June 26, 2011 10:41 AM

Bachmann: Got "sense" from God to run for office

By
Lucy Madison

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., says that she prayed to God about whether or not to run for political office and that those prayers provided her with a "sense from God" of "assurance about the direction" she was taking.

In a Sunday morning appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation," Bachmann - who will formally announce her presidential campaign in Iowa on Monday - responded to questions about statements she has made in the past that God "called me to run for the United States Congress."

"I am a Christian, as is my husband. I became a Christian when I was 16 years old. I gave my heart to Jesus Christ," Bachmann told CBS' Bob Schieffer. "Since that time, I've been a person of prayer. And so when I pray, I pray believing that God will speak to me and give me an answer to that prayer.

"That's what a calling is," continued the Tea Party favorite. "If I pray, a calling means that I feel like I have a sense from God."

Bachmann says she asked God about running for political office.

"Did God tell you He wanted you to run for the Minnesota State Senate, or something like that?" Schieffer asked.

"I prayed about that, as well," Bachmann said. "And that's really what that means. It means that I have a sense of assurance about the direction I think that God is speaking into my heart that I should go."

Bachmann also reiterated her opposition to same-sex marriage, noting that "I stand for the proposition that marriage is between a man and a woman."

"The people of New York came to a different conclusion," Bachmann said, referring to the New York State legislature's recent approval of same-sex marriage in the state. "I think what we know is that, ultimately, you have all the various laws in the various states. There'll be a conflict if someone from ... New York, for instance, moves to a state where marriage is between a man [and] a woman, will these marriages be recognized. Ultimately, it'll go to the courts."

When asked specifically whether, as President of the United States, she would decline to nominate a judge because he or she supported same-sex marriage, Bachmann was indirect.

"I want people who are for the Constitution," she said. "That's my litmus test. I want judges who are committed to the fidelity of the Constitution... and not acting outside the bounds of Article Three," which establishes the judicial branch of the federal government.

When asked point blank if she thought homosexuality was a choice, Bachmann said she was not "running to be anyone's judge."

"I firmly believe that people need to make their own decisions about that. But I am running for the presidency of the United States. I am not running to be anyone's judge. And that's where I'm coming from in this race."

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Michele Bachmann on the campaign trail

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  • Lucy Madison

    Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.

Add a Comment See all 646 Comments
by daffy64 August 14, 2011 8:14 PM EDT
I have a sense from God that many Conservative politicians essentially "pray on street corners" to entice people to vote for them. Shameful.
Reply to this comment
by endrepubs August 14, 2011 6:36 PM EDT
God is telling me NOT to vote for her.
Reply to this comment
by meshine July 24, 2011 1:32 PM EDT
The Texas drunk prayed to God before he ordered the attack against Iraq. If this idiot Bachmann becomes President, which country out there is going to be victimized by her after she get that attack answer from God.
Reply to this comment
by leftyintexas July 24, 2011 1:10 PM EDT
Hahahaha! What a nut job! And I thought Sarah Palin couldn't be topped! Are there real people out there who would actually vote for that clown? My....if so, this country is in worse shape than I thought.
Reply to this comment
by lucifersshadow July 1, 2011 7:36 AM EDT
I got a "sense" from god too, and said he was tired of these wack jobs using him as a reference, as if he were the only reference they had. He said he was dissappointed that George Bush had let him down but that Sara Palin was his biggest source of entertainment, and Odonnell was just plain loopy. I asked him why he created such a fruitcake, but he just ignored the question and gave me some jive about saving my soul. I said, "Well why not just save the whole of humanity instead?", but he started mumbling something about all the foul sinners out there. I said, how can you be perfect if you create someone in your own image like that? I booted him in the behind and told him "Fix it, you silly god!" He said, no I do not need to, Bachmann will fix it all, and then I woke up laughing . . .
Reply to this comment
by whammersley June 30, 2011 8:16 AM EDT
Michele, you're a pretty lady but you have the ability of a tree stump. If you, by any chance, win the nomination, I'll sit this one out.
Reply to this comment
by jkelley761 June 29, 2011 12:10 PM EDT
Oh No, Not another one. Didn't Dubya use a similar line before he screwed us all including the Iraqis. Don't these "GOD" people ever go away? They always invoke "God" just before they screw us all.
Reply to this comment
by NorthrupP61 June 28, 2011 6:01 PM EDT
If she's telling the truth (hello, politician remember?) God obviously has a sense of humor.
Reply to this comment
by Molly-Pchr June 28, 2011 7:46 PM EDT
Don't worry. When the Rapture occurs, the White House will be empty.
by Lindag10 June 28, 2011 10:19 PM EDT
Molly: Speaking of the Rapture, do you have any idea what happened to that Camping guy? Last I heard of him,he'd had a stroke. Just wondering.
by gouldbj June 28, 2011 2:00 PM EDT
god must be an idiot.
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti June 28, 2011 1:26 PM EDT
When a radical extremist wacko like Bachmann can even sniff an elected office, it is a sad, sick time for the world. I really think we are doomed because this is how far down the toilet we have slid.

The Corporation backed Republicons can take a complete idiot like Bachmann or Palin or (fill in the blank of a congressional Republicon) and puppet them into office.
Reply to this comment
by NorthrupP61 June 28, 2011 6:09 PM EDT
Yes, corporate America wants a puppet and the easily frightened and gullible wingers want someone to feed them sound bites and catch phrases.
Truth is only for elitists and education is suspect.
Bachmann isn't QUITE the lowest common denominator, but Palin is.
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