GOP presidential candidate and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said her recent comment that the recent natural disasters were messages from God to get politicians’ attention was a “metaphor.”
Bachmann was widely ridiculed for the comments earlier this week, which her aides quickly said were made “in jest.”
Appearing on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday, host Bob Schieffer asked Bachmann if she really believes God uses the weather to send messages to people on Earth.
“Obviously I was speaking metaphorically,” she said. “That was clear to the audience, it was clear to me. Because the American people have been trying to get the president’s attention. He’s not paying attention.”
Schieffer repeated the question again about whether she believes God sends messages through the weather.
“I believe in God, I’m not ashamed to say I believe in God. I’m a woman of faith and a woman of prayer,” she answered. “The comment that I made right then was a metaphor and that was very simply what I was doing.”
Watch the full exchange below, via Mediaite:
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Comments (81)
nowhereman
Sep. 4, 2011 at 6:54pm“I don’t know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians, we’ve had an earthquake; we’ve had a hurricane. He said, ‘Are you going to start listening to me here?’ Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we’ve got to rein in the spending.”
…and at another Florida rally.
“Washington D.C., you’d think by now they’d get the message,an earthquake, a hurricane. Are you listening? The American people have done everything they can, and now it’s time for an act of God and we’re getting it.”
Still trying to figure out out how you explain these away as a “Metaphors”.
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WhoIsTheCoon
Sep. 4, 2011 at 9:48pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbvnN5VHzpg this is ppsimmons. A very smart man.
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jzs
Sep. 4, 2011 at 11:50pmBachmann is just carrying on the a tradition that goes back thousands of years, trying to find meaning, God’s signs, in meteorological events, earthquakes, floods and whatever dramatic events that occur. Someone running for President looking for those “signs” in wordd events should be diqualified, at least among voters.
I think all the extreme weather we’ve had, hurricanes, drought, tornadoes ets. really is a sign from God. And he’s saying, “Stop polluting the environment of this Good Earth.”
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DTOM_Jericho (Creator vindicator)
Sep. 5, 2011 at 10:27amYou do not believe that “Shaw” or you would not have capitalized good earth you pagan hippy. You completely lied but that’s okay because for you it’s a means to an end. Remember now, you hippy fks are 10-20% and there is a larger chunk of us that bear arms. Also remember, that bearing arms is okay with you because it’s survival of the fittest –you hypocritical, pagan pseudo-elite-wannabe.
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nowhereman
Sep. 6, 2011 at 3:00amIs Congresswoman Bachmann truly privy to God’s intentions concerning weather? Who is? Using God politically, “in jest” or “metaphorically” is not appropriate, especially when great destruction and lose of life has occurred.
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wildbluyonder11
Sep. 6, 2011 at 8:35am@JZS, it’s ironic that you would poke fun at Bachmann or anyone for saying that extreme weather events are signs from God, yet you go on to credit some massive “global warming, climate change” hoax for the “extreme weather”.
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Hisemiester
Sep. 4, 2011 at 6:48pmDon’t know but he does use Whales. Ha
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freedomislikeair
Sep. 4, 2011 at 4:59pmhobbits unite ! no more barark hussein obama ! repeal obamacare ! do you want to be part of the Federal Family or the solution to illogical economic fantasies that will doom our country. our country is not to big to fail. we need to find a candidate that will fix a problem that they inherit,not blame disasters. lets get rid of the permanent political class. america needs to stay strong and not apologize for our sucess ! stand up for freedom and liberty over oppressi!ve big gov’t !
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Tracking
Sep. 4, 2011 at 4:54pmIf the comments from some of these posters are real, & they believe what they are saying, no wonder Republicans are in trouble. Yes, Democrats too.
I don’t want anyone in office that runs around justifying everything they do & say and attribute it to God or anyone else. Take personal responsibilty for all you say and do for a “Change”.
Our country is in trouble & we need responsible, sane & clear speaking people to say what they mean & mean what they say. Stand behind whatever you say & don’t skirt the issues or be unable to answer the questions. Explain youself & stop speaking in metaphors.
Stop using religion & God to explain all the worlds problems away. Bush used Christianity to his advantage & used it against every one of us to gain more power & control. Look at the Patriot Act. All to keep us safe. A good crisis never goes to waste when they can use it to enact more laws & legislation to restrict your liberties & freedoms. They all do it.
There was a time when we built bomb shelters & used blackout curtains & had 25,000 missles and nuclear missles pointed at us from many directions at once & we didn’t have to have our freedoms & liberties taken away or enact more laws to keep us safe.
We have indeed, been in much worse danger & didn’t have to have a Patriot Act. Wake up before you lose all your freedoms in the name of fear mongering & a good crisis. What will the next crisis bring in the way of new laws and less freedoms? Can you not see that?
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kenboo1
Sep. 4, 2011 at 7:27pmWhy do conservatives go on Bobby Schieffer’s program in the first place? He is liberal and stupid! Liberals said George Bush made Katrina hit New Orleans. Who do we think has more power: The president of the United States or an Omnipotent God working through Mother Nature? Most importantly, I don’t feel God does stuff to get peoples attention. God placed the earth in motion and stepped back and said it is good! Then he sent his son to die for our sins. There is a point of either accept him or reject him that has to be acknowledged and determined by each individual.
There is no denying that we are a Christian Nation. The history of the founders discusses and disproves anything to the contrary. Freedom, gives us our strength. Along with freedom and rights comes responsibility, to our neighbors and to our country. We are in a financial mess that we are not going to get out of until we pull our collective heads out of our collective asses…
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tifosa
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:54pmThe God my mother believes in keeps people safe when weather causes tragedy/destruction.
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joe1234
Sep. 4, 2011 at 9:34pmyou do know that people die during weather events right? so why does He keep some safe and let others die?
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EQUALBALANCE
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:53pmI read The Blaze every day and also read the comments. As a result, I am seriously considering building an ARK. Anybody out there got any shittim wood? (NO….I’m not being funky…..that’s what the building of the Ark called for……… Anyway….Happy Labor Day to all……even you progressives.
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christos
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:34pm…….Michele Bachmann is correct the King James Bible clearly states +GOD+ controls the weather and uses it as a messenger and avenger Bob Schieffer does not believe in +GOD+ or he would realize he is on the wrong side,Mr.Bob Schieffer should feel privileged to to interview One of +GODS+ Children of Royalty of +KING JESUS+ instead he Mocked +GODS+JESUS+ Child ,,,,,,, Bess Him
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christos
Sep. 4, 2011 at 5:32pmEdit: Mr Bob Schieffer should feel privileged to interview One of +GODS+ Children
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sURFNmADNESS
Sep. 5, 2011 at 12:35amBob does not believe in God only per God does not have a twitter page nor has he liked Bob on facebook.
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NHABE64
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:32pmThe amount of money Obama and his sewer rats will use to do all they can to discredit this fine woman has to be astronomical. Obama and his socialist party have a lot of money to spend and seeing as they have NO PLAN of their own, they can only attack the GOP candidates and will they ever. Its not going to work Obama, but its your money or is that Geore Soros’s and the Muslim Brotherhood’s money ???Hmmmm…?
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WhoIsTheCoon
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:24pmHow else would GOD speak with people on Earth? Just open up the megaphone and say, HEY STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING? She is a coward who is not brave enough to stand by her convictions. God, gave us rainbows to remind him not to destroy us by floods anymore. God gave us disasters to let us know when he is unhappy on our decisions. Yes, GOD speaks through weather and other natural disasters.
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vivrobbins
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:55pmIt seems obvious to me that if you believe God talks to people in any way, your NUTS!
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13th Imam
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:13pmIt seems obvious to me that you can’t see past the tip of your nose.
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UlyssesP
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:52pmBrett, this can’t be true. Your mom is under a pier on the beach getting eaten by crabs. I left her there after the rape last week. Are you sure that’s your mom?
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rexjonas
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:47pmHere is the answer she should have given: Obviously He spoke very forcefully through the weather to Jonah and Noah, but has He done it anytime recently? I would have to say I do not know since I do not know the mind of God. Since the press obviously does not know the meaning of metaphor and allegory I will just have to be more direct in my speech in the future.
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MSG
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:16pmVery nice answer
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coindexter
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:38pmbretteferrel you are an ass…get off our freakin web site this is for blazers to speak our minds. hit the road you inconsiderate jackov. and we are not going to your link idiotpoopiepantsmoron.
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coindexter
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:34pmlike who?
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coindexter
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:30pmbachman should duck out of this race…gracefully bow out of the primaries. the tea party is split between her and ron paul. if they could unite behind ron paul we could have a little bit of joy watching the establishment and the media try to ignore ron paul and try to explain away the fact that he would be the front runner. besides she comes off as robotic and most folks want the opposite…a real person in the white house.
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Mil-Dot
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:19pmHave you ever heard of capital letters in sentences Coin? Before you go telling others they are stupid, look in the mirror.
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Ranubis
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:43pmI don’t know, I was think maybe Ron Paul should bow out, considering he as much chance of getting elected by the right, as Dennis Krucinich dose on the left.
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USAMama
Sep. 4, 2011 at 4:10pmI disagree, of the two I’d rather see Ron Paul bow out. He’s too much of an isolationist. While I don’t like being the “worlds police” I do think we need to be aware of threats against us and defend ourselves when necessary. Quite honestly his view on Iran terrifies me.
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freedomislikeair
Sep. 4, 2011 at 4:47pmbachman for 2012, paul hell no!
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mlcblog
Sep. 5, 2011 at 5:00amshe’s doing a real nice job but Palin’s got the juice
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Vechorik
Sep. 5, 2011 at 10:47amName the candidate for President from either party (besides Ron Paul) who passionately excoriates preemptive war doctrine.
Name the candidate for President from either party (besides Ron Paul) who is emotional about getting the US out of the UN and getting the UN out of the US.
Name the candidate for President from either major party (besides Ron Paul) who has called for the elimination of the Federal Reserve, or who has passionately called for the return to sound money, or who has emotionally resisted the globalist agenda of the Council on Foreign Relations or Trilateral Commission or the Bilderbergers.
Name the candidate for President from either party (besides Ron Paul) who has emotionally voiced his or her objection to US forces occupying over 100 countries and the CIA meddling with the internal political affairs of sovereign nations all over the world.
Name the candidate for President from either major party (besides Ron Paul) who passionately calls for an end to unnecessary foreign aid.
Ron Paul supports the right to keep and bear arms, homeschooling, and the proposed Sanctity of Life Act, which would define “human life” and legal personhood as beginning at conception.
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ROB RAGE
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:05pmAnother Good metaphor is Hurricane Obama…The most destructive and costly disaster in American history…The Gift from Hell…that keeps on giving…It’ll take 50 years to recover from this manmade castastrophy.>>!
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jb.kibs
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:11pmnot THAT is a metaphor… ;P
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jb.kibs
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:11pmdang, i mean NOW… LOL
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whatthecrazy
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:02pmSay what you mean and mean what you say not so hard to do…..
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dissentnow
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:58pmI’m sure that the family members of those that died during the hurricane find her “metaphor” to be really funny.
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UlyssesP
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:53pmYou seem to be sure about a lot of things. Seem…..
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dissentnow
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:52pmI sure seem to spot a neoconservative mark when i see one.
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READRIGHTHERE
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:52pmLaw maker turned president. Didn’t work well in 1960 or 2008. Let’s not and say we never will again. Michelle, you are needed where you are, don’t mistake one calling for another. History is sending us messages, we had better listen.
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jb.kibs
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:52pm“… host Bob Schieffer asked Bachmann if she really believes God uses the weather to send messages to people on Earth.”
“If you acknowledge that God exists, then … well … God can do whatever they want, Bob… Hence, GOD. If not, then simply, You would never understand, Bob. Yes I believe that God can send messages through weather. Because, I believe in God and know his endless power.” next question…
was he trying to have a philisophical debate about God’s powers? Or what? ask yourself that…
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CatB
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:00pmWonder if he has ever heard anything about a great flood and an ark?
Seriously I am awaiting the insects …. then we should know!
TEA!
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Vechorik
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:25pmI can’t help but think you’re misinformed when you write TEA.
Michelle Bachmann put a Christian twist to the original Tea Party ideas and progressives immediately hated her.
REAL TEA — without the Christian-bias anyone?
The Tea Party Started In 2007 And Ron Paul Is The Godfather
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bNiDx7qTjA
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qpwillie
Sep. 4, 2011 at 4:28pmVechorik,
That was a one day event. It never developed into a movement by that name. Whether the people who decided to call the rally in DC that actually started the movement were thinking of that Ron Paul event is not known. It doesn’t matter – The tea party movement has little to do with the reenactments done by the Ron Paul cult in 2007.
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CatB
Sep. 4, 2011 at 10:58pmThe TRUE TEA Party — born April 15, 2009 .. when Americans ACROSS the country held the FIRST TEA Parties …. TEA!
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psst
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:45pmShe should have answered, Bob, I said that in jest, afterall, I’m just like you, I don’t believe in God.
He would have had to respond to her that he either believes or he does not.
Can you picture the moment when a leftist have to tell the World (on national TV)he does not believe.
Or if he said he did, but does not believe the hurricane was God sending a message, he would be an outcast amongst his fellow water carriers for saying he’s a believer.
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jb.kibs
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:54pmi agree.
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tifosa
Sep. 4, 2011 at 4:29pmDid you write Christine O’Donnell’s famous ad?
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PATTY HENRY
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:40pmGOOD GRIEF!!! Woman, if you are going to say something, at least have the guts to stand by it.
ALL THINGS come from GOD. The more we know GOD the more we understand that.
IF you meant to say that “GOD could not possibly be pleased with our GOD-LESS ways” and “needed to prove to everyone He created that in the end…HE is in Charge” then have the guts to say so.
You need to pack up your offices, leave the campaigning to someone who is NOT afraid to say what SHE means, as proven again yesterday in IOWA.
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jb.kibs
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:54pmyes…
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UBETHECHANGE
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:12pmBob Schieffer is an outdated political left wing hack. Retire already you nonjournalist. Go Michelle you tell him!
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8jrts
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:39pmYou are so right about “Shiftless Bob”! I watched Bobby roll his eyes at every answer Huckabee gave him during an interview 4 years ago about the primaries. What a jerk…he didn’t even attempt to listen to the answers. Shiftless Bob is never on my TV anymore, no matter who he interviews.
As for Michelle, well….I like her but she sure does make her share of gaffs and misunderstood statements. She needs to fix that if she plans to win.
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jb.kibs
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:09pmwhat did she “tell him” exactly? the only thing she told me was that she is a parrot, and doesn’t really believe what she is saying…
there is no “metaphor” for what she said… if you know the equivelant to what she said, please enlighten us, because she didn’t… she just said it was a metaphor, but didn’t explain for what…
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13th Imam
Sep. 4, 2011 at 3:21pmThe so- called journalist didn’t ask ??
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MODEL82A1
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:08pmPack it in, Michelle. You are a laughing stock to 51% of Americans already.
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stumblemouth
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:06pmConservative politicians should be less worried about getting airtime and more concerned about lefty reporters trying to sandbag them at every opportunity.
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MODEL82A1
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:11pmThat statement makes no sense whatsoever.
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SamIamTwo
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:13pmIt rains on the just and unjust.
Yeppers, at some point someone needs to floor them with words. I’m waiting for the patient and kind conservative to do a little better with the press…
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stumblemouth
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:17pmInstead of appearing on every show they can, conservative politicians should be careful about which outlets and reporters they deal with. The majority of “reporters,” after all, are lefties who carry water for Obama. They want to have that “gotcha” moment.
If you don’t get that, take an English comprehension course.
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jb.kibs
Sep. 4, 2011 at 1:59pmna, it’s good for us too… we can see how they don’t really stand behind what the “say they believe in”…
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saranda
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:07pmWhen did questions about what someone has said become “gotcha” questions? The whole political debate has been dumbed down by the likes of Palin. Bschmann and Perry, who say (or in Perry’s case, write) something but then refuse to ever address it again under the guise of it being a gotcha question. If you said it, it is open season on answering for it.
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Exrepublisheep
Sep. 4, 2011 at 2:18pm@saranda. Perfectly said.
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tifosa
Sep. 4, 2011 at 4:41pmI second, KUDOS Saranda. Tina doing $arah said it well too: “I just hope that tonight the lamestream media won’t twist my words by repeating them verbatim.”
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stumblemouth
Sep. 4, 2011 at 5:21pmThe question was repeated. Was that because Schieffer was hoping for a different answer?
It’s interesting that Fey as Palin was quoted, because the LSM actually DID use lines from SNL sketches and present them as Palin quotes. That shows LSM willingness to lie and deceive, but then there are thousands of those examples.
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