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Pawlenty Paints Obama as Lightweight
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ShareJune 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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The war begins tomorrow....the GOP will hang Obama out to dry.....they play dirty and they will vet this idiot for all he's worth! I can't wait to see this happen, I'm going to love it! I hope we get a good view of this idiot's purple lips and his ugly wife as he loses to John McCain. Sorry, Obama....I think McCain needs a shoe shiner! LOL !
Posted by: david from texas | Jun 3, 2008 8:26:09 PM
Will Obama like Bhutto give nuclear data to the enemy for political gain?
Posted by: Harry Damon | Jun 3, 2008 10:50:47 PM
1. Obama is no "new" politician. He is a take no enemies old style Chicago politician and no one had better underestimate him as he has left behind a trail of destroyed (mostly Democrat) opponents.
2. If you listen carefully to his speeches, he is a socialist. He also favors unilateral nuclear disarmament. He also sees everything through the prism of race which means many more racial preferences, racial mandates, more multicultural task forces and so on.
3. He seems to be curiously unaware of many American traditions and is so accustomed to hanging out with leftists and radicals that he has a tin ear for the truly racist remarks that he has repeatedly made.
4. There is a very disturbing authoritarian air about both his and Mrs. Obama's speeches. If you want to be told what to think and what to do, by all means vote for Obama and you will be.
5. Although he knows that higher taxes decrease revenue, he still is in favor of them, because he thinks they are more fair.
6. He wants to socialize our medical care which sounds cheaper on its face, but probably won't be and your local doctor's office will come to resemble the post office and the DMV.
That's the change Obama's hoping to bring to America (listen to his speeches for God's sake). Now we all have to decide for whom we wish to vote.
Posted by: JotheExDem | Jun 4, 2008 12:10:57 AM
I think someone just flubbed there VP audition! Sounds like a good line of attack, but I think the biggest mistake the GOP will make is underestimating Obama. I sense McCain is just beginning to appreciate that. Also the lines of attack that Pawlenty seems to want to make against Obama could be made against him. If thats the line of attack McCain wants to take he needs to find another experienced GOPer rather than a a newby.
Posted by: markymark | Jun 4, 2008 1:15:14 PM
that' right.....................
so what does the empty suited Obama enbrace....and what has he accomplished
that's noteworthy=nothing!! Change
what.....listen carefully to his speeches..
Posted by: richard | Jun 4, 2008 2:01:56 PM
Who the heck is Tim Pawlenty and why should anyone care what he says? It seems to me he is a bit of a lightweight himself...
Posted by: indy_voter | Jun 4, 2008 2:11:15 PM
Complete sour grapes. John McCain looked completely loss and out of touch last night, and it had nothing to do with his struggle with his speech delivery. The man was dishing out fake Clinton compliments in hopes of stealing some of her supporters and the plan backfired. He was embarrassing!
GOP must do better. Attacking Obama ability to read a prompter? That party needs help. As for Pawlenty, wow three visits to Iraq and now he's a genius on foreign affairs. Maybe he should stay home and learn how to protect his state bridges.
Posted by: Mathew Abrams | Jun 4, 2008 5:51:48 PM
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