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Michele Bachmann Granted Swiss Citizenship

Posted: 05/09/2012 10:54 am Updated: 05/09/2012 12:51 pm

Michele Bachmann Swiss Citizenship

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has been granted citizenship in Switzerland.

Becky Rogness, a spokeswoman for the conservative congresswoman, said in a statement, "Congresswoman Bachmann's husband is of Swiss descent so she has been eligible for dual-citizenship since they got married in 1978." She added, "However, recently some of their children wanted to exercise their eligibility for dual-citizenship so they went through the process as a family."

Bachmann herself discussed the news with a Swiss television station. The former presidential contender said "it's tough to find a place not to like in Switzerland" and laughed off a question on whether she would run for office given that it appears she is eligible to do so in the European country.

For Bachmann, a vocal critic of President Barack Obama's health care reform law, the move comes with a twist of irony. Switzerland has nearly universal health care and mandates that its citizens purchase coverage. Bachmann herself has repeatedly taken issue with the individual mandate included in Obama's law.

She has described health care reform as "the crown jewel of socialism" and argued it amounts to "gangster government."

Below, a look back at some of Bachmann's most unforgettable and questionable remarks:

'I Haven't Had A Gaffe'
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Bachmann raised some eyebrows in November 2011 when she claimed she'd never "had a gaffe."

"As people are looking at the candidate that is the most conservative and the most consistent candidate, I've been that candidate. I haven't had a gaffe or something that I've done that has caused me to fall in the polls," Bachmann told Greta van Susteren in a Fox News interview.

The claim was interesting considering her knack for making misstatements.

Also on HuffPost:

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Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has been granted citizenship in Switzerland. Becky Rogness, a spokeswoman for the conservative congresswoman, said in a statement, "Congresswoman Bachmann's husband ...
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has been granted citizenship in Switzerland. Becky Rogness, a spokeswoman for the conservative congresswoman, said in a statement, "Congresswoman Bachmann's husband ...
Filed by Elyse Siegel  | 
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Peter Lai
03:22 PM on 04/24/2013
She actually has tri-citizen ship: The US, Switzerland, and Bizarro World.
10:32 AM on 04/19/2013
Oh really?
So that's what that was....that sound of the average IQ of Switzerland dropping a few points....
05:24 PM on 07/18/2012
Bachmann should be impeached she applied for received and accepted Swiss citizenship after being elected to the US Congress.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Don in CT
Question authority
06:11 PM on 05/18/2012
Planning an IPO?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
askido351
08:54 AM on 05/18/2012
its ok, its "Gods" will. hahahahahahaha. I wonder how they'll take her hate filled delusional, stupid views on reality
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Terri Holland
Loving America, AND her people
01:04 AM on 05/14/2012
Move.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
rssllbll55
08:56 AM on 05/13/2012
So now it apparent why Bachman opposes Obama so fervently. Her husband is instilling her oppositional views.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MFierstos
05:17 PM on 05/12/2012
Great news, she can not become the President of the United States.
11:21 AM on 05/12/2012
May she leaves America and stay in Switzerland forever.
I sure she and here family will take full advantage of free health care offered overthere and will keep criticizing President Obama health care law. This is hypocrisy at its best.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MFierstos
05:24 PM on 05/12/2012
This is not nice, Switzerland is a great country with lovely people, a thriving economy, people not living in the streets, dying of hunger or for lack of healthcare. Maybe Ms Bachmann will try to change their evil ways? Do they have gay marriage, just saying...
09:54 AM on 05/12/2012
Where is the donation button so we can contribute to a one-way ticket outta here?
12:17 AM on 05/12/2012
Did you know Michelle's pet nickname for Marcus is "Swiss Miss?"
10:35 AM on 04/19/2013
That androgynous blob does not deserve a nickname that denotes a gender.....
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rudewaitress
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong.
11:05 PM on 05/11/2012
Go figure.......Michelle's Swiss and her husband's Swish.
09:47 PM on 05/11/2012
Send her some place but out of this country, it's people like her bashing gays that give the young kids the idea to bash gays in schools. She was never aleader and hope she just goes away from here.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DonVitoCorleone
Autodidact, and proud of it!
06:38 PM on 05/11/2012
First thing that popped into my mind was "tax dodge.'
barrada nicto
Optimism is necessary.
09:07 AM on 05/13/2012
Yep.
05:51 PM on 05/11/2012
No, no!! Marcus didn't claim he was Swiss, he said SWISH!!