June 28, 2011 10:10 AM

Bachmann on John Wayne Gacy gaffe: I'm not perfect

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Campaign 2012
Iowa poll: Bachmann, Romney lead GOP race (Credit: AP)

On day one of her presidential campaign, Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann was already insisting that she's not a "flake." Today, on day two, she's acknowledging a minor flub she made the day of her presidential kickoff speech Monday that elicited a few chuckles.

Speaking from her home town of Waterloo, Iowa on Monday, Bachmann told Fox News, "John Wayne was from Waterloo, Iowa. That's the kind of spirit that I have, too."

As the Washington Times first noted, however, the actor John Wayne was born nearly 150 miles away in Winterset, Iowa. John Wayne Gacy, Jr. -- the serial killer -- was born in Waterloo.

Bachmann addressed the mistake on CNN Tuesday morning, saying, "People can make mistakes and I wish I could be perfect every time I say something, but I can't."

The parents of John Wayne the actor lived in Waterloo for a time, she pointed out. But the technicalities were beside the point, she added.

"Of course, the main point I was making are the sensibilities of John Wayne, which is patriotism, love of country, standing up for our nation, that positive enthusiasm is what America's all about," Bachmann said.

Bachmann touts Iowa roots, Tea Party credentials in campaign kickoff
Bachmann says Obama using "scare tactics" on debt ceiling
Bachmann says Obama upped gov't limos by 73%

The Tea Party Republican starts her campaign with a reputation for at times stretching the truth and mixing up facts.

However, she's proven to be a serious political contender when it comes to the polls and fundraising. A recent Des Moines Register poll of Iowa Republican voters shows she's in a statistical dead heat with Mitt Romney for the lead in the nation's first presidential nominating contest (which is, albeit, seven months away).

After Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace asked Bachmann if she's a flake, the congresswoman said, "It's insulting to insinuate that a candidate for president is less than serious."

She later accepted his personal apology after he called her.

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Add a Comment See all 132 Comments
by Mysticsc July 14, 2011 12:15 AM EDT
John Wayne Gacy was a born on St. Patrick's Day 1942 at Edgewater Hospital in Chicago
Reply to this comment
by spokeperson June 30, 2011 11:44 AM EDT
I am a registered Republican--but I vote on the person (not the party). So--there have been times that I have voted Democratic both local & national areas.

After Pelosi-Reid-Obama didn't balance a budget when they had complete control of Congress and the White House--raised many questions.

Pelosi-Reid-Obama were power grabbers from the beginning. Rewrite financial reform--no longer will the Bank Examiners have a determination of a bank's solvency--but THIS WILL FALL UNDER THE FEDERAL RESERVE ONLY ACCOUNTABLE TO OBAMA! From there to the Health Care Reform. On 9-13-09--60 Minutes--Obama said: "once the health care reform is passed--I WILL OWN IT"! Then Obama was asked: "how do you intend to pay for this health care--Obama--when someone is receiving treatment and that treatment isn't making them healthier-and ultimately will end in death--take those monies and make a better deal for someone who will benefit from those funds". I saved the transcript--again 60 Minutes 9-13-09. If it is still on the CBS network--check it out. Since I figured it will disappear--I saved it.

Now when it comes to 2012--there are many Republicans on the list to select from--and of course--Obama.

When it comes to 2012--LOOK and LISTEN to the Candidates and ask yourself--who WILL I TRUST TO MAKE DECISIONS IN REGARDS TO MY HEALTH! Who has America as their heartbeat--not someone who pursues their own individual goals--but most of all-----Who wants to keep America and all her freedoms--and hears the HEARTBEAT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE--Who will listen to the needs and concerns of every American---who will treat the American people with RESPECT--whether John Wayne was or wasn't from a city or not--

Americans keep your eyes on the ball--the issues stated above are VALID CONCERNS!
Reply to this comment
by pasha128 June 30, 2011 6:42 PM EDT
You cannot balance a budget after almost a decade of REPUBLICAN DEFICIT SPENDING in less time that the REPUBLICANS spent PUMPING RELATIVELY FREE MONEY INTO CORPORATE COFFERS.
by JV1970 June 30, 2011 2:42 AM EDT
All of this is a big to do about nothing! The media is very good at blowing things out of proportion and that's what they've done in this case! This was a simple slip of the tongue and should be simply dismissed.
Reply to this comment
by bobnjersey June 29, 2011 4:11 PM EDT
["Of course, the main point I was making are the sensibilities of John Wayne, which is patriotism, love of country, standing up for our nation, that positive enthusiasm is what America's all about," Bachmann said.]
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actually ... she's showing that she also shares some of the same sensibilities of john wayne gacey ... charming but manipulative ... intelligent and cunning ... says one thing and does another ... avoids the exposure of his true self until after he's done irrepairable damage to many.
Reply to this comment
by JV1970 June 30, 2011 2:21 AM EDT
I doubt that Bachmann has ever murdered anyone, though, and buried their remains under her house though!
by bobnjersey June 29, 2011 4:06 PM EDT
[The Tea Party Republican starts her campaign with a reputation for at times stretching the truth and mixing up facts.]
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she'll be ending her campaign very soon w/ the same reputation.
Reply to this comment
by nanc12 June 29, 2011 2:45 PM EDT
by chevyhotrod June 29, 2011 10:00 AM EDT
Why is that, because she is a conservative and doesn't believe or have the same values as yourself?

Only liberal woman are smart, creative and competent?

-------------

No, it's because she's incompetent. I'm sure there are many repub women legislators who are way more qualified to run than Bachmann or Palin in terms of intelligence, experience, etc. The problem is, they're probably not as good looking. Repubs seem to want someone who looks good on a Harley or who has been told by God to run. So they put up Bachmann, Palin, Angle or O'Donnell. Put up a woman who is competent, and women will be thrilled to vote for her. It's just insulting to all women to put these airheads out as the best you can do.
Reply to this comment
by JV1970 June 30, 2011 2:26 AM EDT
I disagree! I'm a woman and I plan to vote for Palin if she decides to run but if not, I also like Bachmann. She is very high on my list of alternatives!
by Jaylah54 June 29, 2011 2:31 PM EDT
But wouldn't you think that you might take a bit more care to make sure that what you said in your official campaign kick-off speech was correct? I mean, this wasn't some spontaneous, off-the-cuff remark.

Not Michele! Airhead Palin taught her well.
Reply to this comment
by nanc12 June 29, 2011 2:47 PM EDT
If a small town like Waterloo is really your "hometown," you should know that John Wayne Gacy was a native son. She was trying to establish her Iowa roots, and instead showed how clueless about Iowa she really is.
by JV1970 June 30, 2011 2:32 AM EDT
Jaylah54 don't you or nanc12 ever make mistakes? I certainly do and if you're human then so do you! I imagine the minute the words came out of Bachmann's mouth she realized her mistake but words once spoken can't be taken back. We all make mistakes, though, and sometimes say things that we regret because we're human!
by magik1369 June 29, 2011 2:21 PM EDT
Bachman is not only not perfect, she is lucky if her IQ tops 75. The national IQ avg. is a pathetic 94, 28th in the world...and the republican want to severely cut education. Bachman is a ditzy airhead and anyone with an IQ above a monkey can easily perceive it. Perception and discernment are advanced faculties of consciousness and correlate directly with intelligence levels. Republicans have an appetite for stupidity and for stupid people in general, which is all based in projection. They figure "candidate A is aggressive, stupid, and narcissistic and is a lot like I am, so I will vote for candidate A. The heck with those fancy elite educated folks." Which is complete idiocy. This is why this country is in the condition it is...we allow any Tom, Dick and Jane, to run for the highest offices in the land, even though they are not remotely qualified. Bachman and Palin prove my point. I rest my case.
Reply to this comment
by JV1970 June 30, 2011 2:37 AM EDT
Apparently the Republicans don't have a monopoly on idiots, though! Judging from your comment the Democrats have their fair share of them! I rest my case.
by gratvialavas June 29, 2011 7:40 AM EDT
The gaffes aside, I just don't hear anything of substance out of this woman. It's all rhetorical, feel-good, flag waving pablum. There's no real content. Sure, the right wingers in Iowa gobble this stuff up, but the rest of the country want to hear concrete ideas, plans, promises.

So far, all we've gotten is a Fourth of July picnic speech. Where's the beef?
Reply to this comment
by Progress4U June 29, 2011 9:47 AM EDT
I've been saying that about the entire GOP for 20 years now...
by chevyhotrod June 29, 2011 9:59 AM EDT
What did President Obama say of substance while running for President?

Progress4U, ever heard of the Contract with America, which created balanced budgets and surpluses?

I seriously doubt it.
See all 4 Replies
by JRC_903 June 29, 2011 7:10 AM EDT
If this women is NOT a "flake," she is going a pretty good imitation of one. For the second time in recent memory a female politician is unraveling years of progress that smart, creative, competent women have made toward establishing themselves as serous people.
Reply to this comment
by chevyhotrod June 29, 2011 10:00 AM EDT
Why is that, because she is a conservative and doesn't believe or have the same values as yourself?

Only liberal woman are smart, creative and competent?

What a joke....
by magik1369 June 29, 2011 2:27 PM EDT
she is indeed an idiot and a ditzy, airhead flake. Your observation has nothing to do with her being a "conservative." Watch out, all the victim complexes of the republicans are going to come out and the republicans are going to cry foul because they chose another loser, low IQ candidate. Birds of a feather flock together. There is no way Americans are going to allow Bachman to get anywhere near the White House. Civil war would break out first.
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