Michele Bachmann Encounters 8-Year-Old LGBT 'Activist' (VIDEO)
A YouTube video showing Congresswoman and presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann’s impromptu response to a young boy described as an LGBT "activist" has raised questions regarding children and politics.
The video, dated Dec. 4, shows shy 8-year-old Elijah approaching Bachmann at a signing for her new book Core of Conviction: My Story in South Carolina.
When Bachmann ushers the boy close to hear what he is trying to say, Elijah says into the congresswoman's ear: “My mommy, Miss Bachmann, my mommy’s gay but she doesn’t need any fixing.”
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A shocked Bachmann responds by waving and saying “ba-bye” as Elijah steps away from the table.
Bachmann, a Republican presidential hopeful, has been an avid opponent to same-sex marriage, referring to homosexuality as being similar to “personal bondage, personal despair and personal enslavement” in 2004.
She openly supports the federal ban on same-sex marriage, telling Fox News Sunday that “Marriage, historically, for all human history has been between a man and a woman.”
The Minnesota congresswoman also told Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition in early October that, if elected, she would reinstate the U.S. Army’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, which was revoked earlier this year to allow homosexuals to openly serve in the military.
Her husband, Marcus Bachmann, came under fire after gay rights organization Truth Wins Out investigated his Christian counseling center, finding that the center allegedly practiced reparative therapy for homosexuals.
The video has already received over 160,000 hits and attracted nearly 1,600 comments on YouTube since its debut Sunday.
Many see this young boy’s question as a boon for the LGBT community and a slight to Bachmann’s socially conservative views.
“I think they did the right thing. The parent did the right thing by convincing her child that it's ok to protest the government and speak his mind. That's what being a good parent is,” commented YouTube user "jmlicari."
Others argue the appropriateness of using a child to convey a political message.
“You were trying to get some publicity for your cause. You took him up there, coaxed him to say what he said when he was clearly uncomfortable,” commented a user named "cutlerkramper" in reference to Elijah’s mother. “Nice job giving her more fodder for her cause.”
A user named "pixiejam" commented, “Really bad move on the Mother's part here! Michelle will use it against gay parents!”
While Bachmann has been criticized over her views regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriage, the congresswoman has not backed down on her convictions. Bachmann's stepsister, Helen LaFave, who is a lesbian, has described their relationship as "strained" due to Republican's viewpoints on homosexuality.
VIDEO: "Acitivist" Elijah with Michele Bachmann:
