(Newser) – John Wayne once said, "Talk low, talk slow, and don't say too much." It's advice Michele Bachmann might've been wise to heed today. The Tea Party congresswoman kicked off her presidential campaign today in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, with an emphasis on her roots. But Politico notes that in an interview she compared her spirit to that of actor John Wayne, also a Waterloo native. Except Waterloo's "John Wayne" is actually serial killer John Wayne Gacy. The actor is from Winterset, Iowa—three hours away.

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Gacy was living in Waterloo when convicted for the first time, notes the Washington Times, over an attempted homosexual assault. After an 18-month sentence, he moved to Illinois, where he went on a six-year killing spree. In response, Bachmann's campaign was quick to point out, "John Wayne is from Iowa, his parents lived in Waterloo." Wayne's parents indeed met in Waterloo but moved to Winterset, where Wayne was born. (Read more Michele Bachmann stories.)

