Michele Bachmann, EdWatch, and MFI

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In 1998 while speaking out against Minnesota's public school policies Michele Bachmann, before her rise in politics, came to the notice of social conservative groups who have informed her views and have consistently supported her throughout her political career. Some of her more controversial positions are in parallel with those of these groups.

[edit] Gaining support of EdWatch

In 1998 Bachmann's opposition to the Profiles caught the attention of the Maple River Education Coalition (now called EdWatch). The group (which has been called "a religious conservative think tank"[1]) consistently opposed the Profiles of Learning. Edwatch also advocates equal time for Design Theories in Science Classes,[2][3][4] objects to History Classes using BCE & CE (Before Common Era & Common Era) instead of BC & AD (Before Christ & anno Domini - "In the year of our Lord"),[5]and opposes gay marriage saying "Legalizing 'marriage' for homosexual couples will push that school indoctrination agenda forward very far and very fast for even our youngest and most innocent children. It would establish the legal and moral equivalence of homosexuality in our schools."[6]

EdWatch represents the feeling among many Christian Social Conservatives that aspects of the Profiles and the School-to-Work programs are attacks on their faith. An example of such is the lectures of Michael J. Chapman, a member of the Board of Directors for EdWatch.[7] Chapman spoke of the Profiles as a conspiracy against Christianity, “Our children - the citizens, voters, and leaders of tomorrow, are being prepared to accept a future new society incompatible with America's founding principles and our founder’s Christian worldview…secular humanism and postmodernism redefined the focus and purpose of education away from 'knowledge' for the maintenance of freedom; to 'politically-correct attitudes, values, and beliefs' for the transformation of society.”[8] In September 1999 Bachmann made presentations with Michael Chapman in the Minnesota cities of Thief River Falls and Hutchinson "regarding Goals 2000, the Profile of Learning, School-to-Work, Workforce Investment Act and local partnerships."[9]

Throughout Bachmann's political career EdWatch has been her strongest local supporter by backing her activities through its political arm Edaction (thereby allowing EdWatch to retain its tax-exempt status under 501c(4) & 501c(3) tax laws). Bachmann for her part continues to direct anyone hearing her lectures on Public Education reform to EdWatch's website.[10]

[edit] Education advisor for Minnesota Family Institute

Bachmann's column of Oct 8, 1999, shows that her speeches against the Profiles and School-to-Work programs garnered more attention and support from other conservative groups. In the end of the column it states "Michele Bachmann is an education advisor for the Minnesota Family Institute... Minnesota's largest nonprofit, non-partisan pro-family organization."[11]

Throughout her political career Bachmann has continued to have the support of the Minnesota Family Council (MFC). MFC is the political arm of the Minnesota Family Institute (thereby allowing MFI to remain tax-exempt under 501c(4) & 501c(3) tax laws).

Along with calling for Public School Education reform,[12] Minnesota Family Institute has taken other more controversial positions. They promote “Abstinence only” sex education classes[13] The group oppose the teaching of evolution (saying “the reigning creation myth is Darwinian evolution”[14]). The MFC calls for History classes to say "America's founding is rooted" on "Judeo-Christian principles"[15][16] and have promoted the positions of David Barton (who claims the Founding Fathers agreed that “it is the duty…for our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”[17][18] Along the same lines the President of the Council, Tom Prichard, wrote “The growing movement in the Christian community for developing a biblical worldview in every area of life — including politics and government — is an exciting development. It will not only enable Christians to intelligently articulate their beliefs and ideas, but it will ultimately help restore society to the way it was intended to operate.”[19] The Council advocates School Choice including having tax dollars fund vouchers for religious schools.[20] The MFC reprinted a warning to parents that though it would be a “fault of logic” to say “that reading about witches and wizards necessarily translates into these occult practices”, reading Harry Potter books may be dangerous because it leads to a “desensitization to witchcraft”.[21] The Council has also claimed that the sexual humiliation aspect of the Abu Ghraib detainee scandal was in large part due to “American television, movies, music videos, and lyrics… [for] normalizing behavior and actions that were previously considered aberrant.”[22] (Most psychologist see parallels with the Stanford prison experiment).

Throughout her rise in politics Michele Bachmann's position against abortion rights garnered her continual support from the Minnesota Family Council, who oppose abortion and assisted suicide saying "Human life is sacred from conception to natural death".[15] In line with this position they oppose allowing RU-486 to be prescribed.[23] They are against stem cell research[24][25] and call for a ban on all types of surrogate motherhood.[26]

Bachmann's call for education reform combined with her opposition to gay rights also mirrors that of the Minnesota Family Council. The MFC has complained that “Students as young as kindergarten are being told that being gay is as normal as being heterosexual”[27] The Council has created the SOS: Save Our Students program “to stop the advance of the homosexual agenda in one of the most important battle grounds — the public schools”, and counter “[the] homosexual indoctrination our students are being exposed to — usually under the guise of ‘multicultural diversity’ or teaching tolerance”.[27] MFC’s “SOS” program advises people to bar support clubs for homosexual students in their local public school (going so far as to provide a list of schools where such clubs exist).[28] They have also warned against the “Let’s Get Real” film series being shown in public schools which has the stated goal of “encouraging youth to have dialogue about the issues that lead to taunting, bullying and sexual harassment, including racial differences, perceived sexual orientation, learning disabilities, class and religious differences and more.”[29] MFC terms this as “‘diversity’ indoctrination”. Their statement of opposition ends asking “how many of our children will be bullied by the trainers into believing that homosexuality is good and that those who oppose it are bad?”[30]

Bachmann’s views continue to mirror the MFC organization she was once an advisor for. She gave a speech at 2004's “EdWatch National Education Conference” (which was co-hosted by The Minnesota Family Council).[31] In her talk entitled "The Effects of Gay Marriage on Education", she warned against allowing such topics to be raised in schools “He [the student] goes home then, and says ‘Hey mom, what's gayness? We had a teacher talking about this today.’ The mother says ‘Well, that's when a man likes other men and they don't like girls.’ The boy's 8, he's thinking ‘I don't like girls. I like boys. Maybe I'm gay.’ And you think, that's way out there. Kid isn't gonna think that. Are you kidding? That happens all the time. You don't think that's intentional, the message that's being given to these kids? That's child abuse.”[32]

Bachmann's position against allowing same-sex marriage has also endeared her to the Minnesota Family Council she once advised. The groups strong support of Bachmann's movements on this issue stem from its outspoken positions against gay rights.[15] The Council was originally named “the Berean League” and was “initially formed in reaction to the Minnesota Council of Churches' 1982 decision to support the repeal of Minnesota's anti-gay sodomy laws.”[33] In 1983 they were successful against efforts to repeal the ban. They accredited this to Jesus, saying ex-State Senator turned lobbyist Wayne Olhoft “was the person God appointed to lead the new effort”, and “It was God bringing together people who knew what was needed” to defeat the efforts of the Minnesota Council of Churches.[34] (The MFC continues to post documents saying “Being gay is a sin just like stealing”[35] and criticizes Christians believing otherwise “‘To accept homosexual relationships as normal is a serious affront to the authority of scripture and to two thousand years of church tradition. The proper Christian view is that homosexual behavior is destructive to individuals and to society. That was never in question among church leaders until homosexuality became a hot political issue. Now instead of leading the way morally, some denominations…are in danger of following society down the path to destruction.’”[36])

When Michele Bachmann speaking against Gay Marriage[37] quoted Edmund Burke “All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.” She was following after Wendell Brown who used the same quote against those calling for the repeal of Minnesota's sodomy law when he called for the founding of MFC.[34] (Minnesota's sodomy laws where repealed in 2003[38]).

Besides attracting EdWatch and Minnesota Family Council, Bachmann's speeches for Public Education reform also rose her visibility in her local district, and within Minnesota's GOP.

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ Anderson, Jr., G.R.. ""The Chosen One"", City Pages (Minneapolis), October 4, 2006.
  2. ^ Olson, MD, Ross S.. Critique of "Minnesota Draft Science Standards: Working Draft, September 4, 2003". EdAction. Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2006
  3. ^ Effrem, MD, Karen R. (January 28, 2004). Science Testimony. EdAction. Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2006
  4. ^ Effrem, MD, Karen R.. Political Themes in the National Science Standards. EdAction. Retrueved on Nov. 11, 2006
  5. ^ Events & Hot News, January 2005. Edwatch (January 12, 2005). Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2006
  6. ^ Alert: Defense of Marriage and School Curriculum. EdAction (March 13, 2004). Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
  7. ^ EdWatch Board. Edwatch. Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2006
  8. ^ Worldview War in the Classroom: A Three Part Multi-Media Seminar by Michael J. Chapman. Edaction (June 23, 2003). Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2006
  9. ^ Announcements. Maple River Education Coalition (Aug, 24 1999). Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
  10. ^ La Paglia, Bernadette. "Senator lectures on educational complacency", Naples Sun Times, Townnews Pub., Oct. 6, 2004. Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2006
  11. ^ Bachmann (Oct 8, 1999). School-to-Work: The Heart of Educational Reform. Minnesota Family Institute.Retrieved on Nov. 13, 2006
  12. ^ Outcome-Based Education. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  13. ^ Teen Sex Education: What You Teach Is What You Get. Minnesota Family Council. Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  14. ^ Robinson, Rachel. Adjusting your worldview. Minnesota Family Council. Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  15. ^ a b c Statement of Principles. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  16. ^ Education researcher says textbooks being rewritten to exclude role of religion in American history. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  17. ^ Barton, David (February, 1997). Barton: Nation's Religious Roots Run Deep (transcript). Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  18. ^ Barton, David. Christian Worldview Expert to Speak to Christian Leaders. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  19. ^ Prichard, Tom. America's founding and Christianity: What do they have in common?. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  20. ^ Choice in Education. Minnesota Family Council (August 18, 1999). Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  21. ^ Beam, Lindy. What Shall We Do With Harry?. Originally Published by Focus on The Family, republished by Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  22. ^ Noble, Scott. What Does the Iraqi Prison Abuse Tell Us About American Culture?. Minnesota Family Council. Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2006
  23. ^ Oppose RU-486 Abortion Drug in Minnesota. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2005
  24. ^ PFN Culture Shorts for Nov/Dec 2004. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  25. ^ Bohon, Dave. Victory for Values. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  26. ^ Cumming, Jennifer L.. The Proposed Uniform Parentage Act and Surrogate Motherhood. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  27. ^ a b Bohon, Dave. MFI’s ‘SOS Save Our Students’ program counters gay agenda in schools. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2006
  28. ^ Is there ‘gay club’ in your school?. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 16, 2006
  29. ^ Respect for All Project October 2006 Update. Women's Educational Media (October 2006).Retrieved on Nov. 16, 2006
  30. ^ Anderson, Barb. Video on bullying is latest in pro-gay series. Retrieved on Nov. 16, 2006
  31. ^ 2004 EdWatch National Education Conference (2004).Retrieved on Nov. 16, 2006
  32. ^ Bachmann, Michele. ""The Effects of Gay Marriage on Education" given at 2004 EdWatch National Education Conference: Education for a Free Nation" Bloomington, MN (November 6, 2004).
  33. ^ Mary's Election Posse. City Pages LLC (October 27, 2004).Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2006
  34. ^ a b Eastlund, Emily. Twenty Years of Fighting for Families. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2006
  35. ^ Being gay is a sin just like stealing. (Originally published in Stillwater Gazette) reprinted by Minnesota Family Council. Retrieved on Nov. 14, 2006
  36. ^ Bohon, Dave. ELCA Congregations in Twin Cities Defy Church, Bible on Homosexuality. Minnesota Family Council.Retrieved on Nov. 15, 2006
  37. ^  A Message to Supporters. Minnesota for Marriage.
  38. ^ Furst, Randy (June 26, 2003). Twin Cities Gay Rights Groups Hail Decision; Conservatives Express Dismay. Originally from Minneapolis Star Tribune, reprinted by sodomy laws.org.Retrieved on Nov. 16, 2006
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