Gay Activists: Bachmann a 'Target-Rich Environment'

It fears she'll swing to the right, make movement look bad

(NEWSER) - “It’s time for Michele Bachmann to go.” So begins a statement issued yesterday by American Majority, a major Tea Party organization that, according to CNN , operates in seven states and trains thousands of activists. Bachmann’s campaign has become “about her personal effort to stay relevant and sell books,” group president Ned Ryun writes. He worries that in her desperation, she’ll advocate more socially conservative ideas, which “are not what drive the Tea Party.” More»

Social security and Tea Party topics likely to be big issues

(NEWSER) - Yes, it’s debate time again. Here’s what to watch for when the 2012 GOP presidential candidates face off tonight in Florida, at an event sponsored by CNN and the Tea Party Express:

• Social Security will likely continue to be a flash point. At the last debate, Rick Perry attacked Mitt Romney’s record on jobs; this time around, he could take a swipe at his inconsistent social issues record, Politico notes. All of the candidates will be walking a “fine line” when it comes to Social Security, one strategist predicts.
• Rick Perry “did OK” at the last debate, one insider tells the Texas Tribune . “Not good, not poor.” The paper took a survey of insiders and found that 65% felt the governor’s performance was “good,” while 15% called it “great” and 8% said it was “poor.” But some note that he started out strong then began to fade—at this debate, he’ll have to prove he has stamina.

Candidate dodges questions on 'Meet the Press'

(NEWSER) - Another tidbit from Michele Bachmann’s media victory lap today: On Meet the Press , Gawker notes, Bachmann dodged (and dodged again… and again…) David Gregory’s repeated attempts to get her to address her 2004 comments that being gay is “personal enslavement.” Instead, she consistently said, “I am running for the presidency of the United States,” and insisted she doesn’t judge gay people. More»

He hits back at critics who slammed his 'reparative therapy'

(NEWSER) - Despite the fact that an ex-patient says Marcus Bachmann's Christian counseling clinic urged him to "pray the gay away," Bachmann says that turning people straight is not the focus of his business. "We don't have an agenda or a philosophy of trying to change someone,'' he tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune , adding that the people who go through "reparative therapy" have specifically asked for it: "It is at the client's discretion." More»

Observers speculate he protests gay marriage too much

(NEWSER) - Political observers' gaydar is super-piqued by the intriguing Mr. Michele Bachmann, particularly because the therapist is so rabidly anti-gay. "It's pretty much a given that the most vociferously homophobic men are usually repressing something," chortles actor James Urbaniak . "But, oh Mary, Marcus takes the ever-loving cake. I haven't seen flames this high since the last California wildfire." Actor Dave Foley recently asked on Twitter : "How can Michele Bachmann be opposed to gay marriage when she is married to a gay man?" More»