Bachmann takes on Leno

Minn. Rep. Michelle Bachmann is seen during an interview with host Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show," September 16, 2011.

/ Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via AP Images

LOS ANGELES - Dressed in a Republican red dress, presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann on Friday faced down an opponent who may have a bigger megaphone than any of her political rivals: Late night comedian Jay Leno.

"Thanks for being a good sport," Leno told the Minnesota congresswoman as she settled in on the set of "The Tonight Show," joining a long line of presidential candidates who have tried to use late-night TV as an image burnisher. "We've done a million jokes. Hopefully, you haven't been watching any of them," he said.

Bachmann taped her segment before heading downtown to address the California Republican Party's fall convention.

Leno, who signed autographed photos for Bachmann's children in the green room before the show, quickly set aside the jokes and set to grilling Bachmann on her chances in the Republican presidential contest.

The tone was friendly, but the talk show host told the congresswoman she is "pretty strident" and challenged her views on a vaccine against cervical cancer, and on homosexuality.

"This whole 'pray the gay away ' thing, I don't get it," said Leno. He told the congresswoman he knows gay couples with children and asked why "they shouldn't be allowed to be happy?"

Bachmann, who co-owns a Christian counseling clinic with her husband that offers to convert clients from homosexuality, argued that "the family is foundational, and marriage between a man and a woman has been the law for years and years."

Pressed on her opposition to a vaccination aimed at preventing cervical cancer, the congresswoman offered a new reason for her stand: "It gives a false sense of assurance to a young woman when she has that, that if she's sexually active that she doesn't have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases."

Bachmann, who has become the target of widespread derision in the medical community after reporting that a woman in the debate audience told her that her daughter became mentally retarded after receiving the vaccination, said she is not opposed to immunizations against other ailments.

She acknowledged that Texas Gov. Rick Perry's entrance in the race may have caused her drop in the polls.

"It changes the dynamic," Bachmann said. "But we're in for the marathon. We're not in for the sprint." Asked about the possibility of the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin entering the race, Bachmann said: "She may decide to do it. And the more people who come in, the merrier."

While most of the exchange was fairly serious, Leno managed to work in a one-liner when he asked Bachmann about her uncompromising stands. "Convicted. I'm convicted," the congresswoman said.

Leno corrected her on her verb usage. "You don't get convicted until AFTER you're in office," he said. "You have to get elected first."

Bachmann turned the tables on Leno when he asked who she'd want as a running mate, saying she couldn't pick him, because "you don't want a cut in pay."

The "Tonight" host said he had other reasons for not accepting the job. "We'd probably have a fight over the gay thing."

Said Bachmann: "Yeah."

[addict42]

I watched the interview and she was robotic and came off as a soulless android. Not only did she try to make light of her insanity "I meant, pray the gray away," but she seemed to be missing any naturalness. She reminded me of the fembots from the Bionic Woman series of the 1970s and I thought any moment her face mask would fall off to reveal circuitry and wires.

[ProgressiveRepublican]

Ya just gotta love how the Repugs call everyone else Communists yet use the very same color. Hmm...

[fedup12]

Hey... Shes better than failin Palin.

Which aint sayin much.

[richart107]

BACHMANN ANOTHER RIGHT WING ZELOT - HAS NO CLUE WHAT THE U.S. IS ABOUT???

[Progress4USA]

Two great comedians battle it out!!!!

[Ericwvb]

Republicans are sadists. They enjoy terrorizing the nation with the thought of incompetent, clueless empty vessels like Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin, or Rick Perry possibly becoming President!

[Leaderless]

Glad you are so happy with the present situations......

[verypublishedwriter]

"Leaderless," we're not. Prez Obama is remarkably capable and is performing beautifully. The single-minded, small-hearted objective of regressive skeez-buckets (virtually every "lawmaker" in the 2011 GOOP) is to self-servingly work to make it seem that he is not the leader that he indeed is.

How to fix this Republikkklan-created dilemma:

Vote President Obama, 2012!!!!!!!!

Vote U.S. Senate Democrats, 2012!!!!!!

Vote U.S. House of Representatives Democrats, 2012!!!!

[stupa5]

Bachman taking on Leno is like a baby chipmunk taking on my 13 pound cat !

[Excalibrationist]

by wfw3536 September 17, 2011 10:50 PM EDT
I am surprised anyone even watches Leno anymore.
===================================================================
....never have liked this non-funny guy from the start!
Have you noticed, though, he also reads jokes from a teleprompter?

[Ericwvb]

Wow, he uses a teleprompter like almost every entertainer and politician? Someone STOP THE PRESSES!

[Brookes_Joe_3]

I would like to congratulate Miss Bachmann for her wonderful 4th place finish at the California Corndog Convention, coming within 10 votes of third place finisher, Mitt Romney:

#1 - 374 - 44.9% - Ron Paul
#2 - 244 - 29.9% - Rick Perry
#3 - 074 - 08.8% - Mitt Romney
#4 - 064 - 07.7% - Michelle Bachmann

First place went to the one we trust.

[smittyc]

I would vote for Michelle Bachmann against Obama, no problem. I disagree with her over HPV vaccine but in the scheme of things I have disagreed with anyone elected whether I voted for them or not on some issues. In the primaries, it is still a toss up for me, the Republicans have put up a pretty responsible crowd and we need someone who is not going to spend their entire life in politics playing the blame game.

[ProgressiveRepublican]

Yes, responsible. Responsible for creating and perpetuating our economic mess and utterly unwilling to admit or do anything to fix it. Totally "deserving" of your vote. Yeesh...