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Pawlenty Paints Obama as Lightweight

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June 03, 2008 5:28 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and James Gerber Report: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) lashed into Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., on Tuesday for not having more first-hand knowledge of Iraq and painted him as a lightweight who is out of step with the country's values. 

"He would benefit from joining Sen. McCain on a trip to Iraq," said Pawlenty. "I think the more times you've been to Iraq, the better."

Obama has only been to Iraq once. He told The New York Times last week that he is considering a second trip after he clinches his party's presidential nomination. Asked how many times he has personally been to the war-torn country, Pawlenty, who is viewed as a possible running-mate to Sen. John McCain, said, "three times, most recently in 2007."

With Obama poised to clinch the Democratic nomination when he takes the stage Tuesday evening in St. Paul, Minn., the Republican National Committee put the Minnesota governor on the phone with national reporters.

Pawlenty hammered Obama for saying at a San Francisco fundraiser that small-town Pennsylvanians "cling" to guns and religion because they are "bitter."

"He seems to have a lack of appreciation or understanding of many of the values of this country," said Pawlenty. "He's not only out of the mainstream of the Democratic Party, but out of the mainstream of the country as a whole."

Being able to read a teleprompter is "not a prerequisite for being president," said Pawlenty.

He predicted that McCain would pick up many of the Democrats who backed Sen. Hillary Clinton's, D-N.Y., presidential bid.

"I think many of those people will support Sen. McCain," said Pawlenty.

The Obama campaign responded to the criticism from Pawlenty by attempting to tie McCain to President Bush.

"These partisan attacks won’t change the fact that Senator McCain voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time last year," said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor. "The McCain campaign has embraced George Bush’s policies, so it’s no surprise that they have also embraced George Bush’s divisive tactics."

June 3, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (27)

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Mr Pawlenty, you are dreaming and what law is there against the use of teleprompter because you yourself can use and be as good as Obama

Posted by: pana | Jun 3, 2008 5:42:42 PM

I'm a lifelong democrat and have no argument with the governor; Obama is a lightweight.

Posted by: ron | Jun 3, 2008 5:43:45 PM

I agree with Divisive?'s blog. We've heard "divisive" way, way too much coming from the Obama camp. They need to put that word to rest and come up with something new because it's getting way too old.

Posted by: alpaig | Jun 3, 2008 5:46:16 PM

"He seems to have a lack of appreciation or understanding of many of the values of this country," said Pawlenty.

Another TRUE statement.

But besides Barack, this applies to his wife too!!!

Posted by: Krissy K | Jun 3, 2008 5:48:36 PM

And so - - - now it begins - - - The Republicans are coming around - - -

Good for the Republicans - I have just send a $100 check to the Republican Party - First time for me, being a life long Democrat - until today.

The DNC will implode upon itself in August and I am so glad it will finally dissolve -
Goodbye DNC, Goodbye Dean, Goodbye Pelosi and Goodbye Reid -
Never again will this country be as divided as the DNC has made it during this farce of an election. Rightly so, you can call the DNC and its leaders, frauds and cheats - they cheated and lied so that obama could be nominated. Well what goes around comes around - don't forget this DNC.
If not Hillary Clinton then for sure JOHN McCAIN.

Posted by: Lou | Jun 3, 2008 5:50:37 PM

They speak French in France, right? Amazing how I knew that despite having never been to France. Similar reasoning on Iraq. Don't need to go there to realize it was a dumb war started by the dumbest president since the invention of the car.

Posted by: frankiestage | Jun 3, 2008 5:53:25 PM

Maybe Pawlenty should enlist. He seems to think making more trips to Iraq improves judgement.

I would argue those who have served time there are far better judges. Thousands of veterans agree that we should not be there.

Posted by: Dan | Jun 3, 2008 5:54:43 PM

The Governor has to understand that old McCain is unelectable, the length of time in Washington is not a good sign at all during years of change in Washington. Of course if you bring lot of military and expose them you will get the situation quiet, but it doesnot mean real improvement. Change, real change is underway, que viva America e que viva Obama.

Posted by: BKMC | Jun 3, 2008 5:56:18 PM

Why is it that the Reps all cry that Obama is to inexpierienced, to young, naive and a danger to every good American but cannotform a relevant and intelligent argement against his pilicies and issues?

I smell a Democratic landslide.
Congratutes to the Dem Nominee!

Obama 08

Posted by: jld1959 | Jun 3, 2008 5:59:56 PM

haha

That's right under estimate Obama.
Isn't that what Hillary did?

haha


Posted by: haha | Jun 3, 2008 6:20:53 PM

...and from all the talk i hear...he better learn to duck

Posted by: ron | Jun 3, 2008 6:26:51 PM

Senator Barack Obama a 'lightweight'? lol

A COMPLIMENT!

Especially since the 'lightweight' just trashed the Clinton heavyweight tag-team! lol

Fools underestimate the brilliance of Barack Obama to their peril.

Where was Pwelenty ('heavyweight?) in the hunt for the Republican nomination????

Again, I rest my case! lol

Posted by: Patriot | Jun 3, 2008 6:26:56 PM

obama will win 10 states; hes another mcgovern, another carter....we, dems, shoot ourselves in the foot again.

Posted by: ron | Jun 3, 2008 6:29:34 PM

And let the games begin. Hope he starts praying, wonder if he is calling Reverand Wright.

Posted by: char19145 | Jun 3, 2008 6:31:13 PM

and how many troop are in Iraq??

Posted by: Stephen | Jun 3, 2008 6:47:43 PM

Question: Do these rightwing guys ever come up with new material? This seems like the same old same old Republican attack. He's reading from a 90s script. I think they'll have to do better this time. You can only go to the well so many times. Furthermore, it's going to be hard to convince people that the guy that left his injured wife for a billionaire heiress, has spent his entire career in DC, and owns like 30 homes is the "man of the people" in this race.

BTW, has McCain figured out how many troops we have in Iraq and who they're fighting yet?

Posted by: Jeremy | Jun 3, 2008 7:49:05 PM

BO is not light; he is dark in substance.

A glaringly wrong behaviour of rigging up election, distortion of vote counts, cheating on people from the party pundits.

It's time for a new party.

BO is less than light; he is only feather.
BO is only heavy in lies and connections with the extremists. Throw in towel or you will be blown out together with the gutter party that you belong.

Posted by: John_Lai | Jun 3, 2008 8:16:24 PM

Mr.Palenty, you are a light weight. Bho is a phony hypocrite. He bleongs to the Wright church, although he chickens out or home for the sake of deceiving voters in the general election.

Palenty and Bho are the same kind.

Posted by: fact check | Jun 3, 2008 8:19:31 PM

The Political Jerk -

2.

Bho went there only once in his entire adult life.

Posted by: fact check | Jun 3, 2008 8:21:53 PM

He will never win the Presidency. He will need Hillary supporters and won't get them. This victory tonite will be short-lived. He will be the first black Democratic Nominee, but he will also be the firs black nominee to lose the Presidency in November.

McCain 08!

Posted by: david from texas | Jun 3, 2008 8:23:24 PM

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