As expected, a quick apology followed.  But in an unexpected move, Bachmann has declined to accept the apology.

ABC News’ Jon Karl, who’s been getting face-time with Bachmann in Waterloo in advance of her formal campaign announcement, played a clip of the web video in which Wallace said, “I messed up. I’m sorry.”

When Karl asked if she accepts the apology, Bachmann brushed aside the question this way: “I think that it’s insulting to insinuate that a candidate for president is less than serious.”

I, for one, think Bachmann made the right choice.  This ridiculous passive-aggressive game that continually gets played out  in the media — an outrageous insult, followed by a perfunctory apology, followed by an obligatory acceptance of said perfunctory apology — makes me want to puke.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Bachmann gets it just right with this response:

“Those are the small issues. I’m focused on the big ones.”