Michele bachmann and "curing" homosexuality

[Luke Skywalker]

Maybe we could send Bachmann and her supporters to SDN to "cure" them of stupidity .

http://theweek.com/article/index/217149 ... omosexuals

The fact that this bitch is surging in the polls does not speak well of my faith in humanity.

Does "bitch" count as misogynist?

[Pint0 Xtreme]

It's even worse when her husband's practices are being supported by taxpayer money via medicare.

[Terralthra]

Given the alacrity with which similar right-wing undercover "sting" operations were revealed to be distortions, I'll wait for some corroboration before further comment.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

Andersoon Cooper covered this issue recently. There is more evidence than a simple undercover operation from Truth Wins Out to suggest that their business is involved with the horrendous practice of "reparative therapy", including testimonies from former patients of such therapy.

[JME2]

Everytime I read about 'homosexuality therapy programs/groups', I feel sick to my stomach and angered that this lunacy happens.

[Luke Skywalker]

Maybe Bachmann should spend more of her time trying to cure stupidity and sociopaths, you know, something that would actually contribute to society. How do her supporters defend this?

[HMS Sophia]

Maybe Bachmann should spend more of her time trying to cure stupidity and sociopaths, you know, something that would actually contribute to society. How do her supporters defend this?

Well, the gays have a disease that makes them gay. They need to be cured of this disease. Seeing why they are supported isn't hard, it's just the reasons are inherently wrong, even though they think they're right...
I hope that made sense?

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

Maybe Bachmann should spend more of her time trying to cure stupidity and sociopaths, you know, something that would actually contribute to society. How do her supporters defend this?

To a significant fraction of the people who are apt to support Bachmann, homosexuality is equivalent to sociopathy or other mental illness at best, and an abomination against the gods at worst. Remember that the Bachmann campaign felt totally cool about signing things like The Family Leader's "Marriage Vow" pledge. At the moment, they don't have to defend it, since Michele Bachmann is competing against other GOP Presidential hopefuls who are either dreadfully boring, similarly crazy, or needing to pander to the crazies who vote in GOP primaries.

[Elfdart]

After seeing Mr. Bachmann on TV, I'm reminded of the saying "Physician, heal thyself". As my dad used to say, the only reason people bait homosexuals is to try to reel some in for themselves.

[The Yosemite Bear]

oh stop being intolerant religious/anti-religious communists, your oppressing their rigth to put all of those "others" in their god given place. -(This sort of logic hurts my aspie brain, didn't they use the same excuses to sterilze "mental defectives" and American Indians back in the early part of the last century?)

[Minischoles]

After seeing Mr. Bachmann on TV, I'm reminded of the saying "Physician, heal thyself". As my dad used to say, the only reason people bait homosexuals is to try to reel some in for themselves.

I loved the Daily Show segment on him - he literally sounds like Big Gay Al, and even looks a little like him as well.

It's a little frightening that someone like Michelle Bachman can even get into office, let alone be considered a candidate for president - looking at her from over here in England, she just looks and sounds insane, it's scary to think people actually vote for her.

[General Mung Beans]

After seeing Mr. Bachmann on TV, I'm reminded of the saying "Physician, heal thyself". As my dad used to say, the only reason people bait homosexuals is to try to reel some in for themselves.

I loved the Daily Show segment on him - he literally sounds like Big Gay Al, and even looks a little like him as well.

It's a little frightening that someone like Michelle Bachman can even get into office, let alone be considered a candidate for president - looking at her from over here in England, she just looks and sounds insane, it's scary to think people actually vote for her.

Not anymore than people like Barbara Lee getting elected or for Brits people like George Galloway.

[Zaune]

Not anymore than people like Barbara Lee getting elected or for Brits people like George Galloway.

Never heard of Barbara Lee, but I don't recall George Galloway ever being seriously talked about as a candidate for Prime Minister.

[bobalot]

Not anymore than people like Barbara Lee getting elected or for Brits people like George Galloway.

Never heard of Barbara Lee, but I don't recall George Galloway ever being seriously talked about as a candidate for Prime Minister.

I think General Mung Beans used this "This is just like George Galloway" defence before in another thread. I wonder how long he will continue to recycle this talking point.

Even though (as pointed out) George Galloway never had any chance of becoming the Prime Minister (or any Minister) or had had any significant national support (i.e. Teabaggers), I fail to see how George Galloway is the left-wing equivalent of Michele Bachmann, whose "platform" has numerous insane policies. This comparison is doubly retarded.

[General Mung Beans]

Not anymore than people like Barbara Lee getting elected or for Brits people like George Galloway.

Never heard of Barbara Lee, but I don't recall George Galloway ever being seriously talked about as a candidate for Prime Minister.

I think General Mung Beans used this "This is just like George Galloway" defence before in another thread. I wonder how long he will continue to recycle this talking point.

Even though (as pointed out) George Galloway never had any chance of becoming the Prime Minister (or any Minister) or had had any significant national support (i.e. Teabaggers), I fail to see how George Galloway is the left-wing equivalent of Michele Bachmann, whose "platform" has numerous insane policies. This comparison is doubly retarded.

And Bachmann is just running for President. I will eat my words if she or some other Tea Partier is actually nominated by the Republicans. (PS: And for that matter, even if she is nominated she'll just be a George McGovern of the right and that might be a good lesson for Republicans).

[Simon_Jester]

Bachmann wouldn't be running for president if she and some ostensibly qualified people thought she had a chance.

Has anyone serious ever presented Galloway as someone who might credibly belong in the British Cabinet, let alone as Prime Minister?

[PhilosopherOfSorts]

I like how he puts it "just running for president," like its some unimportant post no one ever heard of. Like its something people do every day. Meahwhile, in sane countries someone like Bachman couldn't even seriously consider running for high office.

[General Mung Beans]

I like how he puts it "just running for president," like its some unimportant post no one ever heard of. Like its something people do every day. Meahwhile, in sane countries someone like Bachman couldn't even seriously consider running for high office.

So anybody who runs for President has to be considered a serious candidate? And for that matter it means France is not "sane" considering Jean Marie Le-Pen has won 15-20% of the vote quite consistently.

[bobalot]

I like how he puts it "just running for president," like its some unimportant post no one ever heard of. Like its something people do every day. Meahwhile, in sane countries someone like Bachman couldn't even seriously consider running for high office.

So anybody who runs for President has to be considered a serious candidate? And for that matter it means France is not "sane" considering Jean Marie Le-Pen has won 15-20% of the vote quite consistently.

More serious than someone who doesn't have a chance like Galloway, thus the comparison is retarded. How is this difficult to understand?

BTW, nice goalpost shifting you have done in this thread.

Minischoles originally said:

It's a little frightening that someone like Michelle Bachman can even get into office, let alone be considered a candidate for president

You sniped that off and veered off into this presidential tangent.

Michelle Bachmann is the founder of the fucking Tea Party Caucus whose members are almost universally taking a hard line stance against lifting the debt limit or agreeing to any tax rises (even though the Obama offer was 85% cuts and 15% rises) bringing the U.S perilously close to a default and quite possibly a depression.

Michelle Bachmann wields enormous power compared to someone like George Galloway, even though she is a homophobic crazy nutjob. Your "Lolz, she's just a fringe nutjob like GEORGE GALLOWAY" talking point is fucking bullshit on every level. You failed to show that his positions are equivalently crazy or he ever had any chance of wielding the same sort of power Bachmann dos.

[Norseman]

You know I used to be baffled by what is going on in traditionalist minds, untill I found this blog that explains it all so very well. For instance the whole "curing" homosexuality bit is explained very well here Monstrous Hypocrisy in the Claim of Cruelty towards Homosexuals. This is the sort of thing that passes for thinking in these circles. Now imagine that to a large chunk of the American electorate this would seem like nothing more than good old fashioned common sense.

[Serafina]

You know I used to be baffled by what is going on in traditionalist minds, untill I found this blog that explains it all so very well. For instance the whole "curing" homosexuality bit is explained very well here Monstrous Hypocrisy in the Claim of Cruelty towards Homosexuals. This is the sort of thing that passes for thinking in these circles. Now imagine that to a large chunk of the American electorate this would seem like nothing more than good old fashioned common sense.

That is actually more a comment on transsexuality. What it DOES show is a massive disregard for empirical evidence:
- There is plenty of evidence that homosexuality can not be "cured" via any form of psychological therapy
- There is plenty of evidence that transsexuality can not be "cured" via any form of psychological therapy
The reason is quite simply that neither is a psychological illness. This is ignored by fundamentalists in both cases. The reason is quite simple: They see it as wrong, and anything they see as wrong must be some for of ailment. We can also observe this in plenty of other cases where they accuse their opponents of being mentally retarded, or brainwashed, or suffering from an (usually made-up) condition.


The argument in the link simply ignores that something is only an ailment if it causes harm to the person in question.
Homosexuality does not do so by itself, while a intolerant society can - but it can also do so for women or black people, and we do not classify either as ill.
Transsexuality does cause harm by itself - if untreated. The state of being an un-transitioned transsexual person can arguably be classified as an illness, but just being transsexual by itself can not.

Now arguably, if someone wanted to stop being homosexual, there is no reason to deny an effective method* - but there is no such method. There is plenty of evidence that the best result you can get from such a "treatment" is voluntary celibacy (with a very high failure rate), while there are plenty of potential negative results, including repression, self-loathing, depression and trauma.
*Ignoring the possibility for such a "treatment" to be employed forcefully.

The same can be said for transsexuality - if there was a safe, effective method to change someones gender identity, there is no actual argument to deny it to someone who seeks it voluntarily. But there is simply no such method, and current knowledge of brain structure and personality development makes it very unlikely that there will ever be such a treatment even if we had magi-tech.
Transitioning on the other hand is a safe, effective method to stop a transsexual person from suffering, and therefore from being ill.

Again, the fundamentalists simply ignore all of this evidence, because it does not fit with their view of reality (which they are unwilling to change).

[Pelranius]

I'm putting this in this thread, hope its the right location (didn't really think that this new bit of asshattery warranted a thread of its own).

Though the upside for Michele is that compared to King, she seems sort of likeable.

Bachmann criticizes black farmer settlement
AP
By MARGERY A. BECK - Associated Press | AP – 4 hrs ago

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann pointed to one program in particular Monday when talking about wasteful government spending: a multibillion dollar settlement paid to black farmers, who claim the federal government discriminated against them for decades in awarding loans and other aid.

The issue came up after Bachmann and Republican Rep. Steve King of Iowa toured flooded areas along the Missouri River. During a news conference, they fielded a question about whether farmers affected by the flooding also should be worried by proposed U.S. Department of Agriculture cuts.

The two responded by criticizing a 1999 settlement in what is known as the Pigford case, after the original plaintiff, North Carolina farmer Timothy Pigford. Late last year, President Barack Obama signed legislation authorizing a new, nearly $1.2 billion settlement for people who were denied payments in the earlier one because they missed deadlines for filing.

King has likened the Pigford settlement to "modern-day reparations" for African-Americans. He said Monday a large percentage of the settlement "was just paid out in fraudulent claims" and criticized the Obama administration's plan to resolve separate lawsuits filed by Hispanic and female farmers.

"That's another at least $1.3 billion," King said "I'd like to apply that money to the people that are under water right now."

Bachmann seconded King's criticism, saying, "When money is diverted to inefficient projects, like the Pigford project, where there seems to be proof-positive of fraud, we can't afford $2 billion in potentially fraudulent claims when that money can be used to benefit the people along the Mississippi River and the Missouri River."

John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association, which represented black farmers in the Pigford settlement, called the criticism unfair.

"Why continue to take from those people who haven't taken part in federal programs equally and give to another group of farmers who have taken part in federal programs?" Boyd asked. "I think taking resources from a group of people who have been historically denied any relief at the Department of Agriculture is a bad idea. For the flood victims that deserve redress ... they should provide those people with relief, too."

Boyd said he and others worked to put anti-fraud provisions in the legislation signed last year. They require each claim of discrimination to be judged individually to determine its merit — a process that Boyd said has not yet even begun.

"We worked with Republicans ... to get those issues addressed," he said. "Even after we got them addressed, Ms. Bachmann and Mr. King have continued to look at black farmers in a very negative way.

"I think it's bad for the American people. I think if Ms. Bachmann wants to be president of the United States, she should treat all people fairly."

Bachmann's criticism wasn't limited to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Minnesota congresswoman also took a swipe at the president, who has not visited areas of Iowa, Nebraska or other states flooded by the river.

"The devastation is beyond what people can imagine," Bachmann said. "Surely this is worthy of a presidential visit to come see this level of devastation in western Iowa."

Heavy rain and a large snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains have poured water into the Missouri, flooding more than 500,000 acres in seven states. The high water is expected to linger through August, putting pressure on levees that protect homes, cities and farms.

"This flood that we have seems to have disappeared from the minds of people from across the country," King said. "If you're not here to see it ... you don't hear very much about it."

http://news.yahoo.com/bachmann-criticiz ... 27223.html

And that, Michelle, is why you will always be a fifth rate, jumped up PTA mom (no offense meant to PTA moms) who has fallen into congressional office on the account of a celestial joke in very bad taste.

[PhilosopherOfSorts]

I like how he puts it "just running for president," like its some unimportant post no one ever heard of. Like its something people do every day. Meahwhile, in sane countries someone like Bachman couldn't even seriously consider running for high office.

So anybody who runs for President has to be considered a serious candidate? And for that matter it means France is not "sane" considering Jean Marie Le-Pen has won 15-20% of the vote quite consistently.

Ok, Moron Beans, I'm going to do this in reverse order. First, I'm not talking about France, I don't live in France, I will most likely never go to France, and frankly I couldn't give a shit less what their political situation looks like, its irrelevent. I'm concered with the U.S., the country I actually live in.

Second, not everybody who runs for president has to be considered a serious candidate, but Michele Bachman is being considered such, hence all the media attention. You do realise that most people who run for president never get half as far or a quarter of the funding she has, right? Its pretty clear that she's not Random Hopeless Third Party Candidate From Bumblefuck #2453.