Bachmann: I don't hate Muslims, 'I love the American people'

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann on Saturday denied that she "hates Muslims."

In an interview with NBC's Jay Leno Friday, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) claimed that Bachmann "doesn't like Muslims."

"She hates Muslims," Paul said. "She hates them. She wants to go get them."

Fox News host Mike Huckabee told Bachmann Saturday that he had never seen her act like she hated Muslims.

"You never have because I never have said anything that foolish," Bachmann explained. "What I believe is that I love the American people and I love this country, and I want this country to be safe, sovereign and free."

"Let's address that specific allegation that you hate Muslims," Huckabee pressed. "Do you hate Muslims?"

"Of course not," Bachmann insisted. "I don't hate Muslims. It's outrageous to say that, but I do recognize that we have a very real threat. Just like when Hitler was building up the threat prior to World War II. All of the signs were there and they were evident, and there were people that wanted to bury their heads in the sand."

Watch this video from Fox News's This Week, broadcast Dec. 18, 2011.