It’s only a matter of time before 2012 rears its head and 1) features a possible Prop 8 repeal showdown; and 2) plays host to Barack Obama‘s re-election campaign. Hoping to give the president a run for the White House is Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who today announced his presidential PAC, Freedom First. Guided by some of George W. Bush’s key GOP campaign operatives, Pawlenty’s candidacy is — no shock here — going to be bad for the gays.
Once upon a time (1993, to be exact), Pawlenty almost became a gay ally. He was among “11 House Republicans to vote for the Human Rights Amendment that outlawed discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation. It was the first legislation in the nation to offer protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.” But nine short years later, while running for governor in 2002, he backtracked under political pressure, calling that vote one of his greatest regrets. After securing the governor’s mansion, Pawlenty continued down the anti-gay path: In 2004, he voiced supported for Bush’s constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, and in 2006 he lent his face to the GOP’s anti-gay marriage effort. Most recently, Pawlenty lobbied against Minnesota’s Safe Schools for All Act, an anti-bullying measure that would have forced schools to add sexual orientation and gender identity to written harassment guidelines.
And now, he’s “quietly” putting together a solid Republican team of advisers and supporters in an ambitious attempt to reclaim 1600 Pennsylvania.
Pawlenty, under the radar of D.C.’s political community, has locked up some of the key operatives who engineered then-President George W. Bush’s reelection campaign — a significant feat for a little-known Midwestern politician.
The moves underscore, and will lend credence to, the emerging belief among many establishment Republicans that Pawlenty is becoming the sole viable alternative to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a potential Republican primary rival. The Minnesota governor has even gone so far as to contact some of Romney’s former supporters.
Pawlenty, who previously has had little political infrastructure, is now being advised by a trio of GOP consultants with presidential experience: Terry Nelson, Sara Taylor and Phil Musser.
And in formally opening his political action committee, Freedom First, Thursday, Pawlenty will also announce two co-chairmen, William Strong, a Morgan Stanley vice chairman, and former Rep. Vin Weber (R-Minn.), both of whom are heavyweight GOP figures, along with a list of prominent Minnesota donors.
But hey, maybe Pawlenty has more in common with us than we thought. Namely, in the bedroom, which he does not use to have sex with his wife.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Last year, he told a radio show that his wife refused to copulate: “I have a wife who genuinely loves to fish. I mean, she will take the lead and ask me to go out fishing, and joyfully comes here. She loves football, she’ll go to hockey games, and I jokingly say, ‘Now, if I could only get her to have sex with me I’d really have it made.'”
That was a joke, we hear. Not that it makes Pawlenty a gay. He just sleeps with a jock.
terrwill
Gee……….He was kinda sorta moving towards voting for us………..then he folded like a cheap camerea under pressure from the rightwing-nutbags…………has a wife he doesn’t diddle………maybe we should all hope for this guy to get the Repugntican nomination…………that way once it comes out that he is another self hating fag his campaign will self destruct………..I wonder if Miss Lindsey Graham is advising him?????
charlie
The guy has no sense of humor. It is painful to listen to him try to tell a joke. Takes himself far too seriously for a guy with a mullet. That’s his cocky hockey player ego underneath his quiet humble exterior. He would sell his mother to get ahead, although in a very humble polite way.
InExile
He is popular and has much more executive experience than Obama. Maybe we really should be worried?
PopSnap
Im not worried. “Conservative christian” leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths now a days, especially in younger people’s mouths.
alicia banks
i bet he bromances less rabid homohaters than obama does though
ie
i have never seen him with warren/gay donnie mcclurkin/or tony dungy…
obama v. gayhaters = a distinction without a difference!
ALICIA BANKS
OUTLOOK
brain
Pawlenty looks as gay as a picnic basket. I’d like someone to look into his background. Anything there?
L.Single
I like the hair. Business in the front, party in the back; short on top for mom, long in the back for the ladies.
McShane
Most women in Minnesota would rather do it with fish than their husbands. And a republican to: anyone would!
The Mpls. Star And Tribune had an article a day or so ago in which they reported a survey in which only 30% of Minnesotans thought he should run, he’s such a boob.
A complete fool, is keeping the state free of public transit or any involvement with this century. Without a doubt another Bush; certainly as dumb. Gay rights have never been a reality here as there has never been much of a gay community like in other cities; a large gay population but all in hiding.
I don’t know why anyone in their right mind could even consider that republicans will ever be anything but destructive for us.
tjr101
You can always depend on the GOP to bring out the homo hating candidates, they just keep coming. No worries on my part… none of them has a chance against even a severely wounded Obama.
PopSnap
@tjr101:
Exactly. The Repubs. will run a “not that commie obama” candidate in 2012 and loose, just like Kerry was a “not the war-mongerer Bush” candidate.
Brian
He is an Evangelical Christian. No surprises here.
Mark
Pawlenty has a legacy of securing (cue the music) Freedom First for himself and others with his religious values while denying others the special privileges he enjoys. His hostilities towards the Gay community, immigrants and others not created in his image are alarming and offensive. Oppressing others by way of the majority in the legislature and Governor’s pen is what makes this man morally corrupt and anti-American. He is dull and like held breath. He has gutted the financial stability and future of Minnesota and left us with a 7 billion dollar debt via the deceit of his “no new taxes” con game. He will appeal to the Palin, Rove, Cheney, Rush, Beck, Bush, Bachmann crowd and anyone else wishing to have the great citizens of our country be governed by their cherry picked Bible values and not our Constitution. Beneath this manufactured politician is one cruel and duplicitous public servant.
Cindy
>That was a joke, we hear. Not that it makes Pawlenty a gay. He just sleeps with a jock.
This is why you need a few more women to visit your site.
Of course it doesn’t mean he’s gay. It means his wife is a lesbian.
mb00
yeah, well at least upfront about it…unlike a certain president who’s name I won’t mention that made allot of promises to us and then shut the front door on us.
Gabriel
@McShane: “Gay rights have never been a reality here as there has never been much of a gay community like in other cities; a large gay population but all in hiding.”
Are you retarded? Seriously, you are completely out of touch with reality. Minnesota was one of the first to have a non-discrimination ordinance, had an out state representative in the 70’s and a long liberal tradition. The Twin Cities also has one of the largest gay communities in the country and is very out. Unlike other cities, Minneapolis’ gay clubs are on the main street downtown, not hidden away amongst abandoned warehouses the way they are in most cities.
McShane
@No. 15 · Gabriel ; believe what you want; that’s prety “Minnesota.”
Gabriel
It’s not a belief, moron. Everything in my post was factual. Yours, not so much. Go take your meds.
MikenStL
@McShane:
“…A complete fool, is keeping the state free of public transit or any involvement with this century.”
I don’t know much about Minnesota and thought it was strange that they don’t have a public transit system, So I googled it and that according to the Minnesota Public Transit Association webpage that:
Metro Transit
* 3.8 million 2006 rides, up 6% from 2005. 2007 goal = 75 million rides
* 93% of region’s transit ridership
* 827 buses/27 rail cars/113 routes
* 2,580 employees
* 15th largest transit system in America based on ridership
So it sounds to me like there is a transit system of some sort, which makes me wonder about your other comments too.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
Pawlenty will Poll at 2% in the end and we will all say “Who?” I know, I’m being generous but there’s just so much GOP polling percentage to go around for right-wing religious zealots who are more TEAM PALIN! P(aw)lenty Bad, I Know!
Pam Ouellette
I believe in gay rights even though I’m not gay. Every one has the right to live how they want as long as they’re not hurting any one else. So if ploticians don’t want gays to have any rights, then QUIT taking their TAX money!!!!!! Don’t gay people also work and pay taxes just like everyone else?