Is Michele Bachmann a flake?
Well according to her recent interview with Chris Wallace, maybe.
On Fox News Sunday, Wallace threw Bachmann several seemingly harsh questions regarding policy and prior statements she has made as a Congresswoman, but perhaps none was more pointed than when Wallace asked Bachmann if she was a flake.
WALLACE: I don't have to tell you that you have – the rap on you here in Washington is that you have a history of questionable statements, some would say gaffes ranging from talking about anti America members of congress to, on this show a couple of months ago when you suggested that NATO air strikes had killed up to 30,000 civilians. Are you a flake?BACHMANN: Well, I think it would be insulting to say something like that because I'm a serious person.
WALLACE: But you understand when I say that that that's what the rap on you is?
BACHMANN: Well, what I would say is that I am 55 years old, I've been married 33 years, I'm not only a lawyer, I have a post doctorate degree in federal tax law from William & Mary.
Bachmann was clearly caught off guard by the question, though she managed to recover and answer Wallace’s question relatively well.
On air there was disagreement between Glenn, Pat, and Stu over what transpired. Pat took issue with Wallace’s accusatory tone and what he believes to be “a stupid question,” while Glenn initially did not have a problem with the situation.
After hearing the clip, however, Glenn changed his mind. “Yeah. I mean, I thought he was going to say, look, this is – I thought he would frame it in such a way that you would say, ‘look, this is what people say.’"
Stu, on the other hand, disagreed, believing that Wallace did frame the question under the guise that this is how other people perceive Bachmann. He also defended Wallace’s history of fair reporting. “I probably would have a problem with it if it was someone that had a different history than Chris Wallace who I've not found to be unfair at all,” Stu said.
Past fairness aside, will Chris Wallace’s words have lasting effects? He has since come out with an apology, but is it too late? The liberal media will most likely have a field day with this one – a case of conservatives turning on one another. Unfortunately, it seems as though the damage may have been done.