The 'Extremist' vs. the 'Lightweight'

That isn't how the Strib's Eric Black framed the Sixth District House race between Patty Wetterling and Michele Bachmann but it captures what the GOP's and DFL's messages will be to voters.

Bachmann critics, for example, signaled early they will raise extremism as an issue at every turn. At a July fundraiser featuring Karl Rove, protester Karl Bremer stood on the sidewalk handing out fortune cookies that contained some of Bachmann's controversial quotes, such as one questioning whether a minimum-wage law is necessary.

A conservative questioning the minimum wage law is hardly new. It seems to me that it'll be difficult to sell voters on the notion that Michele Bachmann is an extremist on the basis of the minimum wage issue. Frankly, I don't think people care that much about it because it affects so few people. It's one of those issues that people think about only in passing.

The DFLer sometimes complains about questions that require her to choose between two policy options, sometimes refuses to do it and advocates things like "long-term vision" and "solution-seeking." Sometimes she outlines a widely shared goal such as greater access to health care, then talks at some length without really committing to a policy that would reach the goal.

There's nothing worse than a candidate who either doesn't have the depth of knowledge to debate the merits of something or who tries being murky in their answers. People want to know where a candidate stands on the important issues. They're fed up with politicians who won't commit to a plan with some specifics, then see it through to completion.

I think that it'll be far easier for the GOP to characterize Patty Wetterling as not having a grasp of the issues than it will be for the DFL to cast Michele Bachmann as an extremist. The truth is that Michele Bachmann's views are only extremist in the eyes of liberals who think that anyone to the right of Ted Kennedy is an extremist.

Legal experts on both sides of the same-sex marriage question agree that there is no mechanism by which a legalization would automatically translate into a statewide mandate on how schools would teach about marriage. And there is no documented case in which any school curriculum actually encouraged children to experiment with same-sex marriage.

But Bachmann defends her comments, saying some of her constituents feel their children's teachers were promoting homosexuality and pointing to Massachusetts, the only state in which same-sex marriage is recognized, where a school district required grade-schoolers to read a book about two princes who married.

It's hard arguing that Bachmann is an extremist when she can point to specific instances that back up her point. I'd argue that this proves her analysis to be accurate and clear, not extremist.

Asked on MPR whether she considered herself "liberal, moderate or conservative," Wetterling said: "Reasonable." When she defines herself, she uses terms like "people person" and "advocate" and "not a policy wonk." Lack of wonkishness may be part of her appeal, but it can make it hard to discern how she might vote in Congress.

While some will regard Wetterling's not being a "policy wonk" as refreshing, I'd characterize it as alarming. I demand that legislators be wonkish. They deal with such a wide range of issues that to not be wonkish tells me that they aren't qualified for the job.

I'd also note that Wetterling's answers to MPR were evasive, which is as damaging as not being a policy heavyweight. That's a stark contrast to Michele Bachmann's habit of answering questions directly on point. Patty Wetterling doesn't want to debate Michele Bachmann because that matchup isn't flattering to her. She'd lose on substantive issues and on style.

The Bachmann campaign will have to work hard to get their vote out but if they put in the sufficient amount of work, they should win this November. Not bad for an extremist, huh?

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Posted Sunday, August 20, 2006 10:19 AM

July 2006 Posts

Comment 1 by kb at 20-Aug-06 12:54 PM

Here's what I find interesting, Gary. When we see Wetterling actually try to define herself and then use that definition to describe her, her supporters say (1) we are misinterpreting her and (2) Bachmann hides her positions. Now we find out that Eric Black, a quite careful reporter and columnist, says there's enough there to put Bachmann as too far outside the mainstream. It's more than a bit confusing, yes?

Comment 2 by Eva Young at 20-Aug-06 05:07 PM

Michele Bachmann is not wonkish. She is glib, and is good at sound bites. She is not able to handle follow up questions.

Comment 3 by Gary Gross at 20-Aug-06 10:21 PM

Michele Bachmann is not wonkish. She is glib, and is good at sound bites. She is not able to handle follow up questions.

Eva, First, thanks for stopping past. I've watched Michele answer questions numerous times. The last adjective I'd use to describe her is glib. As for "being good at sound bites", give me a break. She visited our church this past February. She answered our question on a wide range of issues on point without using politician speak. If you want to characterize that as a soundbite, so be it but I'd just call that being sharp on her feet.

I also remember listening to her getting interviewed at the Patriot Picnic this summer. It was a super hot day, which King will attest to because he was part of the interview team. King, Ed, Mitch asked her about tax & immigration policy, Iran, what the Ninth & Tenth Amendments were & several other answers. She answered them without hesitation & she answered them with a specificity that I've never seen before.

King, Yes. Patty Wetterling says that she isn't wonkish but then we aren't supposed to say that she doesn't have the gravitas that Michele has. You can't have it both ways. Either she isn't wonkish or she has gravitas.

Thus far, I don't see gravitas with Ms. Wetterling.

Comment 4 by Eva Young at 21-Aug-06 08:26 AM

Michele Bachmann does just fine when she's interviewed by people who agree with her. She has a hard time asked questions by constituents who disagree with her.

Comment 5 by Gary Gross at 21-Aug-06 08:49 AM

Eva, What proof do you offer to support that claim?