Michele Bachmann Dodges Questions On Homosexuality Ahead Of Iowa Caucus 2012 (VIDEO)

Republican presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) dodged questions Tuesday morning from CNN's Soledad O'Brien on a past statement of hers on homosexuality.

"Your stance on homosexuality -- and want to read a little bit of what you said -- You said, at the Educators Conference in 2004, 'Gays live a very sad life,' and that 'it's part of Satan' And that's quote. You’ve taken a lot of flak for that. Do you pull back on any of that?" asked O'Brien on CNN's "Starting Point."

(Video above via Mediaite.)

Bachmann, then a state senator from Minnesota, said of gays at the National Education Leadership Conference in 2004, "It's a very sad life. It's part of Satan, I think, to say this is gay. It's anything but gay." She prefaced that comment by saying that she was not "bashing people who are homosexuals."

"It's a bizarre thing to bring up," replied Bachmann. "Today is the election, and what people recognize is that the most important issue that people will be looking at is, 'Who is the best person to deal with the economy?' Probably someone who's created a business from scratch,'" she continued. "I came from a family where I was below poverty. I had to earn my way up out of poverty."

O'Brien interrupted Bachmann. "What you're telling me is you don't want to discuss social issues because you want to talk about the economy? I don't think it’s a bizarre question. I think it's a fair question."

"It's a gotcha question coming way out of the past," replied Bachmann. "I stand very strong for marriage between one man and one woman. I believe in protecting human life from conception until natural death. I believe in the family, I believe in religious liberty and for people to practice their faith freely. That's important," she said. "It’s also important we get rid of Obamacare," she continued, going on to tout her opposition to the health care law signed by President Barack Obama.

The exchange was reminiscent of an August 14 interview on "Meet The Press" after her Iowa straw poll victory where she dodged David Gregory's questions on gays after he played a past clip of her saying that the "gay and lesbian lifestyle" is "bondage."

"Well, I am running for the presidency of the United States. I'm not running to be anyone's judge," she replied. When asked what her view on gays was, she said, "Well, my, my view on marriage is that I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. And that's what I stand for." Gregory continued to press Bachmann, who insisted that she wasn't "judging" gays.

Bachmann is trying to stave off an embarrassing finish in Iowa after winning the August straw poll. Saturday's Des Moines Register poll showed her garnering seven percent support, placing sixth among the GOP candidates.

Comments

[Ella-Phan]

12:47 PM on 01/12/2012

There's nothing wrong with marriage between a man and a woman.

What's wrong is to associate "gay" with "Satanic". It's wrong to call a gay or lesbian lifestyle "bondage", then try to cover up by saying that "judgment" was not intended.

Since when did being gay threaten other lives? When last I checked, it was heterosexual people, those who share the same extreme views as Bachmann, who were guilty of commiting violent acts towards homosexuals,because of sexual orientation.
If she believes so strongly in "standing for the family", then perhaps, she might include that infertile couples, single men and women, and the elderly also live the same "sad life" that gay people do.

She did answer the question- and she answered more than that. In her treatment of homosexuality as something that should be fought on the religious battlefield, she shows where her justifications lie. I don't have a problem with the Bible, and I don't have a problem with those with a traditional family. I do have a problem with those, like Bachmann, who are "playing God". If we followed the mindset of the Biblical passages that imply homosexuality as a sin, then Bachmann could never even dream of becoming a politician, let alone a president. She's reviving the very same "rules" that would bite her for being a woman.

Why is it that out of all the good things that the Bible has to teach- to love one's neighbour etc.- it's things like this that the society retains?

[outloud]

03:55 PM on 01/04/2012

Her big defeat just confirms that her god has deserted her...she is toooooo weird for even fantasy deities.

[Wayne Love]

01:15 PM on 01/04/2012

The answer "marriage is between one man and one woman" is a complete answer since it is obviously the will of God. She knows that anyone who lives outside the will of God will have a sad life and is a part of Satan's plan. So yes, she did answer the question.

You said that the majority of commenters here are not running for POTUS. Does that mean that they are not capable of hate? Since I have mentioned God, I'm sure I will be accused of having hate. So you may all begin twisting my words around to show my hate. It is very hard to love you but I certainly don't hate you.

[Samantha4]

02:13 PM on 01/04/2012

If the "will of God" is "marriage between one man and one woman" and anyone who does not conform to this will "have a sad life" can you explain the following to me? I know a gay couple who have been together for 40 years and are very happy. I also know MANY heterosexual couples who had very unhappy marriages (a sad life, in other words) who ended up divorced. So why is this gay couple happy and these heterosexual couples "sad?" For the record, I am heterosexual and believe that sexual orientation is determined at birth. It's not a choice.

[Wayne Love]

04:46 PM on 01/04/2012

I have just been posting here for about 24 hours and don't understand the selection process for comments that make it to the thread. I have made several comments, some of which were very good and very witty, but none of them were vindictive.

I assume that it became obvious to comment screeners that I do not encourage same sex marriage or behaviour. As a result they will not post my comments, maybe this one will make it since you ask me a direct question.

Sadness and depression are not always apparent outwardly. And homosexuality is not the only sin that causes sadness. Not one civilization has ever existed without a real or imagined Deity in whom man believed they should please. Most homosexuals know that the God of the Bible is not pleased with their life style. Hence sadness.

This answer only touches the surface and I don't want to spend a lot of time with a post that will most likely not be posted. Samantha 4, do you believe that pedophilia and beastality are determined at birth.

I promise you that if you search the Bible, you will be able to answer these questions yourself. But it will be necessary to not be influenced by other people's opinion. Don't allow yourself to be told by Baptist, Presbyterians, Catholics, atheist or anyone else what God's will is for your life. All you need is a Bible to find life's answers, then you will know with whom to fellowship.

[William Donaway]

06:17 PM on 01/04/2012

How is it obviously the will of God? Marriage was invented before monotheism was invented. Those Christians and Churches which support blessing of same-sex unions do so from several perspectives:The logical coherence of the core Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Resurrection and the Ascension is improved through the integration of gay marriage into the Christian conception of marriage. Our understanding of marriage as a metaphor of Christ’s relationship with the Church is strengthened by assimilating gay marriage into that metaphor. Some scholars maintain that scripture in the original languages contains no prohibition of homosexuality, but does record same-sex marriage. "But if we take a closer look, reading the scripture in the original Hebrew and Greek, we discover that God never condemned homosexuality, and that same-sex marriage existed in Bible times." "To tell a homosexual that the Bible is Good News, (but that) it says that their ability to love on a one to one basis (mate level) means they are sinful and perverted in God's eyes is a gross contradiction in terms. What's more, God is not saying this to gay people. God's Word is this: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting live. (John 3:16, KJV). And that is the Good News for modern gays." The fact is the Constitution is the basis of law in the U.S. not the Bible.

[Wayne Love]

11:21 AM on 01/04/2012

You know, she did answer the questions. She believes marriage is between one man and one woman.

Before you accuse her of hate, take a minute and read the comments on this thread.

[William Donaway]

11:57 AM on 01/04/2012

He asked her if she wanted to pull back from her earlier comments about gays having a "very sad life" and to call ourselves gay is "part of Satan" because our lives are very sad. He didn't ask her about same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, religious liberty, or Obamacare. So no, she didn't answer the question. Also, the majority of the commenters on this thread aren't running for POTUS.

[Wayne Love]

01:18 PM on 01/04/2012

My above comment posted at 1:15 was meant to be posted here as a reply to William Donaway.

[alaskier]

11:56 PM on 01/03/2012

Go crawl back under your slimy rock in Minnesota. The real America is so much better than you. You have been given enough rope and we are now watching you swing.

[gaydood]

08:17 AM on 01/04/2012

or she can move back to live in iowa, they have better rocks:)

[alaskier]

12:30 PM on 01/05/2012

I would said that her outrageously backward views fit in perfectly with attitudes in my home state of Alabama. She could also fit in very well in Mississippi. Both of those states have big slimy rocks where politicians of her ilk hide out. Michelle, join the club!

[Kiffanik]

11:45 PM on 01/03/2012

What business did she start from scratch? And didn't she "work her way up" on farm subsidies and other government money?

[gaydood]

08:19 AM on 01/04/2012

hubbies make u str8 store??

he gets $160,000.00 of yur tax $s every year for it

they know how to work it!

[practiceempathy]

11:21 PM on 01/03/2012

The woman has demeaned and condemned the lives of gay people.

We gay people want her to NEVER get away from having made the ugly statements she has made.

And neither do those who love and support us. Like, say, our parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, grandparents, friends, etc.

When you attack the children of other people's families, Ms. Bachmann, you will be asked to answer for those attacks.

This is no gotcha question.

[beulah4]

01:12 AM on 01/04/2012

Nicely put, practiceempathy.

[invirginia]

10:56 PM on 01/03/2012

Who has been doing this woman's job in Congress for the past nine months?

[QuercusQate]

10:31 PM on 01/03/2012

Bachmann: "I believe in protecting human life from conception until natural death. It’s also important we get rid of Obamacare."

Michelle, these two statements are contradictory. Without health care, human life is not well protected. Even if we ignore the implications for adults with chronic conditions, we can't forget that the healthiest babies are born when there is good and regular pre-natal care, something which we currently lack in the poorest American populations.

[VagabondBull]

07:52 AM on 01/04/2012

I found those statements strange as well however if you think about it getting rid of all healthcare and medications would lead to a more "natural death." Some scientists have said that we have now bypassed the phenomena of "survival of the fittest" with current medical technology. This in effect allows weaker strains to remain in the gene pool if you want to look at it that way.

If anything we need much better healthcare. If you look at infant mortality rates by country the U.S. ranks #48 according to the CIA World Factbook. Places such as Hungary, Cuba, Malta, Macau, and Liechtenstein have fewer infant deaths than the U.S. Places you probably wouldn't consider as innovative medical lands.

[talkstocoyotes]

08:26 AM on 01/04/2012

But her statement that "I believe in protecting human life from conception until natural death. It’s also important we get rid of Obamacare" is totally consistent with the priorities of the Right -- protect a fetus at all costs; after that, if it doesn't have a rich daddy, it's disposable. Starvation could be considered a "natural death" considering how many people have succumbed to it. Protect the fetus, let 'em die afterward is totally consistent with the 'party of morality', many of whose members support a 'Christian nation.'

[GypsyRobin]

09:54 PM on 01/03/2012

So she lead a big whopping "40,000 people to object to" what she calls "ObamaCare"?

And how many American citizens make up the American populous?

Who does she think she's kidding here? --What is 40k people compared to the millions who don't object to it?

[Westof405]

09:28 PM on 01/03/2012

I agree with Bachmann. How dare a reporter ask her a question about what she believes? If that isn't "Gotcha!" journalism, I don't know what is.

But seriously, really Ms Bachmann? You crusade against gays, your husband believes he can "cure" gays and you refuse to stand up for your own comments because people just want to talk about the economy? If that were true, the debates would have been a lot shorter and a lot fewer, all those press conferences, get togethers at restaurants and appearances on Faux News would have been about only one thing and we would have seen far less of you.

[Bruce Sutka]

09:17 PM on 01/03/2012

Some times choking on your own words is not a bad thing!

[Aintlate]

08:49 PM on 01/03/2012

But gays can get married! A gay man can marry a gay women! Uh-huh! Representin' the people of America!

[herewegoagain2]

12:31 AM on 01/04/2012

And they did too.

[Atwill]

08:42 PM on 01/03/2012

My kid does not lead a sad life. he has been with his partner since 16. He is in his last year of college. Has loving family and a major support system. Where is the saddness?

[kaykaythere]

09:08 PM on 01/03/2012

The sadness is in our political system where one groups fight for equal rights is treated as a non-issue or worse.

[demisfine]

10:04 PM on 01/03/2012

This is why women care about the social issues.
We know that "gays" are someone's child, brother, grandchild.
People are not defined by one label.
We are complex, and we can't be divided so easily.

[practiceempathy]

11:19 PM on 01/03/2012

I wish you'd talk some sense into people like Maggie Gallagher of NOM, and Concerned Women of America.

[Atwill]

08:39 PM on 01/03/2012

Did she mention the economy? a little late. deary.

[kaykaythere]

09:08 PM on 01/03/2012

Well, she just didn't say what she believes, which is the economy is the fault of the Gays