Michele Bachmann Calls Out Jimmy Fallon for Discrimination

Rep. Michele Bachmann isn't known for standing up against discrimination, at least not that directed at LGBT people. But she has sometimes decried discrimination against conservatives or against her as the GOP's only female presidential candidate. Now she's calling out Jimmy Fallon's show for doing both.

The Minnesota representative appeared on Fallon's late-night show on Monday and the two shared a genial interview, with Bachmann helping Fallon learn how not to sound Irish while doing a Minnesota accent. To the untrained ear, everything seemed fine.

But the tune that played as Bachmann had walked out on the stage was a Fishbone song called "Lyin' Ass Bitch."

The Roots, who are Fallon's house band, sang only the "la, la, la" chorus. The next line -- "You're nothing but a little lyin' ass bitch" -- went unsung.

"This is clearly a form of bias on the part of the Hollywood entertainment elite," Bachmann told Fox News today, "but it's also, I think, sexism as well."

On the sexism charge, at least one Democrat came to her side with a public statement, according to Roll Call.

"I do not share Michele Bachmann's politics, but she deserves to be treated with respect," New York representative Nita Lowey said in a statement. "No female politician -- and no woman -- should be subjected to sexist and offensive innuendo like she was last night."

Bachmann then added another charge of discrimination -- this one, against conservatives.

"The point is, if that had been Michelle Obama who had come out on the stage, and if that song had been played for Michelle Obama, I have no doubt that NBC would have apologized to her and likely they could have fired the drummer, at least suspended him," Bachmann told Fox News. "This wouldn't be tolerated if this was Michelle Obama; it shouldn't be tolerated if it's a conservative woman either."

Fallon apologized to Bachmann via Twitter and said the Roots' drummer, Questlove, is "grounded." Questlove issued his own, less-than-apologetic statement: "The performance was a tongue-in-cheek and spur-of-the-moment decision. The show was not aware of it and I feel bad if her feelings were hurt. That was not my intention."