Tim Pawlenty: I Can Beat Obama and Stay a Social Conservative

AP Photo/John Watson-Riley

During an appearance in the early-nominating state of Iowa, former Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Monday that he could beat President Obama in a 2012 match-up while staying true to his socially conservative values.

"Yes of course," Pawlenty said when asked if he could win, CNN reports. "If you're not willing to stand by your values, what's the point in doing it anyhow?"

Pawlenty, who has not officially entered the presidential race but is widely expected to run, was in Sioux City, Iowa to attend a lecture series sponsored by the socially-conservative group Family Leader. He touted his oppositon to abortion rights and same-sex marriage in a speech that portrayed the potential presidential candidate as a "devout, but approachable, Christian," according to the Des Moines Register.

"This notion that if you're pro-life you can't get elected, it's not true, even in Minnesota," Pawlenty said after his speech. "The goal here isn't to dilute what we believe in an effort to try to get support from the other side. The goal is to make sure that we stay true to what we believe, our core values and our core principles."

The liberal blog ThinkProgress reports that Pawlenty also confirmed his opposition to the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bars gay men and women from serving openly. Pawlenty said Monday that he thinks it would be "reasonable" to withhold funding to keep repeal, which Congress passed last year, from going into effect.

Pawlenty made three speeches in Iowa on Monday, CNN reports, and he was in the state last month as well promoting his new memoir. Several possible 2012 presidential candidates have or will soon be appearing in Iowa, which traditionally holds the nation's first presidential nominating contest.

[hawkeye2012]

Go T-Paw! www.iowansforpawlenty.com

[san850]

Dang, that GOP Clownmobile can't possibly hold one more clown!

[noloyalisti]

It is up to all of us to make sure the independents know about the firm father conservatives that want to take over the country. They believe that if you are rich and thus strong you are good, therefore if you are poor you are weak and evil. It is up to the firm father figure to vanquish evil, that is why they hate the poor and minorities.

It is up to the firm father to discipline the weak and the evil. That is why they love war and guns. If you are evil you must be gotten rid of and if you stand for the rights of the downtrodden you are evil and must be gotten rid of. The rich are good so they deserve to be rich and the poor are evil so deserve to be poor.

[BobCarn]

It really bugs me that these "social conservatives" feel to support traditional families, they have to **** on everyone that isn't traditional. They keep talking about "Christian" values, but as many times as I've read the gospels, I don't recall Jesus EVER saying anything about gay people. It's disgusting how they warp Christianity to support their own prejudices.

[noloyalisti]

They also believe that man is the ultimate superior being because he was put here by God. Therefore, it is man's privilage and actually their OBLIGATION to rape and pillage the planet for profit. That is why they keep denying global warming. That is why they believe a few rich firm fathers should run EVERYTHING including our government. Because they are rich, they are good and they know better for everyone.

[madest06]

If being a conservative republican means believing in Tim Pawlenty's God he'll need to do a lot of praying in order to win because most of America doesn't want a politician that puts their belief in an invisible man in the sky before science.

[Fetthalt]

Haha... I love the classic "infallibility of science" comment. No, you are right, nothing science claims today will ever be disproved by science later, that has never happened before.

[cbstest]

The Republican party is pathetic. They keep comming up with more clowns than a circus can employ. They're scraping the bottom of the barrel and still can't find "the man with a plan." This will be a part two episode of what happened in 2008.

[tonyatq]

You will never get that opportunity. Sarah want let you.

[Cru09]

No Tim, no you can't. Maybe if you were a fiscal conservative - But as a social conservative, you're just a powder keg waiting to blow your chances.

[iouuuuuu]

Go Tim! I know you're make a great President!

[tonyatq]

Has he asked Palin could he run.

[royalstar05]

Pawlenty doesnt have a snowballs chance in hell, and he knows it. I am from Mn and this guy is a complete shythead. He will be one of the first guys out.

[iouuuuuu]

Yeah, and you should be so proud to be the one state in the union NOT to vote for Reagan! MN is as liberal as they come and when someone smart, like Pawlenty, says something liberals don't agree with then they're considered an idiot. This country wanted change and it sure as hell didn't come from Obama, but I promise you, it will come from Pawlenty. He's the next President! Go Tim!! Oh, and FYI, I'm from Minnesota too, and am so embarrassed by the liberal mentality of this state! Gimme gimme gimme!! Government take care of me. Whatever!

[royalstar05]

iouuuu, you can say what you want but, he WILL NOT be president. He had alot of years here and still put us 6.2 Bill in the hole. He doesnt know what he is doing.