John McCain: "The bridge in Minneapolis didn't collapse because there wasn't enough money. The bridge in Minneapolis collapsed because so much money was spent on wasteful, unnecessary pork-barrel projects." Tim Pawlenty, in response: "I don't know what he's basing that on, other than the general premise that projects got misprioritized throughout time." Seems pretty clear to me what John McCain is basing that statement on. Why is it unclear to Gov. Tim Pawlenty?
The idea of the "misstatement" in American politics is an incredible creature. Politicians can lie and get away with it by calling it a misstatement, or in this case, a presidential contender makes ridiculous and factually false claims and clarify later, the damage having been done in the messaging war.
Misstatements. Lies. Who's keeping track anymore?
Governor Pawlenty, you endorsed John McCain because of his views on important issues, his stand on earmark spending among them. If his view is that a decrease in or elimination of earmark spending would have indirectly prevented the I-35 bridge collapse, which killed thirteen Minnesotan citizens, how do you, Mr. Governor, get off the hook by letting it go at "that's his view"?
Just as Sen. McCain has been forced to publicly repudiate the views of the extremist pastor John Hagee, what is called for here is more than "that's his view." What is called for is some of the chutzpah you showed when you vetoed the Central Corridor rail project only to re-propose it a short time later. In short, sir, kindly stand up to your crazy old political uncle and tell him flat-out that he is dead wrong. Demand on behalf of the State of Minnesota an apology for the behavior you once decried as "exploiting the bridge tragedy to advance [a] political agenda."
Otherwise, you're just a McCain flunky like the rest of them.
For right or very, very wrong, John McCain's views are the reason you, Governor Pawlenty, have supported him so strongly in that endeavor for so long. You don't get to simply say "that's what he believes" and let it go -- if he is wrong, it is up to you to stand up and tell him so, because quite clearly, no one else can or will.
John McCain is running for President of the United States, and you, Tim Pawlenty, don't get off that easily. |
