On Wednesday, I received an email from Brendan Steinhauser (Freedomworks Federal & State Campaign Director). Apparently, Michele was unable to attend the most recent Liberty Summit on November 14th and 15th.
Just for accuracy's sake, she was not able to attend the latest Liberty Summit.
However, he did offer to answer some of the questions we had about Michele Bachmann and Freedomworks. At no point had I called or emailed Freedomworks for information so this email exchange was initiated by Mr. Steinhauser. The reason I bring that up is because on Monday, I called Heidi Frederickson with very similar questions and have yet to hear back from anyone in the Bachmann office despite being told someone would get back to me.
The Questions:
1. Is Michele a member of Freedomworks? Or, is she simply a supporter who shares the same goals as your organization?
SHE IS NOT A MEMBER OF FREEDOMWORKS, BUT A SUPPORTER AND CONGRESSMAN THAT SHARES OUR VALUES.
We here in the district are wondering when she will be a supporter of us and represent our values as vehemently as she seems to represent Freedomworks.
2. Michele has supported or sponsored legislation that appears to be coming from or advocated by Freedomworks. Can you explain the connection? Unfortunately, Michele has not had any (to my knowledge) town hall meetings or open forums here in her district which is a primary concern I have.
I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT MOTIVATES REP. BACHMANN TO GET BEHIND THESE IDEAS, BUT I HOPE THAT WE HAVE HELPED TO CONVINCE HER TO DO SO. OFTEN, CHAIRMAN ARMEY ENCOURAGES LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION, AND THAT CERTAINLY CAN PERSUADE LEGISLATORS TO GET BEHIND OUR AGENDA. BUT I THINK THAT YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THESE POLICIES IN HER DISTRICT, AS WELL. THIS SUPPORT COMES FROM FREEDOMWORKS MEMBERS, OTHER VOTERS AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
Herein lies a huge part of the problem. An organization such as Freedomworks, with Dick Armey leading the way, should NOT have more influence over a Congress member than the citizens of that members district. Unfortunately, given that Michele has done so little to reach out to her constituents and given that the main issues she is pushing are those of Freedomworks, it gives the appearance of a Congresswoman working less for her district and more for an organization with little connection to the majority of that district.
3. Did Michele give a reason for not being at the most recent event? It appears she was scheduled to be there.
I DIDN'T ASK, AND THEREFORE CAN'T ANSWER THIS QUESTION. THESE EVENTS ARE HARD TO SCHEDULE DUE TO THE BUSY SCHEDULES OF EVERYONE INVOLVED. WE WERE PLEASED TO HAVE AS MANY CONGRESSMEN AS WE DID. OFTEN, LEGISLATORS HERE IN D.C. HAVE MULTIPLE PLACES TO BE AT ONCE. I'D SUGGEST ASKING HER OFFICE ABOUT THIS QUESTION. BUT TYPICALLY, IT IS JUST A QUESTION OF TIME OR TIMING.
I have called Heidi Frederickson (before this email exchange ever took place) and politely asked someone how Michele was involved in Freedomworks and when she would be holding meetings in her district so that we might have access to her as well. However, I have yet to hear from anyone in the office concerning these questions. It speaks very poorly of my Representative that a Campaign Director for a national organization is more responsive to questions than her very own staff.
4. Do you happen to know how many Freedomworks events Michele has attended?
I KNOW OF THE THREE EVENTS YOU MENTIONED. HONESTLY SHE HASN'T SPENT MORE THAN A TOTAL OF A FEW HOURS AT OUR EVENTS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE SPEND WITH LEGISLATORS IS QUITE SMALL COMPARED TO THE TIME THEY SPEND VOTING, AT HEARINGS, OR HOLDING CONSTITUENT LISTENING SESSIONS IN THEIR OFFICES.
As has been documented by myself and the rest of the Dump Bachmann team (here, & here), Michele has done very little to reach out to her constituents (unless you are radio shock jock or a supporter). I am not aware of any event that Bachmann has attended in which any constituent across the district is invited. Also, it smacks of hypocrisy for Bachmann to claim that she would like to spend more time talking to regular folks here in St. Cloud but only do so in unpublicized "listening sessions" from the comfort of her Washington DC office. So, her "few hours" spent with Freedomworks is actually quite large when compared with the amount of hours she has spent with her constituents. This story still has some additional questions that ought to be answered by Heidi Frederickson or others in the Bachmann camp.
Cross Posted on Dump Bachmann
Cross Posted on Dump Bachmann
