MSNBC anchor Tamron Hall says let
voters decide whether to accept Michele Bachmann's anti-gay views.
In a segment aired Monday, Hall spoke
with radio host Michael Smerconish about allegations that the
Christian family clinic run by the Minnesota Representative's
husband, Marcus, attempts to “cure” gay people. Mr.
Bachmann has denied the claims.
Michele Bachmann, who previously warned
that the legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts would lead to
polygamy and “things much worse” and has said that being gay is
“part of Satan,” has refused to talk about her views on gay
rights since formally declaring as a presidential candidate.
The inspiration for Hall's segment was
a POLITICO.com story reporting that gay rights groups were preparing
an assault on Bachmann.
Hall, however, suggested opponents
should just accept Bachmann for who she is.
“It is one thing obviously for people
to say they disagree with Congresswoman Bachmann and say that the
things that she says are hateful – whatever,” Hall said. “I am
though intrigued by the number of people who want to change her
opinion rather than accept that it is her view. … I am intrigued by
how her husband’s clinic wants to ‘pray the gay away’ for some
people and others would like to pray or inject into her their
philosophy, their thoughts and their beliefs. I am intrigued by
that.”
“Why not accept her for who she is or
who she says she is and decide if you are willing to vote for someone
like that,” she added. (The video is embedded in the right panel
of this page.)
While Bachmann continues to talk about
gay marriage, she has confined her remarks to her endorsement of a
federal amendment banning such unions, prompting gay rights groups to
suggest she is attempting to erase her history of anti-gay rhetoric.