Rep. Bachmann looks forward to 'limitless' future, but not in the House
Updated Wednesday 5/29 at 10:30 a.m. ET
(CNN) - U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, a conservative firebrand whose bid for president last year ended after the Iowa caucuses, will not seek re-election to her Minnesota congressional seat in 2014.
Making her announcement in a video posted to her campaign website early Wednesday, Bachmann stressed she had no plans to fade from public view.
"Looking forward, after the completion of my term, my future is full, it is limitless, and my passions for America will remain," she announced.
Bachmann, who's in her fourth term representing Minnesota's 6th District, promised that there "is no future option or opportunity" that she "won't be giving serious consideration if it can help save and protect our great nation for future generations."
Bachmann staved off a tougher-than-expected challenge for her seat last November against Democrat Jim Graves, winning re-election by just under 5,000 votes. Graves has announced he will seek the seat again in 2014.
In her video announcement, Bachmann said her decision was not influenced by any concerns about winning reelection.
"I've always, in the past, defeated candidates who were capable, qualified, and well-funded. And I have every confidence that if I ran, I would again defeat the individual who I defeated last year, who recently announced that he is once again running," Bachmann said.
Nor was her decision based on any concerns over an ongoing congressional ethics inquiry into the improper transfer of campaign funds, Bachmann said in her video. She is also facing a Federal Election Commission complaint about her former presidential campaign.
"This decision was not impacted in any way by the recent inquiries into the activities of my former presidential campaign or my former presidential staff," she said. "It was clearly understood that compliance with all rules and regulations was an absolute necessity for my presidential campaign. And I have no reason to believe that that was not the case."
Bachmann's run for president in 2012 reached its peak in August 2011, when she beat out a slate of other candidates to win the Ames Straw Poll in the early voting state of Iowa, where she was born. Her campaign lost steam in the fall to other conservative candidates like Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, and she eventually placed sixth in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses. She ended her presidential bid the next day.
In the eight-minute long video, Bachmann, an early supporter of the Tea Party movement, touted her work on a variety of conservative issues, promising to "to work vehemently and robustly to fight back against what most in the other party want to do to transform our country into becoming, which would be a nation that our founders would hardly even recognize today."
Bachmann was one of the leading supporters of the emerging tea party movement in 2010, founding the "tea party caucus" in the House of Representatives and delivering her own "tea party response" to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Most recently she organized a tea party rally on Capitol Hill protesting the Internal Revenue Service's admitted targeting of conservative groups applying for tax exempt status.
In her video, she said she wouldn't let up on the causes she championed as a U.S. representative.
"I promise you I have and I will continue to fight to protect innocent human life, traditional marriage, family values, religious liberty, and academic excellence," Bachmann said.
In a polite statement, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Rep. Greg Walden wrote Bachmann "has been a tireless advocate and dedicated Representative for the people of Minnesota’s Sixth District."
"Michele was the first Republican woman elected to represent Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives, and she has worked hard each day to ensure that her constituents’ voices are heard in the halls of Congress," he continued.
Democrats were less laudatory - the House Majority PAC, which works to elect Democrats to Congress, wrote Bachmann's decision was "good news for the people of Minnesota and our nation."
"Bachmann voluntarily removing herself from Congress is a victory we can all celebrate today," the group's executive director Alixandria Lapp wrote.
CNN's Kevin Liptak and Martina Stewart contributed to this report.
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“In 1979, Michele Bachmann was a member of the first class of the O. W. Coburn School of Law, then a part of Oral Roberts University. While there, Bachmann studied with John Eidsmoe, whom she described in 2011 as "one of the professors who had a great influence on me". Bachmann worked as a research assistant on Eidsmoe's 1987 book Christianity and the Constitution, which argues that the United States was founded as a Christian theocracy, and should become one again. In 1986 Bachmann received a J.D. degree from Oral Roberts University. She was a member of the final graduating class of the law school at ORU.” – from Wiki.
With that "University" training, she should join a Nunnery. Hallejulia.
Hurrah!!!!.. I now won't be embarrassed to have the same first name....
Am I remembering wrong, or did Palin first say she would not run for re-election before then coming around and actually quitting entirely? Any chance Bachmann will do the same? The sooner she stops wasting government time, the better. I wonder how much of her "limitless future" will be spent hiding in bushes spying on folks she doesn't like?
Like Jesse Jackson, Jr., she will go to prison for stealing campaign funds for her personal use.
Glad to hear it.
This is because she can make more money spreading her hate in the private sector that she can while in office. Once again not doing what is right for American but what is right for her own pocket book, is anyone really surprised ? Maybe she will be a co host with Glenn Beck or Hannity, or she could be the new Limbagh ?
oh, thank goodness. Now she can join sarah in that little town called obscurity.
good job and now lets hope Hillary doesn't waste her time running.
I hear the angels singing!
First right decision Bachman is making. Hopefully she stays away from politics,
Hey Reince, there's a vacant seat in the clown car. Better start looking.
“In 1979, Michele Bachmann was a member of the first class of the O. W. Coburn School of Law, then a part of Oral Roberts University. While there, Bachmann studied with John Eidsmoe, whom she described in 2011 as "one of the professors who had a great influence on me". Bachmann worked as a research assistant on Eidsmoe's 1987 book Christianity and the Constitution, which argues that the United States was founded as a Christian theocracy, and should become one again. In 1986 Bachmann received a J.D. degree from Oral Roberts University. She was a member of the final graduating class of the law school at ORU.” – from Wiki.
Now if only Bohner and his GOP cronies would do the same, perhaps the American congress could get something done.
Sounds like she has an appointment with the county instead. I wonder when the arrest is coming.
ThinkAgain
"Looking forward, after the completion of my term, my future is full, it is limitless, and my passions for America will remain," she announced.
Passion for America? Is that why she became a citizen of Switzerland?
Or was that a savvy move to set up bank accounts there to which she'll funnel all the money she'll make from speaking and "consulting" after she leaves Congress?
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My husband used to have dual American/Swiss citizenship. When he joined the U.S. military he had to relinquish his Swiss citizenship. It just seems wrong that a sitting member of congress should hold two citizenships – almost like she doesn't want to declare her allegiance to America. Kinda treasonous if you ask me.
That being said, it's just a matter of time before the scandal that prompted her to no run for reelection is brought to light. I think she was the person who shared classified information with the faux noise reporter and she fears the "libul" media being all up in her grill when she does the perp walk.
Make big bucks lobbing for some tea party goals
There is a god!
Mitch, – If you have never met a Minnesotan that liked her, how was she elected again?!
$100 she becomes the next loud mouth on Fox.
One less crazy in Congress! Louie Gohmert should be the next to go!
but she will continue to receive state and federal assistance for her adopted children
the teapublicans are handing out applications in every mental institution across the state to replace her
Good. She can take Al Franken's Senate seat after he is convicted of violations of the Hatch Act.
Kevin
Its amazing how conservatives will viciously attack all women.
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FIFY.
She's from the cold state of Minnesota
Where uninformed voters are without quota
Michele's 'shot that was heard'
To New Hampshire was deferred
She's never embarrassed, not even as iota.