LR very first in Nation on the Story!

From Eric Dondero:

Bachmann rivals are putting out a hit piece on her tax record days before the all-important Iowa Straw Poll begins. Our source indicates that the piece is "about to be circulated," to conservative bloggers nationally, straw poll participants, and among Iowa media.

I was emailed the piece late last night. It is very well-sourced, and professionally put together; most certainly the work of political operatives.

The piece hits her in a number of areas, including a pardon she pushed, for a convicted drug dealer/money launderer in 2007, on her supposed hypocrisy on earmarks, and on various "pet projects" she voted for while a State Senator in Minnesota.

The one most damaging hit, from a libertarian perspective, was the highlighting of her vote in favor of a tax increase on cigarettes.

On Taxes

Michele Bachmann broke pledge in the State Senate to not to raise taxes by voting for a cigarette tax.

Michele Bachmann, while as a State Senator, broke her pledge in 2005 to not raise taxes by voting for a 75-cent cigarette tax increase. The increase was included in a omnibus spending bill for health and human services in the North Star State.

Source: Taxpayers League of Minnesota Vote: SJ 613

Certainly, many will speculate this came from one camp or another. But we here at LR have no evidence whatsoever as to the origin of the piece. And LR's source does not wish to give us any details as to where it originated from. We only know it came from Iowa.

IMPORTANT! We are huge Michele Bachmann fans here at LR. Yes, her vote on the cigarette tax is troubling for libertarians. An explanation to the libertarian wing by the Bachmann campaign would be deeply appreciated. But the rest, is pretty much par for the course hardball GOP primary politics. We take it with a grain of salt.