Governor Tim Pawlenty:
The Sam's Club Republican,
by J. A. McClure


(Click for Amazon book review)

OnTheIssues.org BOOK REVIEW:

Gov, Tim Pawlenty (R, MN) is little-known outside his home state of Minnesota, except to the political pundits. The pundits know him well because he was on John McCain's "short list" for Vice President in 2008. Pawlenty would have been a moderate choice, angering neither the right nor center, but also thrilling neither the right nor center. McCain chose to thrill the right with Sarah Palin, after also considering thrilling the center with Joe Lieberman. That left Pawlenty able to fulfill his 2006 campaign pledge to serve out his 4-year term of office as governor, and then retire so he can run full-time beginning in 2011. Based on the political philosophy outlined in this biography, Pawlenty, will run for president in the same niche for which McCain considered him: acceptable to both the right and center; angering neither the Tea Party nor the Christian conservatives.

This book is an unauthorized biography written by a New Hampshire author unknown nationally. As of 2010, this is the only biography written on Pawlenty. His own autobiography, "Courage to Stand", will come out in January 2011, as Pawlenty leaves the governor's office. An unauthorized biography is superior to an autobiography for seeing both sides of the issues, which this book accomplishes. The upcoming autobiography will instead outline Pawlenty's own self-description in the form he wants himself portrayed on the campaign trail. The policy stances in an unauthorized biography are generally more complete. This thin book outlines all of Pawlenty's stances; we'll see how they compare to his self-portrait!

-- Jesse Gordon, editor-in-chief, OnTheIssues.org, December 2010

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Tim Pawlenty: 1991: favored parental notification & informed consent.     Tim Pawlenty: Prohibit partial-birth abortion; require 24-hour wait.

Budget & Economy     Tim Pawlenty: Simply wrong for government to spend large surpluses.     Tim Pawlenty: Post 9-11-01: we face a "big honkin' budget deficit".     Tim Pawlenty: Nationalizing banking, health, & autos is wrong direction.

Civil Rights     Tim Pawlenty: Voted for GLBT protection; later favored repealing the law.     Tim Pawlenty: Opposite-sex marriage is cornerstone of society.

Corporations     Mike Hatch: End corporate tax breaks & executive pay inequality.     Tim Pawlenty: 20% corporate tax cut; 20% business exclusion.

Crime     Tim Pawlenty: Minimum mandatory sentences & sex offender notification.

Education     Tim Pawlenty: 1991: lengthening the school year for high schoolers.     Tim Pawlenty: 3R solution: Rigor, Relevance, & Results for high schools.

Energy & Oil     Tim Pawlenty: 2005: Vetoed $250K for climate change research.     Tim Pawlenty: 25% renewable by 2025: Requirement, not a goal.     Tim Pawlenty: Building, Benchmarks, & Beyond: reduce 200,000 tons of CO2.

Government Reform     Tim Pawlenty: 2002: Fined $100,000 for violating campaign finance laws.     Tim Pawlenty: Guarantee the right to concealed carry.

Health Care     Tim Pawlenty: 2004: started state website to import Rx drugs from Canada.     Tim Pawlenty: 2009 bill will break the bank, but not cut costs.     Tim Pawlenty: Start toward universal coverage by covering all kids.

Homeland Security     Tim Pawlenty: Torture of terrorists might be ok to obtain info.

Immigration     Tim Pawlenty: No pathway to citizenship except military service.

Principles & Values     Jesse Ventura: 2003: Self-portrait as knight in armor on stallion.     John McCain: 2008: Passed up Pawlenty as VP for not enough sizzle.     Mike Hatch: 2006: ran for governor, while serving as Attorney General.     Mitt Romney: 2008: Caught eating KFC chicken with a knife & fork.     Norm Coleman: 2002: Supported by Bush & Cheney against Pawlenty.     Tim Pawlenty: We are the party of Sam's Club, not just the country club.     Tim Pawlenty: OpEd: 2012 electorate might want a regular guy.     Tim Pawlenty: 1999: Supported denomination-specific prayers in MN House.     Tim Pawlenty: Politics major then Law School at U. Minn.     Tim Penny: 2006: ran for Governor on Independence ticket.

Tax Reform     Jesse Ventura: OpEd: Reduction of deficit were "Jesse taxes".     Tim Pawlenty: Increase taxes only if necessary; & with automatic repeal.     Tim Pawlenty: Tax cuts stimulate economy; create jobs; & raise revenue.     Tim Pawlenty: No-new-tax pledge, but increased 60 fees.

Technology     Tim Pawlenty: 2007: 5-cent gas tax to replace bridges after I-35 collapse.

War & Peace     Tim Pawlenty: 2006: Growing problems in Iraq, but withdrawal disastrous.     Tim Pawlenty: 2007: Supported the surge; we're going all in.

Welfare & Poverty     Tim Pawlenty: Metropolitan poverty bill: Express to Success Transit System.     Tim Pawlenty: Rural poverty JOBZ program: Job Opportunity Building Zones.     Tim Pawlenty: 2005: Established state council on faith-based initiatives.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Jesse Ventura John McCain Mike Hatch Mitt Romney Norm Coleman Tim Pawlenty Tim Penny

The above quotations are from Governor Tim Pawlenty:
The Sam's Club Republican,
by J. A. McClure.

Autobiographies for 2012 GOP primary candidates: No Apology, by Gov. Mitt Romney, Mar 2, 2010 Real Change, by Speaker Newt Gingrich, Dec 18, 2007 Biographies: CEO of SELF, by Herman Cain, 2001 Joe Biden: A Life of Trial and Redemption, by Jules Witcover, 2010 Rick Santorum: A Senator Speaks Out on Life, Freedom, and Responsibility, 2005 Michele Bachmann: Why She Will Win, by Ron Paul Jones, 2011 A Mormon in the White House? 10 Things Every American Should Know about Mitt Romney, by Hugh Hewitt Mitt Romney: The Man, His Values and His Vision, by Lisa Ray Turner and Kimberly Field Deliver Us from Evil, by Sean Hannity

Policy books: Confidence Men, by Ron Suskind, 2011 Core of Conviction, by Rep. Michele Bachmann, 2011 It Takes a Family, by Sen. Rick Santorum, 2005 On My Honor, by Gov. Rick Perry, 2008 End The Fed, by Rep. Ron Paul, Sep 16, 2009 Gold, Peace, and Prosperity: The Birth of a New Currency, by Ron Paul, 2007 My Journey to the White House, by Herman Cain, 2011

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