Michele Bachmann: 'I Made A Mistake' With Historical Inaccuracy

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) tried on Tuesday to explain away a historical gaffe she made during a stop in New Hampshire last weekend.

In a misstep that landed her in the headlines, Bachmann told a group of local Republicans, "You're the state where the shot was heard around the world in Lexington and Concord." The first shots of the Revolutionary War, however, were not fired in the Granite State, but rather in Massachusetts.

"I made a mistake; I should've said Massachusetts rather than New Hampshire," said the Tea Party favorite during an appearance on the Laura Ingraham show on Tuesday, according to The Hill.

According to Bachmann, her remarks captured the attention of the media because of "a double standard" against conservatives. She said, "...as we know all 3,400 members of the mainstream media are part of the Obama press contingent."

Nevertheless, the AP noted over the weekend:

Though Bachmann probably wasn't the first to confuse Concord, N.H., with Concord, Mass., her mistake was striking given her roots in the tea party movement, which takes its name from the dumping of tea into Boston Harbor by angry American colonists in December 1773, 16 months before the Battle of Lexington Green.

The gaffe from Bachmann became fodder for discussion on ABC's "This Week" last Sunday. At one point during a roundtable segment, conservative columnist George Will quipped that his wife "occasionally advises" the conservative congresswoman, but "not on American history."

Bachmann is currently mulling a presidential campaign for the next election cycle and is expected to make her plans for 2012 known early this summer. She has recently made trips to early primary states in addition to New Hampshire.

Comments

[Royce Earnest Jr]

08:20 PM on 04/04/2011

Why can't people just admit when they're wrong? They're going to get busted and it will just be worse when they do.

[owlbreath]

06:57 AM on 03/29/2011

Still whining.

[adl1652]

02:00 PM on 03/28/2011

As ironic as it might be, Bachmann is actually partially right. The first shots in the Revolutionary War did occur in New Hampshire, but Bachmann was referring to Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. The Battle of Lexington has long incorrectly been referred to as the first shots in the revolutionary war. In fact, the first shots fired took place during the Battle of Fort William and Mary in December of 1774 in Newcastle, NH, four months before the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

[ronanguiano]

09:40 AM on 04/09/2011

C'mon you and Rummy ought to get together and twist American History to suit your needs. Bachmann is impulsive and dull not a good coombination.

[adl1652]

10:23 AM on 04/09/2011

I think you're missing my point. I am NOT trying to rewrite history. In fact, I am a historian with a Masters degree. Look up Fort William and Mary if you like. You will find that I am correct.

In any case, I am not trying to back Bachmann in any way shape or form. I think that she is an ignorant person who would only serve to drive this country further into recession. I don't support any Tea Party candidate, because none of them have their priorities straight. None of that changes how history truly took place. I like to reclaim a little of the revolutionary history that Massachusetts has stolen from us in NH.

[shadowgirl52]

09:43 AM on 03/28/2011

Victimized again. She should be upset with her staff. They are the ones that missed the problem in the first place. She needs to hire people that have gone to schools other than the christian ones that offer only their version of the world. As it stand she has hired artificial intellegence to do her proof reading.
Lets hope she keeps it up and those that now follow her have the opportunity to see just where she lacks and lies. What to do about her believers? I am at a loss as it seems that they are unable to hear the lies.

[CPAwADD]

01:04 PM on 03/27/2011

Who cares? Does anyone really think this woman knows history? She only knows enough history to use it as a tool to be on the wrong side of it.

[nam medic]

07:40 AM on 03/27/2011

Bachmann missed Lexington and Concord by one state, Candidate Obama said he visted all 57 states. Real geography geniuses.

[Andrew FingerlickingGree]

10:48 PM on 03/26/2011

Oh wow!! More Michele Bachmann articles than Sarah Palin.... HuffPost trading one inept for another.

Hey Huffington Post please read and take Eric Alterman's advice article "STOP TAKING MICHELE BACHMANN SERIOUSLY!!! (via The Daily Beast)

[fg159]

11:13 AM on 03/26/2011

This is why MB believes in revisionist history. Historical facts only get in the way of giving a good speech.
I can;t wait until the debates and Mb will tell her version of the civil war. I know it wasn't about slavery because MB still believes the founding fathers addressed that issue. The only problem is that MB doesn't know who the founding fathers are.
It is a simple mistake to make. I think she was absent that day from school anyway.

[dayzee10]

09:27 PM on 03/25/2011

I have an honestly non-partison question Would Rep. Bachman be able to pass the test taken by immigrants to become citizens?

[irochfpst]

07:49 PM on 03/26/2011

i doubt it very much.

[Adele Franklin]

04:23 PM on 03/22/2011

Americans who are fed up with both Democrats and Republicans should stop voting for awhile and try other methods of protest. I'd suggest a federal income tax revolt, where everybody pays their federal income taxes to their state, county or city government, whoever they trust the most. They could also threaten secession from the US. The states bordering Canada could do this and really scare the wits out of Washington.

This country is literally on the edge. Many people on foreign countries are putting off the decision to immigrate here out of concern that the US economy may collapse within a year. Many who have already immigrated are now considering moving back home. The thought of civil unrest is pervasive throughout the US as liberals and conservatives become even more extreme in their political expression. Several people have already committed or threatened to commit acts of violence against elected officials. Yep, it sure looks like we're headed for a breakup of the United States of America. We're not exactly united anymore, are we?

[irochfpst]

07:54 PM on 03/26/2011

save your money and stop doing business with corporations who are working against your best interest. people here already know the economy is collapsing under the weight of the endless attacks on the middle class by malicious republican governors.

[woodys ghost]

12:49 PM on 03/21/2011

Let's be honest, the people of MN have made the real mistake. Her parents are jewelers in central MN. Michelle has never had a real job in her life. EVER. Her inability to be a realistic voice comes from her lifelong separation from the reality of the people she "serves". Most of her voters are older strict catholics. Lots of 'em around here and noone's easier to manipulate. If they they weren't they wouldn't be catholic. See the dilemma.

[ToonTheNews]

05:42 PM on 03/20/2011

Finally accepting thier many gaffes such as Michele Bachmans latest and the fact they are obviously not perfect, the Tea Party is attempting to appeal to the American Idol Demographic with a music video. The Michelle Bachman Trio sings "We Know We Weren't Perfect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjcmZtqidQk

[ramsha]

01:19 AM on 03/20/2011

Michele Bachmann ! You did not make A mistake. You have made MANY, MANY mistakes.

[nolalily]

11:44 PM on 03/19/2011

No. No, Michele. You didn't make a mistake. Your parents did.

[elljay1]

08:29 PM on 03/18/2011

Yes! Michele Bachmann, you did and than when you were told, it was a mistake.
You denied it was a mistake, but you made many mistakes.
After that you told a fellow legislator he was a lier when he stated facts.
In my book you do not get a pass for multiple mistakes !
If you were in my class you would stand in the corner for the rest of the year,