General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBREAKING on MSNBC: Bachmann withdraws Swiss Citizenship
Details to follow. Guess she wasn't as proud of it as she said she was.
DETAILS from USA Today:
Bachmann asks for end to Swiss citizenship
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/05/michele-bachmann-swiss-citizenship-withdrawn/1#.T6wdOTJhC-Y
Rep. Michele Bachmann says she's withdrawing from dual citizenship with Switzerland.
"I took this action because I want to make it perfectly clear: I was born in America and I am a proud American citizen," the former GOP presidential candidate said in a statement. "I am, and always have been, 100% committed to our United States Constitution and the United States of America."
The Minnesota congresswoman said she sent her request to the Swiss consulate. Her statement follows one from Wednesday, in which she declared her dual citizenship to be a "non-story."
Bachmann has dual citizenship because her husband, Marcus, is of Swiss descent and is a citizen of both the United States and Switzerland. She says the status was conferred to her automatically under Swiss law when she and her husband married in 1978.
CTyankee
(63,926 posts)closeupready
(29,503 posts)I'm glad they conquered that crisis.
Big Orange Jeff
(262 posts)nm
marmar
(77,114 posts)nt
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)I heard they were even contemplating changing the name of one of their hallowed institutions to the Bachmann clock.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)village idiots are not common over there
rocktivity
(44,583 posts)rocktivity
Rambis
(7,774 posts)provis99
(13,062 posts)he shamed her into the withdrawal.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Thank you, Mitt, for your efforts in making sure that Michele Bachmann remains in the United States. Yerk.
goclark
(30,404 posts)and she is getting herself ready.
woodsprite
(11,940 posts)Courtesy Flush
(4,558 posts)She has every right to have dual citizenship, and if she hadn't fired up irrational jingoism in America, she'd still enjoy that privilege.
MineralMan
(146,345 posts)Another freaking flip-flopping Republican.
demilib
(100 posts)I was hoping she would self-deport
CTyankee
(63,926 posts)As citizens, they could live there, get free health care and free higher education. They could choose between the French speaking and the German speaking sections. Not a bad thing, ya know...
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)CTyankee
(63,926 posts)I'd go for the French, myself. I have some Italian, but I'd like to revisit my high school french.
I was an ESOL tutor for a young man from Lucerne in the summer of 08 for a month. He told me about life there and it sounded like heaven. I told him I was sorry he had to be subjected to our bad American food. He seemed impressed by the fact that we had bi-lingual bus schedules. He thought no Americans spoke any other language but English. He was cute as a bug's ear. It was during the 08 campaign of course and I had to explain the whole "lipstick on a pig" issue. He was mystified, couldn't fathom what it was about...
Lars77
(3,032 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)TALK ABOUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE WITHOUT A SPINE...
Blue Owl
(50,547 posts)Whereas Minnesota's -- well, not so much...
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)this one.
stockholmer
(3,751 posts)It is only brewed during a full moon, so Bachmann can howl at it like the bat-shite lunatic she is.
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)who are exceedingly more powerful than MB could ever be. There are a great number of dual American-Israeli citizens, many of whom influence and control global finance, major corporations, hold national intelligence posts and occupy high places in the government.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Or did you just pull that off some shady conspiracy theory website?
Anarcho-Socialist
(9,601 posts)I think what you're alluding to is pretty shameful.
marble falls
(57,427 posts)bloomington-lib
(946 posts)marble falls
(57,427 posts)bloomington-lib
(946 posts)You don't have to equate that with being Jewish. The conservative American government influences other countries all the time. I don't like that either, but that doesn't mean I'm anti-white protestants.
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)Find the hate...enlighten me.
Sometimes facts are inconvenient and unpopular. I didn't think Michelle, even though I would not vote for her, should have been pressured to give up her Swiss citizenship. But I will say, and not in a coy or shy way, that those who control global finance are by far more powerful than any POTUS...or candidate for POTUS.
Done.
marble falls
(57,427 posts)of their influence? Do you feel these "Israelis" who have strong influence over world banking and politics are worrisome? That their influence is out of proportion or not in the interest of others they influence? Frankly I don't care if Bachmann is a Swiss Miss or not, my stepson holds US, UK and French citizenship by birth (born in France of a US mother and British father), you seem to find significance in dual citizenship Israelis, why is that?
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)Anti-Semite? Do your own Google Search or notice the names on the majority of international financial houses. It's a fact.
As a Liberal, which identifies to me someone who is willing to reflect and think beyond kneejerk reactionaries, why did Michelle Bachmann feel she had to renounce her dual citizenship from "I don't care where it was" but it happened to be in Western Europe? Could have been Kenya or Canada or Brazil or Russia. As a Liberal, I don't think she should have had to do that.
I lived for almost 50 years in Southern and Northern California and Hispanic surnames abound. But not dual citizenship. Sorry. And further while doing due diligence rather than just emoting, Arabs and many other wonderful people are Semites, as well. All of the above are of the caucasian race, not that it matters, but happens to be true.
"The term Semite means a member of any of various ancient and modern Semitic-speaking peoples originating in southwestern Asia, including; Akkadians (Assyrians and Babylonians), Eblaites, Ugarites, Canaanites, Phoenicians (including Carthaginians), Hebrews (Israelites, Judeans and Samaritans), Ahlamu, Arameans, Chaldeans, Amorites, Moabites, Edomites, Hyksos, Arabs, Nabateans, Maganites, Shebans, Sutu, Ubarites, Dilmunites, Maltese, Mandaeans, Sabians, Syriacs, Mhallami, Amalekites and Ethiopian Semites."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitic
Anarcho-Socialist
(9,601 posts)cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)I never indicated it was bad, nor is there "a link" or my job to educate you. Just that it is an opinion, shared by many, from my years of research on that and many other issues. I'm a Liberal who doesn't believe in intellectual sacred cows...from any religious or cultural perspective. And anyone may disagree if they so choose.
Yet, the main financiers of the oil industry are Arab...and one can usually tell by their surnames. The main producers of quality watches are the Swiss, etc.
Peace.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)in government that claims dual citizenship with Israel. Shouldn't be so hard if you're not talking out of your ass. Who are "they"?
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)But go on.
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)It's propoganda...there's a difference.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)It's lie when I am told us media is controlled by Jews...
Look some folks are Jews with even double citizenship...that is far from the Rotchilds control banking. Yup, tm Germans pulled this crap too, in Der Stumfuehrer.
Some does not translate to full control all, but you go on.
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)and my apologies as no offense was intended.
Bosso 63
(992 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)At an occuy by a Veteran for Peace. It is regular staple in a few circles. It's been a regular staple since at least the 1930s.
obamanut2012
(26,181 posts)In my alert.
obamanut2012
(26,181 posts)Wow. Cannot believe this was voted as okay.
Anarcho-Socialist
(9,601 posts)it craps all over the board rules.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)Somehow I just knew someone here would bring this up - just fucking knew it.
Faygo Kid
(21,478 posts)Didn't she matter once?
cap
(7,170 posts)Michelle had to apply for it. Because her husband obtained Swiss citizenship, Michelle automatically had the right to obtain Swiss citizenship. In order to get Swiss citizenship, Michelle had to get copies of her birth and marriage certificate and sign an application form.
She had to do something. It's not like god descended from on high and bestowed it on her.
Lars77
(3,032 posts)No that only happens in America
aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)I don't know about Switzerland but France recognizes dual citizenship but you have to apply for it if you marry a French citizen. My mother is French and my father wasn't given automatic French citizenship. I doubt that any country on Earth confers automatic citizenship through marriage.
You know this repeated lie could be very damaging to Bachmann.
Historic NY
(37,458 posts)like the ones in her head.
rocktivity
(44,583 posts)rocktivity
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)that's a giant sigh of relief from the people of Switzerland finding out that Michelle Bachmann isn't going to be a Swiss Citizen.
mmonk
(52,589 posts)marble falls
(57,427 posts)in Italy for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peaceand what did that produce? The cuckoo Michele Bachmann."
mwb970
(11,371 posts)I'm pretty sure she would have assailed him as an un-American impostor. Maybe that's why she has kept this hidden throughout her political life, until she got caught. Then she immediately abandons it.
She's a coward, just like Romney.
Amerigo Vespucci
(30,885 posts)...seriously, how could she maintain a hard line on her "Let's test every American to see how American they really are" meme while holding citizenship in a country that's...GASP...NOT America?
And the short version is that the only reason it was "wrong" is that SHE MADE IT "WRONG," so she was exposed as someone who did something "wrong," and her immediate, knee-jerk reaction was to make it go away.
Life Long Dem
(8,582 posts)She wants to make it perfectly clear that she was born in America before her 2016 run.
BlueMTexpat
(15,374 posts)As usual, she "skews" the facts.
Her husband was automatically Swiss by birth by virtue of both of his parents' being Swiss - and married. http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/Specials/Switzerland:_How_to/Politics/Becoming_a_citizen.html?cid=29288376
But the spouse of a Swiss national must request citizenship, although the process is fast-tracked. By virtue of Michele's marriage to Marcus - which he did not inform the Swiss about until this year when he first exercise d his Swiss citizenship option - and her subsequent request, the process was fast-tracked for her. http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/en/home/themen/buergerrecht/einbuergerung/erleichterte_einbuergerung.html
Had she married Marcus in 1992 or later the process might have been a tad more complex. As a non-resident spouse, she would have had to show "close ties to Switzerland." There is obviously no requirement to be sane.
Whatever she says, it required an affirmative act on her part for her to acquire citizenship. This was no "operation of law" situation.
But she proves once again that she is even more stupid than a rock - and I apologize in advance to rocks.
Note: I personally have no problem with dual nationality, nor does current US law, although it may make things very difficult for those who are looking for work in "sensitive" positions. What surprised me about this whole situation is that MB's TP admirers are so xenophobic that having dual nationality certainly would not be perceived as a plus.
Doc Holliday
(719 posts)who wonders why this is even "news"? Who gives a tin shit about Bachmann anyway?
A desperate has-been grasping for relevance (and free publicity) is so undignified....but perhaps quintessentially American.
Renew Deal
(81,895 posts)But I'm sure the nativists that support her are pleased.
YankeyMCC
(8,401 posts)how did this woman get elected by anyone? I mean running a congressional campaign even one were maybe the district isn't full of people very involved or engaged in politics, or current issues, or have fixed ideas, takes intelligence and professionalism.
I can't understand how a person who can also be the same person that says and does the things she does.
Kyad06
(127 posts)"I am 100% committed" She got that part right Calling Nurse Ratchet
aquart
(69,014 posts)cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)or what if Obama were a dual citizen of Kenya and America or Israel and America or Canada and America? Why does it matter?
deacon
(5,967 posts)riverbendviewgal
(4,254 posts)Born in the USA and a Canadian by choice.
It seems that now we Canadians in Canada who have US citizenship must file US taxes and now report ALL our money in the banks and the Canadian Banks have to report to the US what we have...
How does dual citizenship in Switzerland work for taxes? anyone know? . Would Bachman have to pay if she kept Swiss citizenship and her children.. How about her husband?
My son born in Canada and never worked in the USA must file taxes now for America. This is insane and now this law HIRE is going to make everyone who is American report their banking, investing income, real estate to America , even if they don't have income from America. This is going to cost me...My husband left me a pension in investments...I am going crazy as I just found out about this and there is a June 15th deadline....So far one tax accountant who has the official US number to do taxes gives me a quote of $400 a tax year. Minimum year of taxes is 6....I am a widow with a pension. don't own a home...living on CPP and a small CDN company pension.
Anyone else in this boat?. Email me on my account email here.
My late son's widow, born in Israel and Canadian now..says Israel dual citizens do not file Israel income tax if they live abroad..
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)http://www.irs.gov/publications/p54/index.html
Bachmann keeping a Swiss citizenship would not alleviate the income tax requirements since she is still a US citizen.
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)has reportedly renounced his American citizenship...he lives in Singapore...so he will not have to pay taxes from the IPO.
http://bazaardaily.com/2012/05/12/facebook-co-founder-ditches-u-s-citizenship-to-evade-ipo-taxes/
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)regarding expats renouncing US citizenship over taxes.
nxylas
(6,440 posts)He has won the "Most Barkingly Insane Person in Switzerland" award for the last 20 years, and doesn't need the competition. Though at least, unlike Bachmann, Perry's insanity is benign, and he has given us some great music.
RB TexLa
(17,003 posts)This makes no sense.
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)It was a political "gotcha" that she had to fix quickly.
Dual citizenship is often considered politically "inappropriate" depending on the circumstances, and may be considered a patriotic/nationalistic form of conflict of interest....regardless of the other citizenship's national identity.
There was also rightful examination that she and her family...all of whom apparently recently applied, directly based on her husband's Swiss birth, possibly because of the access to liberal health care and other social privileges the Swiss have and that she opposes in the US. Adding a rather cynical double standard to the situation.
I do not believe she could have been elected President as a dual citizen, however, again, regardless of the nationality, so perhaps it made her candidacy appear a bit more cosmetic than serious.
RB TexLa
(17,003 posts)have been an issue. But some people are weird and will make something out of anything I guess.
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)I mean, John McCain had to literally get an act of Congress because he was born in the Panama Canal, not in America. His saving grace was that both parents were American citizens and I believe it was on a military base. But it literally took An Act of Congress.
BiggJawn
(23,051 posts)"... Cuz my Swiss bank account is tax-free. And I spit on the grave of the men who died securing that privilege for me..."
bayareaboy
(793 posts)Ms Bachmann loses her grip on the the 6th district and is out of a job and moves to Zurich. She takes her Hubby the Psyho-oligst and goes to develop an office between the Swiss Army Knife works and Neslie, so Marcus can fully study gay studies. Then Mittens and his little family have decided to move out of the US and decide to move to somewhere where they have money and people that look like them.
They get to become good neighbors!
penndragon69
(788 posts)So naturally, Marcus and Michelle would fit right in.