Michele Bachmann Compares Financial Reform To Mussolini-Style Fascism

Speaking at an online town hall event this week, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R- Minn.) compared the financial reform bill currently in congress to Italy under the rule of fascist leader Benito Mussolini.

Via the Minnesota Independent:

"Let's remember really what this is. This has a lot in common with Italy in the 1930s and they way Italy dealt with economics," she said. "It still continues private ownership of business but government is in control."

She continued, "So government control of the private business, while it's private ownership, that's still at the end of the day the federal government virtually having a say over private business. We lose freedoms; we lose economic competitiveness."

Chalk this up as another outlandish statement on Bachmann's part. Recall that the Minnesota congresswoman warned that the health care reform bill would lead to "gangster government" and said that before Obama's election, "100% of our economy was private."

Her controversial items have been documented in a website created by her re-election challenger, Tarryl Clark.

Comments

[Pierpier]

06:00 AM on 05/19/2010

Very good comparison against big government and will spending ain't it Bachmann ?

How about the 250K you got in federal subsidies for your own business? Does that count ?

Wikipedia:
In the period from 1995 through 2006, the Bachmann family farm as a whole received $251,973 in federal subsidies, chiefly for dairy and corn price supports.

[ron ray]

03:43 PM on 05/17/2010

I hope the tea party lurkers are paying attention. If you hated the bailouts and the subcontracting of our government to the big banks, Michelle Bachman is not your friend because she's standing up for the big banks.

are y'all free people or gop sheeple?

[MJ Hooper]

12:06 PM on 05/17/2010

Anyone know if Bachman lives or did live on C Street in the Family's low rent fortress.....?

[ZeraLee]

04:25 AM on 05/16/2010

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross."
- Sinclair Lewis

Now who do we know who fits that description?

[binksmom85]

11:38 PM on 05/31/2010

the entire GOP?

[fromdnorth]

12:20 AM on 05/16/2010

When I see quotes of Bachmann, I somehow am wont to recall that mushrooms feed on rotting wood...

[RockyMissouri]

11:27 PM on 05/15/2010

Doesn't her husband have the 'hug the gay away' clinic in Minneapolis??? Creepy people!

[Margo Arrowsmith]

10:46 PM on 05/15/2010

Ah, Ms Bachman:

“Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power”

Benito Mussolini quotes (Italian dictator, 1883-1945)

[binksmom85]

11:39 PM on 05/31/2010

thank you for the correct quote!

[kaptaintripps]

10:28 PM on 05/15/2010

Does anyone even care what this empty-headed, Anita-Bryant-beauty-queen-wanna-be THINKS? Get the oranges...get the pies...

[sgraham59]

10:34 PM on 05/15/2010

Anita Bryant wannabe SO TRUE FANNED-LOL

[kaptaintripps]

11:14 PM on 05/15/2010

Back atcha. Fanned. Thanx!!!

[LouEstes]

10:04 PM on 05/15/2010

Can you imagine being her history teacher?
OMG the absolute devastation in the failure to teach!
That poor person.

[binksmom85]

11:41 PM on 05/31/2010

they have eaten too much corporate produced food like substances, thus rotting the gray matter, and can only parrot back what they hear from their pulpit politicians

[ipogo]

09:00 PM on 05/15/2010

"Bachmann is one of the best people in congress"

I suppose it depends on your point of view. I can't think of anyone more qualified to serve as a bad example.

Maybe for you she is good because she tells you what you want to hear? Personally I think people are better served when they're told the truth. Even when it's uncomfortable for them.

According to Politifact, the "truth" is not in her. I believe she holds the dubious distinction of having every single one of her statements (that they have investigated) ruled the worst lies possible. http://www.politifact.com/personalities/michele-bachmann/

If this represents the "best" our country has to offer. It's no wonder we're in such a mess.

[LouEstes]

10:07 PM on 05/15/2010

We have very good world wide examples of insinuating to us we cannot handle the truth. Why else would there be a media that is banking on that?
There is a lot of money in the "truth" business these days.
yep, the truth and facts AND the lack there of have become a business!
Go figure.

[binksmom85]

11:41 PM on 05/31/2010

truthiness

[MInchau]

08:46 PM on 05/15/2010

This womans' hair is just a few inches shy of a 1960's country singer.

[binksmom85]

11:42 PM on 05/31/2010

so that's why she's so popular in the South!

[ConservativeAmerica]

08:05 PM on 05/15/2010

Bachmann is one of the best people in congress. She stands up for freedom and is a true freedom fighter. The Libs want to take our freedom and money and give it to those who don't work. Enough is enough.

Bachmann 2012

[sgraham59]

08:07 PM on 05/15/2010

But it's ok for her to take gov farm subsidies to the tune of 250 thou

[JessWonderin]

08:11 PM on 05/15/2010

so WHEN will this "paragon of fiscal governance" see fit to RETURN the MILLIONS of DOLLARS HER FAMILY FARM has taken in those "socialistic gobberment subsidies"???

Guess it's OK to TAKE GOVERNMENT MONEY for NOT FARMING but ignore those "OTHERS that don't work" . . . . your hypocrisy is exceeded by lack of facts . . . .

[sgraham59]

08:04 PM on 05/15/2010

But it's ok for her to take gov farm subsidies to the tune of 250 thou.

[JessWonderin]

08:11 PM on 05/15/2010

PER YEAR!!!!!

[Timma]

07:55 PM on 05/15/2010

I wish the Republicans could make up their minds - Is Obama fascist or socialist - the tow are quite different.

[binksmom85]

11:43 PM on 05/31/2010

he's a DINO, like Clinton, and they're giving him the same treatment

[maumeeone]

04:38 PM on 05/15/2010

Great photo, Ms. Bachmann! But maybe next time you could hold you arms a little lower, a'la Eva Peron...Don't cry for me, Minnesota...