Report: Bachmann ordered Ed Rollins to apologize to Palin’s team

posted at 4:50 pm on June 20, 2011 by Allahpundit

When you’ve got a puppy with a habit of crapping on the carpet, you may need to rub his face in it to set him right.

Serious candidates require serious message discipline, and as of last Monday’s debate, she’s most definitely a serious candidate:

“We need Mrs. Bachmann out front and we need the campaign to be a real campaign with one spokesperson and a disciplined message,” said one Bachmann adviser granted anonymity to speak candidly about strategy…

Bachmann’s newly installed political team has had its own battles with message discipline — typified by campaign manager Ed Rollins’ recent comments alleging that former Alaska governor Sarah Palin hasn’t been “serious” over the last few years.

After the incident, Bachmann was “very firm” with Rollins, according to an adviser to the congresswoman, telling him this should not happen again and that there should be “no more press”. Bachmann also demanded that Rollins call the Palin people and apologize. “She is definitely not tone deaf,” the source added.

Bachmann’s move to limit her exposure in the wake of her debate performance is a smart strategy designed to avoid accidentally trampling on the momentum she built with that performance.

Such is Palin’s conservative cachet among the base, I think, that not even Michele Bachmann would feel completely safe from charges of RINO-ism if she had let Rollins’s attack slide. Already I’ve seen her dismissed by a few people in the comments here and elsewhere as some sort of stalking horse for Romney whose mission is to clear his way to the nomination by siphoning off votes from Pawlenty and Palin. What she’d be hoping to gain from doing that, I’m not sure; James Taranto imagined a Romney/Bachmann ticket a few days ago, but I’ve always figured Mitt would want a southerner as VP to shore up his support regionally. She hit him over the weekend for failing to sign the Susan B. Anthony List’s pro-life pledge (note the bit at the end of her statement drily alluding to his previous flip-flop on abortion), so whatever her ultimate strategy is, it doesn’t involve treating Romney with kid gloves.

If she’s looking to stay in the good graces of Palin fans, whose votes she’ll potentially need down the line, why didn’t she demand that Rollins apologize publicly? The passage in the WaPo piece quoted above, buried several paragraphs down, is the first I’ve heard of it.

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Bachmann/Perry or Perry/Bachmann. They are the only two worth considering now.

Mr. Grump on June 20, 2011 at 6:03 PM

That’s a wonderful thought, but when you haven’t even run a state wide campaign like MB….you NEED consultants.

tencole on June 20, 2011 at 5:56 PM

I disagree. You certainly need people with exceptional organizing and tech skills … but you don’t need dinosaurs like Rollins and other consultants. Hopefully, Palin will show them how it’s done.

darwin on June 20, 2011 at 6:04 PM

PDS

idesign on June 20, 2011 at 6:01 PM

I concur. Extremely bad case. Not treatable in my opinion.

darwin on June 20, 2011 at 6:05 PM

I don’t think that Bachmann is a stalking horse for Romney. I still want to know what was the political strategy of Rollins making the comment about Sarah Palin in the first place? Why did he feel it was necessary to attack a person who isn’t even in the presidential race as of now? It makes no sense, and I don’t think he speaks off the cuff it – he said it intentionally.

Dr Evil on June 20, 2011 at 5:56 PM

The only logical reason for him to do it is the stalking horse.
Otherwise he would attack Mitt, or maybe both mitt and palin.
They are trying to keep palin away from a race against mitt as much as possible.

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 6:05 PM

One……Term……..PRESIDENT!!!!11!!1!

Brian1972 on June 20, 2011 at 6:03 PM

Doesn’t that “belong” to Hannity?
She also uses “Constitutional Conservative”….from Palin.

Rhetoric…she the queen of it.

tencole on June 20, 2011 at 6:05 PM

okay so an anonymous source says that bachmann told rollins to call and apologize to palin’s team. my questions:

-who is the source?
-why is this just being reported now? it happened a couple of weeks ago.
-why didn’t bachmann tell him to apologize publicly? the comments were made publicly, so should the apology.

idesign on June 20, 2011 at 6:06 PM

I hope Bachmann’s people don’t think that Palin is going to actually buy this bullsh*t story, do they?

Jeebus, Bachmann has a lot to learn. Mittens needs a smarter stooge.

victor82 on June 20, 2011 at 6:07 PM

nope she should have fired his butt on the spot. a apology to Palin is nice but Ed should have made a public one also. Until ed is fired i can’t support Bachmann. And this shows that Palin is still the king attack her personally at your own peril. Bachmann’s attack backfired and has limited her support. Now she moves to backpeddle and call off the attack dog? unless she fires him she isn’t serious about this.

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:07 PM

Good.

MeatHeadinCA on June 20, 2011 at 6:08 PM

idesign on June 20, 2011 at 6:06 PM

idesign….it probably wasn’t even Rollins that did the actual “apologizing”….I’m sure it was just from one “adviser” to another.

tencole on June 20, 2011 at 6:08 PM

-who is the source?
-why is this just being reported now? it happened a couple of weeks ago.
-why didn’t bachmann tell him to apologize publicly? the comments were made publicly, so should the apology.

idesign on June 20, 2011 at 6:06 PM

the source doens’t matter it’s coming from bachmann.
2) why is it being reported now? because the polls show Bachmann is being hurt by this and Palin supporters are not coming into Bachmann’s camp.

3) why not public? good question and makes me think that politics are involved. if she makes it a public apology she admits the strenght of Palin and her support had compelled her to apologize. It short it shows Bachmann as weak and in need of Palin supporters. It will also turn off those ABPP that the rollins attack brought to her tent So this was the politcal thing to do hoping to make nice with Palin and her supporters quietly out of sight while at the same time appearing strong and still the antipalin choice….

It will not work….Bachmann needs to fire Rollins and she needed to do it 2 weeks ago.

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:12 PM

Dr Evil on June 20, 2011 at 5:56 PM

I suspect this was a trial balloon (i.e., “can we snipe at Palin, differentiate ourselves a bit?”) which blew up in their faces. Now they’re trying to sweep up the itty bitty balloon pieces from the carpet without looking too foolish.

I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, personally… unless Palin has a spokesman ask “what phone call are you talking about?”

Then, the refuse will have struck the circulating blades…

cs89 on June 20, 2011 at 6:12 PM

A Rollins apology isn’t sufficient. Ed Rollins is a complete political bottom feeder and she needs to get rid of him pronto. This was one of her first hires for campaign – and sets the tone for what we can expect from her in the future. Rollins takes no prisoners and can be nasty and cut throat – trust me I live in NJ – he will do something like this again. He can’t help himself. Michelle – get rid of Rollins.

IlonaE on June 20, 2011 at 6:14 PM

Mr. Grump on June 20, 2011 at 6:03 PM

ROFL…Bachmann isn’t even a good minnime

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:14 PM

It will not work….Bachmann needs to fire Rollins and she needed to do it 2 weeks ago.

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:12 PM

Shows a blatant lack of executive experience.

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 6:17 PM

this was Rollins last public commnet on the attack he made on Palin:

Rollins had suggested to POLITICO that Bachmann would fare well in a Palin contrast, and told a radio interviewer that the former vice presidential contender is “not serious.”

Of Team Palin’s call for a retraction, he said, “What’s the retraction? I say she’s serious?”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56518.html#ixzz1PrCwWyug

anyone think that is an apology?

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:18 PM

anyone think that is an apology?

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:18 PM

Nope. It’s just a reaffirmation of the original slight.

Kataklysmic on June 20, 2011 at 6:21 PM

Shows a blatant lack of executive experience.

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 6:17 PM

It also shows tha tit has taken her three weeks to understand the fundemental damagge rollins made to her campaign. This pree release is do to poll results showing Bachmann pretty much disliked by Palin supporters. nothing more nothing less. Bachmann made a mistake, and still has not done what is needed to correct that mistake. a private apology is not going to cut it. rollins needs to go. simple and direct. either Bachmann fires Rollins or she will never be seen as a good alternative to Palin’s support if Gov Palin chooses not to run.

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:21 PM

If she wants my vote she needs to fire him.

kmarie on June 20, 2011 at 6:23 PM

Nope. It’s just a reaffirmation of the original slight.

Kataklysmic on June 20, 2011 at 6:21 PM

It was also a couple of days after his orginal comments. which refutes allah’s post that Bachmann immediately told rollins to stop. And it highlights that bachmann allowed rollins to continue the Palin attack for several days until the backlash built to where even she saw it. the fact that Rollins has still yet to publiclly apologize to palin is all the tell we need that the attack come directly from Bachmann and it was a campaign strategy.

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:24 PM

even the fac that the Bachmann camp is bring this up 3 weeks later is a sign that she doesn’t understand. If anything they should have buried it and hoped that after a while it would blow over or people would forget. This half as* cover of one’s backside is stupid on so many levels. Bachmann just isn’t up for the rigors of a presidential campaign. rookie mistakes.

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:27 PM

If you believe Bauchmann’s crapola, then I have a bridge
I would like to sell you!

Amjean on June 20, 2011 at 6:29 PM

It was also a couple of days after his orginal comments. which refutes allah’s post that Bachmann immediately told rollins to stop. And it highlights that bachmann allowed rollins to continue the Palin attack for several days until the backlash built to where even she saw it. the fact that Rollins has still yet to publiclly apologize to palin is all the tell we need that the attack come directly from Bachmann and it was a campaign strategy.

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:24 PM

Maybe allahpundit rechecks the facts and makes an update…

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 6:30 PM

the fact that Rollins has still yet to publiclly apologize to palin is all the tell we need that the attack come directly from Bachmann and it was a campaign strategy.

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:24 PM

Agreed and it was an incredibly poor one at that. The fact that she chose to attack Palin instead of Mitt is highly suspicious. Also, if you are going to attack Palin, why not differentiate yourself from the long line of Palin detractors by actually going after her on policy as opposed to stupid personal 8ull$hit.

The funniest thing about it is how someone “not serious and not even running” needs to be attacked at all as opposed to having their supporters wooed.

Kataklysmic on June 20, 2011 at 6:31 PM

This reminds me of when Teddy Kennedy apologized to Bob Bork in private.

Ted Torgerson on June 20, 2011 at 5:09 PM

Thanks for posting what
should be obvious to all of us.

Amjean on June 20, 2011 at 6:32 PM

the fact that Rollins has still yet to publiclly apologize to palin is all the tell we need that the attack come directly from Bachmann and it was a campaign strategy.

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:24 PM

What does it matter? Palin supporters aren’t hating on Bachmann because of Rollins. They’re hating on Bachmann because she isn’t Palin, and would siphon votes from Palin.

Rollins kissing Palin’s ring isn’t going to change that one iota.

KingGold on June 20, 2011 at 6:34 PM

Am I actually reading that some Hot Air readers are falling for a this alleged “private apology” BS based on what one of the Washington Post liberal babbling heads is claiming via an anonymous source?

ClueBot asks why Bachmann herself didn’t upbraid Rollins in public and apologize herself to Palin. If she’s such a class act conservative why is she using Chris Cillizza to spread rumors about what is going on in her campaign? If she won’t stand up to Rollins, she’s going to stand up to Obama, is that the theory?

DaMav on June 20, 2011 at 5:27 PM
Exactly. Now we know how we got Obama – voter stupidity.

Amjean on June 20, 2011 at 6:35 PM

Ed, pack your bags. you’re fired.

–Michele Bachmann, Chief Executive

james23 on June 20, 2011 at 6:36 PM

“What’s the retraction? I say she’s serious?”

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:18 PM

This is why I think the “apology” never happened. I’ve donated to Bachmann before, but she has been a major disappointment wrt Rollins. Not another cent is heading her way…

Fallon on June 20, 2011 at 6:37 PM

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 5:51 PM

I was not clear. The cat fight the MSM wants is Palin & Bachmann.

Bruno Strozek on June 20, 2011 at 6:40 PM

Am I actually reading that some Hot Air readers are falling for a this alleged “private apology” BS based on what one of the Washington Post liberal babbling heads is claiming via an anonymous source?

ClueBot asks why Bachmann herself didn’t upbraid Rollins in public and apologize herself to Palin. If she’s such a class act conservative why is she using Chris Cillizza to spread rumors about what is going on in her campaign? If she won’t stand up to Rollins, she’s going to stand up to Obama, is that the theory?

DaMav on June 20, 2011 at 5:27 PM

Most are just mobying mitt botts.

Btw , are you calling Allah a reader…

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 6:43 PM

Already I’ve seen her dismissed by a few people in the comments here and elsewhere as some sort of stalking horse for Romney whose mission is to clear his way to the nomination by siphoning off votes from Pawlenty and Palin.

To coin a phrase from Sarah Palin, Ed Rollins “went rogue”. Bachmann has nothing to gain by attacking Palin, since Bachmann can attract the same kind of “Tea Party base” voters that Palin can, but doesn’t have Palin’s “quitter” baggage, since Bachmann has never resigned from elected office, although it is EXTREMELY difficult for a 3-term Rep. to be elected President.

Bachmann did well at the last GOP debate, and was in second place behind Romney in the polls. Romney has become the “moderate establishment” candidate due to his tying himself in knots over healthcare, and some wishy-washy positions on climate change and social issues, and Tea Party conservatives need to differentiate themselves from ROMNEY to gain traction, but there are too many of them in the race right now–Bachmann, Cain, Santorum, and to some extent Pawlenty, by his bold economic program.

If Palin or Rick Perry jumped into the race, either of them would probably pick up the Bachmann and Santorum vote, and Pawlenty would be left as the “in-between” candidate, more conservative than Romney but less conservative than Palin/Perry, and probably attractive to voters who want an “electable” conservative.

If Bachmann really wants the nomination, she needs to accentuate her own positive program, and not bash (or let her people bash) fellow conservatives. She is in an extremely difficult position, as a 3-term Rep. with another Presidential candidate (Pawlenty) from the same state. It’s very possible that Sarah Palin might NOT run, in which case Palin will endorse and campaign for whichever non-Romney conservative starts pulling ahead of the others (Perry, Bachmann, maybe Pawlenty), but Palin will probably NOT support someone whose aides attacked her.

Steve Z on June 20, 2011 at 6:46 PM

Allahdumbit…. I call bull crap on this. She “said” or someone “said” that Bachmann told Ed to call the Palin team and apologize?
WTF is that?
The shots were done very publicly…. what the f**k good is a private apology? And I don’t believe it…. I call bull crap.
BULL CRAP

PhilipJames on June 20, 2011 at 6:46 PM

I knew (and posted) that she was going to spank Ed for those stupid remarks…

right2bright on June 20, 2011 at 6:47 PM

Bachmann/Perry or Perry/Bachmann. They are the only two worth considering now.

Mr. Grump on June 20, 2011 at 6:03 PM

I am leaning that way…

right2bright on June 20, 2011 at 6:49 PM

even the fac that the Bachmann camp is bring this up 3 weeks later is a sign that she doesn’t understand. If anything they should have buried it and hoped that after a while it would blow over or people would forget. This half as* cover of one’s backside is stupid on so many levels. Bachmann just isn’t up for the rigors of a presidential campaign. rookie mistakes.

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:27 PM

This could have happened three weeks ago…Bachmann is out campaigning, and Sarah is doing what?

right2bright on June 20, 2011 at 6:51 PM

nope she should have fired his butt on the spot. a apology to Palin is nice but Ed should have made a public one also. Until ed is fired i can’t support Bachmann. And this shows that Palin is still the king attack her personally at your own peril. Bachmann’s attack backfired and has limited her support. Now she moves to backpeddle and call off the attack dog? unless she fires him she isn’t serious about this.

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:07 PM

Exactly so. Until he is gone, Bachmann is at the very bottom of my list. The very bottom.

Mutnodjmet on June 20, 2011 at 6:51 PM

Such is Palin’s conservative cachet among the base, I think, that not even Michele Bachmann would feel completely safe from charges of RINO-ism if she had let Rollins’s attack slide.

Well letting Rollins’s attack slide wouldn’t have been RINO, it would have been stupid.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but (at least now) Palin isn’t running, not in contention, not a candidate… yet she has a following.

So attacking that person, damaging your position with their following, while also not successfully attacking any actual competition? That looks like deliberately avoiding support from an area without any offsetting gains elsewhere.

In what election does offending a block of voters for no gain look like a helpful move?

You might as well attack Limbaugh next if this is your plan… to attack non-candidates who have followings to offend that block of voters for no gain. If that’s good electoral tactics then clearly this game is much more complex than I thought.

Doesn’t the person with the most votes win these sort of things?

gekkobear on June 20, 2011 at 6:52 PM

This could have happened three weeks ago…Bachmann is out campaigning, and Sarah is doing what?

right2bright on June 20, 2011 at 6:51 PM

You know phones? Bachmann could have called him up and fired him and publicly said he’s gone.

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 6:53 PM

just what are MB’s “solutions”?

tencole on June 20, 2011 at 6:00 PM

Repeal Obamacare, balance the budget, deal with entitlements. Of course the minutia will come out later, but for now it’s acceptable.

csdeven on June 20, 2011 at 6:56 PM

I’m inclined to give MB a pass on this one. Rollins, like most political consultants, it seems, are arrogant know-it-alls. He said what he thought would help MB without really thinking it through or consulting his boss, and the press leaped on it.

I think Michelle handled it all right. A public apology would have undercut her primary staff, re-opened the wound, and given the press their cat fight. Doing it in private and then saying the apology was delivered seems like a good compromise.

Aardvark on June 20, 2011 at 6:56 PM

This could have happened three weeks ago…Bachmann is out campaigning, and Sarah is doing what?

right2bright on June 20, 2011 at 6:51 PM

I can’t get over your rush to have Palin jump in. She has time.

darwin on June 20, 2011 at 6:57 PM

I knew (and posted) that she was going to spank Ed for those stupid remarks…

right2bright on June 20, 2011 at 6:47 PM

And all we got is a rumor from an anonymous source that says something may have happened.

You want to buy one or two bridges? Special price for you.

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 6:58 PM

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 6:05 PM
cs89 on June 20, 2011 at 6:12 PM

I might have given the Bachamann’s camp the benefit of the doubt, but this is almost word for word, what the unnamed Romney aide stated that Palin isn’t a serious person.

That’s the meme/sound bite, they want to saturate the media cycle with “Palin isn’t a serious person”. They wait till it’s had the desired saturation, before they apologize, which last seconds, compared to the sound bite being in the news cycle for how long? The passive viewer remembers the slight. If this is the kind of advice Bachmann is taking and acting on, she needs to stop believing that everyone who identifies Tea Party are dumb hicks, who believe whatever they are told.

If we are supposed to buy into it being a coincidence – they are using the same sound bite, it would require us to willingly suspend our disbelief ;)

Bachmann might indeed be Romney’s stalking horse if she hitched her wagon to Romney’s little red flyer, with the idea she get’s to be his VP pick – Bachmann can’t be taken seriously LOL!

Dr Evil on June 20, 2011 at 6:59 PM

What does it matter? Palin supporters aren’t hating on Bachmann because of Rollins. They’re hating on Bachmann because she isn’t Palin, and would siphon votes from Palin.

Rollins kissing Palin’s ring isn’t going to change that one iota.

KingGold on June 20, 2011 at 6:34 PM

Also, they hate anything that isn’t Palin because they are insecure people. Palin’s success is their success, Palin’s failure is their failure. Remember the riot in Vancouver? THAT will be the scene here when Palin is not the GOP nominee. Total scorched earth rantings.

csdeven on June 20, 2011 at 7:00 PM

I might have given the Bachamann’s camp the benefit of the doubt, but this is almost word for word, what the unnamed Romney aide stated that Palin isn’t a serious person.

Dr Evil on June 20, 2011 at 6:59 PM

Good catch.

The primary will be Palin vs the establishment.

darwin on June 20, 2011 at 7:01 PM

Also, they hate anything that isn’t Palin because they are insecure people. Palin’s success is their success, Palin’s failure is their failure. Remember the riot in Vancouver? THAT will be the scene here when Palin is not the GOP nominee. Total scorched earth rantings.

csdeven on June 20, 2011 at 7:00 PM

Confirmed (finally). csdeven is actually “Palin = Bloody Mary” petunia.

steebo77 on June 20, 2011 at 7:02 PM

I’m with Unseen on this one. The longer it take Bachmann to understand the damage she did to herself through Rollins and do what obviously has to be done, the less like a sharp executive she looks. Leaders need to be more than policy wonks. They need to identify the problem, understand the dynamics, and make decisions quickly. Bachmann should have known long ago what a force Palin is in base politics. Not only should that have led to a rapid mea culpa and throwing Rollins under the bus, it should have resulted in hard, fast rules being put in place well ahead of time like “hammer on Romney, but only fight Palin on policy”.

Immolate on June 20, 2011 at 7:03 PM

Confirmed (finally). csdeven is actually “Palin = Bloody Mary” petunia.

steebo77 on June 20, 2011 at 7:02 PM

Don’t get too close … he’s got a really bad case of PDS. Fatal I think.

darwin on June 20, 2011 at 7:03 PM

The primary will be Palin vs the establishment.

darwin on June 20, 2011 at 7:01 PM

Palin/Perry 2012

Dr Evil on June 20, 2011 at 7:05 PM

Palin/Perry 2012

Dr Evil on June 20, 2011 at 7:05 PM

If they could do it, it would be a killer combo.

darwin on June 20, 2011 at 7:07 PM

If we are supposed to buy into it being a coincidence – they are using the same sound bite, it would require us to willingly suspend our disbelief ;)

Bachmann might indeed be Romney’s stalking horse if she hitched her wagon to Romney’s little red flyer, with the idea she get’s to be his VP pick – Bachmann can’t be taken seriously LOL!

Dr Evil on June 20, 2011 at 6:59 PM

It’s all just “coincidents”.

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 7:08 PM

i agree with Palin/Perry being potent

huan on June 20, 2011 at 7:10 PM

Also, they hate anything that isn’t Palin because they are insecure people. Palin’s success is their success, Palin’s failure is their failure. Remember the riot in Vancouver? THAT will be the scene here when Palin is not the GOP nominee. Total scorched earth rantings.

csdeven on June 20, 2011 at 7:00 PM

The insecure people are those who dont want Palin to run.
Like you.

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 7:11 PM

csdeven on June 20, 2011 at 7:00 PM

Nah.

Vancouver’s a pretty liberal place, Palin’s support is conservative.

The “scorched-earth” strategy also tends to be more of a RINO trait, as well (see, for example, Murkoski in AK or the attacks on O’Donnell by GOP members after she won the nomination).

Care to try for a more logical analogy?

cs89 on June 20, 2011 at 7:16 PM

huan on June 20, 2011 at 7:10 PM

Concur.

cs89 on June 20, 2011 at 7:17 PM

It should’ve been a public apology to Palin supporters as well, 99% of whom are also in Bachmann’s camp. Michelle, dump that guttersnipe Rollins before he sabotages you when your profile is much higher than it is currently.

Western_Civ on June 20, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Palin supporters aren’t hating on Bachmann because of Rollins. They’re hating on Bachmann because she isn’t Palin, and would siphon votes from Palin.

KingGold on June 20, 2011 at 6:34 PM

Stop speaking for me, you don’t have a clue what I or other Palin supporters think. I liked Bachmann as a Palin substitute right up until she hired this douchebag. She did not publicly reprimand him for his comments at all. I am not interested in voting for someone who attempts to use slams on other popular Republicans to advance her own candidacy. It shows me she is not the ethical person I thought she was.

alwaysfiredup on June 20, 2011 at 7:32 PM

Rollins is the toxin that will poison Bachmann’s well. He is an operative that stands for nothing and acts like a Hessian fighting for whomever dangles the most money in his face.

Even Bounty hunters have some principled interest in catching bad guys. They don’t just do it entirely for the cash.

Geochelone on June 20, 2011 at 7:42 PM

Forgive being a Pollyanna for once, but I think Mrs. Bachman is well aware that we Palin supporters know what Rollins said A) isn’t true and B) is stoooopid, which is, if this is true, why it was done quickly and in private. However, I don’t think people should have to apologize for saying what they believe.

SouthernGent on June 20, 2011 at 7:43 PM

Forgive being a Pollyanna for once, but I think Mrs. Bachman is well aware that we Palin supporters know what Rollins said A) isn’t true and B) is stoooopid, which is, if this is true, why it was done quickly and in private. However, I don’t think people should have to apologize for saying what they believe.

SouthernGent on June 20, 2011 at 7:43 PM

What?

the_nile on June 20, 2011 at 7:48 PM

Mitt will pick a Southerner as a running mate if nominated? Hmmmm. Lindsay Graham would be my guess. Mitt looks hard core conservative next to Graham.

Just having some fun. Don’t get riled Mitt fans.

JimP on June 20, 2011 at 8:11 PM

Don’t get riled Mitt fans.

JimP on June 20, 2011 at 8:11 PM

Both of his fans are OK with your comment.

massrighty on June 20, 2011 at 8:55 PM

Bachmann reminds me of Obama….dither dither dither. No decision when one should have been obvious.

I’m sorry, but it’s three weeks of this and she should have nipped it in the bud immediately. First evidence of a weakness in executive level decision making. Do we want a GOP Obama?

eaglesdontflock on June 20, 2011 at 8:56 PM

unseen on June 20, 2011 at 6:14 PM

So tell me, how is life under the bridge?

Mr. Grump on June 20, 2011 at 9:20 PM

Glad this was reported, now certain people here can stop sniping at Bachmann for her association with Rollins. She is a good woman.

Daemonocracy on June 20, 2011 at 4:55 PM

Some were sniping long before this incredibly minor “Rollins incident” occurred.

To paraphrase Mr. Limbaugh:

Conservatives4Palin will always tell you which conservatives they fear the most.

Dreadnought on June 20, 2011 at 9:29 PM

KingGold on June 20, 2011 at 6:34 PM

Stop speaking for me, you don’t have a clue what I or other Palin supporters think. I liked Bachmann as a Palin substitute right up until she hired this douchebag. She did not publicly reprimand him for his comments at all. I am not interested in voting for someone who attempts to use slams on other popular Republicans to advance her own candidacy. It shows me she is not the ethical person I thought she was.

alwaysfiredup on June 20, 2011 at 7:32 PM

Yes indeed. I would also like to point out the very large distinction between

A. being able to control someone who works directly under you, as is the case with Rollins

and

B. being able to control people who make anonymous comments on a message board.

Some people are bringing “A” against Bachmann as a focused criticism in a single instance while others have routinely leveled “B” against Palin for months on end.

Geochelone on June 20, 2011 at 9:33 PM

So tell me, how is life under the bridge?

Mr. Grump on June 20, 2011 at 9:20 PM

Unseen’s a forceful advocate, but not a troll.

massrighty on June 20, 2011 at 9:41 PM

I believe the message from Bachmann to Rollins is: fool me once, shame on you… fool me twice and you are out of here because you are a fool.

Rollins can either learn to muzzle himself or find himself on the outside looking in knowing that he gave her justification. And then what are his chances of getting hired by anyone in politics ever again? He is crossing a very nice woman… and she has raised many foster children and knows how to discipline them. He can either grow up or face the real world.

ajacksonian on June 20, 2011 at 9:52 PM

Confirmed (finally). csdeven is actually “Palin = Bloody Mary” petunia.

steebo77

Maybe so, but that doesn’t make what he said wrong. If Palin loses, her borderline insane supporters will lose their minds. It will not be pretty. The conspiracy theories that follow will make 9/11 Truthers appear tame.

xblade on June 20, 2011 at 10:05 PM

She’s only showing weakness by keeping the son of a bitch on. It’s not like this is the first time for Rollins. If he was a “consultant” that’s one thing but she made this bum her campaign manager. Recognizing Rollins as a flop should have been a no brainer to a good executive.

Bachman’s got a lot to offer but hiring that bitter, big-mouth thug puts her solidly behind Perry, Cain and Palin in my opinion.

rcl on June 20, 2011 at 10:08 PM

Should have fired him immediately! She won’t get any more of my pre-primary $ support until she does.

Christian Conservative on June 20, 2011 at 10:15 PM

Bachmann is a nitwit and she has Rollins to prove it.

oldyeller on June 20, 2011 at 10:36 PM

In my book, a private apology to Palin is not going to cut it. The offense was public, so should be the apology.

paul1149 on June 20, 2011 at 11:05 PM

The more I hear of Bachmann, the more I like her.

Sherman1864 on June 20, 2011 at 11:46 PM

Bachmann is a nitwit and she has Rollins to prove it.
oldyeller on June 20, 2011 at 10:36 PM

Not a nitwit. You are badly mistaken.

Sherman1864 on June 20, 2011 at 11:50 PM

I was very impressed with her when I heard her speak at RightOnLine last year in Vegas.

I was unimpressed when she hired Rollins (and I voted for Goldwater in ’64, then Reagan 4 times — 2 as Gov. and 2 as Pres.)

I would VERY impressed if she fired his sorry backside. He is way part his expiration date.

fred5678 on June 21, 2011 at 1:40 AM

Typical lawyer game -make the damaging accusation, apologize when the judge spanks your hand, and grin silently, knowing the planned damage has been done and your pre-planned apology acts but a Pontious Pilate washbowl -erasing your guilt. It is the shallowist of games -and reflects on her real judgment and character.

One simply doesn’t hire vicious pit-bulls as for the kid’s house pet. She knew!

Don L on June 21, 2011 at 9:16 AM

Maybe so, but that doesn’t make what he said wrong. If Palin loses, her borderline insane supporters will lose their minds. It will not be pretty. The conspiracy theories that follow will make 9/11 Truthers appear tame.

xblade on June 20, 2011 at 10:05 PM

Or maybe they’ll follow my lead and pick another candidate. I can’t possibly be in a minority as a “reasonable” Palin supporter, can I?

gryphon202 on June 21, 2011 at 9:16 AM

The other factor – why did she wait so long? A true moral person’s response would have come immediately, with a solid retraction and a dismissal.

I’m surprised that she didn’t say, “she’s sorry we’re all offended.” Things of this transparent nature (Sarah’s real competition)don’t happen by accident. What was the offer?

Don L on June 21, 2011 at 9:20 AM

As AP so aptly pointed out, the assumption here is that Bachmann is a stalking horse for Romney. I don’t think it really matters one way or another. If Bachmann’s and Rollins’ behavior in all this has been calculated, then all the assumptions about Romney viz-a-vis Bachmann are correct. If this was all just a big mistake, and Rollins got off his leash, it shows extremely poor judgment on Bachmann’s part in even hiring Rollins.

There’s a more charitable explanation, and a less charitable explanation for all this. Either way, it doesn’t speak well of Bachmann that Rollins is still on her payroll.

gryphon202 on June 21, 2011 at 9:22 AM

It’s not enough Michelle – you have to unload this creep.

IlonaE on June 21, 2011 at 9:36 AM

The “scorched-earth” strategy also tends to be more of a RINO trait,….

cs89 on June 20, 2011 at 7:16 PM

Take a look at the vile behavior of certain Palin supporters right now and all that is happening is a simple difference of opinion in respect to her electability. Those people have the torches lit and are simply waiting for the starting gun.

csdeven on June 21, 2011 at 9:38 AM

Bachmann won’t lose votes overall by angering Palinistas. First, dissing Sarah is a proven winner outside the base, and isn’t even a sure loser inside the base, where lots of people prefer that Palin stay out of the race. Second, Sarah herself probably won’t hold a grudge against any reliably conservative female. Third, as a second tier candidate Bachmann had to make a media splash; merely curtsying to Palin would not have accomplished that. Loosing Rollins and then leashing him evidently did. I know people on this site despise Rollins and I don’t know whether Bachmann colluded or collided with him, but he is an old dog and knows all the tricks.

Seth Halpern on June 21, 2011 at 9:46 AM

Loosing Rollins and then leashing him evidently did. I know people on this site despise Rollins and I don’t know whether Bachmann colluded or collided with him, but he is an old dog and knows all the tricks.

Seth Halpern on June 21, 2011 at 9:46 AM

+1

csdeven on June 21, 2011 at 9:48 AM

When Bachmann hired Rollins, she knew exactly who she was hiring, a rabid attack dog. I think everyone can draw their own conclusions from this.

MetaThought on June 21, 2011 at 10:00 AM

She doesn’t demand the apology be made publicly because she’s sincere. It’s not a political calculation.

The politically-minded are always confounded by people of genuine character; they make decisions that seem to them to make no sense. This was why the same politically-minded folks had so much difficulty understanding Sarah Palin’s resignation from the Governorship of Alaska; she did it for the reasons she said publicly, and had no ulterior motive.

philwynk on June 21, 2011 at 10:10 AM

Take a look at the vile behavior of certain Palin supporters right now and all that is happening is a simple difference of opinion in respect to her electability. Those people have the torches lit and are simply waiting for the starting gun.

csdeven on June 21, 2011 at 9:38 AM

Professional victim/drama queen

Roy Rogers on June 21, 2011 at 10:23 AM

Damn she looks good in that dress.

Do you think that women will be bothered by pigs like me making comments like that?

Jaibones on June 21, 2011 at 11:03 AM

Bachmann is far more qualified than SP to be POTUS. She has been playing in the big leagues while SP was only governor of a tiny(in population) state for 2 years.

Really Right on June 21, 2011 at 11:04 AM

Bachmann is far more qualified than SP to be POTUS. She has been playing in the big leagues while SP was only governor of a tiny(in population) state for 2 years.

Really Right on June 21, 2011 at 11:04 AM

So what has she produced those years in DC.

the_nile on June 21, 2011 at 11:08 AM

the_nile on June 21, 2011 at 11:08 AM

What has any one member of congress ever produced? When there are 535 people, of different views, working things out, it’s pretty hard to assign much accomplishment to any one individual. That’s the way it is with the legislative branch of government. You don’t seem to understand that.

Really Right on June 21, 2011 at 11:20 AM

What has any one member of congress ever produced? When there are 535 people, of different views, working things out, it’s pretty hard to assign much accomplishment to any one individual. That’s the way it is with the legislative branch of government. You don’t seem to understand that.

Really Right on June 21, 2011 at 11:20 AM

Correct.

The counrty is not going to elect a one-and-one-half-term Rep as POTUS. The last Rep to go directly to the WH was James Garfield, decorated Union general and nine-term Rep in multiple leadership positions.

Bachmann is welcome to run, but she’s not going to win. Maybe she’ll be someone’s Veep. That’s about the best I can figure.

Missy on June 21, 2011 at 11:25 AM

Missy on June 21, 2011 at 11:25 AM

I would like to see her as Veep.

Really Right on June 21, 2011 at 11:28 AM

If she’s looking to stay in the good graces of Palin fans, whose votes she’ll potentially need down the line, why didn’t she demand that Rollins apologize publicly? The passage in the WaPo piece quoted above, buried several paragraphs down, is the first I’ve heard of it.

My sentiments exactly. If Sarah went on FOX or called Rush or Michele did the same thing, then everybody would be “on the same page” and not something done on a low-key level.

Stakes are high and “poo stinks,” but that’s why we have “carpet cleaners” to do this deed for the people on top/sigh.

ProudPalinFan on June 21, 2011 at 11:36 AM

If she’s looking to stay in the good graces of Palin fans, whose votes she’ll potentially need down the line, why didn’t she demand that Rollins apologize publicly? The passage in the WaPo piece quoted above, buried several paragraphs down, is the first I’ve heard of it.

Call my cynical, but I think you will hear a lot about this if Bachmann wins the nomination. Just as McCain was smeared as a Bush clone, the media will treat Bachmann like a Palin-clone and all the bad things that it implies.

Michelle Bachmann may be doing this out of principle: she must understand that “not serious” is a way of denigrating talented, ambitious women, and that the smears used against Palin can and will be used against her. Perhaps she is pragmatic and understands that allowing Palin-bashing will be her undoing; the alternative is to be like the person who appeases the lion in hopes of getting eaten last (but eaten nonetheless).

Roxeanne de Luca on June 21, 2011 at 11:42 AM

I would like to see her as Veep.

Really Right on June 21, 2011 at 11:28 AM

If it’s a good balance for the person at the top, I would be okay with this. I like Giuliani better as a VP for just about any candidate currently running.

Missy on June 21, 2011 at 11:44 AM

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