Sexist Washington Post Headline: 'Bachmann Assumes the Position'

Dana Milbank: Bachmann assumes the position

By Dana Milbank, Washington Post
Tuesday, Jun 14, 2011
MANCHESTER, N.H.- "Assume the position!" CNN's John King ordered the candidates as they approached their lecterns just before airtime for Monday night's debate.

The Republican presidential contenders did as the moderator told them.

Mitt Romney assumed the position of the capable but cautious frontrunner.

Tim Pawlenty assumed the position of a timid challenger, afraid to take on the leader.

Newt Gingrich assumed the position of a bored college professor.

Ron Paul and Herman Cain assumed all sorts of positions - privatizing Social Security? Loyalty tests for Muslims who want to serve in government? - while Rick Santorum assumed he could get by reciting platitudes.

There was one candidate who rose above the usual positioning, though she stood a head shorter than the six men on the stage. Eleven minutes into the debate, Michele Bachmann stole the show, and she didn't return it in the subsequent hour and 49 minutes.