Bachmann says Obama is "waving a tar baby"

CBS News

(CBS News) Rep. Michele Bachmann charged the president with caring only about his re-election. She also called him "irresponsible" and "infantile" for failing to address the economy and energy prices.

"This is just about waving a tar baby in the air," Bachmann told a conservative Florida website The Shark Tank in a video interview. "The president is a complete and utter fraud and a hypocrite on this issue, with all due respect," she said, referring to the president's energy policy.

Bachmann has come under fire for using the term "tar baby," which is a phrase that denotes a sticky situation and refers to a children's story, the Brer Rabbit. However, the term is also considered derogatory toward African Americans.

Bachmann's spokesperson 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."

Throughout the interview, Bachmann's hit the president hard, calling him "infantile."

"I have never seen a more irresponsible president who is infantile in the way he continually blames everybody else for his failure to first diagnose the problem and second to address the problem," Bachmann said.

She charged him with being focused on one thing. "All you have to know about President Obama is filtered through a grid called his re-election. Everything he does. It has nothing to do with priorities of the country. It has nothing to do with turning around the economy," Bachmann said. (Watch the interview below.)

[queenbee90]

It is my position that the history of American politics is conflict orientated in nature and therefore I do not object to opposing views, viewpoints, positions etc. However, when words such as "tar baby" a term made popular through tenets of racial superiority on the part of a member of the "white" race in reference to a member who looks like he is in the Black race (technically for all intents and purposes, he could be traditionally classified as a "mulatto"), it is clear that historically demeaning racial terms is still very much a part of the vernacular of those who "lead". In lieu of this reality, meaningful discussions will not be engaged less more problems solved. So in the end, who is "infantile"? Now to economics. A historical review of the economic foundation of this country reveals that it has prospered based on the exploitation of labor in one form or another starting with slavery. Slaves were on the stock market and today the prison industrial complex is on the stock market with stock worth in the billions. We all know what population makes up the majority of prisons. I find it interesting that we as Americans continually purport our moral superiority in comparison to other nations. In any event, these are just some thoughts coming from a middle aged African American women and we all know in the scheme of things what that is worth!

[jgnv]

"Bachmann has come under fire for using the term "tar baby," which is a phrase that denotes a sticky situation and refers to a children's story, the Brer Rabbit. However, the term is also considered derogatory toward African Americans."

Now that she is no longer a candidate, I guess she feels it's ok to use racial slang terms when commenting on the President of the United States. I seriously question our first ammendment right at times when citizens are allowed to speak in such disrespectful terms regarding the President.

[almnbros]

she is what is wrong for this country

[Mrsthing]

As a Representative of Minnesota. How did you allow the whole state shut down. If you can't help your own state. How in the hell can you run the country.

[sgt0027]

Just when I thought we would never hear from HER again....

[Hokiehi]

This woman claim that she is a Christian along with so many others in the GOP. Only about 10% of them truly live like their lives have been changed by HIS SPIRIT. However, Michelle Bachman has clearly demonstrated through her mouth and rhetoric that she is not connected to JESUS. Instead, she is being controlled by the demonic spirit of satan. She is disrespectful, hateful and will say anything to rile up an illiterate and often ill-informed group of constitiuents who buy into racial stereotyping and bigotry. Her code language is well understood by her ill informed constituency. While she has freedom of speech, she should be careful of how she uses word if she desire people to think that she represent JESUSS. If not, her mouth and nasty and wicked atitude is blasphemous to HIS name.

[wildemanne]

what a bigoted pig slob she is but she's toilet party so we couldn't expect anything better considering her educational background

[norcalruss]

"The president is a complete and utter fraud and a hypocrite on this issue, with all due respect,"
++++++++++++++++++++
Like anyone cares what Bachmann thinks. With all due respect? I don't see much respect at all from this delusional b y o t c h. No wonder she finished dead last in Iowa and her campaign collapsed soon afterward.

[TimeToEvolve]

Can you even believe that anyone would vote for this clueless, airheaded Republicon extremist. It's unbelievable. And embarrassing.

[audemus]

You can fix ignorant, stupid is terminal.

[MIO42]

Bullseye !