Bachmann Responds To ‘Sex Appeal’ Comments

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Michele Bachmann has a response to comments from a Tim Pawlenty adviser, former Congressman Vin Weber, who listed Bachmann having “sex appeal” as among her advantages in the race, and then apologized: Thanks!

As Jim Geraghty of National Review reports, Bachmann was asked about the comments Thursday night, in an interview with conservative talk-radio host Scott Hennen.

As it turns out, Bachmann was a good sport about the whole flap. “Well listen, I’m 55 years old, I’ve given birth to five kids and I’ve raised 23 foster kids,” Bachmann said, “so that sounds like good news to me!”

This past Wednesday, Weber spoke with The Hill:

“It’s going to be very hard to beat Michele in Iowa. Period,” Weber said of both the Iowa caucuses and August’s influential straw poll in Ames.

“She’s got hometown appeal, she’s got ideological appeal, and, I hate to say it, but she’s got a little sex appeal too,” he said in a phone interview.

Pawlenty quickly criticized the statement, and Weber issued an apology later that evening. “I made a mistake that was disrespectful to my friend Congresswoman Bachmann,” Weber said in a statement. “I’ve been a Bachmann supporter in her congressional bids and I apologize. I was not speaking on behalf of Governor Pawlenty’s campaign but nevertheless, it was inappropriate and I’m sorry.”

Latest DC
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: