREGORY: Is it appropriate to refer to the government as a gangster government and to question whether this President loves America?
BACHMANN: Well, I said I do believe that actions that have been taken by this White House, I don't take back my statement on gangster government. I think that there have been-- actions that have been taken by this government that I think are corrupt--
GREGORY: And you think the President has anti-American views?
BACHMANN: Well, it-- I've already answered that question before. I said I had very serious concerns about the President's views. And I think the President's actions in the last two years speak for themselves.
