(CNN) – A day after a GOP presidential debate, White House hopeful Ron Paul upbraided rival candidate Michele Bachmann for disliking Muslims.
"She hates Muslims," Paul said on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Friday. "She wants to go get 'em."
Paul failed to elaborate further. His remarks follow his heated exchange with Bachmann during Thursday night's debate when the two argued about Iran's nuclear development program.
Paul strongly disputed Bachmann's claim that Iran was "within just months" of developing a nuclear bomb and blasted U.S. sanctions against Iran as an "act of war."
A staunch non-interventionist, Paul urged the government to use diplomats to resolve the situation.
Bachmann, in response, ripped into Paul's position, describing it as one that seriously underestimates Iran's intentions.
"I think I have never heard a more dangerous answer for American security than the one that we just heard from Ron Paul," Bachmann said, receiving wide applause.
The International Atomic Energy Agency released a 14-page report on Nov. 8 concluding there were "credible" and "serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program."
Both candidates continued to argue about the issue, creating one of the most intense moments of the night.
Bachmann pointed to the Iranian constitution, saying the Islamic republic's "mission is to extend jihad across the world and eventually to set up a worldwide caliphate."
She added: "We would be fools and knaves to ignore their purpose and their plan."
Paul quickly fired back, saying he, too, didn't want to see Iran with a nuclear weapon. But he said that Bachmann was portraying a skewed view of the Muslim world.
"To declare war on 1.2 billion Muslims and say all Muslims are the same, this is dangerous talk," Paul said. "Yeah, there are some radicals, but they don't come here to kill us because we're free and prosperous."
Responding to Paul's answer on "The Tonight Show," Bachmann on Saturday said his statement was "outrageous."
"Of course I don't hate Muslims. That's an absolutely outrageous statement. What I love are Americans and the American people," she said at a campaign stop in Iowa.
She went on to claim that the "true hatred" was coming from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who in 2005 quoted a remark from Ayatollah Khomeini, founder of Iran's Islamic revolution, that Israel "must be wiped out from the map of the world."
"As Commander-in-Chief I will stand for the safety and security of the American people. I think, quite frankly, with all due respect to my colleague, that Ron Paul would make a very dangerous president because he doesn't understand this threat," she said.
Paul's answer about Bachmann on Leno's show Friday night came amid a lightning round of questions from the TV host, who asked Paul to comment on each of his presidential rivals.
The Texas congressman gave a similar answer when Leno mentioned former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, a strong social conservative who frequently takes a strong conservative stance on gay rights.
Paul said Santorum doesn't like "gay people and Muslims."
And as for the current front-runners, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Paul gained laughs when he said the two candidates should go back to their old jobs.
– CNN's Chris Welch contributed to this report.
Also see:
Gingrich 'editing' his words as campaign acknowledges concern
Bachmann camp: Gingrich morphs positions based on 'who's paying'
From CNN Politics
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Wow, never thought I could like a Republican but I like this guy a lot....
She not only said Iran was months away from having a nuclear bomb, she said that "we know without a shadow of a doubt that Iran will take a nuclear weapon, they will use it to wipe our ally Israel off the face of the map and they said they will use it against the United States of America", a statement that politifact rates as false:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/nov/23/michele-bachmann/michele-bachmann-says-iran-has-threatended-launch-/
Asked to comment on these two:
Dr Paul comes across as the nutty professor... Bachmann as a looney toon... and how much money do these two crazy toons earn a year, I hardly think they have much concern for a person earning $30K a year... a professor just wants you to pay your tuition and come to class and learn otherwise go to the disbursing office and see me when your tuition is paid.
Bachmann is like Herman sweet sugar Caine "9-9-9" with her 'get rid of Obamacare'
Ask her any question and it comes back to 'get rid of Obamacare'- Michele what did you eat for breakfast 'get rid of Obamacare' cereal, craziness 101.
I'm changing my affiliation to Republican so I can vote for Ron Paul.
Today I read an article.A women of nineteen raped by a family member in afganistan. The young girl is pregnant.She is jailed.she agrees to marry the person who raped here and have the child for her freedom. I do not care for war but I agree that they should watch these nations who care so little for the rights of there citizens.They say one thing and do another. Ron Paul is wrong and he is a Grover norquist pledge.
Is Ron Paul campaigning for Bachmann now? Telling Republican voters that one of your opponents is a racist is just going to make more of those voters flock to that candidate (they're Republican, so by rule they have to LOVE racism). And Ron Paul isn't really one to go pointing fingers at somebody for being a racist. Isn't he for repealing the 13th Amendment (that abolished slavery) and also for doing away with Civil Rights? He is a Liberterian (anti-government) and social conservative (racist/bigot) after all.
Paul is probably a decent guy, but doesn't he realize his base seems to be bottom-feeding redneck and white supremacists who hate Muslims, gays, Jews, blacks, gypsies, South Americans, Asians, other skinheads, and most of all, themselves?
Paul is probably a decent guy, but doesn't he realize his base seems to be bottom-feeding rednekz and white soupremacists who hate Muslims, ggays, Joos, blacks, gypsies, South Americans, Asians, other skinheads, and most of all, themselves?
Paul is probably a decent guy, but doesn't he realize his base seems to be bottom-feeding rednekz and white supremacists who hate Moslims, gaiz, Joos, blacks, gypsies, South Americans, Asians, other skinheads, and most of all, themselves?
Bachman can call it as "outrageous" as she wants but her views are the ones that are outrageous. She wants to go to another war to send our troops and money to that we don't have; money we have to borrow. Her and Santorum's nature of being anti-Muslim is going to create future wars if they get anywhere near presidency. GO RON PAUL.
I will never vote for the isolationist, jew/Israel hating Ron Paul..He is a crack pot that got elected to congress...
Let some of the nuclear armed powers do the heavy lifting. India, Pakistan and Israel, which has 300 nukes, are the nuclear armed countries in the closest proximity to Iran. We have enough war on our plate so let the regional powers look after their own.
Never trust a person who is running for president who's answer to "What would you have done about the drone?" as "I'm running for President of the U-9'n States and I won't answer that because I don't want the enemy to know what I would do."
Um mierda for brains...we the people of these United States want to know what you would do. Answering by saying "You better not do it" is not sufficient and indicates an imbalance in your ability to negotiate and act in a diplomatic fashion.
And I fully believe Muslims are not the only people she hates.
Thanks CNN for displaying Ron Paul's wonderful ability to tell the truth. I know you much you hate Dr. Paul, CNN, and you just helped him out by pointing this out. I bet you feel like n idiot now, don't you CNN? You can't stop the Ron Paul Revolution, nobody can! Ron Paul 2012!
After the last ten years I would think Americans would be tired of war. Apparently not. Double down on the insanity. It's what the republican voters crave. Blood lust.
Patrick, do you really understand what an isolationist is?
Is the republican nomination this year actually a secret reality show being taped for tv?
Bachmann is a nut job. Pure and simple. She sees everything through her fundamentalist glasses..... She needs to drop out...
It may be natural to hate those who hate you.
This is fun..
GO Paul!!!
Go Paul!!!
Who is the one who WON'T bomb Iran? Who is the one Veteran in the whole mess? They all talk tough, but they won't do the fighting. And let's see the support for Isreal when gas is over $10 a gallon. Face it, they are NOT a threat, nor will they ever be one. Should we give ANYONE the power if they're talking about USING it? Just once I'd like to see these blowhards do more than just talk.
ronpaul2012.com
Ron Paul didn't like Bruno, and Bruno's gay...
Ron has been bolder. He never really took off the gloves before. He is doing a good job at it and sticking to the facts.