SALON

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 4:25 PM UTC

Michele Bachmann the tax collector versus Ron Paul fans

The surging 2012 star's IRS history does not endear her to supporters of Ron Paul

By

Topics: Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., 2012 Elections, Libertarianism, Ron Paul, Taxes, Tea Parties, War Room,

Michele Bachmann the tax collector versus Ron Paul fansMichele Bachmann

The Wall Street Journal picks up today on a bit of Michele Bachmann opposition research that various Ron Paul-supporting Internet commenters have been trying to publicize for months: The ascendant queen of the Tea Partyers was once a… tax collector. For the IRS.

Unlike her tale of being a Carter-supporting Democrat until she discovered Gore Vidal’s disrespect for our Founders (or, as is more likely the case, until she became an antiabortion activist), Bachmann’s IRS job isn’t part of her grand conversion narrative. She doesn’t hide it, but she does describe her old gig with fancy government bureaucrat talk: She was a “federal tax litigation attorney,” she says. Her four years at the IRS are also the only job she’s ever held outside of elected office.

Here’s Bachmann’s spin on the job: God, through her husband, told her to persecute delinquent taxpayers.

“‘Tax law? I hate taxes. Why should I go do something like that?’ ” Ms. Bachmann said in 2006 remarks at the Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park, Minn., recounting a conversation she had with her husband. “But, by faith, I was going to be faithful to what God was calling me to do through my husband, and I finished that course of study.”

In stump speeches and interviews, Ms. Bachmann said her tax work helped lead her to the conclusion that the U.S. should “deep-six” the tax code and scrap taxes on inheritance and capital gains, stances that have made her a tea-party favorite.

There are publicly available documents from only one case Bachmann worked on: a judgment against a resident of the White Earth Reservation who believed that the federal government’s treaty with the Chippewa Indians shielded part of his income from taxation. (Unlike most Tea Party folks and all “sovereign citizens,” this guy had a point! But he lost. Thanks to Michele Bachmann.)

The tax collector business has been brought up on the Ron Paul forums by Paul supporters who are clearly irked that “Tea Party” candidates like Bachmann (and former Fed employee Herman Cain) are stealing grassroots attention from their preferred insurgent candidate. (“Bachmann was a tax prosecutor for the IRS – I can’t think of any professional less desirable to the tea party.”)

At the Paul-supporting Economic Policy Journal, Robert Wenzel writes:

But, there is a clear difference between Ron Paul and Michelle Bachmann. While Dr. Paul early in his career practiced medicine and delivered thousands of babies.

Michelle Bachmann was a tax lawyer for the IRS and has a post-doctorate degree in Federal Tax Law. She has stated that she represented the IRS in hundreds of cases against American citizens.

That is a clear difference! (The comments on that post are also priceless. “IRS/Federal Reserve: Two NWO people right from the bowels from hell.”)

Former Bush family confidante Doug Wead, now apparently writing at Newsmax, also goes after Bachmann in support of Paul.

Will this be a “thing”? Will it sink Bachmann’s surging candidacy? No, probably not. She is invincible, remember?

Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene More Alex Pareene.

Next Article

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11
  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11

Related Videos

More Related Stories

Comments

 36 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves": Growing up primate

Recommendations