Pawlenty Whacks Sanford: "Troubling And Hypocritical"

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) offered one of the harshest rebukes from within the Republican Party of Mark Sanford, suggesting on Sunday that the South Carolina governor was hypocritical and had damaged the GOP at a time when the brand was already hurting.

"It's hard to quantify [the damage he has done]," said Pawlenty. "But clearly there has been damage. Any time you have leading figures who are engaged in behavior that's sad and troubling and hypocritical other people are going to look at that and say, 'Hmmm, they don't walk the walk. And so the words and the actions don't ring true."

Later in his segment on CNN's "State of the Union," Pawlenty would not push back against suggestions that Sanford had been directly derelict in his duties when he traveled to Argentina to conduct his affair. "Your staff has to be able to reach you and reach you quickly," Pawlenty said. "He should not have left the state and not allowed people to know how to contact him if something happened. That's obvious."

Both Pawlenty and Sanford have been discussed as possible contenders for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. Sanford, naturally, has dropped from that discussion after his admission of marital misconduct. Still, it was curious to see Pawlenty take a shot at his gubernatorial compatriot. Other Republicans have either avoided the Sanford topic altogether or framed the issue as a personal, not professional, miscue.

But the Minnesota Republican didn't just slap Sanford on the wrist for leaving the state to meet his mistress. He also applauded Sanford's wife for not appearing alongside him during his emotional and lengthy press conference in which he confessed to and apologized for the matter.

"It's a sad and troubling situation with Jenny and Mark Sanford. I know them. I'm proud of Jenny for her strength and her commitment to her family and keeping that family together. Frankly, I was glad to see her not standing at the press conference like many have, and kind of charting her own path. Saying, look, I'm willing to forgive him, but I'm not going to stand here and condone this in any way."

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Comments

[Free2Speak]

Who is this guy kidding?The kettle calling the pot black.He reminds me of Sanford talking about Bill Cinton.You can't be a true republican unless you're a true hypocrit.

[mikeant50]

But he never called for him to resign.

[Margo Arrowsmith]

So he's worried about the hypocrisy (and it is) in another state.

However, in his own state, the Republican ex Senator Coleman said that Senator elect Franken, should have not had the state required recount, but Pawlenty has allowed Coleman to drag this out for more than six months costing the state much more than the recount and leaving them with only one Senator.

So this couldn't be about politics, could it? Lets see...defe­nd the party by condemning this, but don't do anything about the Senator situation because it might make the party mad at you.

He used the right word...hyp­ocrisy.

http://www.squidoo.com/eugenehrobinson

[Antifascist-08]

Funny how the irony of these things escapes them.

[grace14]

sinners judging sinners ...sinners think they can save sinners, they cannot even save themselves from them selves--funny

[SEQUOIABISON]

A beautiful thing to watch, republican cannibals eating their own, especially when they think it might improve their chances in 2012.

[clearthinker2008]

Someone wants to be Pres. in 2012.

[lcdbsez]

Amusing reaction from Gov. P. -- apparently, the only things that are "troubling" and "hypocrtical" about Sanford's messy affair are the way they point out the obvious about the weepublican Party: it's made up of "troubling" and "hypocritical" people, and that goes a long way towards explaining why they only appeal to less than 30% of the electorate . . .

And, no tears from me for Mrs. S. -- Daddy's fortune comes from Skil Power Tools . . . she worked on Wall Street ('nuff said, there!) . . . and he only married her for her money, which she probably knew anyway . . . so, she got what she deserved: someone just like herself -- selfish and spoiled.

The Party of Moral Values . . . hahahahaha­haa!!!!!!!

[Teritt]

You can bet (or is it betcha in GOP?) that Rush will have something to say about Pawlenty using 'liberal attack lines' on a fellow GOPer....

[KarateKid]

Speaking of hypocrisy, Pawlenty, when are you going to ratify the Senatorial election?

[Mortimer2]

Pawlenty/Quayle 2012

[WakeMeUpNow]

Tim "Polenta", don't think your criticism of Sanford is a way to make mends of your issuing a certificate to Al Franken to the US Senate. When the Minnesota Supreme Court validates Franken's victory, issue the certificate immediately. Do not play the game of the stooges Coleman & Company!

[take10]

Shame and blight, the prominence of the republican party!

[Ponderus]

Political velociraptor.

[jcole]

And Mr Sanford had his claws out at Mr Clinton, he said he should resign for the good of the country, well i think he should resign for the good of his family, so his children want have to go though the snickers behind their backs, get this off of the front page for the good of his family as quick as possible.

[papa1893]

a Pawlenty just seat the Senator that won. NOW. I do not reside in your state. But, whoever runs for Gov. or any other political seat be it Senator or Rep. I will do everything I can to make sure my voice will be heard through folks I know in MN. Bachman will be one that needs to voted out the next time around.

[jcole]

Governor Pawlenty calling the pot black but he is been hypocritical, or a slight of hand, the republican party have told him not to seat Mr franklin to the senate so the democrats want have sixty seats, what a hypocrite.

[gialla]

Does anyone know what the status of the Al Franken/Norm Coleman Senate race is? I thought Coleman had lost the last court ruling.

[JHKH]

Bet I know who the next Republican to get caught with his pants down will be Pawlenty. The louder they talk, the harder they fall.