Tim Pawlenty Declines To Sign The Family Leader's 'Marriage Vow' Pledge (VIDEO)

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Republican Tim Pawlenty says he won't sign a pledge written by a conservative Iowa group that asks presidential candidates to denounce same-sex marriage rights, pornography and forms of Islamic law.

Pawlenty said Wednesday he agrees with the principles behind the Family Leader's Marriage Vow. But he says he prefers "to choose my own words, especially seeking to show compassion to those who are in broken families through no fault of their own."

The former Minnesota governor is the second major candidate to decline the pledge, following former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's decision Tuesday. Two Republicans, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, have signed it.

Pawlenty's announcement coincides with the release of a new radio ad and web video where he and his wife discuss their faith.

WATCH:

Comments

[roylo56]

11:04 PM on 07/13/2011

I guess he shouldn't sign every thing people ask him to right, he can choose his own words indeed.

[MissIndependentLady]

06:38 PM on 07/13/2011

I've seen more cheese in this video than at a cheese store.

By the way, this country was not founded by god. It was first found by Native Americans until a bunch of white people came around and killed millions of them and claimed the "holy land" theirs. These people who push religion down people's throats every chance they get are unbearable.

[xanadu4024]

04:59 PM on 07/13/2011

The man wants to promise no one person or groups some binding, paint him into a corner type document. Well gee freedom is bad, go with the flow, so what it is HIS free choice for what ever reason to not sign the paper.
WHO CARES? He would still be a better president than Obama, even if he were dead he would bea better president than Obama.

[Conjoe]

04:39 PM on 07/13/2011

By definition a pledge means that you are beholden to a special interest group and isn't that what all politicians claim to be against in the first place. So Pawlenty and Romney are on the right track on this one but it won't help them anyway.

[salkoc]

04:33 PM on 07/13/2011

his claim to fame is shutting down minnesota and brags about it.

the guy is just so boring hes painful to watch.

[TurnSeiki]

04:31 PM on 07/13/2011

Ummm, it's only controversial to gays and perverts. If you're wanting a strong family with values, if you want to raise productive members of society, if you want to teach your children all the good in the world, this isn't controversial. They're Christians. Go ask a Christian if they agree with this "radical", "controversial" stuff. It is interesting that Mitt Romney doesn't agree with it. He might get excommunicated.

[Mediorite]

05:34 PM on 07/13/2011

Every one of these kinds of pledges is odious and detestable. That candidates feel compelled to sign them should be controversial in and of itself.

[TurnSeiki]

10:25 PM on 07/13/2011

Ask me in 1976, now and 2040 if I'm going to follow the Anti-Christ. The answer will always be the same. NO!

[Charles E Evans]

04:31 PM on 07/13/2011

Only took you a couple of days to run away from this Tim, after your friends got into trouble over it. What a guy! What a leader!

[Mediorite]

04:29 PM on 07/13/2011

I love how the video that talks all about their faith is called "Aspirations of a President"

May as well call it "Blatant Pandering of a Candidate"

[turboe4truth]

04:22 PM on 07/13/2011

Him and his wife look like brother and sister EW!!! they look very much the same!

[BUSTERtheCAT]

04:25 PM on 07/13/2011

you know how baggers roll, ur wife, is ur sister, is ur mom, is ur cousin, is ur aunt

[iconoclast6]

04:29 PM on 07/13/2011

"I'm my own grandpa............"

[still hopeful at 55]

04:51 PM on 07/13/2011

LOL! ...a game the whole family can play...

[Conjoe]

04:22 PM on 07/13/2011

OK! Lets see what TPaw has to say abou t the stupid Vows....Oh I forgot, nobody cares.

[Mediorite]

04:20 PM on 07/13/2011

GoodGod, she's even more boring than he is.

[Mediorite]

04:19 PM on 07/13/2011

At 1:08 T-Paw burps in his mouth and tastes it. LOL

[sweetlilthing]

04:19 PM on 07/13/2011

I like this one but not enough to vote in a Republican.

[mombabytiger]

04:19 PM on 07/13/2011

Pawlenty is adorable. He looks like something you'd make out of play-doh.

[BUSTERtheCAT]

04:18 PM on 07/13/2011

haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

he looks like is a about to fall asleep