Bachmann reveals "devastating" miscarriage

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., gets a hug from her husband Marcus following her formal announcement to seek the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, Monday, June 27, 2011, in Waterloo, Iowa.

/ AP

There was notable and powerful moment in last night's South Carolina town hall meeting with Michele Bachmann, when she revealed she once suffered a "devastating" miscarriage that she said changed her life and priorities.

"After our second was born, we became pregnant with a third baby. It was an unexpected baby, but of course we were delighted to have this child," Bachmann said told the crowd, in response to a question from an audience member. "The child was coming along and we ended up losing our child. And it was devastating to both of us, as you can imagine if any of you have lost a child."

CNN's Peter Hamby, who was at the event, reported that the audience of about 400 people was in "rapt" attention as Bachmann told the highly personal story.

"At that moment, we didn't think of ourselves as overly career-minded or overly materialistic but when we lost that child, it changed us, and it changed us forever," Bachmann said. "We made a commitment that no matter how many children were brought into our life, we would receive them because we are committed to life."

Politico's James Hohmann, also at the event (and estimated the crowd at 600 people), said Bachmann's highly personal revelation "marks another first for presidential politics," and was one that "could both humanize her and put a sharp point on her attacks on front runner Mitt Romney, whose position on abortion rights is often characterized as insufficiently conservative by the primary base."

21 Photos

Michele Bachmann on the campaign trail

[magnumdr]

Having a miscarrige is nothing that any woman wants to talk about. It is a hurtful and sad moment in any womans life. Please lay off from the personal issues and just report the facts about her bid for office!

[documemts]

"Bachmann reveals she's an --alien!

[catwoman1952]

WHAT A BUNCH OF C***

[bobbyboobee]

Now that everyone's found out she's just an empty headed witch whose ambition to become president is so strong as to be an obsession, even to the point of saying God told her to do it, she's decided she needs a little sympathy. Boo hoo. She had a miscarriage. Now we're supposed to feel sorry for the steely rabid *****.

[tmittelstaed]

She didn't "reveal" this, she has mentioned this before, a couple weeks ago. It's easy enough to find out if you research her.

And in no way does her having a miscarriage do ANYTHING to qualify her for President.

[willjla]

mb is a ****

[standaman25]

Yes, she unleashed her misery and anger on the rest of the country.

[nanc12]

by JV1970 July 1, 2011 10:51 AM EDT
I disagree with you! I think she's exactly the type of person we need as president

-----------------------
Now, this is news. JV has dumped Sarah for her twin, Michelle.

[JV1970]

No, I have not "dumped" Sarah! Sarah Palin is still my favorite but since we don't know if she's going to run or not, to put it in country lingo "I'm just not putting all my eggs in one basket." I also like Herman Cain and Rick Perry if he decides to run.

I know that soon I'll have to choose one of them but I'm waiting to see if Palin and Perry get in the race. All four of my choices represent my conservative Christian Republican views and values.

[nanc12]

Not quite sure why this is news. She told this story in 2008, so why is it a big deal now?

[longtree-2009]

hard to believe bachmann about anything anymore. she has lied boldly by denying she ever took susidies for her farm and that her husband accepted the same for his business. only in the face of evidence, her financial disclosures and other records, did she fully admit to taking the subsidies but she rationalized why they were accepted. she rails about the economy and federal spending but she and her family are on the take of corporate welfare for want of a better term for subsidies. as for the miscarriage, there are no doubt millions of females who have had the same experience. she is evasive in interviews, and demonstrated how mean spirited she is when she refused chris wallace's apology for what seems like a non-issue but he offered it anyway. she demonstrates that she can hold a grudge. as of today, she is hardly presidential by any stretch of the imagination. it is a wonder she has any supporters at all.

[JV1970]

I disagree with you! I think she's exactly the type of person we need as president and as for Wallace's "apology", it was clear that the only reason he gave it was because his viewers insisted! He later, though, called her and gave her a real apology that she accepted. CBS didn't report that.