Bachmann: Talk show appearance `big mistake'; Bill Maher calls Bachmann and Palin "Beavis & Butthead"

Rep. Michelle Bachmann is digging herself an even bigger hole, both apologizing for her hateful remarks and simultaneously denying that she said them.  Her opponent has now raised over $1 million in four days -- it's not too late for you to send her a message at www.tinklenberg08.com!

Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann says she regrets using the term "anti-American" while discussing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's views, a remark that could threaten her re-election bid.

 

Bachmann told the St. Cloud Times on Tuesday that she "made a big mistake" by going on MSNBC's "Hardball," a show she said she'd never seen before her appearance last week. Her statement to host Chris Matthews that Obama "may have anti-American views" drew condemnation and helped her opponent, Democrat Elwyn Tinklenberg, raise more than $1 million in just a few days.

During an interview with the Times' editorial board, Bachmann said she walked into a trap and did not bring up the term "anti-American." Still, she said, "I should not have used that phrase."

Earlier in the day, Bachmann told St. Cloud Rotary Club members she would like to "take back" the statement.

"I did not say that Barack Obama was anti-American, nor do I believe Barack Obama is anti-American. He loves his country, just as everyone in this room does," she told the crowd. "Nor did I call for an investigation of members of Congress for their pro-American or anti-American views. That is not what I said."

Tinklenberg is of course milking this for all its worth.  Here's an excerpt from a fundraising email he sent out today:

Even as Congresswoman Michele Bachmann tries to backpedal from her outrageous comments Friday, comments which have inspired more than a million dollars for our campaign in the last four days alone, people across the country are just beginning to learn the truth about Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s long history of extreme and divisive views:

•    At a debate with El Tinklenberg earlier this month, she claimed immigrants are “bringing in disease and violence and every sort of difficulty” to this country.
•    In September 2008, Bachmann blamed the financial crisis on a federal program that awarded home mortgage loans "on the basis of race and often on little else."
•    In February 2007, Bachmann told a newspaper that Iran had an agreement to take over half of Iraq, that a name had been chosen for that part of the region and that it would be used as a training ground for terrorists.
•    In March 2004, Bachmann said on the radio that failure to pass her Defense of Marriage Amendment in the Minnesota Senate would cause the gay community to start “specifically targeting our children.” 
•   In a March, 2008 meeting she said "The big thing we are working on now is the global warming hoax. It's all voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax,"

Fear and division have dominated our nation’s politics for far too long. It’s time for us to deliver change – a change that moves beyond Democrat or Republican - by sending Congresswoman Bachmann home once and for all.

Your support, most recently following Rep. Bachmann’s offensive comments, has made our race one of the most competitive races in the country.  Now, at this moment, we must bring this victory home for the families of Minnesota’s 6th District and for families across this country who are tired of being embarrassed by the men and women we thought would represent us in Washington with the dignity and respect we all deserve.

Finally, here's Bill Maher saying he didn't think anyone in America was dumber than Palin, but Bachmann just might be -- he calls them Beavis and Butthead! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/21/bill-maher-palin-a-real-b_n_136684.html (1 min video)

Bill Maher joined Chris Matthews on Hardball Tuesday. After showing and discussing Congresswoman Michele's claim of an anti-American Obama, Matthews played Maher a clip of Sarah Palin Monday saying that as VP, her job would mean she would be in charge of Congress.

Maher was not amused at either woman's intelligence.

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Bachmann: Talk show appearance `big mistake'

Minn. representative regrets 'anti-American' Obama comment

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27319845/

 

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann says she regrets using the term "anti-American" while discussing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's views, a remark that could threaten her re-election bid.