Tim Pawlenty's Street Talk on the 2012 Campaign Trail

August 3, 2010 RSS Feed Print
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The 2012 presidential election ticket is drawing lots of younger generation Republicans. And they're bringing with them a different vernacular. Take 49-year-old Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty as an example. This week he met with reporters and tried out some street talk. At one point, he compared the need for immigration enforcement to how New York cleaned up its streets. "It's analogous in some ways to what was happening in New York not long ago. If you allow people to pee on the sidewalks, next they're snatching purses," he says. Later, going down a list of issues driving voters, he says, "Are my kid's schools going to be good or are they going to suck?" Maybe not very presidential, but Pawlenty says he's not a "country club elitist," just somebody who hangs out with guys who wear Carhartt and drink Miller. "It helps to have a messenger that has walked in their shoes a bit," he says.

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Governor Pawlenty should be careful in his effort to walk in the shoes of the guys who wear Carhart and drink Miller. They are not ignorant farmers or working class people who can't see through a slick politician's efforts to gather votes. Further, his efforts at street talk can only bring him pain. Neither he nor his staff have a clue what some of these terms mean, and surprise!, the meanings change more often than these people will ever be able to keep up with. I'm sure he has any number of 'Young Republican' staffers willing to teach him this "street talk" but "how do they know"?

Mike Parker of WI 10:08AM August 05, 2010

It's true that Tim Pawlenty is drawing lots of younger republicans, especially those in college. My friend and I go to the the University of Southern california and the University of Minnesota each repectively. Recently, we met with one of his top cabinet members, Gopal Khanna and upon his request have set up a 2012 Pawlenty facebook page, which can be accessed here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Tim-Pawlenty-2012/139789152719067?ref=ts. Supporters of Pawlenty please join!

Kunal of MN 3:10PM August 04, 2010

Minnesota cannot wait to get rid of this piece of whatever you want to call him...He has destroyed the Once Great State of Minnesota....good riddance..poorlenty let the bridge fall down, now we wants to ruin the whole darn Country..

Janet Ramos of MN 2:00PM August 04, 2010

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