Tom Ridge rips Bachmann as 'inexperienced'

Bachmann not ready, says GOP veteran Ridge: President needs experience



By Ben Birnbaum
The Washington Times
Updated: 7:25 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2011
24 Comments and 12 Reactions

Former Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge said Tuesday that fellow Republican Michele Bachmann, the Minnesota congresswoman who has been surging in the 2012 GOP presidential sweepstakes in recent weeks, was unelectable and unqualified to be commander in chief.

The former Pennsylvania governor, who also served in the U.S. House, gave the stinging assessment in an interview with The Washington Times on the sidelines of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition conference in Washington.

“We have a pretty inexperienced president right now,â€