Boehner calls Bachmann accusations 'pretty dangerous'
(CNN) – Republican House Speaker John Boehner called dangerous Thursday a request from members of his own party in Congress to investigate Muslim infiltration in the U.S. government.
Admitting he had not read a letter requesting the investigation, Boehner said "I think accusations like this being thrown around are pretty dangerous."
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, along with four other Republican members of Congress, formally requested in June that various federal agencies investigate whether the American government has been infiltrated by Muslim extremists.
Among the issues they raise is a claim that long-time aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin, has three family members connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, and is at risk of being influenced by her family members. The members of Congress want to know how she holds a high level security clearance.
On Thursday, Boehner said he did not know Abedin, but that "everything I do know of her she has a sterling character."
Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain made a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday criticizing the call for an investigation and defending Abedin.
"These allegations about Huma, and the report from which they are drawn, are nothing less than an unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable woman, a dedicated American, and a loyal public servant," McCain said.
"When anyone, not least a member of Congress, launches specious and degrading attacks against fellow Americans on the basis of nothing more than fear of who they are and ignorance of what they stand for, it defames the spirit of our nation, and we all grow poorer because of it," he added.
State Department spokesman Phillipe Reines called the accusations "nothing but vicious and disgusting lies," in a statement to CNN.
Bachmann, who refused to answer questions from CNN about the letter on Wednesday, said in a statement that her and her colleagues' request was being "distorted."
"I encourage everyone, including media outlets, to read them in their entirety," Bachmann wrote. "The intention of the letters was to outline the serious national security concerns I had and ask for answers to questions regarding the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical group's access to top Obama administration officials."
CNN's Kate Bolduan contributed to this report.
Michelle needs to watch the sky to make sure a tornado doesn't drop a house on her and her ruby slippers.
Here is another person that needs to be un-elected this year!
You know you're far out there when even Boehner says you're crazy.
This woman must have had a Q-Tip stuck so far into her ear at some point, that it literally scrambled her brains beyond repair...and she thought she could be President!..What has our country come to that people like this hold any elected office?? Hell I should consider running for some office so I can get on the upper class welfare system...I won't need medical insurance, great salary, great pension for life...all on the taxpayers $......Where in the hell did I go wrong?? You folks in Minnesota need to think before you vote!...Doesn't reflect you too well to the majority of folks in the rest of the country!
The Government has been infiltrated by Republican wingnuts. We should investigate starting with Bachmann. Ignorant racist...
If Boehner had a scrotum, he would have called Bachmann the moron that she is!
.. the same woman who thought we should investigate everyone in congress to make sure they weren't "unamerican". The same woman who thought vaccines against HPV cause autism.
I might add that we should simply have someone who is devoted to the Muslim brotherhood as President since that is the sane way to go, it appears.
I live in Minnesota and have been trying to help defeat this lunatic for 6 years. Please MiNNESOTA wake up and get rid of this cancer this year.
wolf1
No the Muslim Brotherhood has a "solution" to us in the West, who are the problem. The Muslim Brotherhood historically was allied with Hitler. Ironic, isn't it?
And so was Italy and many other European Countries. Did we ask that All European Americans be investigated. Wow, that would be 70% of the population.
Chicken Little. I guess we screamed too many times.
We are now realizing Bachmann is crazy!!!
She has nice hair.
I wouldn't expect anything less from this gutter tripe bimbo. It is simply amazing that in the 21st century we have to deal with these kinds of people in our government. Why is it that we have to only hear that it was Michelle Bachmann and 4 others. Who are the other three electected officials and why are they not being publicly castigated.
I don't know why anyone is surprised. This woman has said so many stupid things since she came into her 15 minutes of fame that nothing she said would surprise me. She is clearly not very intellegent and a narrow minded bigot to boot.
How can a Citizen of Switzerland like Frau Michele Bachmann be a member of Congress? Whe her Swiss Citizenship was exposed recently, she went on the air and "denounced" it. But she has never produce4d her Amereican Citizenship papers NOR any information about the Swiss Bank accounts. Joining Herr Romney, it seems like a few "special" folks like to keep secrets, like money and the donors to their SuperPAC's overseas (we're looking to you over in Macau on the China coast Shelden Adeslosn) and in other foreign countries.
Maybe the best defense is a good offense: Look at traitor Ted "Would have been better if the Confederacy had won the Civil War" Nugent; Gov. Ricky "Maybe Texas will have to secede from the Union... again" Perry at his Ni@@#head Ranch" and Todd "Alaska Independence Party: Alaska should leave the US and be its own country" Palin to get an idea of what these babies are really all about. Question: In history, who else has stored riches in Switzerland?
We beat these mugs once in the Civil War and again in WW II and we'll do it again if we have to. To Frau Bachmann, Herr Romney, Traitor Ted Nugent and "Goodbye America" Todd Palin: Love it or leave it, you bums. Real Americans don't want any part of your foreign ways or hatred. If you like America so much, lose the secret Swiss Bank accounts, and the ones in the Bahamas, the Cayman Island and other foreign lands. God bless America and keep her free of those who have a
Don't forget whose watch it was when the terrorists attacked. The same people who just couldn't seem to get Bin Laden. If he had been hiding in Switzerland;and I bet they would have found him. Maybe they took an other besides the "Norquist Oath" where they agreed to limit their ability to follow their legal American oath.
100% Pure Republican Hypocrisy! (TM)
"You can smell the Bachmann in every foreign load!"
(Get a discount if you pay in Swiss Francs!)
It is time to ask the midwest to leave the union.
If the Republican Party does not return to reason and civility pretty soon, and distance themselves from the likes of Bachmann, Limbaugh, Norquist and others, they will be going in the trash heap of political history like the Whig and Bull Moose Parties. I consider myself part of the middle-of-the-road majority, who detests the screeching of the Occupy crowd as much as the screeching of the Christian Taliban on the Right, and would love to have the opportunity to vote for one of two candidates for office who are reasoned, civil, and truly have the best interest of the country at heart rather than Party. Unfortunately, this country is stepping out on a politically slippery slope and we better backtrack before it is too late.
Finally Boehner stands up for common sense. I respect him for the first time in a long time for standing up against people
like Bachmann who will say anything to get elected. Maybe he is finally beginning to understand that the Republican Party and it's principles have to stand on their own merits and not be distorted by radicals within the party. For the record I am a Republican second and an American first. That means that Obama will win unless the Republicans stop being idiots because I, like many in the party will vote for him.
And to think that she was the Republican front-runner at one point!
Kick out these republican bafoon party total losers in Nov.the cancer on America bafoon party needs to be destroyed in Nov ,and you can blame freaks like BACHMANN and romney the clown and the goof from Florida for the Gop train wreck coming in Nov !!!
Bachmann is my Representative. *Heavy Sigh* My prediction for next election, she will win by a landslide. She has so much money and such a backing of support in this district, it makes it almost impossible for those of us who wish to "dethrone" her. I worked on the Tarryl Clark campaign last election, and it was tragic to watch her be defeated. Those who follow her truly believe every word she says. She has created so much fear that they will believe what she says. What is even more tragic is that these sentiments and views are then spilled over into everyday community life in our district. She drives such a big wedge between members of our community, it saddens me deeply.
both of these idiots, mcconnell and cantor need to go!!!
Being called dangerous and being dangerous can be two different things. But alas, we know the V queen to be both in this case.
I'm sure she's just doing what her husband told her to do.