Pawlenty tiptoes into a race that's fracturing the GOP

Star Tribune ^ | Oct. 23, 2009 | Bob von Sternberg

[ellery]

Continuing his rounds on the national political talk circuit, Gov. Tim Pawlenty this morning gingerly stepped into an upstate New York congressional race that has been splitting the Republican Party.

The special election in the state's 23rd Congressional District has become a flashpoint for the GOP, with national figures lining up behind the endorsed Republican candidate and the Conservative Party's standard-bearer. No less a party heavyweight than former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has endorsed Doug Hoffman, the conservative, while more moderate voices in the party, such as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich have backed the GOP's Dede Scozzafava.

Appearing today on the daily webcast streamed by ABC News, Pawlenty was asked about hte race. He replied that he will "probably" make an endorsement in the race, but didn't sound like he's exactly enthusiastic about his party's nominee.

He elaborated: "As a conservative, I'm concerned about some of the alleged issue positions that she holds. I want to be fair to both candidates and look at their records. But there are some things that I've been told that, you know, she holds dear, that may not be consistent with conservative principles."

Beyond burnishing his conservative bona fides, Pawlenty said he's been "working my can off" on behalf of the Republican Governors Association, of which he is vice chair. He also chided congressional Democrats for "thrashing around" on health care and ripped President Obama's Afghanistan policy review: "He seems to be indecisive and that's troubling."

Meanwhile, the Pawlenty-for-president speculation got a new boost today, when the Washington Post's political blog, The Fix, named him the second-most influential Republican in the country.

-snip-

[ellery]

Interesting, considering just yesterday (minutes before the Palin endorsement) he was claiming he knew nothing about the race.

[ellery]

And where’s Romney?

[deannadurbin]

Pawlenty’s a fake. I’d rather vote for Palin or Huck than him any day. Just go away, Pawlenty.

[deannadurbin]

Holding symbolic hands with Pawlenty.

[bruinbirdman]

yitbos

[Jeff Head]

We must support and elect constitutional candidates whom we know beforehand will take their oath to the constitution seriously and fufill that oath, and who are committed wholly to stand on and support constitutional principle.

When WE, the citizens and voters of this nation insist on that course of action ourselves, in large numbers, we will inact change.

That is what is happening here with Sarah and others as they openly support Hoffman...and it is what MUST happen with each of us. By doing so we will pull the GOP back to the constitution and to its own platform.

When we do, the right candidates and the right parties will rise to the top like cream rises to the top of fresh milk because we will have insisted and forced it to be so.

The FR sanctioned:

RESTORE THE CONSTITUTION EFFORT

which is an FR Alliance web site, is about precisely that. Please join us, and a lot of other FREEPERS there, as we work together and identify and support candidates dedicated to doing precisely that at all levels.

[bruinbirdman]

Charles Krauthammer on Fox, "Dede Scozzafava is a Democrat."

yitbos

[Candor7]

Fracturing? A little late isn't he. The fracture happened with the Senates "Gang of 14" which the Dems heralded as a new era of bi partisanship.

Turns out that McCain and the rest were wrong, and the Republican party was immediately fractured. This guy is a little late with the announcement by about 4 years in fact.

What he is worried about in fact is that some Pubbie speakers going around are telling it like it is, which means the fracture will be repaired as we take back the Republican party like Reagan did.This is the last thing that this idjit writer wants to see happen. He wants the RINOS to continue their faulty , preeminence in the party. THEY LOST THE ELECTION! OUT THEY GO!

He can hear the padded , rustling footsteps of Republican purge and unity coming in the night, and it makes him nervous. Therefore , the REPUBLICAN PARTY IS FRACTURED ( Translated: OMG THEY ARE WAKING UP!).

He has seen nothing yet. Wait until Sarah Palin hits the stumps.

[DWC]

Gee thanks deanna.

[GeronL]

bump

[Theodore R.]

No MN person has ever been president. If the American people said no to Stassen, HHH, McCarthy, and Mondale, what makes Pawlenty think he would be acceptable? Where does he really stand? He certainly couldn’t do much to help McPain or Coleman in 2008.

[EGPWS]

...when the Washington Post's political blog, The Fix, named him the second-most influential Republican in the country.

Take THAT you desperately trying to hold on to conservatism as republicans, conservatives!

The second most influential...(gasp) ROTFLMAO!!!!!

[TChad]

And where’s Romney?

I couldn't find Romney quoted on this race. He is missing an opportunity.

Here is what a Palin backer says in a post today:

Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee decided to play it safe, and neither made an endorsement in this race for a congressional seat in Upstate New York.

http://texas4palin.blogspot.com/2009/10/some-personal-thoughts-on-endorsement.html

[1raider1]

Splitting the GOP!! Are they trying to make people believe that if Hoffman drops out that Dede will get +60% of the vote? They want people to think the GOP is for coservatives. Dede would still lose even without Hoffman. We will not vote for RINOs anymore.

[mrsixpack36]

This is a perfect chance to teach the GOP a lesson. Why not let the dem win? It is only one seat and maybe the GOP will get the message. Conservatives will win the seat back next year anyway.

[VRWC For Truth]

[paul544]

For a while I was thinking that it would be better if the mid-terms were held this year instead of next. But in retrospect I think we’ll need all that time to get the party in line.

[JoeFromSidney]

Boy, talk about a Gerrymander!

[panaxanax]

“We will not vote for RINOs anymore.”

If I ever decide to get a tattoo, that’ll be it.

I live 20 miles out of Hoffmans district...damn.

[MrsPatriot]

The fact that he has to think about it tells me all I need to know. If he can't see that one candidate is far better on the issues, then he's not a leader. He's my governor, and he's done some things right, but has made some terrible mistakes as well. He's a RINO. We don't want Pawlenty or Huckabee for 2012.