Amy Klobuchar To Michele Bachmann’s Constituents: Please Fill Out Your Census
It’s all well and good to have fun at the expense of Rep Michele Bachmann, but it’s also worth noting that her oddball behavior has real-world policy consequences.
Case in point: Senator Amy Klobuchar is now strongly urging residents of Minnesota (some of whom are Bachmann’s constituents) to fill out the 2010 Census, according to her office, saying the failure to do so could hurt Minnesota.
This puts Klobuchar at odds with Bachmann. As you know, Bachmann has aggressively crusaded against the Census as an unconstitutional invasion of privacy.
Klobuchar, by contrast, is urging Minnesotans to fill it out — for their own good. “The Census has a profound impact on Minnesota’s communities,” said Klobuchar in a statement given to Minnesota press by her office. “It’s important that every Minnesotan is counted, so we get our fair share of congressional seats and federal funding.”
Klobuchar isn’t directly targeting Bachmann’s claims. But the subtext is obvious: To whatever degree Minnesotans listen to Bachmann, her whacky shenanigans risk being more than just mere entertainment; they could actually hurt her state. That puts pressure on more stable lawmakers like Klobuchar to spend time and effort setting the record straight.
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Given that it is the census that will determine whether MN is one of the states that may lose a seat in 2012, every Democratic politician in the state should start laying the groundwork for it being Bachman’s seat that goes, given her childish antics.
As Dillinger points out, MN is very much on the bubble, we could retain or lose a seat. And in a bitterly ironic twist, if that happens then the DFL may well take Bachmann’s seat during the midterms, only to lose it in redistricting.
What doesn’t?
Nevermind that Bachmann happens to be EXACTLY RIGHT in her complaint against the census process and those who have been put in charge of completing it, and that she is EXACTLY RIGHT to stand up for her convictions (and for those of us who share her disdain).
Never mind that the Census is as old as the Constitution.
How ever have we managed all these centuries?
Completion of the Census is voluntary. As such, it does not infringe upon any Constitutional protections. I wonder if Ms. Bachmann is similarly concerned about other government intrusions upon privacy, such as a woman’s right to choice and the legal rights of homosexual couples. I’m pretty sure she’s conveniently hypocritical or just stupid.
oldage, I believe strongly that you and others who feel the same way as you should just throw your census forms away. I don’t see why you should be counted. And from my point of view, the fewer of you counted means the fewer red congressional districts and the fewer red congressional districts is a worthwhile goal. So be a (wo)man of your convictions, please. Imagine how happy everyone will be!
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