Bachmann accuses GOP candidates of being 'frugal socialists'
Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann asserted on Monday that many of her fellow Republican candidates were "frugal socialists," possibly referring to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Speaking to the conservative Family Research Council, the Minnesota congresswoman explained that President Barack Obama was engaging in a "massive redistribution of wealth and a politics of Occupy Wall Street envy to achieve his purposes."
"The president's economic policies -- most notable of which is Obamacare -- represent the most ambitious social economic engineering project in this history of the United States," Bachmann charged. "Contrast that with the 10th Amendment -- I'm sorry the 10th Commandment -- which teaches that we should not covet that which belongs to our neighbor."
"Socialism means failure and socialism kills a growing economy. ... Because socialism is a principle that I will reject, and I will work to eradicate socialism all across the United States government. Unfortunately for too many Republicans, they also aspire to be frugal socialists. ... We can't preserve liberty if the choice a year from now is between a frugal socialist and an out-of-control socialist."
Politico's Reid Epstein later asked the congresswoman which "frugal socialist" Republicans she was referring to.
"Well, you see, that's part of the puzzle that you figure out," she replied. "But good try."
At one point in her speech, Bachmann complained that Congress had improperly applied the Constitution's Commerce Clause to regulate efficiency standards for light bulbs.
"In response, I championed the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act," she explained. "I believe in liberty for light bulbs."
But when it came to the issue of abortion, the candidate declared she was in favor of strict government regulation.
"If we don't respect those who are born and unborn then our morals and our values will be without meaning in the future," she said. "I believe it is the role of government to protect life from conception to natural death, and I'll never be confused about that issue. You won't find YouTube clips of me advocating anything else. ... For starters, Planned Parenthood in my administration will be zeroed out."
One supporter told the GOP hopeful that she was concerned that Sharia law was a "national security threat."
"It's the infiltration of another form of government that is trying to take over our Constitution through a law called Sharia law," the woman remarked. "What is your position on that fact that right now, there are approximately 50 states that are at the trial level and at the court of appeals level basically going on behalf of Sharia law rather than our U.S. constitutional law?"
"Sharia law is not the law of the United States," Bachmann stated. "This is an issue that Americans are rightly concerned about all across the United States of America. We are not a nation that is bringing in Sharia law to be the law of the land, and it must be resisted."