Political Hotsheet
By

Corbett B. Daly /

CBS News/ June 13, 2011, 9:39 PM

Tim Pawlenty calls Obama "declinist," backs off "Obamneycare" line

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty on Monday coined a new phrase to criticize President Obama, calling him a "declinist," as he backed off a phrase he coined a day earlier to criticize rival Mitt Romney.

Pawlenty at first declined to use the word "Obamneycare" during the Republican debate in New Hampshire, though it was Pawlenty himself who first uttered the word a day earlier to describe the similarities between the signature health care programs of Obama and Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts.

CNN's John King, who moderated the debate, called Pawlenty on the shift: "If it was Obamneycare on 'Fox News Sunday,' why isn't it not Obamneycare standing here with the governor right there?"

Pawlenty conceded, telling the host his decision to use "the term 'Obamneycare' was a reflection of the president's comments that he designed Obamacare on the Massachusetts health care plan" that was a signature of the Romney administration.

The Minnesotan said Mr. Obama is a leader who views the United States as a nation "of equals around the world," instead of the richest and most powerful country in the world with a special role in international affairs.

"This president is a declinist. He views America as one of equals around the world. We're not the same as Portugal; we're not the same as Argentina. And this idea that we can't have 5 percent growth in America is hogwash. It's a defeatist attitude," Pawlenty said as he defended his forecasts for economic growth that have been widely viewed as overly optimistic.

The U.S. economy grew at a 1.8 percent annualized pace in the three months of this year, according the latest Commerce Department estimate released last month.

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© 2011 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
11 Comments Add a Comment
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jimbom121 says:
Pawlenty blew it last night. He came off as wimpy and quite frankly kind of scary with all of his god references. If he really wants to be th prime competitor to Romney, he needs to step it up, otherwise he'll be out before the NH primary.
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justme2012 replies:
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So sayeth the Obama Sheep.
WillMunny1 replies:
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Man those "God" references are really frightening and a turn of to the atheistic no morals left.
Too bad the terrible things the godless Marxists and socialists did durning the first half of the 20th Century doesn't bother them.
Go figure???
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rightbehind says:
We need to be going single payer and get rid of the phony baloney health care insurance markets.
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justme2012 says:
I was so proud of all the debaters for not allowing King to try to bait them into attacking each other.

Immediately after the debate Obama's pollster came on CNN and said "You gotta make them bleed".

Thank goodness these fine men and women didn't stoop to that low level that Obama would have taken.

Obama is a loser who has to stoop to wagging his fingers, scolding, mocking and trying to make people bleed who differ from him. That is not the makings of a great leader and why he is a failure as POTUS.
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jimbom121 replies:
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ummm, then its not a debate. They could have saved everybody a lot of time and money by just showing their 30 second ads.
justme2012 replies:
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Actually it was a debate. It was just a civil one and democrats are used to blood and gore.

Last night was a debate about Obama's performance as POTUS and he got failing grades from everyone.
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petesis says:
What a doublespeaking bonehead. He thinks we are special and he is gonna ride roughshod to prove it. Obama is too soft. This chinless weasel couldn't even say Obomneycare. Typical Repub puss.
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justme2012 replies:
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He refused to let King bait him. Good for Pawlenty. So much respect among the opponents tonight. That will drive the democrats crazy!
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saturn05 says:
This just shows the repubs immaturity level. First off, quit calling Obamacare. It is the US Healthcare system and just stop being so stupid. IS this guy another Bush or even Palin...making up words to suit his lack of vocabulary. God I hate the repubs.
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justme2012 replies:
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We know, you spread your hate every day for everyone to see.
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