Bachmann: It's "reprehensible" to use kids for political purposes
Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann on Wednesday lambasted the parent of a young boy who told her at a recent book signing that his gay mom "didn't need fixing," suggesting that the child was used "to advance a political agenda."
In an interview with CNN's John King, Bachmann argued that the child had been used as a political prop - an act she deemed "reprehensible."
"He obviously didn't want to say what he was put up to say, and I just think it's reprehensible when someone uses a little child to advance a political agenda," Bachmann said of the child.
The incident in question, which was captured on video and posted to YouTube, shows an eight-year-old boy leaning forward to ask Bachmann a question at a Sunday book-signing event.
"Miss Bachmann, my mommy's gay but she doesn't need fixing," says the boy, who speaks very quietly and appears to be coaxed by an adult woman.
Bachmann appeared uncomfortable after the boy's comment and does not respond to him in the video, which has since received more than 2.5 million hits.
On Wednesday, she decried his having been "used" to tout a political message.
"I'd never do that to one of my children, and it's really unfortunate that this poor, little boy was used in that way," she said.
In the interview, Bachmann also reiterated her opposition to same-sex marriage, a position of which she said she is "very unashamed."
"I believe that we should all be allowed to have our opinions respected, and I stand for marriage and marriage between a man and a woman," she said.
