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BLITZER'S BLOG: Bachmann bites back at Gingrich
By CNN's Wolf Blitzer
(CNN) – Having interviewed Michele Bachmann on many occasions, I can attest that she is one tough lady. She is not shy at all about speaking her mind. And that was very obvious at the GOP debate Thursday night in Iowa when she unloaded on Newt Gingrich.
She told him that it was "outrageous" for him to say she gets her facts wrong. "I'm a serious candidate for president of the United States," she declared repeatedly.
Today, I taped an interview with her and she went a lot further in blasting Gingrich. She said Gingrich's comments about her were "condescending" and "insulting." (The interview will air in “The Situation Room” today during the 5 p.m. ET hour.
I asked her if she thought he was speaking down to her because she's a woman. She declined to make that conclusion. But when I asked if Gingrich has a problem with women (and some men) because he's been married three times, she went into a long declaration about the importance of personal values, insisting those are key factors for voters to consider.
Bachmann was born in Iowa and represents a congressional district in neighboring Minnesota. She has spent a lot of time in Iowa, but so far - at least according to the latest polls - she has not jumped to the top. She did win the Iowa Straw Poll in August.
Bottom line: she needs to do well on January 3 in the caucuses if her candidacy is to continue.
RELATED ARTICLE: Bachmann on Gingrich: 'I am not a student of his'
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Post by: Filed under: 2012 election • Michele Bachmann • Newt Gingtich • Wolf Blitzer |
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Wolf – first of all – in my opinion – her "facts" are misleading, or simply not true – she's not polished enough to be president of the u.s. – I've actually seen her on some of the late night T.V. shows – she shows her "ultra right wing" conservatism in a lot of her comments – even the people in the audience are reluctant to applause, at times. To be perfectly honest, I don't think she's going to make it – past NH. or maybe sometime in January – hopefully she won't try too "endorse" anyone – because if she did, I believe it would actually hurt the candidate who she would endorse. Did you notice when You had her on the situation room last week, you gave her so much air time, it was pitiful. Did you also notice she was 'flanked' by all white people ? all white mostly teenagers ? ( I'm not trying to be racial)
Michelle needs to show more knowledge and exactly what her policies would be to address Americas problems. She is a lot smarter than Palin but needs concrete policies like Hillary. She is standing tuff and taking great shots at her rivals but needs to tell exactly what she would do.
Does anyone remember that Bachmann wasn't able to answer a simple American history question? Can you be proud to say that she was built in America? What mistakes would she make with and in foreign nations?
Michele Bachmann is certainly a serious candidate for Greatest American Beard, Most Obvious Beard in the Universe, Lavender Marriage of the Decade, and Greatest Presidential Candidate Ever Who Is a Tax Attorney and Married to a Flaming Homosexual
Forget about this truth-spinner, my fellow Republicans. It has come down to two choices: Romney, Gingrich, or Paul. The two choices are a vote for the status quo or a vote for Ron Paul. Choose wisely, because if you put Gingrich or Romney up against Obama you will lose.
Serious candidate ? Seriously delerious !
"I'm a serious candidate for president of the United States,". Whoa – that's a wrong fact right there!
It's always interesting to listen to someone who voices their belief in Christian principles to the voting public. On the other side of that coin, those who make false statements and, even when it's proven false, refuse to apologize, show very little conviction in Christian principles, as the Bible teaches these principles. Lying is against Christian principles. Unrepentant lying is also against Christian principles. I'm not a Republican or Democrat. I also keep my beliefs to myself, as most people do. What I find most disturbing about most politicians we have today is a lack of true conviction. In short, they're hypocritical, which makes me doubt their motives. Is there someone else behind them pulling the strings? One thing I have to say about our current President, he actually appears to believe what he's saying and that, in my opinion, is the most important qualification and the least we should expect of our elected officials.
Whether or not Gingrich's comments about her were condescending and insulting they were true. Her "facts" are very often wrong. Furthermore she is by far the most offensive of all the candidates running so for her to take offense is hypocritical also.
Wolf, CNN's own Fact Finders found that Bachman's allegations were misleading. She continuously says stuff without checking her facts or spouting-off about something because of the mere appearance impropriety in order to gain favor with some voters. Newt finally had enough during the debate, and decided it was time to quell her arguments, that's all. Please stop trying to make this a woman-bashing issue. That is beneath your integrity.
It is not condescending if Bachmann distorts the truth to suit her particular point and someone like Newt Gingrich corrects her. If she can't take being called out in public for twisting the facts, then she should be doing something else with her life since it is obvious that the truth doesn't suit her purposes.
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Not sure why this is news or why she is even there. No conservative would ever vote for her. She just likes the attention.
Serious candidates for President get their facts right, Michelle. She doesn't understand that you can be a private enterprise and still do business with the government. And, when she tried to criticize Gingrich for supporting Republicans who themselves supported partial birth abortion, she made it sound like Gingrich wouldn't support a candidate UNLESS the candidate supported partial birth abortion. It's like 1988 when no one could mention the fact that Jesse Jackson was a joke. She's a good Christian woman but, she's so far out of her depth that she makes John McCain look like Thomas Jefferson.
I keep wondering when she will finally realize that, actually, she is NOT a serious candidate for President. Right now she is just wasting time and other peoples' money.
Has it dawned on her yet that only 3% of eligible Republican voters agree with what comes out of her mouth?
So, I hear that she proclaimed loudly about the way Newt treated her – but did she prove him WRONG? Seems to me the quickest, easiest way to shut him up is to prove him wrong. Until she does that... he appears to be right!
"Today, I taped an interview with her and she went a lot further in blasting Gingrich. She said Gingrich's comments about her were "condescending" and "insulting." (The interview will air in “The Situation Room” today during the 5 p.m. ET hour."
Something only a sissy would I complain about. Come on now, if Gingrich makes her feel insecure then she shouldn't be running for president. If she were a tad bit sharper in her thinking she would be on top. Gingrich is definitely that.
The truth is, Michelle Bachmann is not a serious candidate. She is an ultra-right wing conservative extremist. Her repeated insistence on being taken seriously makes it less and less likely that many people ever will. Forltunately, she is so extreme she'll never be President. The American people are smarter than that.
importance of personal values, insisting those are key factors for voters to consider....says the woman who openly lies about facts, figures and anything else to do with President Obama. Newt like and most politicians are never straight up. I'll say it for you Newt. She is a liar and can't be trusted.
I think Michele Bachmann is not only a smart lady (who know all her facts) but she is also beautiful
thanks for reminding me that I'm not troubled about never visiting Minnesota! If that's beauty , I would have to check out the beast!
"I'm a serious candidate." Thanks for reminding us, here I thought you were just window dressing. Although window dressings make more sense.
When are you going drop your gotcha style of journalism? Your baiting questions in an attempt to creat news lowers the reputation of the station you represent. No, Newt did not pick on Bachman because she was a woman.
That's one thing Gingrich seems to have right. Bachman has a hard time going a day without some kind of mis-statement or outright lie.
Gingrich and Bachmann arguing, that's almost embarrassing to watch... like midget wrestling.
A good conservative does not mistate the facts or come up with unattainable promises that defines common sense. For examples, Obama spent $280 millon a day for his 7-day trip to India and promised $2.00 per gallon gasoline if she is elected president. Even though she quoted the trip cost number from a questionable source, should it be filtered through her brain before she said it out.
There are many who could stand up and spout talking points......never caring that what they were saying had any validity. I find it amazing that the media, especially CNN, treat her like a viable candidate. Check out the number of false, to pants on fire comments that she's made that Politifact has rated. Every single debate she's been called out, but CNN chooses to ignore. Do you think that reflects well on CNN?! CNN apparently has a low bar.........
"I'm a serious candidate for president of the United States,"
Only in the confines of your tiny little mind, Michelle. No one else who can spell 'serious' takes you seriously.
Right ON!
First, why do you call her a LADY !!! She has an acid tounge and the IQ of lint. A power grabber and wannabe who is in way above her head. It's almost comical to see she & the Newt name calling. Both should be banned from the public.
sort of a hillary eh?............
Just goes to show how much the Iowa straw polls know.
I really think she is not polished enough to run for Pres.but she would be great as V/P.Ron Paul would be the number one choice with Newt 2nd.The others are not serious enough about the little people,only themselves. We do not need another texan after 2 bushes,but paul has more brains than the bushes did.I hope all of government has to work straight through the holidays.They deserve it as they have not done anything for 3 yrs.Jim Thomas Phx.Az.
Bachmann as Vice President? I wouldn't want her THAT close to the top job!
"What will she do to win an argument with Germany or Austrailia??"
Blame everything on Merkel obviously
"A woman running for office cannot shout 'Feminine'! You can't bark at a man out loud and expect them to listen, all you do is show your own weakness in trying to embarass a man to win points. I love women, but hate it when they shout in public. You have to swallow your pride!"