GOP presidential candidate Michele
Bachmann this weekend will address a Florida group opposed to gay
marriage.
The Minnesota Representative and tea
party favorite will be the keynote speaker at the Florida Family
Policy Council's (FFPC) sixth annual Policy Awards Dinner and
fundraiser (tickets cost $75) on Saturday at the Rosen Shingle Creek
Hotel in Orlando.
FFPC was the organization behind the
successful 2008 campaign to constitutionally ban gay marriage in
Florida.
“In addition to celebrating the
amazing and historic pro-life, pro-family victories achieved recently
in Florida, and announcing exciting new developments here at your
FFPC, you are sure to enjoy hearing from U.S. Congresswoman Michele
Bachmann, our special keynote speaker!” raved John Stemberger, the
group's president, in an email announcing the event.
Bachmann has become increasingly
reluctant to discuss her views on gay rights, dismissing questions
from the media. In an interview with the Concord Monitor
earlier this month, she
refused to answer how she feels about gay marriage.
“I'm not involved in light, frivolous
matters,” she
said, cutting off the interview. “I'm not involved in fringe
or side issues. I'm involved in serious issues.”
And
during a Meet the Press interview, Bachmann protested when
host David Gregory asked whether she would appoint an openly gay
person to her cabinet and whether she believed children being raised
in a household headed by a gay or lesbian couple are a family.
All Gregory managed to get out of her
was: “I am not anyone's judge.”
Writing
at RightWingWatch.com about Bachmann's Saturday appearance, Kyle
Mantyla noted Bachmann's contradictory actions.
“If Bachmann doesn't want to talk
about 'fringe' issues like gay marriage on the campaign trail because
she doesn't judge people, perhaps she shouldn't be keynoting events
for religious right groups that [are] dedicated to fighting 'fringe'
issues like gay marriage.”