Michele Bachmann: Yes, Obama Runs ‘A Gangster Government’ (VIDEO)

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

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) says that, yes, President Obama is running “a gangster government.” And, yeah, he probably doesn’t like America very much either.

Appearing this morning on Meet The Press, Bachmann refused to back away from some of her stronger anti-Obama rhetoric. Confronted with her past statements about Obama, Bachmann — the chair of the House Tea Party Caucus and a potential Republican contender for the White House next year — essentially doubled down, declining to answer questions about her perceived “extremism.”

“I don’t take back my statement on gangster government,” she said. “I think that there have been actions that have been taken by this government that I think are corrupt, thoroughly corrupt.”

“I believe the actions of this government have been emblematic of ones that have not been based on true American values,” she said before laying into “Obamacare,” the central focus of her appearance this morning.

“You think the president has anti-American views?” host David Gregory asked.

“I said I had very serious concerns about the president’s views,” Bachmann replied. “And I think the president’s actions in the last two years speak for themselves.”

Bachmann would not say when and if she’ll make a decision about running for president. And for the most part, she evaded Gregory’s direct questions on the budget fight and on the influence of the tea party on the House Republican caucus, preferring to stick to what appeared to be prepared talking points about the president’s health care plan.

Watch the full interview:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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: