Bachmann to The Brody File: Concerns About Herman Cain

In an interview with The Brody File, GOP presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann points the finger at her opponent Herman Cain, saying "there are a lot of issues that are very concerning."

We spoke with Bachmann in a one-on-one interview at the Iowa Faith and Freedom event in Des Moines, Iowa, over the weekend.

David Brody: When you heard some of those comments, talk to me about the concern that you had, specifically. You’ve been down that road. I’m wondering if you think he’s thought these issues through, maybe?

Michele Bachmann: Well, I think it’s important that your viewers actually see the clip for themselves. If they see the videotape, it’s actually quite disturbing, because it’s very clear that Mr. Cain has said that he personally was opposed to abortion, but that he did not believe that government should intervene on that decision.

Well, that’s the same position John Kerry has, Ted Kennedy has, and Barack Obama has. They’re personally against the issue, but they believe that government should have nothing to say to intervene. You can’t say that on an interview, and then switch on a dime two days later, because it’s not working politically.

I have a lifetime history of being pro-life. My husband and I have reached out to unwed moms, we have brought them into our home, we’ve counseled them, we’ve taken them to pro-life centers. I’ve gone through childbirth class, and held womens hands while they gave birth. We’ve taken foster children into our home. We’ve had a lifetime of being pro-life, not only in word, but also in deed.

As a member of the Minnesota State Senate, and as a member of the U.S. Congress, I have not only voted pro-life, but I’ve introduced pro-life legislation. I have fought on the front lines, and in the trenches. This is in my blood, it’s part of my DNA, who I am. I’m 100 percent pro-life, and that’s why 2012 is such an important election.

This is the one time where social conservatives can actually get a candidate that can do something about these issues, because I intend to also elect 13 like-minded senators, so that we can actually get some of these important pieces of legislation through.

That’s why this is so important. We can’t have someone who is untrusted, someone who is unproven, someone who doesn’t have a record, someone who says one thing, and then changes what they’re saying because it’s not working so well for them politically. That won’t cut it. This is such an important election, that’s why this is such an important vetting process. We have to know who people are, and what they truly stand for.

Brody: Now, you didn’t mention his name, but obviously, you’re talking about Herman Cain. I’m wondering, do you believe someone like that is in over their head a little bit, especially on the social issues?

Bachmann: Well, I think that isn’t the only issue that we have questions about. We had a debate earlier this week on CNN, and just two hours before the debate, he has said in an interview that he would be wiling to release all of the Guantanamo Bay hostages, which includes Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of 9/11 who has admitted his guilt. He would negotiate and let those terrorists go, in exchange for an American soldier.

You can’t do that. That’s not the policy of the United States government, to let them go. That completely misunderstands the role that a president should be. It’s not just on that, it’s been on one issue after another. And I think that’s what’s concerning because people are looking at this and seeing foreign policy we have to get right. If you don’t understand what right of return is, regarding Israel, there’s a lot of issues out there that are very concerning.