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Really, we'd all be better off if no free publicity was given to these crazies, but here we go again: Michelle Bachmann recently signed the ominous-sounding Family Leader Pledge (PDF link). As you can imagine, it is a conservative Christian document designed for the purpose of "strengthening families."

While almost all of it is objectionable, what is making the news is the very first bullet point:

Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families, yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raised by his mother and father in a two-parent household than was an African-American baby born after the election of the USA’s first African-American President.

For those of you that paid no attention whatsoever in history class, here's a recap of that time period: Slaves were often raped and forcibly impregnanted. Their resulting children were sometimes kept, sometimes sold. More often than not, families were split up permanently. Married couples, women with children, entire families, didn't matter.

Their statistics on this seem to come from a site called "American Values" so I'm a little hesitant to accept this. But, let's say it's true. That doesn't necessarily make it better. Better to be raised by a single mom (or mom + grandma, or whatever) and born free than to be raised as a  slave, with a mother and father (that might be a rapist).

In a quick summary, here's what else Ms. Bachmann signed (signifying her agreement with the document):

• Vigorous opposition to any non-monogamous marriage
• Homosexuality is "anti-science"
• advocate for DOMA
• "Humane protection" for women from, among other things, abortion and pornography
• Rejection of Sharia law
• "Recognition that robust childbearing and reproduction is beneficial to US demographics, economic, strategic, and actuarial health and security."
• "Fierce defense of the First Amendment" in regards to intolerance of "law-abiding" citizens that adhere to and defend "faithful heterosexual monogamy."

The document ends, "So Help Us God."

Indeed.