Michele Bachmann: 'I Would Reinstate The Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy'

Bachmann Touts Support For Controversial Policies

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) reiterated that she would reinstate the "don't ask, don't tell" policy if she were elected president on a conference call with Ralph Reed's Faith and Freedom Coalition, reports the Minnesota Independent.

Bachmann took calls from supporters, including one who said that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would "destroy the armed forces," before being cut off.

"I think of all the candidates that are running in the race, I have been very vocal about this," said Bachmann according to the Independent. "I would reinstate the don't ask, don't tell policy. It worked before and what it says is the issue of sexuality is one that doesn't come up and people aren't allowed to be open about it because the United States military, it's not a social experiment."

Bachmann has said multiple times that she would reinstate the policy that bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

Bachmann praised the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Minnesota that will go to voters in 2012: "We also believe that God has a design for marriage between one man and one woman. I was the chief author of the marriage amendment in Minnesota and we persisted, and after seven years, in a very hostile liberal state, we finally passed that marriage amendment and it will be on the ballot and I believe it will pass in 2012." (Minnesota already bans gay marriage by statute, but opponents wanted to add a constitutional amendment to keep a court from ruling in favor of it.)

"Don't settle. Don't settle for anyone less than a candidate that will stand up for pro-life, pro-family, pro-marriage issues," she said. Bachmann is running in single digits in recent polls after winning the Iowa Straw Poll in August. That victory coincided with the entrance of Texas Gov. Rick Perry into the race, and she's been sliding downhill ever since. She is reportedly running out of money to fund her campaign.

"I have a titanium spine. I will put my spine up against any man who is running in this race," she said.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot