Bachmann: It was a joke!

Michele Bachmann's press secretary, Alice Stewart, says in a statement to TalkingPointsMemo that the congresswoman didn't literally mean that Hurricane Irene and last week's earthquake had been sent from on high as warnings to Washington.


"Obviously she was saying it in jest," Stewart told TPM.

Bachmann's original comment was: "I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?'"

Video of Bachmann's appearance in Florida shows that her remarks were delivered in at least something of a lighthearted way. If the campaign says she meant it as a joke, it's a believable explanation.

That does, though, raise the question of whether it's appropriate for a presidential candidate and member of Congress to be joking about a major weather event that has already resulted in fatalities and extensive property damage, and isn't over yet. I've asked Stewart for comment to that effect and will update as necessary.

This article tagged under: Michele Bachmann

2012 Elections