Tea Party HD

Bachmann, Coulter Named As Witnesses In Suit Over Alleged Tea Party TV Scam

Jillian Rayfield | January 27, 2012, 10:56AM

After no one took him up on his televised "lie detector challenge," the man accused of scamming his co-investors in the failed television venture Tea Party HD is trying to make his case by calling a number of high-profile conservative witnesses like Michele Bachmann and Ann Coulter to his defense.

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Revives Underwear Bomb Miranda Criticism

Ryan J. Reilly | November 22, 2011, 11:05PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Attempted "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is in federal prison. He pled guilty to the charges against him after a few days of trial. He's scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 19 for the attempted murder of the people on the 2009 Detroit-bound plane.

But for Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, Abdulmutallab is a perfect example of why the federal court system can't handle terrorism cases. After rattling off her 'Obama outsources to the ACLU' line -- debunked by Adam Serwer here -- Bachmann said Tuesday that when the "underwear bomber was intercepted, he was given Miranda warnings within 45 minutes."

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Bradlee Dean

Anti-Gay Preacher's Lawyer: 'Rachel Maddow's Career Is Over' (AUDIO)

David Taintor | July 29, 2011, 5:55AM

Rachel Maddow's career is over. At least that's what Larry Klayman -- the lawyer for controversial preacher Bradlee Dean, and founder of Freedom Watch -- said will come of a lawsuit filed against Maddow and MSNBC.

Bradlee Dean, a conservative preacher who is known for his incendiary, anti-homosexual rehetoric, and his ministry are seeking damages in excess of $50 million from Maddow and MSNBC for slander and false light.

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Sarah Palin

Palin Knocks Obama For Promoting Breastfeeding, But Declared Awareness Month As Gov

Ryan J. Reilly | February 18, 2011, 12:50PM

Former half-term Gov. Sarah Palin joined Rep. Michele Bachmann in taking shots at First Lady Michelle Obama for promoting breastfeeding, joking that it could be a way for mothers to save money since the price of milk has gotten so high.

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2010 Elections

Before Shooting, A Campaign Season Rife With Gun Rhetoric

Rachel Slajda | January 11, 2011, 8:30AM

Sarah Palin's controversial map.

The person who shot Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), a federal judge and 18 other people Saturday may or may not have had a coherent political philosophy or a rational motive. But his actions still come after a campaign season rife with gun imagery and borderline violent rhetoric.

There is, of course, Sarah Palin's map in which targeted districts were marked by crosshairs (spun as "surveyor's symbols" by Palin aides), but there was much, much more over the 2010 campaign:

Target Practice
Robert Lowry, a Republican challenger to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schulz (D-FL), stopped by a local Republican event in October. The event was at a gun range, and Lowry shot at a human-shaped target that had Wasserman Schulz's initials written next to it. He later said it was a "mistake."

Wasserman Schulz, who defeated Lowry, remembered that incident on Hardball Monday evening.

"Those kinds of actions, words and statements can lead people who are unbalanced to potentially engage and carry out that violence," she said. "It's out of line and we've got to dial it back."

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Pigford settlement

Funding For Black Farmers' Settlement Passes House

Rachel Slajda | November 30, 2010, 4:44PM

John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association, who advocated for the passing of the Pigford II settlement

The House today passed a bill authorizing the funding of two massive settlements, one for black farmers discriminated against by the USDA and another for American Indians whose oil, gas and water rights were mismanaged by the U.S. government. The vote was 256 to 152.

The funding will now go to the President's desk for his signature.

The $1.25 billion Pigford II settlement, for black farmers who were denied loans and other assistance in the 1980s and 90s, was settled in court in February. The $3.4 billion Cobell settlement for American Indians was settled last December. They've been attached to numerous bills since and repeatedly failed, largely due to objections from Republicans.

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Pigford settlement

Steve King: Black Farmers' Settlement Is 'Slavery Reparations' (VIDEO)

Rachel Slajda | November 30, 2010, 1:43PM

Rep. Steve King (R-IA)

The Senate last week finally approved the multi-billion-dollar funding for the Pigford II and Cobell settlements, which will allow the government to pay out claims to African-American farmers and American Indians who were discriminated against in recent decades by government agencies. Now, the House -- which has passed the funding several times over -- will have to approve it, probably this week. The House, in fact, was voting on procedural motions surrounding the bill as this post was written.

That means the opponents are coming out of the woodwork.

Rep. Steve King (R-IA), who's been one of the most vocal opponents of the Pigford settlement for black farmers, has taken to cable news and the floor of the House to speak against the settlement. King's argument is that the bulk of the Pigford II claims are fraudulent because there are fewer black farmers than claimants -- a flimsy argument when you consider that many African-Americans lost their farms over the past few decades due, in part, to USDA discrimination that denied them loans -- which is the point of the settlement program.

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'Ground Zero Mosque'

Fox News, Bachmann Seize On Park51 Federal Grant Application

Rachel Slajda | November 23, 2010, 1:44PM

The site of the Cordoba House project

Park51, the proposed Islamic community center and mosque in downtown Manhattan, has applied for federally-funded grants, prompting shrill cries that the "Ground Zero mosque" is looking for a taxpayer handout.

The Daily Beast reported yesterday that Park51 had applied for $5 million worth of grants. The organization, in a statement, acknowledged applying for a grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. Park51 says it would use the money both for its construction and services it plans to offer, including domestic violence prevention and foreign language classes.

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Larry Klayman

Judicial Watch Founder: Obama On 'Political Jihad Promoting Islam'

Ryan J. Reilly | November 17, 2010, 1:43PM

Alan Keyes and Larry Klayman

President Barack Obama is on a "political jihad promoting Islam around the world," said Larry Klayman, the founder of the conservative group Freedom Watch USA, at a panel on Wednesday.

Klayman, who also founded the Judicial Watch group, organized today's forum at the National Press Club under the auspices of his organization, which says its goal is "preserving freedom" and claims to be "the only political advocacy group that speaks through actions."

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Blasts Clinton Over Iran Policy, Ahmadinejad Speeches (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | November 17, 2010, 11:50AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MI) and Larry Klayman

Conservative firebrand Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) leveled some heavy criticism today against the Obama administration about their handling of U.S. relations with Iran.

Bachmann, appearing at a panel hosted by a Freedom Watch USA, said that what is happening in Iran is taking place under the "permitting eye" of the State Department, which is led by Hillary Clinton.

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Bobby Thompson

Fake Charity Scammer And GOP Donor 'Bobby Thompson' Indicted

Rachel Slajda | October 20, 2010, 8:55AM

"Bobby Thompson" and George W. Bush

The Ohio attorney general's office announced this month that a grand jury had indicted an alleged charity scammer, who donated tens of thousands to conservative pols, on charges of money laundering and grand theft.

The man, known as "Bobby Thompson," allegedly operated a charity called U.S. Navy Veterans Association from 2003 to 2010. The charity took in millions, and Thompson allegedly pocketed some 90 percent of the cash.

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American Family Association

Top Social Conservative: 'No More Mosques, Period'

Jillian Rayfield | August 11, 2010, 1:02PM

Bryan Fischer

Bryan Fischer, the "Director of Issues Analysis" for the American Family Association, wrote a blog post yesterday on the AFA's site arguing that the United States should have "no more mosques, period."

"This is for one simple reason," he writes. "Each Islamic mosque is dedicated to the overthrow of the American government."

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Bobby Thompson

Police Start Nationwide Search For Scamtastic Cuccinelli Donor

Rachel Slajda | August 6, 2010, 9:46AM

The man known as "Bobby Thompson"

The Ohio attorney general has issued a nationwide search warrant for the head of an alleged scam charity who donated tens of thousands to conservative candidates like Ken Cuccinelli and Michele Bachmann.

The man, known as Bobby Thompson, allegedly set up a scam charity called U.S. Navy Veterans Association, raising millions of dollars. He then allegedly pocketed 99% of the money for "administrative costs," and donated huge amounts to both the Virginia attorney general and the Minnesota congresswoman.

The Ohio AG, Richard Cordray, said Thompson "bilked Ohioans out of at least $1.9 million, and we estimate that nationally he collected at least $20 million."

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Bryan Fischer

Top Social Conservative: Hitler Used Gay Soldiers Because They Had 'No Limits'

Zachary Roth | May 26, 2010, 11:16AM

Bryan Fischer, issues director at American Family Association

A top official with a leading social conservative group recently laid out the view that Adolf Hitler deliberately recruited gays to be his "enforcers," because they had "no limits" to "the savagery and brutality they were willing to inflict."

During a radio broadcast, Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association explained:

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Tea Parties

GOP To Tea Partiers: So, Come Here Often?

Zachary Roth | February 16, 2010, 10:40AM

RNC chairman Michael Steele

The Republican Party appears to be stepping up its efforts to capitalize on the grassroots energy of the Tea Party movement, with two of the GOP's most prominent Washington leaders announcing plans to work with the Tea Partiers. But some Tea Party activists are less than happy about the news.

Michael Steele, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, will meet today with a group of Tea Party leaders from around the country. And John Boehner, the House Minority Leader, will speak at a Tax Day event in April organized by the Orlando Tea Party, that group announced yesterday.

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Sarah Palin

Palin Still Psyched For Tea Party Convention Despite Growing Exodus

Zachary Roth | January 29, 2010, 10:03AM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

It looks like Sarah Palin may be left holding the bag at a Tea Party event that almost no one else in the movement wants anything to do with.

The former Alaska governor still plans to speak at the much-maligned National Tea Party Convention next month in Nashville. "You betcha I'm going to be there," she told Fox News last night.

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Is Latest To Pull Out Of Tea Party Convention

Zachary Roth | January 28, 2010, 12:47PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has become the latest to pull out of a scheduled speaking gig at the controversial National Tea Party Convention next year.

Like Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) earlier today, Bachmann's office cited concerns about the event's financial arrangements. Some Tea Partiers have accused the convention's organizer, Judson Phillips of Tea Party Nation, of seeking to profit from the confab.

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Tea Parties

Blackburn Backs Out Of Controversial Tea Party Convention, Bachmann May Follow

Zachary Roth | January 28, 2010, 11:25AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

The much-maligned National Tea Party Convention may be unraveling, as one of its scheduled GOP speakers backs out, and another mulls doing likewise.

The convention, planned for next month in Nashville, grabbed headlines by announcing that Sarah Palin and Republican Congresswomen Michele Bachmann and Marsha Blackburn would speak.

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Tea Parties

Another Tea Party Convention Sponsor Pulls Out

Zachary Roth | January 26, 2010, 9:14AM

Tea party in Hartford, Connecticut in 2009

Another sponsor of the upcoming National Tea Party Convention has pulled out, citing fears over possible "profiteering and exploitation of the grassroots movement" by the organizing group, Tea Party Nation (TPN).

Philip Glass of the National Precinct Alliance, a conservative activist group, said in a statement, according to the New York Times:

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Tea Parties

Tea Party Dilemma: To GOP Or Not To GOP?

Zachary Roth | January 22, 2010, 9:03AM

Like thousands of other Americans, Jim Knapp got involved with the Tea Party movement in the spring of 2009. Knapp, who lives in Sacramento, California, helped form a local group that organized a well-attended event on Tax Day last April.

But around May, something unexpected happened: Locally-based Republican party strategists started coming to the group's meetings. That alarmed Knapp and many of his fellow activists, who were motivated in large part by a deep suspicion of both major parties. "I said, 'what the fuck are you doing here?'" the blunt-spoken Knapp told TPMmuckraker.

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CREW

CREW: Bachmann Rally May Have Violated House Rules

Zachary Roth | November 17, 2009, 12:29PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

A recent rally against health-care reform, organized on the Capitol steps by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), may have violated House rules.

The good-government group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is asking the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) to probe whether Bachmann misused her congressional website in publicizing the rally.

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Steve King

Patriot Games: GOP Reps Pick Tea Party Rally Over National-Security Votes

Zachary Roth | November 6, 2009, 12:29PM

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) at the Capitol Hill tea party.

When it's a choice between strengthening the Patriot Act, or showing up for the Tea Party Patriots, what's a GOP lawmaker to do? We'll give you one guess...

Several Republican members of Congress yesterday blew off votes on the signature anti-terror legislation of the post 9/11 era to attend Michele Bachmann's Tea Party rally against health-care reform.

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Tea Party Patriots

Tea Partiers Get Set For Hectic Final Push Against Health-Care Reform

Zachary Roth | November 2, 2009, 4:07PM

A crowd gathers at a tea party

Declaring that "this is our battle of Trenton," Tea Party activists are gearing up for a last stand against the health-care reform effort they see as putting the country on a glide-path to socialism.

With the House set to vote on reform as early as this week, Tea Party Patriot leaders yesterday sent out a lengthy email to volunteers -- forwarded to TPMmuckraker -- announcing "It's Make or Break Time with Health Care," and laying out a frenetic schedule of direct lobbying activities for the next few days, including phone calls and in-person visits to members of both houses of Congress.

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Republican National Committee

RNC Mailer Appears Designed To Look Like Census Survey

Zachary Roth | October 26, 2009, 11:39AM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

Michele Bachmann may be raising outlandish fears about the Census -- but Michael Steele's operation seems to be more than happy to associate its political efforts with the national survey.

The Republican National Committee is sending a mailer to GOP voters that aims to gather information and raise money. Nothing wrong with that. But the mailer appears clearly designed to mislead recipients into thinking that it's an official Census Bureau survey, which people are required by law to fill out.

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