Bachmann a Swiss citizen?
(CNN) - Proud American citizen Michele Bachmann now has another country to call home: Switzerland.
The Minnesota congresswoman and former GOP presidential candidate was granted dual citizenship with the European country, her spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday night.
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"Congresswoman Bachmann's husband is of Swiss descent so she has been eligible for dual-citizenship since they got married in 1978," Becky Rogness said in a statement. "However, recently some of their children wanted to exercise their eligibility for dual-citizenship so they went through the process as a family."
While her husband has Swiss heritage, Bachmann wrote in her 2011 memoir that her ancestors hail from Norway (her great-great-great grandfather emigrated from the country). Her mother sang Norweigen folk songs to her as a child, she wrote, and she studied the language in college but "never had time really to gain proficiency."
Bachmann, who's running for a fourth term in the House, joins millions of Americans with dual citizenship.
According to the State Department, dual nationals "owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country" and "are required to obey the laws of both countries."
But could her new, by-marriage Swiss pride conflict with her own Norwegian roots?
Perhaps she'll stay neutral on that debate.
The story was first reported by Politico.
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This is America we don't want no stinking Suisse Citizen in our Congress. Here these GOP clowns always questioned Obama citizenship and loyalty to this country when they have none.
Don't you just feel bad for those nice Swiss people?
Any amount of time out of America is a plus for America! If only she could get dual citizenship for 200 more countries! O' and then there's that space colony Newt Gingrich spoke about! It would be nice if she could get permanent citizenship there!
I don't really care if this is legal or not, but the fact that she did not disclose that she was undergoing this process of applying while she was running for President casts additional doubt on whether or not she can be trusted. Dual citizenship automatically disqualifies her from the Presidency or any position where she might be in line for the job. The people in her district need to decide if this latest disclosure about her qualifies her to represent them in Congress: not because she has dual citizenship, but because she hid the fact she was applying for this. It goes to character, and it shows a disregard for the law and for the people she represents.
Will Bachmann try to explain to Tea Party adherents how it becomes patriotic for an American to seek citizenship in a SOCIALIST country..?
No. She will not. And they will find a way to ignore it, just like they find ways to ignore other glaring facts.
Question?
Is there a conflict of interest,in terms of loyalty,when a member of the House of Representatives holds dual citizenship.
If her husband was a Saudi?A Mexican?Etc...how that influence her vote on certain legislation?
is she going to go after them to get rid of their universal health care
If she is now eligible for a Swiss Passport, then she should resign her seat in Congress.
Step 1. Acquire dual citizenship
Step 2. Please move
Are the children of Bachmann planning to bail out of this country with fears of a conservative religious right wing fascist take over of this country?
she studied the language in college but "never had time really to gain proficiency."
-------------------------------------------------
Just like with english.
The poor Swiss people. They don't know her like we do. So sad for such a lovely country.
Wo cares? She's totally irrelevent. CNN needs to stop reporting on people like her that are not news worthy.
Michelle never gained profeciency in anything – not just speaking Norweigian.
Well, she WAS a Democrat before she became a Republican. Guess we can now truthfully add that she WAS a Conservative before she became a Socialist to her resume - bringing in an entirely new direction to her "taking our country back" rants.
It's her escape option should she or her husband ever face prosecution for anything.
I smell a rat and anyone who cotributed to her campaign should follow her money trail.
Good ridance when she goes there to live!!! She talks out of both sides of her mouth .... wonder how her new "country" will take to that.
@Stephen, It is not a "law" that you have to give up your american citizenship. It is just that the US does not officially recognize dual citizenship.
Good point about the TS clearance and dual citizenship and also about having that and wanting to be President. Sounds like somebody in DIA bent the rules a bit on granting her a clearance. Too bad God didn't bend the rules and grant her a high IQ.
Michelle did this because she recently endorsed Willard Etch-a-Sketch Romney. He returned the favor by letting her put her little paws in his Swiss bank account, so she said, "Hey, what the heck, if you can't beat, 'em, join 'em." Now she has the chance to screw up a second country as well.
P.S. Switzerland also has National Healthcare for all their citizens.