Disciples and punish: Minnpost, MPR, RedStar, Politico and Michele Bachmann the victim

Behold, the horrors of the liberal media panopticon,all-seeing and unrelentin, observing Michele Bachmann in the bondage of public service.

In Standing ovations: Bachmann makes her case in New Hampshire, Minnpost's Derek Wallbank reported on Saturday:

. . .This trip had its share of whoopsies, what one might call rookie mistakes, but as she closed that final speech, the applause was so rapturous that her words weren’t audible from 15 feet away.

. . .And despite the disruption in Nashua, the overall reaction was similar.

Citing her opposition to the health reform law, New Hampshire House Speaker William O’Brien introduced Bachmann at a talk by saying she has “done more to protect the citizens of New Hampshire than our Democratic governor.”

 “I was very skeptical of Michele being presidential material when I got here,” said James McCloskey of Manchester, just after Bachmann concluded a speech  to Republicans at a hotel in Nashua. “I’m amazed. She’s incredible. She’s far better live than on YouTube.”

And the ultimate question for Bachmann as she journeys around early primary states like New Hampshire: Can she bridge the gap from Tea Party conservative icon to plausible presidential contender?

“I would give it very serious thought,” McCloskey said. “I’m a lot more sold on her now than I was at 10:30 this morning.”

Tough room at MinnPost. Seasoned political reporter Mark Zdechlik of Minnesota Public Radio was equally harsh in Bachmann charms New Hampshire GOP:

Barrington, N.H. — U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., wrapped up her first trip to New Hampshire as a possible 2012 GOP presidential candidate over the weekend.

Like Republicans across the country, most of the GOP faithful in New Hampshire have heard of Bachmann, but last weekend was the first time they got a chance at an up close look. And most said they liked what they saw. . . .

At a separate tea party fundraiser, Bachmann delivered an almost identical message and fawned over her admiring audience.

"I love New Hampshire; live free or die!" exclaimed Bachmann. . . .

. . .Tom Lamy of Dover was one of about 75 people at Bachmann's tea party fundraiser. Lamy paid $100 for a good seat. He saw Pawlenty at a picnic last summer. He said he thinks Bachmann comes across as more authentic.

"Very geninue, down-to-earth, very easy to talk to," said Lamy. "And I found that I liked her very, very much." . . .

What courage it takes for Congresswomean Bachmann to put up with that sort of scrutiny. The Star Tribune's Kevin Diaz was equally scathing in Bachmann in N.H.: 'I come from a tough neighborhood':

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, on her first campaign swing through New Hampshire, used her roots in Minnesota too good advantage.

 

“I come from a very tough neighborhood,” the Minnesota Republican said to an audience of New Hampshire GOP activists in Manchester on Saturday.

 

Much like another prominent Minnesota Republican gunning for a possible GOP nomination for president in 2012, Bachmann could trot out the usual catalogue of famous Minnesota DFLers: Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy, Walter Mondale, Paul Wellstone, and yes, Al Franken.

 

“That is my tough neighborhood,” Bachmann said, noting that she was the first Republican woman Minnesota sent to the U.S. House.

 

Bachmann’s GOP and Tea Party supporters at appearances in Manchester and Nashua ate it up, except when they didn’t.

Bachmann was heckled briefly by a small group of Vermont college students during a New Hampshire GOP fundraiser at a hotel in Nashua. But Bachmann didn’t miss a beat.

 

“It’s okay,” she joked. “They just brought in the buses from Madison, Wisconsin.” . . .

Oh, snap, Kevin, snap. But those meanies on twitter pushed a narrative about her gaffe, and a candidate who had built her profile on cable and social media suddenly found herself victimized beyond the hard-boiled reporting by MinnPost, public radio and the Star Tribune.

Politico takes note of the gentlewoman from Minnesota's Sixth's complaint of social (and legacy) media bullying in Bachmann plays the victim:

Michele Bachmann fired back at the media Tuesday, saying her Revolutionary War gaffe was only reported because she is a conservative politician.

“We all know there’s a double standard in the media … as we know all 3,400 members of the mainstream media are part of the Obama press contingent,” she told The Laura Ingraham Show. . . .

. . .She said the media ignored the “great crowds, standing ovations, the wonderful time we had in New Hampshire.” But she did admit that, yes, she did mix up Massachusetts and New Hampshire in telling the story of the “shot heard around the world.”

If only those Obamatrolls at Minnpost, MPR and the Strib would mention the adoring crowds, the ovations. Scoundrels!

Photo: Michele Bachmann in New Hampshire. Woe is her.