Michele Bachmann Says 'Tar Baby' Comment Was Not Intended To Be Racial

MINNEAPOLIS -- A spokeswoman says U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann wasn't referring to race when she used the term "tar baby" to attack President Barack Obama's energy policy.

The Minnesota Republican told a conservative blog Wednesday that Obama's calls for more regulation of oil speculators "is just about waving a tar baby in the air and saying that something else is a problem." In the Uncle Remus story, "tar baby" describes a tar lump dressed as a person to catch Brer Rabbit. But "tar baby" also has been considered a derogatory term for black people.

Bachmann spokeswoman Becky Rogness says in a Thursday email that Bachmann made a point about Obama's understanding of oil prices that has "nothing to do with race." Instead, Rogness says Obama "has gotten himself into a sticky situation."

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Comments

[lhoffman5]

10:44 PM on 10/07/2012

Michelle how can you call yourself a christian or an american? You have no idea of what either of them are!

[zvibenyosef2030]

05:20 PM on 05/23/2012

It is almost inconceivable that Bachmann could not be aware of the racial connotations of her comment, in this current highly racially charged atmosphere, particularly in reference to the first African American President. Any attempts she now makes to try and pretend otherwise would ensnare her in the same way as the original interpretation of this phrase.

[Ramart]

05:16 PM on 04/26/2012

I recommend to open-minded folks that they read the section titled "Racist interpretation" under Wikipedia's entry for "Tar Baby."

At the risk of stating the obvious, let me say that things aren't always they way you imagine them to be.

[Mark Redd]

11:30 PM on 04/23/2012

I still don't understand what her point was? It could only be taken as racial.

[Andrea Wilson]

06:29 PM on 04/24/2012

I agree and I am totally convinced that this view of all people of color is for the most part shared by all right wingers.

[Ramart]

05:02 PM on 04/26/2012

Look it up. The primary definition in most dictionaries is not racial.

[Mark Redd]

05:37 PM on 04/26/2012

Do you understand the context it was used in? Please explain if you do. Thanks.

[Renee Johnson]

11:51 AM on 04/23/2012

don't you love it that the spokesman came out and said she didn't mean it that way and not her...

[Aesthete]

10:17 AM on 04/23/2012

Unless Ms. Bachmann is cognitively challenged, she knew what she was saying.

[one1byke]

08:08 AM on 04/23/2012

She never mentions tar baby when she talks about Jesus.
I guess she didn't hear Billy Graham say that Jesus wasn't White...

of course they'll say that he's wrong about that..... NOW.
It must be draining to want to be something so bad, you hate it.

[MrBIgp]

12:40 PM on 04/23/2012

What does Jesus (if there was a Jesus) not being white have to do with the "tar-baby" remark? Has Bachmann ever said Jesus was white?

[one1byke]

01:02 PM on 04/23/2012

...you're even MORE off topic BigP. And, since she said she TALKED to Jesus.. (read some) Im surprised he didn't tell her he was one, too.

[PTerrys]

05:40 AM on 04/23/2012

The way Obama says it, Rogness cannot be right. If Obama's waving the "tar baby", he would be CREATING a sticky situation NOT GETTING INTO one.

She can't even make up a decent lie.

[Supernatoir]

03:26 AM on 04/23/2012

This why 95% of black vote Democratic

[general75]

12:25 AM on 04/23/2012

Tristman, your a racist. You can't speak for a airhead who knew dog gone well what she was saying and knew what the term stand for. Because you are a fool does not mean everyone else is a fool

[parrotfish]

12:00 AM on 04/23/2012

Yeah right, sure Michele as if you didn't know exactly what you were saying and the inference you were making. Just the type of thing I would expect from you being so predictable its insanely funny.

[lakeinsky1]

12:00 AM on 04/23/2012

michell and rush- a match made rounda the moonshine party

[WeGottaSituation]

08:26 PM on 04/22/2012

Look at her blue eyes? WOW!!!! I vote for her..

[bluerednot]

06:33 PM on 04/22/2012

Rubbish - she knew how many would take this - and it was exactly what she meant to communicate. The term has been kicked around enough - so only a total fool could genuinely say that they would be surprised that the term would cause controversy

[Tristman]

09:57 PM on 04/22/2012

There term gas a history of reference to a "sticky situation"...Only a "r.ace baiter" would make an issue outta this.

[Pamla Perez]

10:35 PM on 04/22/2012

Race baiter this and race baiter that...why is it that, anyone who calls out a person who makes a racial spur gets called a race baiter, except for the ones doing the baiting? The woman used the term "Tar baby" for a reason!

[whoBBoo]

06:13 PM on 04/22/2012

Black people knows exactly what she meant, and so does the white folks

[Tristman]

09:59 PM on 04/22/2012

Black people knows?? ....and so does the white folks???
LOL.