Via Jonathan Capehart, who wonders why T-Paw supports a policy opposed by Gates, Mullen, and most of the voting public.

One word: Iowa.

Bryan Fischer: “One last question, we have about 45 seconds left, put you on the hot seat one more time. We just saw the ban on homosexual service in the military repealed, overturned. Conservatives will be working over the next couple of years to see that that ban is reinstated. If you become president in 2012, will you work to reinstate the prohibition on open homosexual service in the military, would you sign such a prohibition if it got to your desk?”

Gov. Tim Pawlenty: “Bryan, I have been a public and repeat supporter of maintaining ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ There’s a lot of reasons for that, but if you look at how the combat commanders and the combat units feel about it, the results of those kinds of surveys were different than the ones that were mostly reported in the newspaper, and that is something we need to pay attention to. But I have been a public supporter of maintaining ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ and I would support reinstating it as well.”

Perfectly sensible from the standpoint of presidential politics — I doubt there’s a major candidate in the field who’d answer differently, although I’ve got my eye on you-know-who — but unrealistic. The final repeal bill passed by a margin of 65-31, with eight Republicans (including even Richard Burr) joining the majority. Barring filibuster reform, you’d need fully 25 Senate votes to flip at a moment when the country is trending gradually but inexorably towards greater rights for gays. The only way it could become politically feasible is if the DADT repeal proved utterly disastrous in practice, with all sorts of disruption in the ranks as gay troops come out. No doubt there’ll be incidents here and there — there always are during a process of integration — but systemic, widespread disruption? I’m … highly skeptical.

Still, a useful pander from Pawlenty. For your viewing pleasure, here he is sparring last night with Stewart over whether creeping statism isn’t such a good thing after all. Exit question: Are there any candidates in the Republican field who’d dare oppose reinstating DADT? Gary Johnson, sure, but he’s a fringe candidate. What about Mitch “Truce” Daniels?