Bachmann: Karl Rove is not with the GOP base

Bachmann was hitting back at Rove's comment that she "did nothing" as chair of the Tea Party caucus

Published June 18, 2013 4:42PM (EDT)

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., doesn't care what Karl Rove has to say about her, because the "base of our party is not where Karl Rove is, to be honest with you."

Speaking on Laura Ingraham's radio show, Politico reports, Bachmann was responding to Rove's criticism after she announced she would not run for reelection in 2014, which he said was a good thing. “Michele Bachmann was the chairman of the congressional Tea Party caucus and in that position did nothing,” Rove said.

“The base of our party is not where Karl Rove is, to be honest with you,” Bachmann said Tuesday. “I think that perhaps he wants to be the conscience of the Republican Party.”

“It is bizarre,” Bachmann added. “On one hand, the Tea Party was doing too much. And now they’re saying they’re not doing enough.”


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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2014 Elections House Republicans Karl Rove Michele Bachmann Minnesota