Bachmann Talks Foreign Policy, GOP Field

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And we're back with our panel and special center -- -- congresswoman Michelle Bachmann.

This round we'll start with Charles.

Congresswoman when Don't Ask Don't Tell was repealed we have a long debate about it.

The one of the our lives of those who wanted to keep it intact -- you wanna.

Change the culture of the military in the middle of shooting war if you world if you won the presidency be inaugurated in January of 2013.

The abolition of the Don't Ask Don't -- what are -- in place for almost a year and a half so about the so reinstating it would mean change again in the culture of the military.

We do about it would you -- would you reinstate.

Don't Ask Don't Tell if you were elected president.

I would reinstate it because because that military is not a social experiment it is it is a very serious duty of the United States government we need to maintain order and to -- and that that the united states military there was disagreement.

On this policy and -- it and I I would reinstated.

But what if it was shown in the ensuing eighteen months between now and then.

That there was no disruption of the core of the north.

Well of course would have to take -- into into consideration but if you're asking me today what I would do I would reinstate it but you know that's another thing.

I like turn to Afghanistan if we could.

Two questions one is how would you define a successful mission in Afghanistan at this point.

And then secondly.

What do you think of the Obama timetable for the drawdown of troops.

I think that have to -- just a little bit and time because I think had President Obama had been willing to give General Petraeus is original order.

The resources that He requested when He did.

We may well have seen.

A better ending at this point because again what -- that effort was to have a two pronged war.

One in the southern province of Helmand and then 1 of the eastern province and fight for both of the same time.

Because the president chose to delay and just give reduction in the number of troops we could only go to the south.

And we we are having problems there there's no question that we are.

And so the other problem we have quite frankly is Pakistan and the proxy wars that -- Pakistan continues to fight in.

Afghanistan is that there's there's problems there they need to be addressed but I I have a great confidence in general Allen.

And I would I would do as commander in chief percent of very short conversation.

Invite both of those gentlemen and even though General Petraeus is now the CIA.

And NASA asked for their advice what can we do can we -- this how quickly what you need to -- -- done.

At this point do you think that president's timetable for drawing down troops is too fast.

Would you.

Accelerated would you slow it down but how would you.

Scandal that.

I think it is too fast I think that's -- -- some of the back channels that we're hearing but again why I want to know from the real people -- involved on the ground what they're seeing.

And I think that right now we don't see the stability we don't -- -- the Karzai government we just aren't seeing that level of stability -- a volatile situation.

But again Afghanistan does not stand alone.

Pakistan is playing out proxy wars and of course are worried about the influence of India.

Once the United States pulls out this is not a good situation I wish it was better than what it was.

But it isn't and so it's going to take some more attention to detail it's not and it's not -- glib answer on Afghanistan.

Steve congress -- I'd like to shift to politics here and ask you about some comments made recently about the Republican field.

-- -- Why would we saddle.

Why would we settle on a moderate why would we settle on someone who is not.

Clear on the issue of life on the issue of religious liberty on the issue of marriage between a man and woman.

To re talking about.

Well they're candidates in the race that aren't clear on those issues and I think -- all years Republicans shouldn't settle on the nominee.

Because we're not Canada specifically.

Well I can congress say I want I will were among friends and brackets it.

If the piano where -- -- and -- I think that's what's wonderful about the debates in the entire vetting process because then.

The voters get to see for themselves where the candidates stand on this issue in my point is.

Quite simply what I'm seeing on the ground is that President Obama will be a one term president.

And that's just among Democrats level on independents and Republicans so we we should not settle in this year of all years we can have it -- on our nominee.

We can have a true fiscal conservative a true national security conservative.

We can have someone as a social conservative handed Tea -- -- we can have a whole ball -- we can win this thing and actually change the agenda here.

-- -- that -- speculated that you were talking about Mitt Romney there and my question is if Mitt Romney were the nominee would we a year from now see you out on the campaign trail.

Fundraising for.

Well that would be an absurd question for me to answer because of course I am running to be the Republican nominee ever running very seriously -- running very strongly.

And we're getting a marvelous response on the ground let me follow along that He.

Since -- Iowa straw -- win.

In the polls you have been down in single digits depending on the poll you look at how the latest one was the Washington Post ABC news poll which has you down 7%.

What what do you think has happened and what do you see.

Happening well of course that media every day wants to decide who the next president I was states will be but the American people aren't going to let that happen.

Surely there's a change -- the governor Perry entered the race that changed the dynamic and of course the dynamic has changed also on the last three to four weeks and so.

We're seeing.

A roller coaster like we've never seen before I'm hanging -- for the long haul that's at the American people are at the end of the day.

People want to know who is a serious candidate who's gonna turn it categorize who can they trust and that -- next candidate congressman thank you very much we're going to continue this -- --

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Bachmann Talks Foreign Policy, GOP Field

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