Michele Bachmann On Obama Birther Conspiracies: 'That Isn't For Me To State'

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said Thursday morning that those who believe President Barack Obama is not a U.S. citizen or Christian should "take the president at his word," but the Minnesota congresswoman declined to categorically call the president a U.S.-born citizen.

Asked on ABC's "Good Morning America" about her personal views on Obama's birthplace and religion, Bachmann said she didn't deny the president's claims, but wouldn't provide any stronger endorsement.

"That isn't for me to state, that's for the president to state," Bachmann said, when asked if she would "state very clearly" that Obama was a Christian-American. "When the president makes his statements, I think they should stand for their own."

Asked again point-blank if she would "declare the president is a citizen, and he is a Christian," Bachmann dodged, moving on to talk about the stimulus.

Bachmann's name has been floated as a potential 2012 presidential candidate, but she said Thursday that she was "not there yet." In the meantime, her tack on this issue is similar to that of some Republican leaders.

When House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) was asked in an interview over the weekend if he was willing to "stand up" and denounce those who question Obama's citizenship, Boehner said he didn't share their beliefs, but that he wasn't going to impose his view on anybody else.

"It's not my job to tell the American people what to think," Boehner said. "Our job in Washington is to listen to the American people."

WATCH:

Comments

[LawrenceRoth]

07:15 PM on 03/04/2011

And why is Bachmann being interviewed? Does the media intentional seek out the d@umbest people in congress to interview. Believe it or not there some smart people in congress, but nobody seems to interview them.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

04:59 PM on 02/18/2011

It's in the interests of Republicans to muddy the waters about Obama's origins.
 
It plays to their core voters.

[jbeeaz]

02:31 PM on 02/18/2011

When GOP legislators or mouthpieces make statements supportive of ‘birther’ or religious issues, I believe the majority of those are calculated, self serving and cynical manipulation of their frenzied base. However, when other GOP wannabes like Bachman, Palin, Pawlenty,et al, offer their support of ‘birther’ and other idiotic issues, have the same philosophy as the above but, I think, they actually buy in it. When MB & ‘Sarah’ got their first 15 minutes being ‘loose cannons’ showing their ignorance and a real lack of cognitive thoughts. When MB starts getting coy about her ‘birther’ beliefs and other weird positions and rabble rousing, I expect that she is now attempting to gain some credibility among the less credulous of the GOP base.

Not even a nice try, Michelle you have firmly established your reputation as a wide-eyed, open-mouth, knee-jerk right wing fanatic that, IMHO should not be allowed out in public without a muzzle or choke collar.

I don’t expect this to pass the PC moderators but, she has to be called out and exposed before she gains palinesque credibility.

[quorthon]

01:34 PM on 02/18/2011

Every photo I see of her, she looks surprised. Why?

[NevadaLib]

01:52 PM on 02/18/2011

she can't believe she still has supporters after each public appearance.

[Harbinger08]

04:51 PM on 02/18/2011

That's not surprise, it's manic hysteria mixed with right wing religious fervor, with sprinkle of egomania. Well, maybe more like a dollop of egomania.

[atl50]

01:26 PM on 02/18/2011

I thought her job was to make up lies, start rumors, stir fear and be a fanatical nusiance.

[cedy195]

01:07 PM on 02/18/2011

This woman make's CRAZY stand up talk LOL!!!

[Shertene09]

12:57 PM on 02/18/2011

These people take back sits when they want to... the GOP put this non Christian and birther stuff out there. Now they can't put it back in the bag.

[HairFarmer]

12:55 PM on 02/18/2011

Did she stick her finger in an electrical outlet before going on camera ??

[mervr1]

12:03 PM on 02/18/2011

I always laugh at Bachmann or Palin wanting to run for President.....

Who in their "Right" mind would be their VP.....well they always have each other...let em fight it out

[sandiegoconservative]

12:01 PM on 02/18/2011

Don't you just love this article? All the news sources who call on people to end the debate on the citizenship issue now ask politicians the same questions. And when they say they take the President at his word on his citizenship and religion, it is somehow an outrage!

So which is it? Do we drop the issue, or does Obama provide the long form of his birth certificate? I thought we were all moving on . . .

What is most interesting about this article is that it ignores the majority of the interview. Such as Stephanopolus changing the subject when she answered his questions about tax policy and how he again tries to change the subject to Lady Gaga when she mentions failures of the stimulus.

Libs just hate it when people answer their questions.

[Shertene09]

01:00 PM on 02/18/2011

Nothing the president does or says will satisfy people like you. It is not a matter of outrage to take he president at his word. It is a matter that these GOP leader don't have the character or integrity to stand up to do what is right. They are being evasive because they are afraid of their party. Not because they have respect for what he president says.

[MsMcgee]

10:15 PM on 04/02/2011

Actually they aren’t afraid of their party, they are playing the party for everything they can get.

It’s all about “dumbing down”.

[amcg50]

12:00 PM on 02/18/2011

Oh, please let her run..It would be wonderful to have a Palin/Bachmann ticket... What fun!

[orkt]

11:46 AM on 02/18/2011

someone needs to open the panel on Bachmann's back and rewire that android for GOOD instead of evil.

[orkt]

11:45 AM on 02/18/2011

Run, Michelle, RUN!!! That would be the most hilarious thing since ... wow, hang on, you guys are a laugh a minute.

[orkt]

11:44 AM on 02/18/2011

"It's not my job to tell the American people what to think," Boehner said. "but I do it all the time," he added with a sly grin. "And most of them are barely capable of doing so anyway," he was heard to say before he submerged his head in a steaming tub of rust-colored cryogenic goo.

[Shertene09]

01:00 PM on 02/18/2011

I was thinking the same thing....

[bungholio]

02:34 PM on 02/20/2011

will you stop!!!! I'm in pain! My gut hurts! god that's funny!

[StillMadMatt]

11:36 AM on 02/18/2011

Jeez Louis!! That woman looks completely bonkers in the picture. I mean truly "gone fishing",