Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.)

In Congress, she has voted against an increase in Pell Grants, as well as lower interest rates and raised borrowing limits for student loans, citing the efforts as too expensive.

Separation of Church and State

Bachmann has lobbied hard throughout her political career for the teaching in schools of intelligent design, the belief that some aspects of existence are best attributable to a superior being. She has argued that evolution is a theory that has never been proven. In the state Senate, she coauthored a bill requiring intelligent design to be part of the school curriculum, and, in 2003, she participated in a "Ten Commandments Rally" at the Minnesota state capitol, calling for the posting of the Ten Commandments at public schools and buildings.

Opposing Gay Rights

Bachmann is a staunch opponent of expanding gay rights. In the state Senate in 2004, she proposed a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and then organized a "Minnesota for Marriage" rally in which she told supporters to flood the state Senate and directly lobby opponents of the measure.As a result, Senate business ground to a halt and the session ended in stalemate.

Bachmann again proposed the amendment the following year and held a second rally, but the legislation was rejected. She supports a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and also opposes other arrangements such as civil unions. She has called homosexuality a sexual "dysfunction" and accused the gay community of targeting children.

Iraq

Bachmann supported the 2007 Iraq troop surge and continued to oppose a timeline for pullout of American troops. She caused controversy by publicly claiming that Iran had a plan to control half of Iraq and use the territory to launch terrorist attacks throughout the Mideast region.

Energy

Bachmann's stances on energy have ranged from issues large (introducing legislation to reduce dependence on foreign oil sources and increase domestic production) to small (introducing legislation to repeal a nationwide phase-out of conventional light bulbs).

She is a strong advocate of increasing domestic oil and natural gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Outer Continental Shelf; she is also a proponent of renewable energy. She has voted to combat rising energy costs.

The Economy

Like all other House Republicans, Bachmann voted against President Obama's February 2009 economic stimulus package approved by Congress. Bachmann has strict anti-tax principles, and believes strongly in small government. She opposed the federal bailouts of financial institutions and the American auto industry in 2008, and has argued for breaking up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. She also opposes increases in the federal minimum wage.

Patriotism

Bachmann drew intense criticism for another statement made on MSNBC's Hardall during the 2008 presidential race, when she was "very concerned" that then-candidate Obama "may have anti-American views;" she cited Obama's links to Pastor Jeremiah Wright and education reformer Bill Ayers.

But Bachmann was quick to backtrack after being taken to task even by those in her own party. Then-Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) denounced her remarks, as did 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Both Colin Powell and a former Minnesota GOP governor publicly backed Obama in direct response to the comments.

A movement for an official congressional censure of Bachmann gathered 35,000 signatures within 24 hours of the Hardball interview. The comments reflected her general distrust of liberal philosophy as anti-capitalist; in the state Senate in 2001, she publicly accused Congress of trying to replace free-market ideals with a socialist, globalist worldview disloyal to America.

Abortion Foe

Bachmann is a strong opponent of abortion rights, except in cases of rape or incest. In the state Senate, she introduced legislation to limit public funding for abortion.

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