I get e-mails:

Michele Bachmann is running the third in a series of attack ads featuring a paid actor calling himself “Jim the Election Guy” purposefully misleading 6th District voters. Well, real Jims in the 6th District have had enough, and they’re taking to the airwaves this week to hold Michele Bachmann accountable. See our latest TV ad for yourself here:

The difference between Bachmann’s “Jim the Election Guy” ads and our “Real Jims” ad serves as a clear contrast between our two candidates themselves. Bachmann doesn’t appear in her ads or in her district. While decrying negative campaigning, she uses a paid actor to do hers for her. And just like countless claims Bachmann has made in the last two years, “Jim’s” claims repeatedly fail independent truth tests.

Meanwhile, real Jims – and voters across the 6th District – are speaking out in support of Tarryl Clark. They want a Representative who will stand with them, not the special interests, and who will make them their first priority. Our actual voters are ready to tell the truth about Bachmann’s record - but we need your help in order to keep them on TV.

A contribution of $55 – that’s a dollar per day until Election Day – will help us keep the Jims on air all week. But every donation, large or small, helps us amass the resources we’ll need to hold Bachmann – and her paid actor Jim – accountable.

Can you help keep real Jims on the air holding Bachmann accountable with a contribution today?

Thanks in advance!

Sincerely,

Carrie Lucking
Communications Director
Tarryl Clark for Congress

P.S. With less than two months to go until Election Day, Michele Bachmann is pouring it on! She’s spent over $1 million on negative ads so far with more attacks still to come. Can you help us turn up the heat on Bachmann by contributing today?

I get e-mails (some bolding is mine):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2010
St. Cloud, MN

STATEMENT FROM ZACH RODVOLD, CAMPAIGN MANAGER, ON MICHELE BACHMANN’S LATEST MISLEADING ATTACKS, RECYCLED IN NEW AD
Bachmann again attacks Clark for a voter-approved measure that she herself claimed to support

“For the third week in a row, Michele Bachmann is on the air with a misleading attack ad featuring a paid actor calling himself ‘Jim.’ And for the second week in a row, Bachmann is using Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment – which passed with widespread support in 2008, receiving 30,000 more votes in the 6th District than Bachmann herself – to attack Tarryl Clark. This line of attack has already failed the truth test, as have countless other claims made by Bachmann in the past year.

Voters in this district and across the state are fed up with misleading, false, and over-the-top partisan attacks, which is all that Bachmann has offered her constituents to date. By contrast, Tarryl Clark has spent months speaking honestly to voters about the challenges we face. Tarryl is building a winning coalition of police officers, teachers, business leaders, nurses, fire fighters, farmers and working families from St. Cloud to Stillwater. They all know that the 6th District deserves better, and that’s why they’re backing Tarryl Clark for Congress.”

###

FACT CHECK

LINE: Hi, It’s Jim again. It’s back to school time here in Minnesota and you guessed it, Taxin’ Tarryl Clark has a tax for that.

Wanna buy some crayons? She’s got a sales tax increase for that … Buy a backpack? She’s got a tax for that, too.

• This is a reference to the voter-approved Legacy Amendment, a connection dubbed misleading and wrong by Politifact and KSTP’s Truth Test, which gave Bachmann’s last ad an overall D+. [http://minnesotaindependent.com/64505/mpr-bachmann-ad-wrong-on-corn-dog-tax AND http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1731503.shtml?cat=1]
• In fact, Bachmann herself apparently supported the Legacy Amendment, so Bachmann is attacking her opponent for an Amendment that she herself supported. “Coleman, Bachmann and Franken spoke in August at Game Fair in Anoka of their support of the Clean Water amendment. Coleman and Bachmann also displayed blaze orange “Sportsmen vote yes” placards in their Game Fair booths,” according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune on 10/23/08. [http://www.startribune.com/sports/33174964.html]
• The Legacy Amendment was approved overwhelmingly by voters in the 6th District – 55%. It received nearly 30,000 more votes than Michele Bachmann did, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State. [www.sos.state.mn.us]

LINE: Drive your kids to school? She’s got a gas tax hike for that.

• Tarryl voted in favor of the bipartisan transportation veto override in 2007 [HF 2800]. The price of gas at the end of 2007, prior to the gas tax increase was $3.02 per gallon. The price of gas today is $2.76 per gallon. People are NOT paying more for gas as they take their kids to school.
• The bipartisan bill was negotiated with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce as well as hundreds of groups representing thousands of 6th District voters.
• Funds from this bill were used to rebuild the Hwy 23 bridge without federal support and despite Bachmann’s objection.
[Catherine Richert, MPR PoliGraph, September 3, 2010]

I get e-mails. Some are annoying, some are dee-lish. This one is dee-lish. The red bolding is mine.

Via DFA on behalf of the Tarryl Clark campaign:

Michele Bachmann attacks DFA

We’ve got Michele Bachmann running scared.

She’s so afraid our support for progressive Democrat Tarryl Clark will put Clark over the top and Bachmann out of a job that she’s using it to scare more money from her Tea Party supporters.

Bachmann sent the email below yesterday. I’ve copied it in full — but I changed all the links — so we can make sure this is one scare tactic that backfires on Michele Bachmann. Let’s double down in our support for Tarryl Clark and show Bachmann what it really means to be “steamrolled” with a “liberal surge of money.” We raised $22,000 in 24 hours last time, can we do it again before the end of Labor Day weekend?

CONTRIBUTE TO TARRYL CLARK RIGHT NOW

-Arshad

Arshad Hasan, Executive Director
Democracy for America

Dear Fellow Conservative,

Today we are only 60 days away from Election Day. And while thousands of Minnesotans — including my family — are enjoying time together at the Minnesota State Fair, my opponent and her liberal allies are plotting new schemes to defeat me on November 2.

I’m running against a tax-and-spend liberal whose love for taxing hardworking families goes so far that she wants to raise taxes on state fair food like corn dogs and beer! It’s facts like this that make it crystal clear: we can’t afford to allow Tarryl Clark and Nancy Pelosi to defeat me.

I need your support in these final weeks as I fight back against the attacks they launch every day. Will you follow this link right away to make an immediate donation of $60, $120, or $180? By giving just $1, $2 or even $3 per day from now until the election, you will ensure that our shared constitutional conservative values continue to have a strong voice in Washington.

I’m the top Congressional target on the left. You may already know that Nancy Pelosi has targeted me for defeat, but did you know Howard Dean has thrown his weight behind my opponent?

His far-left liberal organization, “Democracy for America” raised $22,000 in 24 hours to defeat me and have bragged about it to media outlets. They’re using this as an example of how much liberals like Dean want to see me defeated. Let’s show them we’re not going anywhere. I need your immediate support to fight back against this liberal surge of money in my race.

Will you follow this link to make an immediate donation to help me raise $22,000 in 24 hours? I know, with your generous support, we can match Howard Dean and his far-left supporters dollar for dollar.

Liberals see a conservative tide building across our nation. So they are pulling out all the stops to try and stop our rallies and defeat candidates like me. They will stop at nothing to silence our voices.

We must band together to send a message that we are only gaining strength in the final 60 days leading up to this election. Your immediate donation of $60 — just one dollar per day — will help me do just this.

Please don’t sit on the sidelines and allow Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean steamroll me with their well-funded attacks. Take action today!

Your support, encouragement and prayers are always appreciated.

Sincerely,

Michele Bachmann

P.S. My opponent and her liberal friends will be using the final 60 days of this campaign to attack me. Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean have thrown their full financial support to my opponent. Dean is the latest to target me for defeat, raising $22,000 in 24 hours for my opponent. Will you help me match this amount with a generous donation of $60 or more today? Any amount you can give up to the $2,400 legal limit is appreciated. I am confident, with your continued support, we will celebrate victory on November 2.

I’ve written about Marcus the PhD before, but now we have video!

Oh, and he’s not gay. He loves his wife. “Some say” he can cure The Gay right out of his patients, in fact.

But some observers claim that the mission of the practice includes counseling homosexuals in an effort to “ungay” them. “It is absolutely sincere,” adds former school board member Cecconi. “They specialize in ‘reparation’ regarding sexual orientation.”

Marcus Bachmann, who is also 50, denies that is part of his clinic’s practice. “That’s a false statement,” he says, refusing to answer any questions that don’t have to do with Bachmann and Associates. “Am I aware that the perception is out there? I can’t comment on that.” Still, Bachmann offers, “If someone is interested in talking to us about their homosexuality, we are open to talking about that. But if someone comes in a homosexual and they want to stay homosexual, I don’t have a problem with that.”

And with that, meet Marcus (h/t: Wonkette):

I continue to get press releases from Tarryl Clark’s campaign, and I will continue to post them. Michele Bachmann must go. That’s mandatory:

Here’s the press release. Some bolding mine:

For Immediate Release
St. Cloud, MN
August 30, 2010

NEW TELEVISION AD TELLS VOTERS WHAT THEY “NEED TO KNOW” ABOUT TARRYL CLARK
Clark takes to airwaves with 2nd ad of campaign

St. Cloud, MN – Tarryl Clark hits the airwaves with the second ad of her campaign today, August 30th. The ad, entitled “Need to Know,” tells Tarryl’s story in the words of those who know her best – her family, her retired clergy, and the veterans and small business owners who have benefited from her record of results.

“We think voters deserve to hear about Tarryl’s records of results, directly from the Minnesotans who have been a part of it,” said Zach Rodvold, Campaign Manager, noting the testimonials stand in stark contrast to Congresswoman Bachmann’s ‘Mystery Jim’ – a made-for-television character whose identity the Bachmann campaign has declined to reveal.

“Tarryl has a record of results she is proud of, and a lifetime of service to her community. In Congress, she’ll continue her work to improve the lives of the people she represents. Our second ad shows what Tarryl’s career has already proven – she’ll always put Minnesota first,” concluded Rodvold.

Clark was the first to air television ads in the 6th District race for Congress. Her first television ad, “Tender Mercies,” ran on Metro area broadcast television for three weeks in July.

###

FACT SHEET: “Need to Know”

Line: Her dad and brothers are veterans, so she looks out for us.

• Clark was born while her father was serving in the Navy. 2 of her 3 brothers also served in the Navy.
• As an attorney, Clark worked on health care, housing, and benefits for veterans.
• Clark is a statewide Co-Chair of the Warrior-to-Citizen program in Minnesota, which brings together business, community organization, and state government to smooth the transition from deployment to civilian life.
• Clark sponsored legislation to allow bereavement leaves for military families, expanded the GI Bill, worked with schools to help students of deployed soldiers succeed, expanded mental health support for veterans, and worked on veterans health care issues while serving in the Minnesota Senate.

Line: In the legislature, Tarryl put taxpayers first by cutting her own compensation and budget, and she thinks Congress should too.

• Clark cut her Legislative compensation by well over the 5% she is advocating for Congress.

o Despite being in leadership, Clark was ranked among one of the lowest paid State Senators last year - 60th out of 67.
o Legislative salaries in Minnesota have been frozen for the entire time Clark served. Legislators makes a base salary of $31,500.00.

• In contrast to her opponent, Clark also cut her office expenses – mailing, supplies, etc – when Minnesota faced a budget crisis. Bachmann spent nearly $250,000 in taxpayer dollars on campaign-style mailings and radio ads. She’s also grown her office budget and expenses while the country faces record deficits, and according to reports has more media staff working to promote her than legislative staff working for the people of the 6th District.

o Clark gutted her mailing allowance and cut her communications budget.
o Clark reduced the staff hours in her office, decreasing her overall office budget.

Earlier I posted a press release from Tarryl Clark’s campaign that pointed out Michele Bachmann’s lack of attention to her own district, calling Bachmann’s stopovers “drive-by” home visits. Instead, Michele is holding events elsewhere.

Why, here’s one now!

…Bachmann asked her audience how many thought more than 1 million people were in attendance*. The question was met by big cheers from the gathering of about 1,000. “We’re not going let anyone get away with saying there were less than a million here today because we were witnesses,” Bachmann said.

The Republican lawmaker also took the opportunity to list members of the House Tea Party Caucus, which she chairs. When she reached the name of Rep. Joe Wilson, best known for shouting “you lie” during President Obama’s address to Congress, the crowd started chanting “you lie.”

Classy, Bachmannistas, real classy. Nothing says family values than emulating a rude putz who, against rules of Congress and etiquette, interrupted the president of the United States with crass heckling.

Of course, with all the hoopla about Whitestock’s lack of diversity, it’s a sure bet that someone as press conscious as Bachmann would encourage all kinds of people from all kinds of ethnic backgrounds to join her at her campaign stops.   Especially someone who has come out so strongly against racism.

One can only try to imagine the love and admiration, the diverse throngs who clamor to see such a reacher-outer:

Although the crowd was overwhelmingly white, the dais showcased a diverse group including a black woman, a black man, a white man and a Hispanic man.

Why, that’s not unlike the rabbi, Native American, and African American the Whitestockers used as props at their little hootenanny. And they say the Rushpublic party is monochromatic.

* More like 86,000.

I get e-mails. This is one of the better ones (bolding mine):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 28, 2010
St. Cloud, MN

AFTER 2 DAY DRIVE-BY OF DISTRICT, BACHMANN CONTINUES HER ‘ANYWHERE BUT HERE TOUR’
Bachmann holds townhall in Washington, D.C., not at home

After a brief, 2-day drive-by of her home District, Michele Bachmann spent Friday night and today holding her own rallies and events in conjunction with Glenn Beck’s rally in Washington, D.C. Bachmann’s events were paid for by her Congressional re-election campaign fund, according to the Washington Post, though D.C. is over 800 miles from the 6th Congressional District.

Bachmann took to her Townhall blog at the outset of the August recess assuring voters she would be home, “connecting with constituents,” and frequently argues that she is “at home nearly every weekend.” (Most recent use was August 1, FOX News.)

However, Bachmann has made only scant appearances at home during the recess. She has missed 10 parades, a number of community festivals, Farm Fest and has not appeared at the Minnesota State Fair – a major Minnesota event.

She recently did a highly orchestrated 2-day bus tour of her Congressional District – a district that it takes approximately an hour and a half to drive from end-to-end. The bus tour brought Bachmann up to 11 total events inside of her district throughout the entire Congressional recess, 6 on the bus tour, 4 on another drive-by tour, and Game Fair.

By contrast, her opponent Tarryl Clark has done over 30 events in 30 days inside of the District. Most recently, Clark has held transportation briefings in 3 district communities with Congressman Jim Oberstar, Senior Citizen Town Hall Meetings with Senator Amy Klobuchar and Walter Mondale, attended the Minnesota State Fair twice, and marched in numerous parades.

“It’s no surprise that Bachmann is back in D.C. after doing a drive-by of her own District. Her priorities are Washington and Denver, not Woodbury and Ham Lake,” said Zach Rodvold, Campaign Manager for Tarryl Clark’s Campaign for Congress.

“In stark contrast to Bachmann’s drive-by, Tarryl Clark has done over 30 events in 30 days in the 6th District. Today, she is at the Minnesota State Fair and kicking off one of our community door knocks. Tarryl Clark is in the 6th District and our communities every day. She’s with the voters in the 6th District, not Glenn Beck and the special interests that have hijacked Washington,” Rodvold concluded.

My Twitter buddy and Tarryl Clark campaigner, Ryan, e-mailed me something to share with you. Please read, and watch the video.

While you’re at it, spread the word to Minnesota voters. Bachmann’s gotta go:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Cloud, MN

CLARK CAMPAIGN RELEASES ‘JIM THE ACTUAL VOTER’ ONLINE VIDEO IN RESPONSE TO BACHMANN ATTACK AD FEATURING MYSTERY ‘JIM’
Three actual voters named Jim spoof Bachmann’s ad, set record straight

Tarryl Clark’s campaign for Congress in the 6th Congressional District today released a video, “Jim the Actual Voter,” in response to the first in what will apparently be a series of attack ads from Congresswoman Michele Bachmann which feature someone calling himself “Jim the Election Guy.”

“Jim the Actual Voter” features three actual 6th District voters – Jim Samuelson of Forest Lake, Jim Huber of Woodbury, and Jim Marks of Woodbury. In the video, the three “Jim the Actual Voters” team up to set the record straight about the Clark – and Bachmann – records.

The video:

In the video, Jim Huber asks, “What would Michele Bachmann know about balanced budgets anyways? She spends hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars promoting herself and her agenda.” (Samuelson and Marks finish the quote.)

“Jim the Actual Voters” go on to outline Clark’s record, which includes taking tough votes to actually balance budgets and making deep cuts to Minnesota’s state budget, and highlight her self-imposed pay cut while serving in the Minnesota Senate.

“Tarryl cut her own compensation and office expenses when Minnesota faced a record budget deficit. In fact, she’s cut 10 percent from the state budget in the last 2 years alone,” said Jim Huber and Jim Marks .

The video concludes with each of the Jims asking, “Who is this ‘Jim the Election Guy,’ anyway?”

All three Jim the Actual Voters say they will be back.

###

Thanks to Greg Sargent for sharing more evidence of what a loon Sharron Angle is:

[G]iven some of her previous claims — particularly her assertion that people may soon resort to “Second Amendment remedies” if Congress continues along its current course — it’s perfectly legit to ask her if this is what she really believes.

This brilliant bit of audio from the wackydoodle who opined that “black as a color was thoroughly evil, invoking the supernatural and especially the devil,” referring to high school football jerseys.

UPDATE: I meant to add this earlier, totally forgot. Good times, good times….

Let’s see, Dick “What Heart?” Cheney is about to be released from the hospital, and Michele “Undisclosed Illness” Bachmann has just been released. Are Undisclosed Location and Undisclosed Illness in cahoots? A sympathy play? Distant relatives? Diabolical Rushpublic plot?

Conspiracy theories abound:

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., was resting at her Minnesota home Sunday after being treated for an undisclosed illness in Washington, D.C.

All kidding aside, why all the secrecy?  What kind of “sudden illness” would be too embarrassing to reveal? Or too personal? Any ideas? A miscarriage, perhaps? What do you think?

Paddy just linked me to this, and asked, “Did she fake it to miss the Blunt fundraiser so as to not piss off Tea Baggers even more?”

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann canceled a scheduled campaign appearance in St. Louis, Mo., Saturday for GOP Senate candidate Roy Blunt after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness.

Is an undisclosed illness like an undisclosed location? You go there in case of an emergency… ?

According to her office, it was a “sudden illness”. Her spokesman refuses to divulge what that sudden illness is. I suspect it has something to do with that cavernous void in her cranium, but that’s just me. Oh wait. That isn’t sudden, that’s chronic.

They say she’s well on her way down the road to wellness, so my Official Joke Censor 2000 hasn’t kicked in.

The illness kept her from making a trip Saturday morning to Missouri, where she is backing Blunt, a U.S. House member running in the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate.

Blunt’s opponent is backed by the Tea Baggers, including  Not Joe the Not Plumber. Hence, Bachmann riled a few Missouri Tea Potty groups when she decided to pal around with Blunt.

We wish here a speedy recovery.