By

Jane Gilgun Michele Bachmanns politics are not mine except for her stand on the right to life for children already born. Few anti-abortion politicians take that next step and consider quality of life issues for the born. The mother of five biological children and the foster mother of 23 other children, Bachmann has said many times that she is most proud of her title mother. The creator, said Bachmann, endows all people, with unalienable rights. Speaking for herself and her husband, she said, we were just profoundly struck by the value of every human being. Bachmann also said we must never overlook the weakest and most frail among us. In the U.S. today, there are 500,000 children in foster care and millions more children growing up in poverty. The poverty rate has increased every year since far- right Republican-backed policies took effect over the last 10 years. Bachmann is a representative to Congress from Minnesota and former front-runner for the 2012 Republican nomination for president. She dropped out of the race on January 3, 2012. For many years, there has been little political will to create policies and programs that might have kept these children out of care and families with children out of poverty. Maybe Michele Bachmann will become a leader in developing policies and programs that show she really means what she says about the value of every human being. Memorable Bachmann Sentiments Bachmann is clear about her commitment to child well-being. Here is one of many statements she has made. One thing that all of our children, biological and foster children, have taught us is the unbelievable diversity of talent and giftedness that all people have, and they really spoke to both my husband and I to look into the heart of each child and that child might be suffering and eventually theyll be an adult, but help them get to that next plane because they have something to offer, and they do. One thing that happens often times in family life is that people think maybe the challenge you are having with a child when they are a teenager or even in adolescence that this is going to go on forever and it doesnt. They get to their 20s, they change dramatically in their 20s. So sometimes its just

Michele Bachmann Backs Right to Life of the Unborn and the Born

holding on for the ride, and just being there and holding on for the ride. I hope people throughout the country back Representative Bachmann on her stand for child well-being. Her commitment is clear. Many people could help her develop ideas that would put her ideas into action. Write to her. Call her office. Here is her contact information. Washington Office 103 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202/225-2331 Fax: 202/225-6475 Minnesota Office--Woodbury 6043 Hudson Road, Suite 330 Woodbury, MN 55125 Phone: 651/731-5400 Fax: 651/731-66500 Minnesota OfficeSt. Cloud/Waite Park 110 2nd Street, S., Suite 232 Waite Park, MN 56 387 Phone: 320/253-5931 Fax: 320-240-6905 Dont be too optimistic that you can find her e-mail address. In the land of the free, voters do not have access to the their representatives email addresses. Also, Im not optimistic that Representative Bachmann will connect the dots between her social policies and her stated concern for child well-being. For the sake of children, its worth a try to suggest to her ways she can put her sentiments into action. References 2011 GOP primary debate in Manchester NH Jun 13, 2011 Ballantoni, Christiana (2011/2012). Michele Bachmann Exclusive Interview: I have not seen gender as a barrier to being in the race. More. http://www.more.com/print/375938 Campaign website, www.michelebachmann.com, Issues Nov 7, 2006 Gilgun, Jane F. (2011). Jacintas lament: Happy Fathers Day, Dad. Scribd.com. http://www.scribd.com/doc/58391990/Jacintas-Lament-Happy-Father-s-Day-Dad Glover, Mike (2012). Michele Bachmann drops out of Republican presidential race.

Detroit Free Press, January 3. http://www.freep.com/article/20120105/NEWS15/201050426/Michele- Bachmann-drops-out-of-Republican-presidential-race Metzler, Rebekah (2012). Michele Bachmann Talks Poverty, Foster Child Support. US News Politics, January 3. http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/ballot- 2012/2012/01/03/michele-bachmann-talks-poverty-foster-child-support About the Author Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW, is a professor and writer. For more than eight years, she was a social worker for foster and adoptive children and their families and has had long-term research projects on adoption and child well-being. See Professor Gilguns other editorials, childrens stories, articles, and books on scribd.com, Kindle, & iBooks.