Having previously attested to the belief that Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has real potential to take on a leadership role in the GOP, I'm naturally chagrinned to see TPaw out in public, doing things that make me look foolish for saying so. Via Hotline On Call comes the news that Pawlenty recently addressed the College Republicans National Convention, and offered up a metaphor that he maybe should have thought through a little better:
Opening his remarks with a reference to NBC's "Inside the Obama White House" special, Pawlenty told the gathering of about 200 students, "I haven't seen something that staged since that half-naked Austrian fell onto the face of Eminem at the MTV music awards."
"Eminem was mad," he continued, to laughter and applause. "And so, just like Eminem getting dumped on, we've got to kind of regroup. We've got to continue to fight. And we've got some things worth fighting for."
In the first place, Pawlenty seems to be unaware that Eminem was not genuinely "mad," but that the stunt was "all rehearsed, right down to Eminem's mock disgust." Beyond that, how far does Pawlenty want the College Republicans to do in "regrouping," Eminem style? Does he want them to spit insulting rhymes at Sarah Palin? Threaten their spouses with bodily harm? Sue their mothers? Naturally, if this leads the College Republicans to do a duet with Elton John, I'll be the first to suggest that such a pairing would, indeed, make for an enchanting night of song.
Anyway, I am going to infer from his dislike of the Bruno/Eminem stunt that Pawlenty is not bullish on the Tea Party movement.
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