Natalie Gonnella
Potential 2012 contender Tim Pawlenty addressed attendees today at the Tea Party Patriots summit in Arizona. In addition to paying tribute to the Tea Party's impact on American politics, in a speech entitled "Government is too damn big," the former Governor also offered his views on where President Obama has gone wrong on policy, and what needs to be done to get the country back on track. To fix the nation's dire fiscal situation, in his remarks, Pawlenty called for Washington to embrace common sense, urging lawmakers to: advocate for a balanced budget amendment, reject any increase to the debt limit, back provisions which would force Congress members to do their own taxes, and to support the calls for serious and sweeping spending cuts.
Here's a look at a portion of the former Governor's recent comments:
The message of the Tea Party, as I see it, is simple. God made us to be free, and the Founding Fathers made the Constitution to keep us free. And just about every problem our country faces today comes from a rejection of one of those two principles. And every solution we need today will come from a return to those core principles. The Constitution was not written to limit freedom, it was written to limit government.
It appears President Obama has forgotten what this says. It says in the Constitution: “In order to form a more perfect Union….” Mr. President, that does not mean coddling out of control public employee unions. And Mr. President, Wisconsin does not need a lecture from somebody who’s never balanced a budget in his life.
Speaking of Wisconsin, will you join me in applauding Governor Walker for standing strong against overreaching unions?
Now, I’m not one who questions the existence of the President’s birth certificate. But, when you listen to his policies, don’t you at least wonder what planet he’s from? We don’t share President Obama’s worldview.
We don’t want a bigger government shoving mandates down our throats. He’s got it completely backwards. They, the bureaucrats, don’t tell us what to do. We, the people, tell the government what to do!
My friends, we need to restore American confidence and American optimism by restoring American common sense. As Washington proves time and time again, not everyone’s born or elected with common sense.
We need leaders who remember where they came from, and what made this nation the greatest country the world has ever known. For me, that real world experience started in my hometown of South St. Paul, Minnesota – a place filled with good-hearted people, strong families and the rock-solid values of the heartland.
Pawlenty's full remarks can be viewed here.
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