Michelle Bachmann Now Holds Dual Citizenship - What The...??

[BluesStringer]

Not real sure how I feel about this. Seems Bachmann's husband's parents were both Swiss citizens. Not sure if he was born in Switzerland or if his parentage makes him a Swiss citizen too, but he is one. Apparently, Swiss law provides that spouses of citizens can (or automatically?) become citizens too, and Michelle has taken the plunge, giving her dual citizenship now. I imagine in her mind that it's largely symbolic, but it is real. While it's not a renouncement of her American citizenship, doesn't dual citizenship at least imply allegiance to other-than-American interests, policies, sets of laws etc? Do we want our most well-known and prominent political leaders having dual allegiances? I don't know, I'm just asking if this strikes anyone else weird like it does me. Anyway, video of a short, light-hearted interview with her in Switzerland after having her citizenship bestowed upon her at the link:

Michele Bachmann claims Swiss citizenship


By TIM MAK | 5/8/12 7:19 PM EDT Updated: 5/9/12 7:07 AM EDT

Rep. Michele Bachmann is now officially a Swiss miss.
Bachmann (R-Minn.) recently became a citizen of Switzerland, making her eligible to run for office in the tiny European nation, according to a Swiss TV report Tuesday.

Arthur Honegger, a reporter for public broadcaster Schweizer Fernsehen, told POLITICO the Swiss consulate in Chicago has confirmed that the former Republican presidential candidate became a citizen March 19.

The Swiss consulate in Chicago covers the state of Minnesota, which Bachmann represents......

....Congresswoman Bachmann’s husband is of Swiss descent, so she has been eligible for dual-citizenship since they got married in 1978. However, recently some of their children wanted to exercise their eligibility for dual-citizenship so they went through the process as a family,” said Bachmann spokesperson Becky Rogness.....

....“My husband is a 100 percent Swiss, and his parents were raised in Switzerland, they were married there, they came to the United States, they bought a farm in Wisconsin and raised their three sons there,” said Bachmann....

More at the link.

Does it say anything that she waited until after a run at the presidency to do this? I tend to think it does, but it's weird because it's sort of a "reverse" eligibility question than that of Obama's or Rubio's.

Anyway, I found the story interesting, even if not particularly meaningful, unless of course, she tries for President again.....or is a VP pick somewhere down the line.

Blues

[bswartz15]

She might be preparing to jump ship in case Obama gets and 2nd term.

[Blacksheep]

Michelle Bachmann is just one of the many politicians that I do not trust. She has shown many times that she looks out for number one. She will say and do what she believes will help herself.

[fuhr52]

Just my opinion, but I don't see this as a big deal. I would hope in her case it's mainly symbolic. As for waiting till after the race was done, why give the media more ammo to use against her. Having dual citizenship is not and uncommon thing. As for an allegiance to American interest, we have too many political representatives that have a larger allegiance to linning their pockets than American interest and we keep re-electing them.

[decotriumph]

Maybe it gets her better interest rates on Swiss bank accounts.

[jabatam]

Well-renowned leader? She's an oxygen thief that kills my brain cells every time I hear the dumb **** that falls out of her mouth

[BluesStringer]

Well-renowned leader? She's an oxygen thief that kills my brain cells every time I hear the dumb **** that falls out of her mouth

I said "well-known," but far be it from me to get in the way of a vitriolic, vituperative rant. Carry on.

Blues

[ajr2820]

I'm thinking it's her escape route if the SHTF. Depending on what actually happens, can't say that I blame her. Rule #1 is take care of you and your own. I will not argue the method if the results are favorable.

[Tucker's Mom]

Michelle Bachmann is just one of the many politicians that I do not trust. She has shown many times that she looks out for number one. She will say and do what she believes will help herself.

I share your view. I am not a woman hater. I even like Sarah Palin now that she is not running for VP. She has improved a lot but still not Prez nor VP material yet. I feel it will take a long time for women to rule a strong country like ours.

Anyway, we (I) received nuisance calls from someone in the Bachman camp until a week ago when I finally asked why he was calling our place many times to ask for donations to Michelle Bachman. The guy said that Michelle is running for senator in Minnesota. I asked what it got to do with me here in Missouri and he tried to explain in vain because I wouldn't listen to him. I banged the phone in his ear. We haven't heard from him since...it's been a week today! Yeeeeeyyyyy!!!

[nogods]

Her husband made her do it. He said "if Rmoney can have bank accounts that are Swiss, why can't I have a wife that is Swiss?"