Bachmann to Hold Press Conference Post-Obama Speech

Wednesday: Rep. Michele Bachmann participates in a 2012 Republican presidential primary debate at the Reagan Library in California. (AP)

Taking advantage of her distinction as a Republican member of Congress, presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has scheduled a press conference to respond to President Obama's jobs speech on Thursday night, even though the GOP has declined to offer an official rebuttal.

Bachmann, who has seen her campaign stall since the entry of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, is one of two Republican presidential candidates who is also a member of Congress. Rep. Ron Paul is the other.

During Wednesday night's debate of 2012 candidates, she berated the president on several matters, specifically tying the health care law shepherded by the White House and its impact on jobs for younger Americans.

"As I go across the country and speak to small business people, men and women, they tell me ObamaCare is leading them to not create jobs," she said during the two-hour debate at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif.

"ObamaCare is killing jobs," Bachmann continued. "We know that from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. But I know it first-hand from speaking to people. ... There are 47 percent of African-American youth that are currently without jobs, 36 percent of Hispanic youth. I'm a mom. I've raised five biological kids and 23 foster kids in my home. One thing I know is that kids need jobs."

Bachmann's press conference is the most aggressive response to the president's speech offered by the campaigns so far. Former Utah Gov. John Huntsman will be appearing on Fox News' "On the Record With Greta Van Susteren" at 10 p.m. ET, but his campaign did not say whether they would have additional reaction. Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson will issue an email statement. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will host a town hall meeting at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire.

Other campaigns have not yet responded to FoxNews.com inquiries.

But Bachmann's move, likely to be hailed by the Tea Party base that supports her, is not likely to please House Republican leaders. House Speaker John Boehner announced several days ago that the GOP would give no rebuttal, a decision declared disrespectful by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Boehner said Thursday that he felt it was "a more appropriate and respectful way to go forward" to give the president his time, and allow lawmakers who wish to respond to have access to the media in Statuary Hall following the joint session.

"This is not a State of the Union address. The American people shouldn't be forced to watch a politician they don't want to listen to," he said, noting that Americans are more interested in wanting to watch Thursday night's NFL season opener.

Furthermore, a top Republican aide told Fox News that GOP leaders have decided they are not going to slam the president's plan quite as aggressively as some would expect, in part because polls show the public is frustrated with all sides in Washington right now.

"We're going to be very positive, say we want to work with him," the aide said, insisting that it's not political fear that is motivating the more genial approach. Instead, the aide said it is rooted in the belief that Obama's speech could be underwhelming so it's better to let him have the stage to himself than to let the narrative become about Republicans fighting a jobs plan that may have little chance of passage anyway.

Fox News' Chad Pergram and Ed Henry contributed to this report.