Politics

Shots fired: Bachmann hits fellow Minnesotan Pawlenty

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Prospective Republican presidential candidate Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann attacked former Minnesota governor and current presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty, on The Laura Ingraham radio show Thursday, for his past “openness” to mandatory health insurance.

“I believe we should move toward universal coverage, everybody should be in a health plan of some sort,” Pawlenty said in 2006 at a Health Reform Summit along side newly announced presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. “We have been studying very diligently the Massachusetts model and I am grateful for our friend from Massachusetts here, Governor Romney was an outstanding governor.”

Pawlenty is opposed to Obamacare. Nevertheless, Bachmann told Ingraham it is important to remember how candidates have positioned themselves through the years.

“I think that is why it is so important when people are looking at the candidates, they have got to know who we have been throughout our lives and our voting history,” Bachmann said. “I have worked tirelessly here in Washington to oppose Obamacare and I have made it known publicly that I will not rest until we repeal this bill.”

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Bachmann added that whoever succeeds Obama will need to fight both Republicans and Democrats to get the health care law repealed.

“One problem that the next president will have – and if I throw my name in, and if I become the next President of the United States – I will have to fight Republicans as well as Democrats in order to repeal Obamacare because a lot of people are listening to some special interest groups, insurance companies and other ones, who actually want the govt take over of health care,” she said. “So we are going to have to fight Republicans, special interests, and Democrats. It’s going to take all of us coming together. But I truly believe we can repeal Obamacare and I believe we will.”

According to Bachmann, Pawlenty’s past support of the universal mandate “will trouble the voters.”

Ingraham noted that people’s opinions over the years changed, recalling Reagan’s shift from pro-choice to pro-life.

Bachmann said it is more important that people have the right opinion from the outset.

“We need people who have enough foresight and common sense to know theses programs are not going to work,” she said. “I’m that kind of person I know enough I’ve opposed these programs because I can see where they are going to take the country. Lets not make these mistakes in the first place we don’t have time to do that.”

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