Bachmann: Protesters were 'ignorant' and 'disrespectful'
Columbia, South Carolina (CNN) - Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann on Friday described protesters who interrupted her foreign policy speech aboard the USS Yorktown the day before as "ignorant" and "disrespectful."
"They haven't been told what was done for them and that's what's a shame. And I think that as soon as they would know, if they understood the heavy price that was paid for that First Amendment right, they'd be much more respectful," Bachmann said while shaking hands at a Veterans Day parade in Columbia, South Carolina.
On Thursday, about a dozen protesters caused a stir when they stood up and delivered a coordinated message through a tactic known as a "human microphone," where one person yells out a message and the rest of the group repeats it collectively. A group called Occupy Charleston claimed on its website that it has staged the interruption.
"Blaming people that disagree with you, unpatriotic socialists… this does not help the American people," the group shouted.
The disturbance drowned out the Minnesota congresswoman's remarks, and she briefly left the stage until it was over. When she returned, she praised the group's right to protest.
"Don't you just love the First Amendment? It's great, we have a great country and I want to thank you all for your understanding," she said.
But at the parade on Friday, after a woman unrelated to the group apologized for what happened at the speech, Bachmann talked about the incident with a harsher tone than the one she took the previous day
"I was surrounded by heroes yesterday on the USS Yorktown who paid a big price for them, and they're just ignorant of that," Bachmann responded. "That's all. They're ignorant and they were disrespectful, but you know someday hopefully they'll come to know the price that was applied."
Follow Shawna Shepherd on Twitter: @ShepherdCNN
- CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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If you are a politician who has decided to represent a tiny portion of the populace at the economic expense of the vast majority–even as you yourself feed at the public trough–you should thank your lucky stars that screaming crowd didn't have pitchforks. torches, boiling tar and feathers.
"after a woman unrelated to the group apologized for what happened at the speech, Bachmann talked about the incident with a harsher tone"
Would that be the same woman who told Bachmann that vaccines cause mental retardation? That lady's handy to have around ...
What incredibly twisted logic.
I served so these people could exercise their right, not so people like Bachmann could twist my service to imply that keeping silent would be a bigger honor to my service.
If you want to honor me as a veteran, make your voice heard, no matter what side of the debate you are on. Speak out. Vote. Strive for the country you want, not for the banality some politician wants to offer up as "respect" for my service.
Rep. Bachmann should give her etiquette lesson to fellow Republcian and Tea Party Hero: Joe "You Lie" Wilson.
The only thing keeping her going is her overinflated ego. Time to fade away.
Ignorance is one thing Bachmann knows well. She's lived with it all her life.
well, there are tons of us who think the same thing about her.
Wow, there aren't too many people Bachmann can call ignorant, how would someone so ignorant herself even recognize it?
That's right. Those guys have done the sacrificing. Michelle Bachman hasn't sacrificed as much as a toe nail for America. She has only flapped her gums, collected her check and placed all the sacrificing on hard working American families. She shouldn't even have been there. It's shameful.
My Irony Detector has blown several fuses due to overload ... does anyone know a good repairman?
"If people understood the price that was paid for the first amendment they would refrain from using it"
What happened is a common tactic of the left. There are many examples of the left using these tactics to try to silence conservatives. The left is in LOVE with the first amendment as long as it only applies to them. The truth is the OWS people are ignorant, as in uninfomed. They are also very disrespectful. I guarantee that if conservative had done this to a Democrat it would be h ell to pay. And NO what OWS did is not the same as what the did at the Town halls. The TEA party people were invited to speak.