Rep. Michelle Bachmann Hospitalization Practically Ignored Locally

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I have a fondness for keeping my eye on local media outlets across the country. You often get a real sense of what the citizens of those communities feel about their elected public officials that you will not find in the national cable news media.

I wanted to get a more localized view of what folks had to say about Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann becoming ill on Friday and being hospitalized in Washington, D.C.

On Minnesota's KSTP Channel 5 News website there was a small article that read:

Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is out of the hospital and resting at home.

"Bachmann became ill Friday and went to a Washington, D.C., hospital, a spokesperson from her office said. She missed several votes and had to cancel an appearance in Missouri on Saturday.

Bachmann was treated and released Friday night."

However, it was the social networking options below the article that was interesting. After more then 24 hours of the news item being posted, there wasn't a single Tweet, Re-Tweet, or even a
FaceBook Recommendation. There was one (1) comment that had been posted by someone with the user name: sleepyeyejoe. I get the feeling from Joe's comment that he's unemployed and without medical insurance.


"At least she has a job and medical benefits. Hopefully she'll be out of a job after the next election. Oofdah!"



Although unemployment benefits were eventually extended, it's a safe bet that voters are not going to forget whom in congress tried to stop the benefit extension bill from passing. The silver lining, I suppose, is that if Bachmann does find herself out of a job after the next election, at least she'll have unemployment benefits available should she need them.