Bachmann's Security Detail Manhandles Brian Ross

Time political reporter Michael Crowley reports that ABC News investigative reporter Brian Ross was psysically roughed up by Michele Bachmann's bodyguards.

Ross attempted to question Bachmann about the migraine headaches she has been experiencing. Bachmann ignored a question Ross asked her. Bachmann's bodyguard stepped in and things took a turn for the worse.

Crowley's acoount of happen between Ross and the bodyguards.

That's when things got interesting. Ross dashed after Bachmann, repeatedly asking whether she had ever missed a House vote due to a migraine. She ignored him. Ross pursued her into a parking area behind the stage. Her aides grew alarmed. When Ross made a beeline for the white SUV waiting to carry Bachmann away, two Bachmann men pounced on him, grabbing and pushing him multiple times with what looked to me like unusual force. In fact, I have never seen a reporter treated so roughly at a campaign event, especially not a presidential one. Ross was finally able to break away and lob his question at Bachmann one more time, but she ignored him again.

Afterwards, Crowley asked if Ross has ever been manhandled like that at any other time during his journalism career.

"A few times, he told me. "Mostly by mafia people."

We are seeing Republicans have disrespect for the Fourth estate. Brian Burgess, Gov. Rick Scott's Director of Press Relations, goes out of his way to have public feuds with the press and bloggers (including your's truly.) Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller had his security detail handcuff a journalist. That was the beginning of the end of Miller's campaign.

Bachmann's refusal to answer Ross' questions will only have journalists dig deeper into her problems with migraine headaches. Making the media hate you during a presidential campaign is a potential kiss of death. If Bachmann plans to rough up journalists then she has no right to complain about media coverage. And complain is what Bachman will do when her nuttier statements a published.

Bachmann's migraine headaches do not disqualify her from being president. Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as president while suffering through debilitating polio. If Bachmann was a more astute politician she could garner sympathy from voters. Instead Bachmann runs away from questions about her migranes. The questions are only going to get tougher if Bachmann doesn't face the media.