Bachmann comments throw 'silent' Reince Priebus, GOP off message

Source: MinnPost

When Reince Priebus, the chairman of the National Republican Committee, spoke to the Elephant Club Monday at the Minneapolis Hilton, he had to sidestep the debris left by the 110-pound elephant in the room.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has pushed Minnesota Republicans and operatives like Priebus either off message or into a cone of silence after her remarks accusing Congressman Keith Ellison and a top State Department aide of ties to anti-American Muslim organizations.

¬snip¬

However, Priebus refused any media availability, despite the Minnesota GOP’s best efforts to offer him up to the press. And when one reporter — me — showed up at the Elephant Club, Priebus was hustled into a private dining room under what constituted heavy guard to protect him against a single member of the press corps. The reason, spoken only off the record, was to avoid comment on Bachmann.

Paulsen, however, couldn’t avoid comment.


Read more: http://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2012/07/bachmann-comments-throw-silent-reince-priebus-gop-message

---

Minnesota Rep. Erik Paulsen disputes Michele Bachmann's remarks

Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen says the comments made by fellow Minnesota GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann about Islamic fundamentalists infiltrating high levels of U.S. government are "not appropriate" and "not accurate."

Paulsen weighed in on the Bachmann flap on Monday, July 23, after an unrelated legislative hearing in St. Paul.

more: http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_21138759/minnesota-rep-erik-paulsen-disputes-michele-bachmanns-remarks