Full Transcript: Michele Bachmann's Announcement That She Won't Seek Re-Election

Here is the full transcript of the eight-and-a-half minute video in which U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) announced late Tuesday that she would not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014. See Bachmann's video at St. Michael Patch. Transcript (headings in bold added): My good friends,

After a great deal of thought and deliberation, I have decided next year I will not seek a fifth Congressional term to represent the wonderful people of the Sixth District of Minnesota.

Eight Is Enough
After serious consideration, I am confident that this is the right decision. For some a single two-year House term is enough service. For others, 10 terms or two decades in the House is still not enough service. Our Constitution allows for the decision for length of service in Congress to be determined by the congresspeople themselves or by the voter in the district. However the law limits the anyone from serving as president of the United States for more than eight years. In my opinion, well, eight years is also long enough for an individual to serve as a representative for a specific congressional district.

Would Have Won
Be assured, my decision was not in any way influenced by any concerns about my being re-elected to Congress. I've always in the past defeated candidates who are capable, qualified and well-funded. And I have every confidence that if I ran, I would again defeat the individual who I defeated last year, who recently announced that he is once again running.

Not About Investigations
And rest assured, this decision was not affected in many way by the recent inquiries into the activities of my former presidential campaign or my former presidential staff. It was clearly understood that compliance with all rules and regulations was an absolute necessity for my presidential campaign and I have no reason to believe that that was not the case.

Considered Not Running in 2012
Last year after I ran for president I gave consideration to not running again for the House seat that I hold. However, given that we were only nine months away from the election, I thought that it might be difficult for another Republican candidate to get organized for what might have been a very challenging campaign. And I refused to allow this decision to put this Republican seat in jeopardy. And so I ran, and I won. And I felt last year the Republicans had a significant opportunity to win both the Senate and the White House and finally put our country back on the track of greatness and American exceptionalism.

A Public Servant
That said, different from some, I've never considered holding public office to be an occupation. I've considered it to be both an honor and a privilege. But most importantly, a significant responsibility. And even when it means resisting the policy positions of many in my own political party, I've always strived to be first and foremost a public servant and do what is best for the people. And never acquiesce to being a political servant. There's a difference.

Will Keep Working
Feel confident: Over the next 18 months, I will continue to work 100-hour weeks. And I will continue to do everything that I can to advance our conservative Constitutional principles that have served as the bedrock for who we are as a nation. And I will continue to work vehemently and robustly to fight back against what most in the other party want to do to transform our country into becoming. Which would be a nation that our founders would hardly even recognize today.

District and Domestic Issues
I proudly have and I promise you I will continue to fight to protect innocent human life, traditional marriage, family values, religious liberty and academic excellence. Whether working in a bipartisan way to gain federal approval to finally build an immensely significant and long overdue bridge in our district, working to reopen a much needed regional airport in the district, being the primary sponsor of the bill that recently passed in the House to repeal Obamacare, to recently flying to London to be one of three people to represent the United States of America at the funeral of Margaret Thatcher, who among her other accomplishments, together with Ronald Reagan, was responsible for bringing down the Soviet Union, to working to alleviate all the stifling economic restrictions that banks and businesses must now endure since the enactment of Dodd-Frank legislation.

Foreign Policy
I've called out the Muslim jihad terrorists for who they are and for the evil that they perpetrate upon our people. And I've demanded that this Administration never under any circumstances subordinates our national security for the Administration's weak version of political correctness. I've identified at the outset of the so-called Arab Spring, this Administration's foreign policy blunders, and how those blunders have contributed into turning the Middle East into a devastating, evil jihadist earthquake. I've pointed out this Administration's despicable treatment toward our great friend and ally Israel, and at the same time giving little more than lip service to the ever-increasing and dangerous nuclear threat of Iran, making publicly clear this Administration's outrageous lack of action in Benghazi, Libya and the subsequent political coverup, which resulted in the deaths of four honorable, dedicated public servants.

IRS Scandal
I've also called out this Administration, and the Treasury Department, for allowing and perhaps even for encouraging partisan, selective enforcement against American citizens based upon their political beliefs that aren't in line with the Administration.

Balanced Budget
I've also demanded consistently a balanced budget and fiscal responsibility—that this be a pre-eminent government requirement, so as to avoid the dangers of a future of financial calamity for our children and the ultimate risk of the destruction of our entire economic system. May it never be.

Core of Conviction
My core of conviction on these principal issues and more will continue in a steadfast manner during the rest of my term and beyond. Because you see, my decision to seek federal office both in my initial running for the House and my decision to run for the presidency of the United States, was based solely on my heartfelt concern for our country's future.

Limitless Political Future
Unfortunately today, I am even more concerned about our country's future than I have ever been in the past. On so many issues we are clearly on the wrong track. But looking forward after the completion of my term, my future is full, it is limitless, and my passions for America will remain. And I want you to be assured that there is no political option or opportunity, be it directly in the political arena or otherwise, that I won't be giving serious consideration if it can help protect and save our great nation for future generations.

Media Disparagement
I fully anticipate the mainstream liberal media to put a detrimental spin on my decision not to seek a fifth term. And since I was first elected to Congress many years ago, they always seem to find a dishonest way to disparage me. But I take being the focus of their attention and disparagement as a true compliment of my public service effectiveness.

Friends and Detractors
To my many good friends and supporters, I will continue to fight for public policy that is first and foremost in the best interests of the United States at large. To my detractors, my work continues for your best interests as well.

Family
I especially want to thank my wonderful husband Marcus for 35 terrific years, our five children, our 23 foster children, my family, you, my loyal supporters, and all the people in the Sixth Congressional District for this unbelievable opportunity to serve you for these years.

God
And I want to thank God for his blessing on the United States of America. You see it is God who has given me the strength, the conviction,  and the personal fortitude to fight to enhance the safety, security, longvity and well-being of our blessed nation, the United States of America. I say to each one of you: God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.