Michele Bachmann insulted by insinuation that she is a ‘flake,’ addresses John Wayne gaffe

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) speaks during the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana June 17, 2011. REUTERS/Sean Gardner (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS)

Tea Party Congresswoman Michele Bachmann formally announced her candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on Monday. But rather than showcasing her viability as a legitimate contender, she addressed accusations that she is a flake and acknowledged a gaffe she made during her kickoff speech.

Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace asked Bachmann during an interview over the weekend whether she blatantly stretches the truth, an accusation that has followed the Minnesota representative for quite some time.

Bachmann described Wallace’s insinuation as “insulting” on Monday before appearing on Hannity later that night to reveal that she received a personal apology over the phone.

“He did apologize and I am happy to accept his apology, and we are moving on,” she said. “I am a serious person and a serious candidate for the presidency of the United States.”

Sean Hannity also questioned Bachmann about her official rollout speech, during which she seemingly confused beloved movie star John Wayne for a notorious serial killer.

The Republican candidate referred to Waterloo, Iowa as the hometown of John Wayne during an interview with Fox News’ Carl Cameron. But Wayne was born roughly 150 miles from Waterloo in Winterset. John Wayne Gacy, a serial killer who brutally murdered 33 young men before he was executed in 1994, was born in Waterloo.

“People can make mistakes and I wish I could be perfect every time I say something, but I can’t,” she said Tuesday morning during an appearance on CNN. “Of course, the main point I was making are the sensibilities of John Wayne, which is patriotism, love of country, standing up for our nation, that positive enthusiasm is what America’s all about.”

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