Tim Pawlenty, Possible McCain Running Mate, Says GOP Needs Obama's Positive Message

ARLINGTON, Va. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, often mentioned as a possible running mate for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said Wednesday GOP candidates would do well to adopt a positive tone like that of McCain's Democratic rival, Barack Obama.

"Say what you will about Barack Obama," the Minnesota Republican told a conservative group, "people gravitate when you have something positive to say." He added that McCain has been positive as well.

"People want to follow hopeful, optimistic, civil, decent leaders," Pawlenty said in a speech to GOPAC, which helps recruit Republican candidates. "They don't want to follow some negative, scornful person."

Ronald Reagan still offers important lessons for today's Republican Party, Pawlenty said, because the former president was civil, optimistic, pragmatic and a good communicator.

"He actually had some ideas," Pawlenty said, adding that the Republican idea factory has seemed "a little stagnant in recent years."

Pawlenty, 47, said he came of age during President Reagan's tenure in the 1980s, but acknowledged the Republican icon is ancient history to young people.

"If you're under 40, that was a long time ago, man," he said to laughter.

The party needs to update its message to appeal to voters who want new ideas and government results and to counter the perception that Republicans are "not for the working person," Pawlenty said. He advocated policies like better training and performance pay for teachers, online college education opportunities and reworking health insurance to reward providers that show good results and save money.

Pawlenty shied away from talking about joining McCain on the ticket.

Comments

[mamacat]

Gov. Pawlenty reminds me of that time, long, long ago, back before they were hijacked by the luntic fringe, when the Republican party actually had some eithics and some ideas. Not much, mind you, because the evidence today is so overwhelmingly against the GOP that no reasonable person would even think about staying in that corrupt gang of thieves. Still, there was a time, about 50 years ago, when the GOP had a majority of middle of the roaders.

[lrobbins]

Your front page shows Gov. Pawlenty making his comments with McCain in the background, yet I cannot find evidence that here was there. If this is a manipulated photogragh, please identify it as such.

[nastyvirus]

That picture was taken at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

[GuyFawkes]

I was thinking the same thing. What's up with this guy's face?

[NochlessMonster]

Now what kind of attitude is that to have if you are a repub.... He isn't going to get very far with that kind of thinking..­......

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

I wouldn't go duck-hunting with any of them....

[Dreamers101]

LOL

[homkant]

wht`s wrong with g.o.p?
it seems like they still leaving in pass!

[the964kid]

Where is that message gonna come from?? Maybe this genius didn't realize that the GOP are the ones who got this country so far off track! What are they going to be positive about? Any 'positive' talk will only be deemed as out of touch. Even if the GOP took Reagan's DNA and cloned him, even he wouldn't be enough to counter the utter contempt most Americans feel towards the republican brand.

[lornejl]

The old gray haired guy that has been in congress for 27 years is change that you can believe in.

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

I take it you weren't at the Biker rally?? Apparently when McMav is president those lazy congressional bums won't be allowed to take recess anymore.

[WLA]

Riiiiiiiight.

[SCG]

Miss Buffalo Chip was a bigger draw.

[NochlessMonster]

Nice for a congressman who hasn't been involved in anything going on in congress for weeks and months to complain about a vacation he is on as well......­.....

[Danny]

Pawlenty who? I bet he is too young to know anything about "The Keating Five", otherwise he wouldn't want to be associated with McCane, at all.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Two interesting polls out today. 0bama up 6 points in CBS poll and 5 points in Time poll. Counting out all the bumps and valley's 0bama has had a pretty consistent 5-6 point lead in the national polls. As Chuck Todd says if 0bama can hold onto a 5-6 point lead that would be an EV landslide. I think 0bama still needs to build up his lead some because of last minute voters, but the numbers for the national polls have been pretty stable.

The underlying numbers in the polls gives more indication of an 0bama landslide. The enthusiast is on 0bama's side by almost 3-1 versus McBush. Many people who will pay attention toward the end of the election could be caught up with the positive mood that 0bama brings into this election. That's why Pawlenty is knows that enthusiasm for 0bama is a real problem for McBush and the Rethuglicans.

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/JUL08B-Elec.pdf
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1829948,00.html

[Superbus]

Obamamaniacs, how about some examp[es of Super O risking his political career by going up against the party leadership, or reaching across the aisle to pass major legislation that roils his party elders?

[ThunderclapNewman]

Off-topic diversionary tactic.

[Superbus]

No answer, as usual

[SweetSydney]

How about some stats providing context for his 130 "present" votes while an Illinois State Senator?

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

How 'bout McBush being the most absent member of the US Senate for the last two years?

[Podewumun]

How about NO VOTES by Maclame since April?

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Wrong thread, you ignorant liar.

[SweetSydney]

You mean there's a thread devoted to that topic? On the Huffington Post?

GET OUT!

Where is it?

[Superbus]

As usual, no answer. Anybody surprised?

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

How 'bout some policies that McBush has that are not the same failed policies as Boosh's?

Strawman arguments are for hay brains like you.

Don't count climate change either he threw that under the bus with his drill, drill, drill campaign.

[kay]

It doesn't really matter though, does it, if The Maverick then drops every single one of those "principled stands" to get the nomination?

Immigration, campaign finance, tax cuts, global warming, stem cell, judges, the list just goes on and on.

We're not hiring a Senator here. As PRESIDENT he's lock step Bush. He's PROMISING that. He can't come up with a single policy difference. That's because there are none.

[AfricanWahala]

Sounds like he is campaigning to be Obama's VP...lol

[kay]

Kay is a "sales-gal" (as the Ancient Maverick might say) so I know a little of what I speak here.

Answer honestly: When I say "Paris Hilton" this evening you think.....­"John McCain".

You know it's true. I bet he knows it's true by now too.

[SweetSydney]

Sorry, kay, this one you missed.

In fact, I bet there will be polls within the week showing that Paris has been tied to Bar-ry.

[ThunderclapNewman]

SweetSydney
As long as he doesn't smile or stare.
posted 07/18/2008 at 20:14:41

SweetSydney
Anybody know where ole purple lips is going tomorrow?
Maybe Iraq?
Flagged Posted 09:23 PM on 07/19/2008

SweetSydney
"Watermelons don't even have any food value, and they're heavy and fragile and impossible to ship." But they sure taste good on a hot summer day! Ask O, I'll bet he agrees.
posted Jul 16, 2008 at 09:39:04

[AMJordan]

You're both ignorant AND stupid or did you miss Mrs. Hilton's demand for their money back from donating to the McSlobberingfool campaign? Paris, Brit-tany and C-harlie He-ston are all Repulsives.

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Useless empty vague fluff talk.

Got facts?

Nope. As usual.

[springsm]

Maybe...he­r parents gave alot to "myfriends'" campaign.

[gladys46]

O is not the white haired guy ... who was around when beer was dipped from buckets!! O did not use Paris in any ad .... this is Mc's hot pink, baby girl!!

[BradPittsburgh]

And you have been trying to sell O to everyone but as a sales gal you should know it is very hard to sell a product that provides no benefits to the buyer.

[kay]

You're such a bitter and disappointed conservative, yet you bought the whole Right wing package.

Are you better off....of course you aren't.

Poor thing. They snookered you.

Admit it. Say...."Pa­ris Hilton"...­.Think....­."John McCain".

[SCG]

No she's been very successful. The primary was an upset. She made a keen choice on who to support, unlike yourself.

[gladys46]

Not one "earmark" did Mc bring home to his constituients ... not one! Arizona must have very state of the arts infrastructure ... oh, that's right only Mc may have state of the art!!

[Dreamers101]

Wow these tro//s are ribbed tonight on this article and the sad part its all due to a decent comment and now he’s gutter wh’ite trash so it is true the Rethuglicans do eat there own. HHAHAAHAHAHAHA

“Tim Paw'lenty - G OP candidates would do well to adopt a positive tone like that of McC'ain's Democratic rival Bar'ack Oba'ma. People want to follow hopeful, optimistic, civil, decent leaders,"

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Haha I know. It's like they're in some crackhouse and one guy stands up and says "you know what guys I think we oughtta cut down. I think we might be addicts...­"

[AMJordan]

Looking at Repulsives in general, I would have to say it looks like they've eaten everyone's own.

[springsm]

Well McCain is deteriorating. Pick someone that the minions will know will be president in midterm. Makes me worried. It is just so peculiar that folks can even be FOR "Myfriends" with what he is/has been and will be. Descernment doesn't seem to be a gift to these republicans. Gosh...I can't even fathom another republican president for awhile. I don't know anything about this Pawlenty..­but it is scary. Go find someone who has a grip on life, eh McCain?

[Mort]

Talk is nice, but they need his principles too. Without that, it's all just empty words.

[SaviourMachine]

My comment is in p..e..n..d­..i..n..g p..u..r..g­..a..t..o.­.r..y for I don't an hour or more.

Just as well KO is on.

Later modbeotches.

[lornejl]

I hear ya bro