While the motive behind the murder of Census worker Bill Sparkman in Eastern Kentucky remains unknown, it’s worth noting that some on the right have spent the summer railing up fears about what is supposed to be a simple, Constitutionally required, process.
Exhibit A: Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann
Back in June for example, Bachmann was saying that her family would refuse to answer any census questions beyond the number of people in the household:
BACHMANN: The mother lode of all data information will be from the Census. … Unfortunately, the Census data has become very intricate, very personal, a lot of the questions that are asked. I know for my family, the only question we will be answering is how many people are in our home. We won’t be answering any information beyond that, because the Constitution doesn’t require any information beyond that.
Beyond that reasonable objection, though, Bachmann started going into paranoia territory as the summer went on. A few days later, she falsely claimed that the Census doesn’t ask people if they are American citizens:
BACHMANN: Twenty-eight pages. Sean, you know the one question they don’t ask? They don’t ask, “are you an American citizen?” They don’t ask if you’re here on a visa or when it expires. We have no real idea how many illegal aliens are in our country. But wouldn’t you think, here they are asking every personal question about our lives, they could at least ask if we’re an American citizen? They don’t bother to ask for that. That’s why I think people need to read this census for themselves. If you go to my website, michelebachmann, you can read it.
She also suggested that Census data could be used to round up American citizens:
BACHMANN: If we look at American history, between 1942 and 1947, the data that was collected by the census bureau was handed over to the FBI and other organizations, at the request of President Roosevelt, and that’s how the Japanese were rounded up and put into the internment camps. I’m not saying that’s what the Administration is planning to do. But I am saying that private, personal information that was given to the census bureau in the 1940s was used against Americans to round them up.
And, finally, she suggested to Glenn Beck that census workers would stalk citizens until they get the information they need:
Does Bachmann really think rhetoric like this is harmless ?
It’s certainly interesting what you consider “insane,” Doug. I’m not sure that there is a question regarding citizenship, nor whether there should be, in light of constitutional requirements (I’d have to think about that one for awhile, if it hasn’t already been resolved in the courts). I am also unsure as to whether census data was used to round up the Nisei in World War II; are you sure that it wasn’t? And are you aware that there are fines for failing to complete the census form? It certainly seems to me that suggesting that “census workers would stalk citizens until they get the information they need” is not hard to believe in light of the penalties for failing to respond fully.
What exactly do “they” not already know about us?
They know by tax records our salary, bank accounts, stocks, real estate, mortgages, rent, dependants, RMV knows cars you own, price, color, plate #, accident record, tickets, Then there’s guns registered, your age, medical deductions…
Not to mention files the real sleuths might have on some.
The census for these reasons appears more a jobs program than essential.
First of all, Michelle Bachmann is a lunatic who hopefully will be defeated next year.
However, she’s absolutely right on this issue. The only question every American should answer on the census is how many people are in every household. Every other question is garbage.
Not saying Bachmann is right or wrong here, but it does bother me that Fox doesn’t seem to make a real effort to screen the things that are crap from the things that are worthy of airing.