Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Michele Bachmann Campaign Aide Peter Waldron’s Vanishing Act

I recently wrote about the past terrorism related arrest of one of GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann's top campaign aides. My post referenced a piece in The Atlantic that went into details of Peter Waldron's questionable past. As noted in a post this morning, the far right is trying to disclaim the accuracy of descriptions of Bachmann's and other GOP candidates' ties to Christian dominionists. Waldron could be the poster boy for dominionists who are willing to use violence and other illegal means to impose a theocratic government in the USA and elsewhere. Now, after hard hitting coverage, Bachmann's campaign is wiping Waldron from its websites and making the man vanish. A coincidence? I doubt it. Waldron is exactly the type of nut-job that Bachmann is herself and his public exposure was a bit too telling as to what Bachmann believes herself. Hence the disappearing act. Warren Throckmorton comments on the vanishing act. Her are some highlights:

Last week, The Atlantic broke the story about Michele Bachmann’s staffer, Peter Waldron, who was arrested in Uganda in 2006 on charges of possessing firearms illegally. The Bachmann campaign credited Waldron with helping her win the Iowa straw poll vote on August 13.

Shortly thereafter, I pointed out a reference on Waldron’s Facebook page to his next assignment: South Carolina. He also shared there that he saw Texas Governor Rick Perry as comparable to King Saul and Bachmann like King David in the Old Testament. Bachmann is like David in that she has been anointed by God, according to Waldron. Those comments are now unavailable [see image above]

Now almost everything current related to Mr. Waldron has disappeared. His Facebook page is now private, and all that is left of his personal (peterewaldron.com) and movie promo (theultimatepricemovie.com) websites is the phrase, “under construction.” (See screen caps at the end of the post)

Once three video interviews were available on YouTube. Hosted by Hermann and Sharron Bailey, the interviews focused on his time in the Ugandan prison on weapons charges. These are now marked private (e.g, Part two)

Several questions occur to me: Why remove these sites? Did he do it? Did the Bachmann campaign want him to do it? Is he still working for her in SC? Is there something troubling about the information being removed?

Given that Mr. Waldron believes Michele Bachmann is anointed by God to pursue to the Presidency, I hope the media start asking Bachmann some questions about what Waldron is telling evangelicals about her candidacy.


Michael Gerson can cry all the crocodile tears he wants about the unfair treatment of the ultra-far right, but Bachmann would not have scrubbed her campaign websites, etc., unless she's afraid that ties to Waldron may lead to embarrassing disclosures.

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