Presidential candidate addresses community

By Amanda Phipps
phippsa@mytjnow.com

Photo Credit: Winthrop UniversityFunding for higher education was not among the topics discussed during Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s visit to Winthrop June 29.

Bachmann answered questions from the audience and summarized her position on different issues, but education was not brought up. Bachmann said she is pro-life and is against bailouts.

“I am committed to winning the war on terror,” she said.

Bachmann said she is committed to the full defunding of Obama Care.

“Obama Care is all about depending on our government,” she said.

Bachmann said she wants to improve the economy.

“I think the president failed the American people on turning the economy around,” she said. “We need to support small businesses.”

Bachmann, a former federal tax litigation attorney, addressed U.S. taxes.

“(I have seen) up close and personal how devastating high taxes are on (people),” she said.

Bachmann said this is just the beginning.

“We are determined we are going to take our country back in 2012,” she said.

Another group presented their views after the meeting as well.

The Socialist Student Union (SSU) held up their banner and answered people’s questions outside the DiGiorgio Campus Center.

Junior political science major and SSU member Judson Abraham said the group’s goal is to have some organizational visibility and to get more members.

He said that SSU is not against the West Forum program.

“This event put Winthrop in the national spotlight,” Abraham said. “Considering how drastically Rep. Bachmann's extreme positions differ from the views of many Winthrop students, we felt compelled to show another side of our university outside of her speech.”

Bachmann explained her position to people of the community and Winthrop.

“(Winthrop) is a beautiful place with beautiful people,” she said.