Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, an early leader of the tea party movement, will not run for re-election in 2014, she announced overnight in a video posted to Facebook and YouTube.
"The law limits anyone from serving as President of the United States for more than 8 years, and in my opinion, well, 8 years is long enough for an individual to serve as a representative for a specific congressional district," she said.
"Be assured, my decision was not in any way influenced by any concerns about my being re-elected to Congress. ... And rest assured, this decision was not impacted in any way by the recent inquiries into the activities of my former presidential campaign or my former presidential staff."
"I've never considered holding public office to be an occupation," she said in a video that lasts a little over eight and a half minutes. "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."
"I fully expect the mainstream media to put a detrimental spin on my decision not to seek a fifth term," Bachmann said. "Since I was first elected to Congress many years ago, they always seem to attempt 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."
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