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.

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Comments

[Ponderus]

"Tim Pawlenty Urges College Republicans To Follow Eminem's Example"

By sticking their noses in the a** of a g** fake Austrian fashionista?

That'll appeal to the middle America church going crowd!

You, first, Little Timmie.

[tydicea]

Every time a GOP mouthpiece spews a word or thought I think of reverse evolution.

[weatherwaxx]

We are not GOP - we are DEVO!

[helonias]

To bad Timmy doesn't know how to use the google.

Of that any of his toadies know anything about Eminem

[monkeynaut]

Such a bizarre analogy. If I follow the logic then ....Republ­icans have to pretend to not be a part of a bad stunt. Then pretend to be mad about the stunt they were in on the whole time. And then pretend to fight against the stunt they're pretending not to be responsible for?

[smarttart001]

Yep, that's about it.

[Prakosh]

Pawlenty is just following Steel in trying to appeal to the hip-hop crowd.

[thepoliticalcat]

Oh, mercy! The GOP just gets funnier each day - unintentionally, of course. Poor schlubs!

[blukazoo]

And bury their face in some guy's a$$? I think that's an excellent idea for them, sorry for the poor guy though...

[Georgia1992]

Cut the fakeness, TPaw.

[HisPetGoat]

It's all about "tea-bagging", huh?

[ladybastet]

HAHA! i hadn't thought of that

[AGarcia]

Marshall isn't that good an actor. TPaw is just saying what we all know - Mr. Mathers (Not Beaver) was saving face when he claimed to be "in" on the joke. He's just saying they (Repubs) should try to save face too.

[AZterritory]

The modern GOP: Sasha Baron Cohen's or what's for POTUS' lunch, they are bun-centric to the max.

[DrBillo1]

a second rate weakling with a two bit mind--he can't even be honest and end the stupidity of the Senatorial election in Minnastupid!!!

[dgh94104]

He barely won 2 elections in Minnesota.

[j mcdouglas]

Aha.

Another closeted Republican who just can't get the thought of burrowing into a hairy butt out of his mind.

[dukesman]

I think Eminem copied the GOP. They already have their faces buried in R!ush L!mbaugh @zz h0le

[nellie]

Eminem? Is he kidding?

And THIS is the SERIOUS CANDIDATE?

Wow.

[j mcdouglas]

Serious?

No.

He's a soggy slice of wonderbread floating on top of a bucket of hog slop.

[weatherwaxx]

Great metaphor!

[j mcdouglas]

Blindingly white uncool guys like Pawlenty shouldn't try to act hip.

They just end up looking even more fake.

[sansainte]

Maybe he's trying to impress that really cool Republican Dude....Mi­chael Steele.. They truly are poor little sheep that have lost their way.......­....