If there was any lack of evidence of Michele Bachmann's extremism, which of course is not the case, news coverage on the past terrorism arrest of one of her top staffers fills that void. Peter E. Waldron who is rallying Bachmann's faith-based support and who played a key role in her Ames Straw Poll win was arrested five years ago in Uganda on weapons charges. The charges could have led to life in prison, but were dropped in March 2006 after a pressure campaign by Waldron's Christianist friends and colleagues and what Waldron claims was intervention by Chimperator Bush's administration. One would think that a responsible politician would have nothing to do with someone with a questionable past like Waldron, but not so with "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann. Since Christian Dominionists want to overthrow the nation's constitutional form of government, Waldron fits right in with her. Here are highlights from The Atlantic:
The evangelical organizer who helped Michele Bachmann win the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa Saturday was previously charged with terrorism in Uganda after being arrested for possession of assault rifles and ammunition in February 2006, just days before Uganda's first multi-party elections in 20 years.
Peter E. Waldron spent 37 days in the Luriza Prison outside Kampala, where he says he was tortured, after being arrested along with six Congolese and Ugandan nationals for the weapons, which were described variously in news reports as having been found in his bedroom or a closet in his home. The charges, which could have led to life in prison, were dropped in March 2006 after a pressure campaign by Waldron's friends and colleagues and what Waldron says was the intervention of the Bush administration. He was released and deported from the east African nation, along with the Congolese. On Saturday, Waldron told The Atlantic in Ames that he was a staffer for Bachmann and responsible for her faith-based organizing both in Iowa and South Carolina. But he also declined repeatedly to give his name.
Asked about Waldron's role and background, Alice Stewart, the press secretary for the Bachmann for President campaign, replied in an email: "Michele's faith is an important part of her life and Peter did a tremendous job with our faith outreach in Iowa. We are fortunate to have him on our team and look forward to having him expanding his efforts in several states."
[T]he Kampala Monitor reported that the inspector general of police "told a news conference Waldron was suspected of links to a group in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and 'planned to set up a political party here based on Christian principles.'"
At the time of his arrest, Waldron was hailed on one blog as being ""the latest victim of Christian persecution in Africa." His allies seeking to free him said he was being persecuted for his reports in the "Africa Dispatch" newsletter about Ugandan opposition activities, and that he denied that he owned or was storing weapons.
Waldron has been described at times as a leader of a wide variety of organizations, including Advancing American Freedom (co-founder); Christians Restoring America's Greatness (founder and president); Cities of Faith Ministries (founder); the Contact America Group, Inc. (president); and The Save The Family Foundation (president).
Waldron did not reply to emails seeking comment sent to three different addresses linked to his websites.
Frankly, Waldron sounds a bit unsavory. And, based on his alleged organizations, he seem to know how to live well by shaking down the sheeple. Thus, it's no surprise that he's in bed with Bachmann.
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