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What a difference two days make, especially in the tumultuous lifeof Republican Congresswoman and former Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann . On Wednesday, Bachmann announced that she had become a citizen of Switzerland several weeks earlier, using her husband s dual U.S.-Swissnationality to secure fast-track naturalization. She added that thecouple s three youngest children were also now Swisscitizens. In an interview with Swiss TV, Bachmann explained thather family often visits Switzerland in particular thepicturesque region of Thurgau where her husband s ancestors camefrom. Our family loves it when we come because everyone bringshome a big bag of chocolate, and everyone s very happy," she told reporters in Switzerland this week. She added it s tough to find a placenot to like in Switzerland. Presumably, she was referring tothe fact that her newly adopted country has a solid economy, verylow unemployment and music to the ears of Tea Party leaders no public debt. As a freshly minted Swiss citizen, Bachmann not only would have theright to live and work in Switzerland, but also after learningone of the three official national languages (German, French orItalian) be able to run for a political office there. Amajority of Americans would be very pleased if she took herself andher family and moved permanently to Switzerland, one Americancitizen, John Penn, said in a comment on the website of Swiss Radio International (SRI) followingBachmann s announcement. On Friday morning, however, Bachmann, who is running forre-election in Minnesota s 6th Congressional district, had achange of heart. She announced on her website that she had sent aletter to the Swiss Consulate requesting the withdrawal of hernewly acquired citizenship. I am, and always have been, 100%committed to the United States, she stated. What she failed tomention was why she hadn t considered her rock-solid allegiance tothe U.S. before applying for naturalization in a foreign country. ( PHOTOS: The Desks of Washington D.C. ) So what caused her to flip-flop on being Swiss? Bachmann ssudden reversal could have had something to do with her re-electionbid and the backlash that could have followed her decision toapply for citizenship in a country at odds with her conservativeplatform. For instance, Switzerland has universal health care , which Bachmann railed against on the campaign trail over the pastyear. Abortion is not only legal in the country, but also coveredby health insurance. The rich pay more in taxes than the middleclass, same-sex couples are entitled to civil partnerships andassisted suicide for the terminally ill is permitted by law. Her Democratic opponent in November's election, Jim Graves, was quick to pounce on her about-face. "Earlier this year, Rep. MicheleBachmann was Iowan, earlier this week she was Swiss and todayshe's an American," Graves campaign spokesman DonaldMcFarland said in a statement. "Jim Graves has alwaysknown where he's from, where he raised his family and wherehe built his businesses St. Cloud, Minnesota." While the Swiss press has remained typically dispassionate aboutthe nation s new citizen, bloggers and commentators have beenquestioning how the Congresswoman was able to get the Swisscitizenship so quickly. (Citizenship in the country usually takesseveral years of residency to obtain.) For years I have covetedthose beautiful red Swiss passports with the white cross on thefront, one U.S. citizen wrote on SRI s website. Knowing thatthis woman who represents the very worst of our fractured anddysfunctional political system has one makes mesick. Bachmann was actually eligible for a fast-trackprocedure because she married her husband in 1978, 14 years beforethe naturalization law pertaining to spouses was tightened. There have also been plenty of jokes about Bachmann s short-lived Swissness on the Internet,such as one from a commentator who said that elaborate clocks areno longer the only kind of cuckoos Switzerland will be knownfor." Given the embarrassment she's already had toendure over her beautiful red passport, Bachmann might be bestserved following the example of her would-be country and justremain neutral on the subject. MORE: Learn More About Michele Bachmann. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Turn-up Adhesive Tape Manufacturer , China Paper Strap, and more. For more , please visit Turn up Paper Tape today!
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