Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann's links
to 'ex-gay' therapy labeled a smear campaign by social conservatives.
Bachmann isn't talking about the
allegations that the family clinic run by her husband, Marcus
Bachmann, attempts to “cure” gay people, but that isn't stopping
everyone else from talking about them.
Mr.
Bachmann has denied the claims that Bachmann & Associates
practices “reparative” therapy – a
discredited pseudo-science that supporters say offers hope for people
with unwanted same-sex attractions.
The presidential candidate known for
her opposition to marriage equality is keeping a low profile on this
issue, saying only that she's proud of the family business for
creating jobs.
However, conservative surrogates are
rushing to Bachmann's aide, hitting back at the media attention the
claims have whipped up.
Several labeled the coverage
Christian-bashing.
“Folks, it sure didn't take long for
the liberal media to go into Christian-bashing mode against GOP
presidential candidate Michele Bachmann,” wrote Peter LaBarbera,
president of the anti-gay group Americans for Truth About
Homosexuality.
“They [the Bachmanns] have been the
victims of religious discrimination. They've been the victims of
religious bigotry. Of bigotry and discrimination and hatred that is
directed against them because of their religious beliefs. In other
words, this is bordering on a hate crime,” said Bryan
Fischer on his AFA-hosted radio show.
Greg Quinlan, president of the ex-gay
group Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays, suggested the
coverage was more about silencing the “ex-gay” movement.
“[B]ecause even one ex-gay proves
that homosexual behavior is not innate or immutable, the gay lobby's
fear of their former members results in false claims and attacks
aimed at preventing homosexuals from exercising their right to
self-determination,” Quinlan wrote. “They cannot bear to have
even one homosexual leave homosexuality, hence their outrage at Dr.
Bachmann.”
Other conservatives said the left was
attempting to drown out Bachmann's economy-focused campaign.
“This is what the left is doing,”
said Andrea Tantaros, co-host of the Fox News' The Five.
“They're trying to take this job-economy election and trying to
turn it into an issue about gay marriage.”
“When everyone else is talking about
the economy and it's really hard to make her look dumb, let's made
her look scary,” said S.E. Cupp on Friday's edition of MSNBC's
Martin Bashir. “So then the media starts to look for these
kooky, quirky, religious social issues stories.”
“[T]hey can't talk about her
positions on the economy because they're better than Obama's would
be,” Cupp added.
Commenting
on the remarks at the progressive blog Equality Matters, Carlos
Maza wrote, “You have to give these people credit for being so
creative.”