Michelle Bachman and John Wayne

RecycleMichael · June 27, 2011, 03:53:51 PM

After her a campaign rollout heavily focused on her Iowa native creds, Michele Bachmann stumbles into one heck of a case of mistaken identity.

Michele Bachmann kicked off her presidential campaign on Monday in Waterloo, Iowa, and in one interview surrounding the official event she promised to mimic the spirit of Waterloo's own John Wayne.

The only problem, as one eagle-eyed reader notes: Waterloo's John Wayne was not the beloved movie star, but rather John Wayne Gacy, the serial killer.

Mrs. Bachmann grew up in Waterloo, and used the town as the backdrop for her campaign announcement, where she told Fox News: "Well what I want them to know is just like, John Wayne was from Waterloo, Iowa. That's the kind of spirit that I have, too" ... John Wayne, the movie legend, is in fact from Iowa and the John Wayne birthplace is a celebrated landmark — only it's in Winterset, which is a nearly three hour drive away from Waterloo.

Bachmann has run into this kind of trouble before, like when she confused Concord, N.H., with Concord, Mass., as the birthplace of the American Revolution. But this screw-up cuts a little deeper, given how relentlessly she's positioned herself as a hometown gal.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57860.html#ixzz1QVnqpAQF

Gaspar · June 27, 2011, 04:17:29 PM

If she's gong to run in the spirit of John Wayne Gacy, you know she means business!

Can't wait to see her clown face.

Ed W · June 27, 2011, 04:36:42 PM

Well, we already know she likes kids, too. She's had about 25(?) foster kids.

Hoss · June 27, 2011, 04:39:06 PM

Quote from: Gaspar on June 27, 2011, 04:17:29 PM
If she's gong to run in the spirit of John Wayne Gacy, you know she means business!

Can't wait to see her clown face.

Never one to let a man down...

Gaspar · June 27, 2011, 04:40:42 PM

Quote from: Hoss on June 27, 2011, 04:39:06 PM
Never one to let a man down...

That's Awsome! She probably won't go with the Gacy thing just because he was a Democrat.

heironymouspasparagus · June 27, 2011, 09:04:34 PM

Profoundly Stupid.

I lived in Waterloo for a few years a long time ago. It was a good town, so am somewhat puzzled by how they let her in there?? She must have had that makeup on.

TulsaMoon · June 28, 2011, 08:59:30 AM

The Bachmann campaign sent this explanation: "John Wayne is from Iowa, his parents lived in Waterloo."

And indeed his parents did in fact live briefly in Waterloo — in fact, according to "Duke: The Life and Image of John Wayne," it's where they met. But soon after their marriage they moved to Winterset, where Wayne was born.

Cats Cats Cats · June 28, 2011, 09:05:01 AM

I can see where this get muddled in your head as you get older. John Wayne Gacy was born in her town. John Wayne's parents lived in her town. John Wayne was born in her town.

Conan71 · June 28, 2011, 09:06:10 AM

Quote from: CharlieSheen on June 28, 2011, 09:05:01 AM
I can see where this get muddled in your head as you get older. John Wayne Gacy was born in her town. John Wayne's parents lived in her town. John Wayne was born in her town.

To get really technical about it, "John Wayne" was born in Hollywood. Marion Morrison was born in Iowa

guido911 · June 28, 2011, 11:06:28 AM

Saw this today re: Bachmann and all the fostering she did.

QuoteStephanopoulos: Finally one—one final question. I think one of the most impressive things that people find in your background is the fact that you and your husband have helped raise 23 foster children and I know you want to shield them but are they prepared and are you prepared for the loss of privacy that comes with the president campaign? And is that something you are concerned about for them?

Bachmann: Well when we were making this momentous decision we sat down for a long time as a family and contemplated what this was meaning and yes, we are ready. We have five wonderful biological children. Our last one is off to college our oldest one is a doctor. And then we had great – a great 23 foster children in our home as well. And as you can imagine and appreciate we've tried to keep a good handle on their privacy and we will do that, we will respect their privacy. We are thankful that we had them but we also want to observe their privacy and that of their families.

http://nation.foxnews.com/michele-bachmann/2011/06/28/stephanopoulos-says-media-will-investigate-bachmanns-23-foster-children

Is he suggesting that the media go after her former foster children now?

Hoss · June 28, 2011, 07:24:42 PM

Like them or hate them, this has got to be the longest article Factcheck.org has ever done on one person that I can remember. Wow. It says a lot that an (apparently) neutral fact checking source has that much to review.

Doesn't look like she's starting out well.

http://factcheck.org/2011/06/bachmanns-waterloo/

heironymouspasparagus · June 28, 2011, 10:12:15 PM

She just can't get anything right. Now a felony - breaking US copyright laws - illegal use of copyrighted material.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/tom-petty-reportedly-wants-bachmann-stop-using-american-202756833.html

Hoss · June 28, 2011, 10:22:19 PM

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on June 28, 2011, 10:12:15 PM
She just can't get anything right. Now a felony - breaking US copyright laws - illegal use of copyrighted material.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/tom-petty-reportedly-wants-bachmann-stop-using-american-202756833.html

I remember during the 2004 campaign about how Dave Grohl was none too pleased with Bush using 'Times Like These' in his campaign. So instead of asking him to stop, being a person who didn't really want to get involved in politics, he recanted on that and campaigned for John Kerry as kind of a thumb-you-nose moment. He then went on to name the next FF album "In Your Honor", in honor of Kerry.

Hope that doesn't make Conan hate Grohl/Foo now

Red Arrow · June 28, 2011, 10:30:27 PM

Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on June 28, 2011, 10:12:15 PM
She just can't get anything right. Now a felony - breaking US copyright laws - illegal use of copyrighted material.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/tom-petty-reportedly-wants-bachmann-stop-using-american-202756833.html

Interesting that only Republicans are getting "busted". I guess Democrats don't use any music.

heironymouspasparagus · June 28, 2011, 10:39:14 PM

It's easy to use the music. It just takes permission. She doesn't have his permission. Didn't even bother to ask, which is where the felony comes in. It is theft of intellectual property.

There is also a system in place the radio stations use that let's them play at will, with a payment for each play. Not sure how it works today, but that might be an alternative - legally licensed usage.

That's the legal way to do it.

In direct reply to the comment; yes, it is interesting that only Republicontins are getting busted...guess that says something, huh? Don't forget Weiner, though...he got busted when Vitter, Ensign and Coburn haven't been. For doing something that wasn't even illegal, unlike the other three. (And yes, Weiner is profoundly stupid, too.)