(CNN) - Presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann said Thursday a plan to extend the payroll tax cut by only two months was a "temporary gimmick" that would do nothing to boost job creation.
Speaking to CNN Chief National Correspondent John King, the Minnesota congresswoman said the temporary solution reflected a lack of leadership from President Barack Obama.
"The real problem is that this is one more temporary gimmick," Bachmann said on CNN's "John King, USA."
"It's not a permanent solution. That's been the problem from the beginning. President Obama is unwilling to lead, to get the country back on this track of job creation."
When asked if she would be comfortable seeing tax rates increase by not passing a short-term extension, Bachmann stuck by her answer that a long-term resolution was preferable.
"We need a long-term answer," Bachmann said. "It was wrong for Harry Reid to lob a bomb into the House and then dismiss all the senators and send them on recess. This is, again, complete failure in Washington. People are tired of it."
Bachmann was interviewed in Iowa, where she is campaigning for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. The congresswoman remained optimistic about her chances of becoming the nominee, despite a slate of polls showing her running near the back of the presidential pack. An Iowa State/Gazette/KCRG poll, taken December 8-18, showed Bachmann in fifth place in Iowa, at 7%.
"January 3 will tell the tale," Bachmann said. "We've had incredible numbers of people switching. People are undecided. They've been switching over toward me because they know that I will be the candidate to take on Obama."
The polls, she said, weren't a problem.
"There's polls up and down all day. Who cares?" she said.
From CNN Politics
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I call it a lack of sense from the baggers - but they brought down the rating for the USA andhave done more harm than good this past 12 months.
Thank God they will be gone November 2012.
When Ms. Bachmann starts to say things that make sense and display even a basic understanding of how the majority thinks in this country, I'll pay attention to her comments.
A gimmick? What in the name of all that's sane is wrong with giving the people a chance to breath a little, without worrying about their paychecks getting smaller at the first of the year.
It's Obama's fault isn't going to cut it anymore. You and mitt Rumney (sp) must show America what you are working with!
most prefer a long term solution..when first offered a year extended the GOP house rejected it and then added all kinds of crap to the bill that did not even mean anything to the tax cut. GOP House blew it and we won't soon forget it.
Bachmann was interviewed in Iowa, where she is campaigning for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.
She is complaining that it passed, but wasn't even there to vote for or against...
And yet, she was in Iowa rather than doing the job she is paid to do. Why wasn't she in Washington demonstrating her leadership skills?
Michele, when you are polling in 5th place it is a problem. Get a grip on reality.
It is about time Boehner had to eat his words. Something tells me things won't get any better for him.
short term or long term its a gimmick. a tax cut shouldnt reduce the payments to SS.
200 million adults and this is the best we can do?
first time i ever posted anything remotely agreeing with bachmann
U want 160 million middle class American to pay higher taxes oh I forgot that is what Republicans want rich gets richer and rest of American suffer. I have no idea how u became a congresswomen but I feel sorry for the people who voted for u u have not done anything for your people who voted for u except run around the country blaming president and Democrats. What have u done
The Tea Party is a gimmick. Plain and simple.
Your entire campaign, Bachmann, has been a gimmick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only gimmick is her campaign. She polls single digits consistently and the fact that she actually thinks she could be the POTUS only reinforces the widely held notion that she's completely unhinged.
it's not like she's around to vote on it anyway...sorry about Virginia, Bachmann. You can't find 10,000 people in the state who think you are capable of leading the country? ouch!
"We need a long-term answer," Bachmann said.
I'm sure she has a long-term answer. She's just going to keep it to herself until elected.
Michele Bachmann wouldn't know a "temporary gimmick" if she looked into a mirror .
Bachmann is a gimmick that has already gone bad.
Bachmann is a temporary gimmick.
She is so against the grain of the American people. She is no longer running for president (if she ever was). She is just building a following. She is making hay while the sun shines. Her business model is he same as Palin's. It's about the money, isnt it Michele?
Does she have a better idea? It is easy to criticize and she seems to enjoy doing that.
Michele Bachmann would rather have the taxes on 160,000 MILLION+ people increase in 8 days rather than see anything done. Only if the Republicans would not object to every single bill that the Democrats put forth a long-term solution could have been reached. However the Republicans wanted to tie unrelated issues to the bill. Of course a long-term bill is preferred and the short-term bill not create many jobs but it will help deter the lose of jobs to lower demand from consumers.
Notice she also isn't in Washington, doing the work for which she was elected.