Bachmann Slams Funds to Black Farmers

Michele Bachmann says money being used to compensate black farmers who charged the federal government with grant and loan discrimination would be better spent helping US flood victims. The candidate, after touring flooded areas along the Missouri River with Republican Rep. Steve King yesterday, pointed to the multi-billion-dollar Pigford settlement as an example of wasteful spending, describing it as inefficient, and the claims as potentially fraudulent, AP reports.

The president of the National Black Farmers Association says he and others worked with Republicans to make sure concerns about fraud were addressed. "Even after we got them addressed, Ms. Bachmann and Mr. King have continued to look at black farmers in a very negative way," he says. "I think it's bad for the American people. If Ms. Bachmann wants to be president of the United States, she should treat all people fairly." (More Michele Bachmann stories.)