Michele Bachmann is making the Republican establishment very, very nervous.

On “Fox News Sunday,” host Chris Wallace quizzed Bachmann on a series of apparent inconsistencies in her legislative record and personal background — from Medicare to government subsidies and earmarks to her opposition to same-sex marriage.

Then, as he wrapped up the interview, Wallace asked her: “Are you a flake?”

“I think that would be insulting to say something like that because I’m a serious person,” Bachmann retorted.

It is insulting.

Here’s the thing. I enjoy mocking Bachmann when she says something crazy. But the brand of crazy she deals in is par for the course in the Republican Party, and certainly, for Faux News. Even Bachmann’s flakiest comments — for instance, that Obama wants to indoctrinate our children “re-education camps” — have been echoed by others in the GOP.

The whole party is John Birch Society batty, looney tunes, chock full o’nuts — and has been for a couple decades. Bachmann is tied with Willard for the lead in Iowa — not because she has an impressive legislative record — but specifically because she says lots of crazy things.

But Chris Wallace would never ask Newt “It’s The Start of World War III” Gingrich if he was a flake. He would never ask Hermann “No Muslims in My Cabinet” if he was a flake. He would never ask Rick “Man on Dog” Santorum that question. And he certainly would never put that to Mitt “I’ll Double Gitmo” Romney — not to mention any of Faux’s professional flakes like Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity.

So Wallace’s question is clearly sexist, with some classism thrown in for good measure.

It’s always awkward when the Country Clubbers bump into the Snake Handlers.