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A former staffer for Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann’s presidential campaign filed suit Monday against Bachmann and her senior campaign staff, alleging emotional distress and a damaged reputation during the run-up to the Iowa caucuses.
The staffer, Barb Heki, who was the campaign’s Homeschool Coalitions Director, says she was unjustly blamed during a flap last fall over the use of a list of thousands of homeschool families for campaign e-mails. Heki, based in Johnston, Iowa, says she and her husband lost their seats on the board of the Iowa homeschool network "NICHE" shortly afterward.
“The Plaintiffs have been isolated and expelled from their professional, social, political, and spiritual lives and careers, in Iowa and nationally,” said the petition, filed in Polk County District Court in Des Moines.
Heki alleges that Iowa State Sen. Kent Sorenson, then the campaign’s Iowa chairman, took the list from her computer.
Also named in the petition are campaign manager Keith Nahigian and other senior staff, who Heki says were aware of what Sorenson had done but nevertheless allowed her reputation to suffer.
Reached by phone late Sunday, Sorenson denied taking the homeschool list.
“No, I did not,” Sorenson said, adding that he dealt extensively with NICHE in the aftermath to rectify things.
The Bachmann campaign paid NICHE, a 501c3 nonprofit, several thousand dollars in order to keep the group compliant with federal elections law prohibiting political activity.
Nahigian also released a statement on Dec. 1, noting the campaign “regrets any inconvenience this mistake may have caused.”
Nahigian was not available for comment Monday.
In an telephone interview, Heki said her “whole life and reputation was destroyed” by the events. But, she said, she still supports Michele Bachmann’s conservative platform, and she won’t vote for Mitt Romney for president in November.
Bachmann is currently facing a tough reelection fight in Minnesota’s 6th district.
“We need her in Congress,” Heki said.
Bachmann dropped out of the Republican presidential race on Jan. 4, after finishing last among the candidates competing in the Iowa caucuses.
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When you associate with liars, and religious fanatics that will do anything to advance their crazy agenda what do you expect. Home school is usually employed by religious extremists to control the brain washing of their spawn and perpetuate the ignorant dogma of their doctrine. I don't feel sorry for this lady. She chose to associate with back stabbing people and now she is paying for it.
“We need her in Congress,” Heki said."
No, we need her and the other religious zealots out of Congress. One doesn't need to read too much or look too far to understand the dangers of religion in government.
6448092...God is not a FACT. Can we please follow universally agreed upon rules of debate by limiting our discusion to FACTS. If you require the aid of silent, invisible ghosts who obediently follow your command and allow you to speak in their behalf to make a point, you are not contributing to anything tangible. You are interjecting mythogy and superstition, neither of which are permissable in a court of law or in an exchange of ideas. What you think and believe carries no weight in a material world where FACTS trump FICTION and FANTASY.
Michelle Bachmann is about as "patriotic" as Senator McCarthy was back during the Commie-Witch-Hunt.
You ever notice that the more education or the further up the IQ chart a person is the less likely they are to buy into the religious make believe world of gods and goblins?
3...2..1..waiting for them to post and show themselves
Spirituality and faith are absolutely necessary to the human experience. Tell me a man who doesn't believe in anything bigger than that which can be explained by natural science and I'll show you a man who doesn't believe in love, thought, living or morality.
It would be true to say that spiritual/religious principles shouldn't be used to contradict natural science but to help further the cause of both.
And no, education has very little to do with faith after we get out of our mid 20s.
Not for me.
That's complete nonsense. I just don't seek out "love, thought, living or morality" in the feverish dreams of bronze-age goat herders, and I grew out of a need for imaginary friends when I was about 4 years old.
To those in Bachmanns district who intend to vote for her...WTF? She has the smarts of a dog and the personality of a rabid coon...
You are way to KIND,in your description of the Dimwit.
Nope, not upscale at all! Not even part of the metro area really. Certainly not part of the city proper. She is insane but you can't blame her election win entirely on the wealthy. Plenty of poor republicans up in that particular area of MN. I sort of (sort of) understand wealthy republicans but I can't understand the poor ones.
That is why the poor republicans are crazy. Indoctrinated in hate, and lies.
Rep. Bachman may not be smart, but she had enough intelligence to get that committee job from Boehner. Guess it was the burbon and the lap dance.
Poor thing. Lie down with dogs, and get up with fleas. I can just imagine the ignorance that's being "home-schooled" into those kids.
Well, no where as bad as the "ignorance" of those who are brainwashed by the Stooges Running the Public School Systems from the Education Department in Washington DC. Neighbor homeschooling kids knows Latin and Greek, what Public School Students learns those languages in our Public Schools anymore?
People of the Minnesota 6th Congressional district:
Seriously, is there no one in your district better suited and qualified to represent you in the U.S. Congress than Michelle Bachmann?
Simple Answer, no. Michelle Bachmann is more qualified than virtually all the other 534 of those in Congress.
Bachmann is dumber than a box of rocks!
Kurt's comments is a "birther". His concept for qualifications is thoroughly confused.
Bachmann appears to be fairly attractive, not too smart and meaner than a snake. Should be in congress.
Marcus could be our first lady.
Nothing screws up people's relationship with God more than religion.
With that being said, I wouldn't be surprised to see Bachmann win reelection by a substantial margin. If the MN voters didn't throw her out after she called for the investigation of fellow House members for being un-american (showing a remarkable lack of knowledge of history), then I I can't see what would get them to toss her out.
Michael, per your comments, you are acting like it was Bachmann who stated we have "57 states" and "Here is Asia" while in Hawaii. Of course with comments like "57 States" and "Here is Asia" while in Hawaii gets you to be the Annoited One as President by the Media Elite
@Kurt's comments - Here you go again doing what "conservatives" do best; change the subject when things don't go their way. What does your comment have to do with what Michele the twit said or did?
Henry, you did NOT say a single thing what Michelle Bachman stated that you considered a "twit", just blindly attack. Before you name call in the future, back up your name calling with facts.
Funny all the hyped up comments attacking Bachmann are the SAME people that would be attacking the one sueing Bachmann in any OTHER situtation for doing the politically incorrect action known as homeschooling their children.
Depends on the circle you're in. In many areas, home schooling is "politically correct".
Personally, I am open to the idea of homeschooling my child, but I have a masters in theoretical physics and my wife has a triple masters in English, French, and German. So we are well rounded in actually being able to teach our child.
I tutored for years while studying. I have seen how far behind children get in languages and mathematics from being home schooled by incompetent parents who think that religion is the only important thing they need to learn. Then they struggle immensely to catch up to mediocre levels of comprehension. Many give up because they are behind, and many miss the time frame of being ready at 18 to apply to higher learning, and either fall into a crummy job, or lose years catching up.
Right! We need Bachmann in office like we need another tax break for the rich..in other words "we dont need this brain damaged female in office". She is the biggest joke ever! No one could really be this stupid! She looks like shes on drugs all the time....the lights are on but no one is home. She makes no sense when she talks...she doesnt really talk ...she just dribbles this propaganda crap out of her mouth that makes no logical sense whatso ever to anyone with a single brain cell. If "being a controlled robot" was the campaign motto her picture would be on it.
Come on, all you musicians out there. How about a song named "Bat Crap Crazy", done to Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever". I know you have it in you.
Well, if you know Ted Nugent, he would instead rather call all those gun control freaks, "Bat Crap Crazy" on your suggestion. Bachmann is no gun control freak, so it ain't happening by Ted Nugent.
Kurt, try to read the statement a couple more times, hopefully the real meaning will sink in. Were you home schooled on Bachmann's farm?
Her whole life was destroyed, the people she used to work with are corrupt thieves, yet "We need her in Congress"? Stupid beoch.
Don't feel sorry for the lady at all. You hang out with a skunk, you start smelling like a skunk.
The funny thing is that the skunk now throws her under the school bus.
I am wonderfully pleased.
Can't we all just "Pray" this whole issue away ?
Imagine! A lovely Christian woman like Michelle Bachman doesn't "treat others as she would wish to be treated." I guess she missed Bible-study the day they taught that one!
What a joke she is! Minnesota would do well to dump this B!tch.
A Mitt Romney presidency would be an extension of the Bush/Cheny reign of terror. More devestations for the middle class, along with irratic foreign policy decisions, and an ever stranger marriage of church and state.
The voters need to see their losses are consistent with the neglect of responsibilities by the "puppet" politicians as they just concentrate on serving "the money" who own and control them and "pull their strings". Together, with their power, influence and money, they insultingly just take the voters for granted, feeling they can con the people and manipulate public opinion at their will - seen now in the aggressive propaganda campaign paid for by the 1%'s mega-millions. They have become emboldened by past successes in the manipulation of the Evangelistic Christian, the Swift-boat propaganda, the Tea Party movement and with their millions poured into the recent Wisconsin recall election; all being well designed, well directed and well funded efforts to sway voters in the same single direction. For the people to have a chance they have to recognize the deception, reject the propaganda trying to control them and firmly reject all of the "puppet" politicians that will continue to serve only the interests of "the money".
Unfortunately we don't have the option of another Bill Clinton to take over the top job in Washington, but we do have Barack Obama, and he has proven to be a very capable and visionary leader. To trade a winner for "the old maid" challenger would be unconscionable.
Thanks Kurt for providing us with a stark contrast to the thoughtful comments of most on this site. You do a great job of illustrating the mindless stupidity of the far right. Now go on down to rural Mississippi (if you are not there already) and hang out with the ignorant hicks that "think" like you do.
Zorro, thanks for showing your ignorance by labeling anyone who happens to be from "Rural Mississippi" as ignorant hicks. Sorry to burst your theory, but never been to "Rural Mississippi". Not sure what a Congresswoman from MN (not matter what you think of her) has to do with "Rural Mississippi". Are you talking about those famous authors from Rural Mississippi, William Faulkner and Tennesse Williams? Afterall, they are all "ignorant hicks, correct? Oye, Zorro, digame, en que estato es su pueblo? Soy seguro que Zorro vivi en "Rural Mississippi.
Really curious how the campaign "paid" NICHE," a 501(c)3 nonprofit, several thousand dollars in order to keep the group compliant with federal elections law prohibiting political activity. By law 501(c)3 organizations are not allowed to support or oppose candidates for elective office nor engage in partisan election activities and are specifically not allowed to share email lists unless the list in question is shared with all candidates in the race. It appears both NICHE and the Bachmann campaign violated the rules and both should be investigated by the IRS for non-compliance.
how can we start an investigation?
Bachmann is so clueless she doesn't even realize her husband likes dudes
Charlie, just because you happen to like dudes, don't assume everyone likes dudes.
Michele Bachmann is a hairdo. I'm not worried about Michele Bachmann.
When you get in a pis...ing match you usually come out smelling like something less than pleasant.
LL
I do not live in Minnesota but do business there. I had a vendor who shared with me that he had supported her and lives in her district. The operative word here is "had". Got a new vendor who makes a better product at a more competitive price. Want to get rid of this fool of a woman and her ilk? Just make sure that you don't send any of your business to her district or any other district represented by the Walsh's and Bachmans. In our me first society that's the only way we will get these nut bags out of our politics so we can get down to business. Most pathetic part of this is watching Romney lay giant smooches on all these morons behinds.