Video: Pawlenty squirms over how moderate the GOP should be
posted at 7:17 pm on November 3, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Portrait of a man with two conflicting goals. On the one hand, he doesn’t want to say anything that’ll tarnish the conservative cred he’s built lately by ripping on Obama and endorsing Hoffman. On the other hand, he doesn’t want to hand Scarborough et al. a bludgeon by excommunicating Snowe from the party. He could have answered with the point I made earlier, that the GOP is undergoing an Obama-induced transformation by which its litmus test will be fiscal rather than cultural, but if he goes there then he walks into the question of whether Snowe hasn’t failed that test by helping get ObamaCare through committee. A sticky wicket.
Do stay with it, though, or else you’ll miss Arianna Huffington lecturing T-Paw on the dangers of … rigid ideological purity. Yes, really.
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Why do I get the sense that T-Paw tries to be all things to all people? The man has no core.
Norwegian on November 3, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Biding his time until 2012.
Bishop on November 3, 2009 at 7:21 PM
I wouldn’t count that conservative cred before it hatches (see Romney, Mitt).
Terrie on November 3, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Excellent use of phrase, A-Pun.
Emily M. on November 3, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Pretty sure the Stimulus vote destroyed any fiscal cred she had left.
BadgerHawk on November 3, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Palin 2012 enough said.
Irenaeus on November 3, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Until one can ensure the conservative purity of the Republican Party, participants must play the cards they were dealt and not discard them prematurely. The cleansing process will take some time and everyone must be diligent in their efforts to hold the forces together and win.
rplat on November 3, 2009 at 7:23 PM
He did wait for a long time to endotse Hoffman.
bluemarlin on November 3, 2009 at 7:23 PM
endorse
bluemarlin on November 3, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Pawlenty should be ‘mavericky’ and declare himself a moderate, come what may.
orfannkyl on November 3, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Who is running Minnesota? Who is watching the Pawlenty Children?
portlandon on November 3, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Hmmm when discussing what not to do with Arianna, he said Republicans.. not conservatives.
And talk about tip toeing around the Snowe question.
upinak on November 3, 2009 at 7:25 PM
New game: Squish and squirm
faraway on November 3, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Opa!
The Ugly American on November 3, 2009 at 7:27 PM
You betcha!
farright on November 3, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Scarborough – “Why should we give money to the Republicans ,they just don`t represent our values and they have not for over a decade.”
Pretty spot on there.
bluemarlin on November 3, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Just make sure to lie still afterward for 15 minutes if you are hoping to conceive….
cntrlfrk on November 3, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Snowe responds to Pawlenty.
portlandon on November 3, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Now that’s a truly happy thought!!! YEsss!!
rebuzz on November 3, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Squish.
LtE126 on November 3, 2009 at 7:29 PM
The Good Old Party elites choice if it can’t be Mitt or the Slimmy Preacherman…
Enough Said! No squishes need apply to the Conservative party.
Palin/Cheney 2012
dhunter on November 3, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Pawlenty may be a squirmy little caterpillar, but at least he colored a little outside the lines by endorsing Hoffman. That’s something Mitt the Inevitable never managed to get up the estrogen to do.
Terry_Dyne on November 3, 2009 at 7:30 PM
WWPE
Who Would Palin Endorse?
faraway on November 3, 2009 at 7:31 PM
It was quite an odd explanation. Pretzel thinking.
AnninCA on November 3, 2009 at 7:31 PM
Sticky Wicket indeed, Say What You Mean – Do What You Say ‘One Way Or Another ” What Side Are You On ” no more fence sitting.
wheels on November 3, 2009 at 7:32 PM
When you speak from the heart you don’t have to choose your words so carefully…
d1carter on November 3, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Trust gut instincts. Part of me wanted to believe Obama, but the larger part, my instincts told me he was trouble from the start. My instincts didn’t fail me, and I’m glad I followed them.
I like Pawlenty, personally. Seems like a nice man. But if one can’t go with the courage of their convictions, and this seems he hardly has any….he won’t get my support.
capejasmine on November 3, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Why not just say that these people are too liberal/corporatist? That would connect with the voter as much as anything.
The Dean on November 3, 2009 at 7:35 PM
You’ll make a great Sec. of Agriculture someday, Barney Fife.
jjshaka on November 3, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Err “One Thing Leads To Another”
wheels on November 3, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Snowe’s response:
And that is the problem, my dear.
John the Libertarian on November 3, 2009 at 7:36 PM
That was equivocation of nearly Romney-esque proportions, Timmy.
ElectricPhase on November 3, 2009 at 7:37 PM
I don’t fault Pawlenty as much as Scarborough trying to earn his creds with MSNBC.
fourdeucer on November 3, 2009 at 7:39 PM
How hard is it to say:
“Well, I’m glad she doesn’t define herself as a Democrat; that she is still somehow a ‘values’ vote. But, right now, it’s clear that not only our Republican base, but the American public at large, is giving fiscal conservancy, fiscal common sense, a much higher valuation. And it is now up to Republican politicians such as Senator Snowe and I, to demonstrate to America that we should lead the way in a return to that fiscal common sense.”
Doorgunner on November 3, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Well, he’s getting some practice, anyway. He’s going to have to watch his analytical stuff. It just opens cans of worms.
AnninCA on November 3, 2009 at 7:40 PM
FIFher
rebuzz on November 3, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Another politician that still thinks “Party Uber Alles,” no matter how many stupid decisions are made by party leaders (Specter, Chaffee, Crist, Scuzzyfoevah, etc.). How much party money was wasted supporting these wienies? And now T-paw still wants to make nice with Snowjob.
Sorry, not buyin’ it.
rmgraha on November 3, 2009 at 7:41 PM
I think she’s got a point. Didn’t Zsa Zsa pull a 180 back in the 90s? I think her ideology is based purely on potential income.
BigWyo on November 3, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Another beta male…squishy and squirmy. There is only one person in politics with a pair and her name is Sarah. The others are beta male pussies (read – RINO).
jwp1964 on November 3, 2009 at 7:42 PM
If he had been on the Titanic, he would’ve been standing there, listening to the band playing sweet music…
As she slipped into the sea.
TXUS on November 3, 2009 at 7:42 PM
TROLL ALERT…..TROLLL ALERT
Do Not feed the trolls tonight. It’ll be more fun to watch them struggle for attention by posting more and more stupid comments. Maybe, just maybe they will provide more entertainment than usual and argue with eachother.
milwife88 on November 3, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Hucklebuck-Don Tyson’s finger puppet
Romney-Mr. Floppy
Pawlenty-Mr. Squishy
Guess who I’m going to support?
Percy_Peabody on November 3, 2009 at 7:43 PM
He reminds me of Obama, actually. LOL* Beta-male, huh? I guess that’s the factor. It seems to me he’s just analytical to a fault. And, that calls attention to the actual analysis and offers a way for the press to bore in.
That’s how he’ll continued to get into trouble, too.
AnninCA on November 3, 2009 at 7:44 PM
my comment on “The Big Tent”
What is seldom mentioned by the MSM, RINO’s or the Democrats is that conservatives do not believe in excluding anybody from the tent, that each person has a voluntary right to join a party, but that in joining the party, he/she understands that the party abides by certain enduring ideas, principles and beliefs that must bear ultimate consideration but by the same token have every expectation that the leadership of the party abide by these same ideas, principles and beliefs in their advocacy in the public arena and the selection of political candidates for office.
In simple language, if you believe in big government, fiscal irresponsibility, bureaucratic micromanagement of every aspect of society and a weak national defense don’t join the Republicans. You will not be a happy camper. But it is ultimately your decision to make. The GOP will not turn you away.
technopeasant on November 3, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Disclaimer I am not fond of Chuck Todd but he ask T-Paw a very basic question(is it in the clip I have dial up so I do not niew videos)“What are the basic requirements to be a conservative and/or a Republican” T-Paw fumbled and mumbled his answer. He couldn’t express the conservative ideals with clarity at all. It was brutal to see and hear.
Clyde5445 on November 3, 2009 at 7:52 PM
If anyone doesn’t think T-Paw’s recent Mr. Conservative act hasn’t been about sticking his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing, say hi to your unicorns for me. Sorry, dude’s a phony.
Pasalubong on November 3, 2009 at 7:53 PM
T-Paw? Never trust a man who hadn’t ever been on a dirt road or got a little mud on the tires.
TXUS on November 3, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Fox called McDonnel
John the Libertarian on November 3, 2009 at 7:59 PM
He could just say that it’s up to the voters in Maine to decide.
ddrintn on November 3, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Now, let’s see how the other GOPer on the ticket do.
AnninCA on November 3, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Speaking of squirming Republicans, I got a robocall from Mitt Romney today asking me to vote for “the Republican ticket in New Jersey.”
I found it odd—like he didn’t know who the candidate was.
IrishEi on November 3, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Because its probably true.
Geochelone on November 3, 2009 at 8:10 PM
For #$%^ sake! T-Paw’s not that bad folks. He’s a good man who happens to be governor of one of the nuttiest state’s around. Jesse the mindless and Al Franken got elected here so that tells you quite a bit about MN. Yeah, he’s a bit squishy in this video on the Snow thing but how could he have answered that? It’s like asking; ok governor, so how long have you been beating your wife? This was just another MSNBC interview looking for a beatdown of a Republican (I’m not one by the way).
Alfresco on November 3, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Well, that was a pretty hostile interview. Has Obamao ever faced such a firing line? How about any other Dems?
Actually, Pawlenty handled himself quite well. He gave pointed reasons for his positions in quick bulleted fashion, and he was not allowing the interviewers to divert him from his message.
onlineanalyst on November 3, 2009 at 8:21 PM
The question becomes…
Are you a Politician first? Then a Conservative?
Or, are you a Conservative First?
If you don’t stand for your convictions, how can we trust you to run OUR Lives (like BOTH Parties want to?).
Romeo13 on November 3, 2009 at 8:24 PM
The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally — not a 20 percent traitor.
— Ronald Reagan (1911-2004)
That quote was attributed by gubernatorial staff, so I’m not sure it’s accurate, but as I recall him, while Reagan argued against the positions of other Republicans with whom he disagreed, he was otherwise as friendly, accommodating and charming to them as Reagan could be.
In the 110th Congress, there were only 9 Senators who voted with their party LESS than 80% of the time. All of them Republican. This is a serious problem.
Yet, what are we to do about Republicans who are not conservative enough on enough issues? Why would we tell voters from those states and districts that we don’t want them in our party, don’t want their votes, and would prefer they elect Democrats who vote AGAINST us 80+% of the time, instead of Republicans who only vote WITH us 60% of the time?
I don’t want to do that with elected Republicans. However, when it comes to those who are unelected, I will support the conservative. And I want the GOP machine to either be neutral or support the conservative. Currently, that does not seem to be happening, as exemplified by the NY-23 case, and this is very disappointing.
Loxodonta on November 3, 2009 at 8:25 PM
How do you geniuses think up these lines? That’s fabulous.
leftnomore on November 3, 2009 at 8:35 PM
That sounded really impartial. What happened to this guy? Sold his soul to CNN.
JellyToast on November 3, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Embarrassingly weak. (but the WWPE is GENIUS!!!!)
varnson on November 3, 2009 at 9:02 PM
Who gives a crap about what they have to say?
These GOPers are so spineless and clueless.
The Usual Libtard suspects can talk, lie, smear, attack and obfuscate all they want but that doesn’t provide job one nor lower any taxes whatsoever.
Dr. ZhivBlago on November 3, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Pawlenty squirms
james23 on November 3, 2009 at 9:15 PM
T-Paw might as well find himself a nice local AM radio station to get a call-in show going, because that’s where his future lies.
Palin, Baby, Palin!!
gary4205 on November 3, 2009 at 9:20 PM
snort! thread winner
james23 on November 3, 2009 at 9:21 PM
I can’t watch. The thought of Arianna handing this guy his balls (hey, if The Boss can say it on the air …) on a platter is more than I can bear. McDonnell just won the governor’s race in Virginia. I’m in a vulnerable state and can’t afford to have my hopes dashed.
manwithblackhat on November 3, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Seconded
Americannodash on November 3, 2009 at 9:49 PM
The only Republicans with balls anymore are the women.
And I mean that in a nice way. For the women, anyway.
Palin, Coulter, Bachmann, Inghram, Malkin…..better than any man in the party when it comes to saying what needs to be said.
HAnthonyWayne on November 3, 2009 at 10:05 PM
As Governor, Pawlenty is the highest ranking law enforcement office. He let Franken steal the election with numerous instances of “finding” votes well after the election.
Also, don’t forget that Pawlenty has been an Al Gore global warmer for several years.
No Thanks!
RJL on November 3, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Kill and eat the RINO.
Coronagold on November 3, 2009 at 10:35 PM
I once agreed; then I saw Specter win a gavel through seniority.
Chris_Balsz on November 3, 2009 at 11:31 PM
x 1000
jwp1964 on November 3, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Pawlenty is typical of a Republican politician; trying to play both sides of the fence, while juggling a myriad of issues that cannot be balanced to fit each side equally. The Socialists must be defeated, not negotiated with!
He is what the Republican party does not need! He is a squishy, moderate, mealey mouthed little squirt who doesn’t have the guts to answer a straight question with a straight answer: “No, I do not want Olympia Snowe in my party! Now, Joey,and the rest of your leftist friends, is that clear enough for you?”
In answering the other charge (it wasn’t a question it was an accusation) that Republicans are being taken over by right-wing extremists, and will not allow “differing views”: “What are you talking about? What differing views are there in your party, other than the stark ideology of left-wing socialism? So, give me a break with the ideological purity nonsense! We are the party of traditional American values, the values of liberty, small government, the judeo-Christian ethic of protection for life and marriage between a man and a woman, and belief in the interpretation of the Constitution based upon the authorial intent of the founding fathers, and not the so-called “living” interpretation advocated by the left-wing mentality of the Democratic Party! So, there is your answer, next!”
We need brave soldiers that are ready and willing to go into battle, prepared for the guns and cannons leveled against them in today’s Democratic controlled media. Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Bobby Jindal, Lindsay Graham, and John McCain are not the soldiers who will fight these fights. They are the whimpering surrender monkeys of Neville Chamberlain.
We need leaders in the Republican Party, not politicians! Leaders who will shout, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”
Joe Pyne on November 4, 2009 at 1:29 AM
Bravo!
beachgirlusa on November 4, 2009 at 1:57 AM
Vote in the NY Times poll:
“What One Word Best Describes How You Feel a Year After President Obama’s Election?”
albill on November 4, 2009 at 6:00 AM
Pawlenty talks about deviation from some norm, Ariana Huffington idiotically tries to turn that into “inquisition”.
Then, the rest of the MSNBC heads immediately start excoriating Pawlenty for not conducting an inquisition. He indicates the decision for or against Snowe is a decision for Maine Republicans to decide, then he is attacked for presumably telling Maine Republicans how to vote.
I think these talking heads don’t listen to their own questions. MSNBC seems to breed foolishness on the part of their hosts.
Pawlenty did not squirm. I think he handled this rather well.
rogersnowden on November 4, 2009 at 6:42 AM
He seems like a really nice guy. He painted himself in a corner on that one. I just feel he’s not up to the task.
He also seems like he just wants to appear as a nice, reasonable conservative who plays it safe. Guys like that tend to only prove their toughness by bashing other conservatives. Not saying he’d do that, but that’s usually the way it goes.
JellyToast on November 4, 2009 at 7:17 AM
Disgusted.
beachgirlusa on November 4, 2009 at 8:37 AM
Really pushing that anti-social-con meme hard, huh, AP?
Too bad it’s dead wrong. The GOP will not win a sustainable majority by pissing on social cons.
spmat on November 4, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Riddle me this?
How is Olympia Snowe even a moderate Republican? She is socially moderate-liberal and fiscally moderate-liberal? That doesn’t add up to Republican does it? Wouldn’t Snowe be more comfortable as a Blue Dog?
therambler on November 4, 2009 at 10:36 AM
I’ve seen Arianna before; and trust me… I don’t feel like I’m missing anything by not watching.
gekkobear on November 4, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Pawlenty is just another republican weasel.
MCGIRV on November 4, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Resulting in an Obama landslide in 2012.
As for Snowe, like her or not, she’s not the problem. We’re not going to get a Conservative elected there. It’s the seats we can win with Conservatives that are currently occupied by RINOs that are the the problem.
xblade on November 4, 2009 at 5:37 PM
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