Tim Pawlenty Urges College Republicans To Follow Eminem's Example

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.

[Would you like to follow me on Twitter? Because why not? Also, please send tips to [e-mail] -- learn more about our media monitoring project here.]

Comments

[HST]

Marshall Mathers for president!

[mindara65]

Campaign slogan-"Who's the real Slim Shady?"

[weatherwaxx]

Hey, if college republicans want to make up rude rhymes about Mrs. Mooseburger, it's a step in the right direction.­.. or should I say the 'left' direction?

Middle-aged republicans should NOT try to act cool... unless they're trying to amuse their children.

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

He really should fire whomever wrote this little bit !!!

[RevRayGreen]

Eminem would allow medical marijuana.

[JessWonderin]

Typical Republican . . TOTALLY baffled by what we call "theater" . . . you know, that thing that is pre-written, rehearsed, then played on cue . . . kinda like a Republican Townhall Meeting . . . all faked . . . .

Are Republican ALL that dense? rhetorical question . . . sorry.

[sjones66]

The pettiness, whining and histrionics of the Repulikkklans is getting sooo boring.

"staged" you say? sort of like George Bush's entire career, or Sarah Palin in a Scientology Sustern "interview"? LOL. yeah, Repliklans know all about staging things. Image is all to them.

It's substance they can't manage.

And hence, they don't understand that staging a tour of the WH is not a problem. We did not elect Obama so that he could do a reality TV show of the white house. We elected him because of his very real qualities of integrity, intelligence, steadfastness, thoughtfulness, honesty, adaptability, and diplomacy.

Why bother -- the GOP will never understand any concept which requires more thinking than a bumper sticker slogan they can sell to America; i.e., garbage rebranded as the Newest Thing (e.g., Palin).

[dredeize]

Republicant's should stop trying to act like they are "cool" and comment on modern entertainment events. It really exposes them to how very much "uncool" that they are!!

[BillyPilgram57]

If you really think Pawlenty is a force for the future....­..........­........ you have not been paying attention.
He is yet another Republican who thinks down is up........­..........­... Tim has been marching
Minnesota back to the stone age.......­..........­.......

[tailgateshirts]

attempts at pop culture references never seem to work well with republican­s.... maybe they should actually be with it as opposed to pretending, like they do with most things such as religion

[weatherwaxx]

reasons?

1. so not pop

2. no culture

[Prakosh]

Maybe its about time to just say you were wrong about Pawlenty, and leave it at that! I can't quite understand why this country needs a Republican party--the Democratic party is diverse enough to cover everyone but the nutjobs, and they seem to be the people the Republican leadership is really intent on satisfying no matter what the cost. I say never get in the way of self-destruction.

[Pupadup4oBama]

we need more than just 1 party or 2 parties...­I'd say 5 would be sufficient.

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

uh, the Austrian guy is British...­....keep up Tim

[Pupadup4oBama]

and he is a character - much like Colbert...­.but the repugs don't know satire.

[nycwerewolf]

Wowsers! Eminem and Tim Pawlenty. Who is the real Slim Shady?

[ricmarc]

i think em took care of the disgusting rhymes against palin. only decent so called song on the record.

[MajorKong]

Sounds like he took the stupid out for a test drive.

[weatherwaxx]

Test drive? He bought it back in November!

[thaggas]

Yah, college republicans! You should get publicly mad when you get caught with your face in another guys a$$, all the while privately you're savoring every second of it!

Isn't that right Larry Craig? Larry?

Could someone check the bathroom?