Bachmann Calls Earthquake and Hurricane “Wake Up Calls From God”

Jim Burroway

August 29th, 2011

GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann campaigned in Florida over the weekend. The St. Petersburg Times reports that Dominionist theologian Peter E. Waldron — they don’t exist, you know — is helping to organize her Florida campaign. Maybe that explains her latest outburst:

“I don’t know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We’ve had an earthquake; we’ve had a hurricane. He said, ‘Are you going to start listening to me here?’

A campaign spokesperson later said, “Obviously she was saying it in jest.” Actually, given her views it’s really not that obvious.

Rob in San Diego

August 29th, 2011

I’m curious what she calls all the tornadoes that hit the bible belt…?

Ravenbiker

August 29th, 2011

Sad, sad woman. Her god is a wuss. If he hated fags so much, why would he smite the collective and not just LGBT folks? Furthermore, the only major damage to anything in the earthquake was the national cathedral and tragically (asumed) mostly straights died in the hurricane. Her god is a wuss.

CPT_Doom

August 29th, 2011

But clearly the devastating flooding that missed NYC but hit Vermont is punishment for civil unions – which were created over a decade ago. You see, God is really slow to actually punish people, so Massachusetts should have a good eartquake themselves in a couple of years.

Priya Lynn

August 29th, 2011

Right Cpt_Doom and god has missed Canada altogether, I’m having a hard time interpreting the message he’s trying to send.

Timothy Kincaid

August 29th, 2011

In the first book of Kings, the prophet Elijah was trying to get a message from God about what to do. Unlike Michele Bachmann, he wasn’t running for President, but running for his life.

11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave.

Sometimes it seems like those quickest to claim the Bible are the least familiar with what’s in it.

SharonB

August 29th, 2011

“I said it in jest!”
– the FIRST resort of a scoundrel!

Laura

August 29th, 2011

You know it’s bad when Bachmann makes Palin look like the smart woman in the room.

Kith

August 29th, 2011

What is really sad is when I did my afternoon news crawl many of the articles in response to this is “Ohh you liberal media types I saw the footage and it was clear she was joking so lay off this poor woman.”

Timothy Kincaid

August 29th, 2011

Okay, to be fair…

Within the confines of her faith, her audience would have immediately known this wasn’t to be taken literally. It’s a form of jest which includes a number of components.

First, it’s friendly mocking of those who do make such connections, like Pat Robertson.

Second, there’s a hint of possible belief of truth in the statement. Sort of a “much more of this…” kinda thing.

Third, while the jest portion is not to be serious, it ties to a serious point. Bachmann was not jesting about whether policitians should “listen to God”. This does illustrate her intention to act in the Office in accordance with her religious beliefs first.

Every community has it’s similar “jests”. Consider the following type of conversation that some LGBT youth might have:

“Oh, my family’s supportive, almost too much so.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. If my Mom drags me to one more ‘gay family outing’, I’m going to start wondering if it’s more for her than me.”

Bachmann’s problem is that she hasn’t yet realized that there are an awful lot of people who are not part of her community and who don’t know its humor.

Priya Lynn

August 29th, 2011

She’s only saying it half in jest, she believes this might be an act of her god.

MattNYC

August 29th, 2011

One note about the National Cathedral–it’s the site of the odious National Prayer Breakfast. So I guess god was punishing it for hosting the “Family”/C-Street/Uganda Kill the Gays mobsters.

Christopher

August 29th, 2011

Interesting that the people who do not understand the mechanics of RAIN resort to attributing a disaster to a god.

Case in point: Sodom and Gomorrah. Google “Sodom Gomorrah Asteroid researchers” and you’ll see scientific proof that an asteroid impact similar to what happened last century over Siberia was at fault.

Saying that a natural phenonenon is a tool of the Almighty is akin to saying: God, seeing that the line of kindergarten children on the sidewalk was EVIL, sent a drunk driver to smite them.

Christopher

August 29th, 2011

Here’s a thought: MAYBE the sign from God is that we should be more caring and ready to help one another, regardless of familiarity level.

Now go buy US healthcare.

Roa

August 30th, 2011

Amen Sister Laura!!!

Roa

August 30th, 2011

I thought at one time that Bachmann was the savvy version on Palin but could it be they were separated at birth?

Jim Burroway

August 30th, 2011

One note about the National Cathedral–it’s the site of the odious National Prayer Breakfast.

Actually, the Prayer Breakfast takes place at the Washington Hilton (which is also where Reagan was shot). But to add insult to injury, the Hilton is just north of DuPont Circle, the heart of D.C.’s gayborhood.

MattNYC

August 30th, 2011

I thought they held the actual prayer services at the Cathedral. My deepest apologies to the Cathedral :)

Regan DuCasse

August 30th, 2011

She’s furiously backpedaling on that remark, calling it a joke.

Yeah right. Was she joking about her definition of gay people and what she and her husband to do gay people in their tax funded clinics?

And what’s so funny about this storm and the loss of life that occurred?

She wasn’t joking, but she’s displaying the typical cowardice and denial we know all too well.

John

August 30th, 2011

Seems every time these people make some gaffe, they come up with some inane excuse. I guess Bachmann’s staff gets paid to cover for her.

Timothy Kincaid

August 31st, 2011

Priya Lynn,

Yes. Exactly.

It’s a jest that holds out possibility of belief. She doesn’t exactly believe that this IS a sign from God… but ya never know, it COULD be.

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