Congresswoman ‘Balloon Head’

PRESUMABLY citing the voices in her head, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) recently said that the founding fathers "worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States." That’s breaking news to every American history expert, teacher or student on the planet.

To halt the impending train wreck, some staffer should have hoisted a red flag and waved the boss off. But nobody did, and over the cliff Bachmann went, caboose and all. “It didn't matter the color of their skin, it didn't matter their language, it didn't matter their economic status. ... Once you got here, we were all the same," she gushed cluelessly. Even scarier, I’m not taking Bachmann’s comments out of context.

There’s no need to revisit the actual history of slavery, the experiences of Irish and Japanese Americans or women in general before suffrage. And Portal readers surely know that John Quincy Adams (promoted to “founding father” by Bachmann) was an impish lad of nine in 1776. Bachmann’s lack of knowledge is stunningly obvious. She has done more than enough to earn the nickname Hardball host Chris Matthews just awarded her: "Balloon Head." Privately, even most Republicans think the congresswoman is a certified whack job.

But guess what? CNN proudly announced today that it will broadcast Bachmann’s speech in response to the GOP response to President Obama's SOTU address tonight. Not even Fox News is going there. So why on earth is CNN alone elevating “Balloon Head” by giving her a worldwide platform to speak? Just minutes ago on CNN’s “Situation Room,” Bill Maher wondered the same thing and asked Wolf Blitzer about it, point blank. The best answer Blitzer (clearly uncomfortable) could muster was, well, CNN coverage of the Bachmann Address would be, um, very short compared to the president's speech. Oh, man. That’s it? Somebody’s head at CNN needs to roll over this gathering fiasco.