Stephanopolous to Bachmann: We’ll investigate your foster kids
Proving what the clear-eyed could already see: If you’re a Republican, the media will hound you for every last scrap of anything, no matter how unfair or trivial.
Stephanopoulos: 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.
George Stephanopolous was deep in the Clinton administration, which pleaded with everyone to “leave Chelsea alone.” And everyone has mostly complied with that, for all these years. Michele Bachmann and her family’s 23 foster children, though, will not be afforded the same courtesy, not by George or anyone else in the MSM. The same MSM, it’s worth pointing out, has still left President Obama’s pre-Senate life largely unexamined. Stephanopolous has fired up the flare that if any of those foster children, which the Bachmann family took in out of love and compassion, has run into any kind of trouble over the years, the media will try to hang it on Bachmann.
More: Some commenters seem to be missing the point. Stephanolpolous isn’t just any MSM journalist. In fact, he’s not a journalist at all. He is a Democrat activist from the Clinton days, and is still very very connected to the Begala/Carville wing of the party. He just conveniently occupies a prized post in the MSM, a post he uses to deliver the Democrats’ message du jour. His question to Bachmann is, in my opinion, a signal to Democrats and the media (sorry to be redundant there) that it’s open season on Bachmann’s foster kids.
Why be content with basic cable when you can have Despi-Cable™?
She should have asked Georgie if he did the same thing with Obama’s children. You know, looked at their personal record from school, did they ever get in trouble in class, acted up in public? Of course not, because Democrats and their children are a protected class.
If any of you were foster children or had one in your home then you know that many of them are troubled children. To even raise the spectre of “Investigating” them is a disgusting prospect. For this little weasel to even bring up their privacy is so low that it shows that once you are a Clinton Demorat you will go to any depth to get dirt on your opponet. Does anyone know what ever happened to the limo driver who claimed that he and Obama had a back seat tryst? I think he might have been put on the same rocket to outer space as Obama’s girlfriend.
And don’t forget the virtuous Kennedy clan.
Instead of threatening her he should be leading the charge to prevent such an occurrence.
But if he did that George’s new name on the left would be Judas. Dont think for one moment that when they interview, or attempt to interview, these foster kids that the media won’t be looking for ANY statement that can be twisted as to IMPLY abuse. Remember the left’s sole reason for existence is power, power and more power and they WILL DO ANYTHING to get it.
I feel that Michele should have slapped Georgie across the face and told him in no uncertain terms that her kids and her family are OFF LIMITS. This business of treating the leftists with kid gloves has got to come to an end. They will do anything, say anything to undermine a popular candidate. A good healthy slap across the face might wake old Georgie up.
??? Look, when you run for president you better be someone who can handle this. GOP dishes this crap out constantly.. mostly untrue. What, you think Iran and China play nicey nicey?? Hope Putin doesn’t hurt her “feel bads”.
Values?? How does someone raise a huge family and provide adequate time to spend with them while being in politics? That fact alone should disqualify her amongst voters with family values. Just unreal!
A slap — or punch — is the appropriate way to handle this. There’s a reason there was once a dueling code.
“How does someone raise a huge family and provide adequate time to spend with them while being in politics?”
The Democrat reveals himself. The fecund, little woman should just stay home with all those kids. But wait! Aren’t the Dems supposed to be about woman empowerment? She should be able to have it all, right? A husband, a family and a career, right? Well, the moment a Conservative woman does this, they howl about neglect of the children.
Hypocrite! J’accuse!
How can she do this? It does not require a lot of time. It requires a lot of love. She provided them a good home and more love than they have had in their lives. When you are starved for love, even a bit can seem like a feast. A kind word, a gentle touch, and a little care are all that is truly needed. They just need to know that someone cares, that they are significant.
I know something about being neglected. I know whereof I speak. Someone who is well-to-do, and has a large family, and still makes room in her home for a foster kid, is not neglecting that foster kid. By its nature, it is an even greater reaching out, because it is an even greater sacrifice. That’s more love, not less. I guarantee you, the foster kid understands this.
If a Democrat had been doing this, she would be lionized. This should be totally off-limits, but no good deed goes unpunished… if done by a Conservative.
I have raised two boys and adopted two more. I have a foster care license. I have taken more children in three years than MB did in 7 1/2. Yeah, it DOES take time. There are requirements that they be seen by physician, eye exams, dental exams, and most have some kind of therapy requirement even if their only issue is being pulled from their family. I work full-time, and believe me, these kids need a lot more than a gentle touch and love. They need attention and structure. Most are on some kind of medication that has to be monitored, reordered, and the physician must see them on a regular basis to represscribe. It is never ending. I take teenage boys because I was a young mom and my kids were grown before I knew it and I just really, really missed having them around. If you don’t really enjoy kids and feel rewarded for the help and home you can provide, you don’t do well in the foster care system. I am not a fan of Michelle Bachman’s, but I do admire her for providing care for foster kids. However, seeings than I am just a nurse and she and her husband are comparitively “loaded” I have to wonder how much of that “work” she actually did herself.
Last night on O’Reilly, Bernie whatshisname, was saying that if anyone on the left criticizes Herman Cain should be called racist. His logic being anytime someone criticizes Obama, they are called racist.
Turn it around on them. If they criticize Michelle or Sarah call them a misogynist. If they criticize Cain call them a racist. If they criticize Mitt call them a Mormonophobe. Turn their tactics back on them. And don’t let up until they decide to discuss the issues.
Stephanopolous makes me sick. I’m sure he’d justify it by saying that everything is fair game and that how Michele has raised her children is somehow reflective of how she might be as POTUS. Some sort of character test, I guess. But here’s the thing: What if the kids turn out to be 100% solid citizens who are successful in their lives and no controversies to speak of? Will Stephie and the rest of the Left-wing media posse then give Michele full credit for being a wonderful mother? I doubt it.
If shining a spotlight on the children of a candidate is legitimate (which I don’t think it is) then it has to work both ways: full credit should be given for the good as well as for the bad. But the way it works in reality is that if there is any “bad” stuff to be learned, it will be blown way out of proportion. If it’s all “good” stuff, then the media will just drop the subject.
Bachman should have responded with a strong rebuke to that cretinous dwarf’s thinly-veiled threat. Indeed, it should be standard practice for all GOP candidates not to stand for such outrageous and cowardly conduct by supposedly objective media interlocutors.
Those who managed to read Stephanopolous’ autobiography might remember the opening scene, where he compares being part of Clinton’s inner circle with being the altar boy who get to carry the bishop’s big, heavy scepter and stand behind the curtains where women are forbidden, and so on.
Creepy stuff, but extremely revealing. Someone like Bachman must scare the pants off him. I don’t think that anyone who admits things like this about himself, and admits to doing the other things he did for Clinton, ought to be permitted to work as a reporter, particularly investigating other politicians’ private lives. He admits to some pretty sleazy personal deeds. How does any news organization justify using him for political coverage?
Children who have been removed from their homes and placed in foster care have well-defined privacy rights, as do their extended families. If anyone violates these laws, I imagine there will be attorneys at the ready.
There’s no boundries of any sort for any of the political parties operatives and pundits! They’re ALL self serving assassins living out the assassins creed.
This is nonsense. The GOP has no special place when it comes to being harassed by the press. I don’t see that question as anything other than talking to a candidate about a likely future event. No where is George advocating that it is a good thing nor is he suggesting that the would be taking part in this.
The reason the Clinton’s asked the press to leave Chelsea alone was in response to the press hounding her. It’s not like they go any special treatment from the press. In fact, if you look at the reporting on Clinton’s presidency it could be argued that the press was and still is no friend of the Clintons.
Both sides have the same issue. The press is comprised of a bunch of people trying to sell content and they only have allegiance to themselves. Businesses are amoral. The GOP seems to be ok with that when it comes to education and the environment, but when it comes to coverage of their campaigns all notions of the free market go out the door.
I’m shocked, shocked that there is hypocrisy going on in the political parties. Why do people read this crap? Damn links in email….
“In fact, if you look at the reporting on Clinton’s presidency it could be argued that the press was and still is no friend of the Clintons. ”
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
That’s a good one! Next you’re going to claim they actually investigated Obama’s past!
I understand George is hot on the trail of those Obama college transcripts.
This was a threat.
The best response is to smile sweetly and ask him if he would say the same thing if she were a Democrat? Wasn’t it Michelle Obama who said the press were supportive of her kids? In the last election, didn’t the candidates both say the families were off-limits? Well, until Palin burst onto the scene, of course. Now, Mr. Stephanopoulos, would you care to retract that threat, hmm?
Then watch the stammering and back-pedaling commence.
I think he asked a very serious question. In the current climate of media and sensationalism George asked if she was concerned about the scrutiny which will follow her campaign. George didn’t threaten or say “We will investigate….”. The question was real and to the point. So cut the faux outrage.
Thank you. What he asked wasn’t threatening her at all. He asked an honest question. He didn’t say he was going to go out and find all these kids.
Why are all the morons on this page jumping all over him? Faux News leads to Faux outrage.
George , also, was surprised that a federal minimum wage was another government regulation. There are many different ways to honor labor with wages, and that is only one of them that might not fit all in all states and types of work. He had never even seemed to have entertained that idea. Not a very deep thinker on economy and government.
The very quote Bryan cites says nothing about Stephanopolous “investigating” foster kids. He asked (in case some folks didn’t read past the dumb headline): “… 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?” How is that the same as “Stephanopolous to Bachmann: We’ll investigate your foster kids?”
She’s the one who brought it up, primarily to show what a generous person she is. How about saying nothing about it? Then if someone asks, she could have said : “My husband and I have been involved with foster care, we’re quietly proud of our involvement, but I’d rather not bring that fact, or the children, into this political process.”
You’re either a troll or remarkably naive.
And you can’t see the truth hidden behind the stupidity.
I am a registered Democrat. If George and his friends violate the privacy of any foster child that lived with the Bachman’s I would have to look very closely at the Democrat’s values and visions. These foster children should be considered off limits to all media and their privacy shall be protected. It’s the right thing to do. In my opinion, it should not have ever been brought up in any political discussion.
Brenda: You are so correct. It should not have been bought up in any light. Unfortunately, Michelle Bachmann may have thought this would be an advantage in her campaign bid. However, it only places more light on foster kids who are already underservered, not only by their missing parents, but by society as well. If it were meant to put more of a great light on being foster parents, then that would be great. Politically, these kids are not pawns and should not be used as such. What Mrs. Bachmann is not telling people is she gets paid for caring for the foster kids. It is admirable that she and her husband maybe cared enough to take in these kids, but there are many people who do the same every day. Some because they really care and some because of the money only. Hopefully, it wasn’t just for the money for the Bachmann’s.
As soon as the cameras were turned off she should have kneed him in the balls.
I think you all are missing the point. Bachmann says she “raised” 23 foster kids. BUT did she really raise them? If they were in her house for a short period, then she didn’t raise them – she sheltered them. She is portraying herself as a saint, and a lot of people are seeing through it. And if she continues to tell half truths (such as JQA was a founding father), it goes to her credibility.
Her credibility is in question and it has nothing to do with her party.
She also says she never received money from farm subsidies, which her senate financial release says she has. She has dodged questions about farm subsidies, but instead keeps going to the GSA report about limos which the GSA admits is flawed. Does she tell people the report is flawed? Nope, but she dodges that farm subsidy question about government spending. Her credibility is in question, which is why her 23 foster children statement is open to questioning.
Unofficial reports say that Obama raised 18 foster children. Others say that he raised eleven. He wasn’t licensed to raise any at all. Oh, really? He actually didn’t raise any at all? So he didn’t receive any checks from the state to support those who open their homes to raise foster children? That’s great news and far superior to any candidate who might participate in that sort of money grubbing activity. In some liberal minds, say Joan for instance, that’s better than opening your home to help raise 23 children who don’t have a home.
As a former foster child I am not surprised by the media’s action to once again strip us of any normalcy. This family should be thanked for taking in that many troubled kids and trying to make a positive difference in their lives. All foster kids want is to have their personal business be just that, personal. If they aged out of the system then their juvenile records should be sealed. You want to investigate something investigate why the foster care system has no funds for programs to help us transition to the real world? They won’t look into that because they honestly don’t care what happens to us fosters! There’s your real injustice. Hello we are your future leaders whether you like it or not!!!