If a media personality is to attack a political figure for lack of experience one would expect this person to get the facts correct. That is what Diane Sawyer failed to do on the August 28 edition of "Good Morning America." After guest Minnesota Governor and potential McCain running mate Tim Pawlenty noted Barack Obama’s lack of experience, Sawyer sought to level the playing field claiming Pawlenty, as a possible vice presidential candidate, has "only been governor for two years."
On the air, Pawlenty corrected Sawyer reminding her that he has actually been a governor for six years. Sawyer immediately retracted telling the Minnesota governor "thanks for correcting me there. I in meant to say six years and thank you for the truth squad there on your own."
Earlier in the interview when questioning about McCain’s potential running mate Sawyer asked "do you think in your view that the vice presidential choice for John McCain must be pro-life?" Oddly, the mainstream media never seems to question Democrats if their vice presidential choice "must be pro-choice."
The transcript follows.
DIANE SAWYER: And what about the Republican reaction to all of this? Joining us now Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and as you've probably heard his name is on the short list for vice president for John McCain. Good morning to you, governor.
MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY: Good morning, how are you?
SAWYER: I'm great. I want to ask you about this because it's news of the day. There are reports that John McCain even at 11:00 tomorrow morning is going to announce vice president. First of all, do you know this for a fact? Have you heard this? Have you been in contact with him, and is it you?
PAWLENTY: Well, I've certainly heard it through news accounts he's having a rally in Ohio tomorrow and speculation is he'll unveil his vice presidential running mate there. But beyond that I don't have much I can add or say about the vice presidential issue.
SAWYER: Any conversations with him? Have you had any at all about your being the one?
PAWLENTY: Well Diane, I can't -- I just can't address that and don't address it, but we'll all know very soon.
SAWYER: You leave me very intrigued here. Just a quick question on this front because another question that was raised recently was the question of being pro-life or not. Do you think in your view that the vice presidential choice for John McCain must be pro-life?
PAWLENTY: Well, I think Senator McCain has said he wants an administration particularly senior leaders that reflect his values and principles and vision for the country. He, of course, is a pro-life person. But he also has said we don't have litmus tests but does want an administration that reflects his priorities and values so that will be up to him and I think he'll pick people who share his agenda and his views.
SAWYER: Let me get back to the Democratic Convention. Last night as we said former President Bill Clinton did seem to close that door on questions about whether the Clintons think Barack Obama is ready to be commander in chief. Let's play a bite from last night.
FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: Barack obama is ready to lead America and to restore American leadership in the world. Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States.
SAWYER: And last night we heard the Democrats say that on key issues in this complex new globe that Barack Obama has been right and John McCain has been wrong. Your reaction?
PAWLENTY: Well, my goodness it's amazing that we're three days into the Democratic Convention and 60 or so days away from the actual election and they're still trying to plead with the American people or convince us that Barack Obama is ready to be president. The fact of the matter, he is not. President Clinton had 12 years as governor as an executive and commander in chief of the National Guard before he became president and Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden all said during the primary season Barack Obama was not ready. Bill Clinton called it a roll of the dice. Joe Biden said he wasn't ready for the job as did Hillary Clinton and so for them to now say he's ready with great enthusiasm is quite hypocritical at least inconsistent with what they said previously. As to Senator Biden and Senator Obama's judgment, the record is replete with the fact they've made a lot of errors in judgment and John McCain has been a steady hand on the throttle.
SAWYER: But on the questions of resume, you know, some Democrats have said you're the same age as Barack Obama. You've been governor for just two years. You were in the state legislature. He was in the state legislature. Does this raise questions about your qualifications to be a heartbeat away from commander in chief?
PAWLENTY: Well, setting aside the issue of vice president, Diane, I've been governor for six years and commander in chief of the Minnesota National Guard for six years. When I was in the legislature I was also majority leader and did a variety of other things. But the questions continue to be, what have you done and what have you run? His accomplishments are nonexistent or essentially nonexistent and he hasn't run anything. He hasn't been an executive or been in charge of anything and lastly, the big problem or one of the big problems facing our country is the ability to work across party lines and get things done. John McCain actually has a record in that regard. Barack Obama does not. He has good oratory but when you shut the teleprompter off there's not much else there.
SAWYER: Thanks for correcting me there. I in meant to say six years and thank you for the truth squad there on your own. Let me ask you one more question about the stadium here. We heard earlier David Plouffe saying that they're here because they want to open up outside the party, bring other people in. In any sense, does the McCain camp think, "well, gee, we envy the enthusiasm of 70,000 people in an arena like this"?
PAWLENTY: Well, I think it just feeds right into what Americans are starting to realize that this is really about celebrity and not much substance. This Roman-like facade or facade with Roman columns is a perfect metaphor or icon for the point that it's an interesting production but behind it there's not much there and so, you know, it's almost like he wants to come out and be somebody called it the other day emperor like in the setting, at least the facade. So I think it feeds into the big hoopla, the big production that it's about celebrity, it's about entertainment but as with the facade there's not much behind it.
SAWYER: Well, thank you again for giving the McCain point of view this morning. Governor, good to talk to you. We'll be watching tomorrow.




















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Pawlenty was also a member
August 28, 2008 - 10:58 ET by mattmPawlenty was also a member and leader in the State Legislature for many years before becoming governor.
Sawyer, like the rest of the Libtard MSM, doesn't have a clue.
Yep, you are correct,
August 28, 2008 - 11:09 ET by Roger the ShrubberYep, you are correct, Matt.
I believe he was in the state legistlature from 1992-2002 before being governor, and was the Minnesota House Majority Leader.
Sawyer probably had her staff whipped and given half-rations for not preparing her well.
Diane Sawyer
August 28, 2008 - 11:38 ET by buzzmagIn the past, I couldn't stand her syrupy style but the real turnoff for we was when she did an "in-depth" interview with Nicole Richey. An in-depth interview of Nicole Richey would amount to a mili-second. A real journalist would have been insulted if asked to do this interview.
ha
August 28, 2008 - 11:06 ET by candanceSawyer didn't accidently say that. She wanted to get it out there regardless of the facts and take the gamble that half the audience wouldn't catch Pawlenty's correction.
And her remark about the truth squad sounds pretty snarky. Would she ever use those words if corrected by the messiah?
i just love di's reaction
August 28, 2008 - 12:05 ET by TruthMongeri just love di's reaction to Tim:
"OK THANKS, SO QUICK LET'S CHANGE THE SUBJECT! DON'T YOU GUYS JUST ENVY THE HELL OUT OF OBAMA'S ROCK STAR STATUS? AIN'T IT COOL? 70,000 PEOPLE IN A STADIUM, WOW - CAN YOU BEAT THAT:)!"
gee, that's pretty serious stuff dianne
your guy can fill a stadium - wow
but can he fill 100 stadiums over and over throughout the course of 10 years...?
maybe you should nominate Van Halen instead
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
Excellent job
August 28, 2008 - 11:07 ET by bigtimerExcellent job Pawlenty...
You are also correct...Obama is not ready to be President, not now... not ever.
He is one big facade....along with the msm.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Diane Sawyer's "slip"...
August 28, 2008 - 11:07 ET by goldenthroat"Thanks for correcting me there. I meant to say six years..."
Yeah, right, Diane. And I have some prime real estate at the base of Mt. St. Helens I'll sell ya.
"I think we're all bozos on this bus!" - Firesign Theatre
Ignorance is bliss!
August 28, 2008 - 11:16 ET by ChipolitoThis just goes to show us that MSM is just as ignorant as most of the Dems, e.g., Pelosi and her "natural gas" comments and her recent theological miscue.
Justin is right with the fact that none of the Dems were asked if their running mate had to be "pro-choice." Just another example of the double standard perpetuated by MSM.
"...it's almost like he
August 28, 2008 - 11:17 ET by Chris Norman"...it's almost like he wants to come out and be somebody called it the other day emperor like in the setting, at least the facade."
Everybody keeps dancing around what this whole production really looks like - a fascist rally in the 1930s.
McNotObama '08
New greeting
August 28, 2008 - 11:38 ET by 911isbusyBased on the gullibility of so many Americans I used to tell my wife long before the campaigns started that, "we are one charismatic leader away from another Nazi state". Now although Obama is no Hitler that we can tell at this stage, there does seem to be a never-questioning, frenzied support in some cases on the part of many Dems, and in the media in particular. I wouldn't be surprised if at some point they come up with a greeting of their own to offer each other in praise of the great one.
Those who have not swords can still die upon them.
Cult of Personality
August 28, 2008 - 11:56 ET by UnsaneChris, I suspect that this is because the whole "fascist" thing has been thrown around so much (especially by spoiled brats on the Left who wouldn't know real repression if they were dropped directly in the DDR in, say, 1970 or so) that it is shopworn. Godwin's Law lives.
This entire thing, no matter how you slice it or what parallels you draw, is indicitive of a personality cult. Turkmenbashy, Eyadema, the father and son Kim, Mao...take your pick. It is disturbing.
This week, I notice that I can go grocery shopping and not be confronted with multiple images of Obama at the obligatory mag rack at the checkout line (on very ostensibly non-political mags). I can breathe a sigh of relief...for now.
Whoever casts a vote for Obama-Biden is nothing more than a common thief. Whoever fails to vote against them is nothing more than a moral coward.
Ironically, except for
August 28, 2008 - 12:26 ET by Chris NormanIronically, except for Jonah Goldberg, the label "fascist has been incorrectly applied to conservatives, because the liberals who use the label so casually don't even understand what it means.
I think it's because even conservative commentators don't want to to called "hysterical" and "over-the-top". Just how much evidence has to accumulate before the accuracy of the label becomes apparent? The cult of personality for the liberal fascist has been being built for two years now by the media and his supporters. The campaign trappings, culminating in a mass gathering in a neo-classic setting in a stadium, aren't in the vein of fascism, I don't know what is. If his speech where he said we wouldn't be allowed to "not be involved", doesn't sound fascist, I don't know what does. Maybe one day accuracy will trump caution.
McNotObama '08
Great job by Pawlenty!
August 28, 2008 - 11:18 ET by c5thenDon't really know too much about him. What I just read gives me hope and he certaintly gained my respect by schooling Diane Sawyer on air.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Feel the burn sweetie.
August 28, 2008 - 11:19 ET by RackieShe got pwn3d.
(hehe)
"I meant to say six years
August 28, 2008 - 11:37 ET by Chris Norman"I meant to say six years and thank you for the truth squad there on your own."
If you meant to say "six years", why would you try to equate that to Obama's two years of legislative "experience"? Face it, you were caught trying to use incorrect information to attack Pawlenty and defend Obama. To think I once many, many years ago actually liked Sawyer. Now she is nothing but another vacuos liberal-chic shill.
McNotObama '08
Now that I think about it...
August 28, 2008 - 11:55 ET by RackieI think Diane had Barack's weak legislative experience on her mind when she let slip the "two years" charge.
More Freudian than intentional.
Right On the Money Chris
August 28, 2008 - 12:58 ET by deerjerkydaveThis was exactly my first thought. Six years as governor disqualifies him from being a VP but a rookie Senator from Illinois can run for President no questions asked?
Clearly Sawyer was fed bad information. Possibly from the Daily Kos which I'm sure she reads daily.
"Truth Squad?"
August 28, 2008 - 12:17 ET by richflanjHe needs a "truth squad" to let her know how long HE has been Governor? Since when is a "truth squad" necessary to know your own history?
To call Sawyer an idiot is to insult idiots everywhere....
I agree - the term
August 28, 2008 - 14:01 ET by Cape Conservative"truth squad" was very derogatory - she was unprepared and, as a liberal is trained to do in all such instances, she went on the sarcastic attack rather than acknowledge the inaccuracy with a sorry...thank you
Diane
August 28, 2008 - 18:39 ET by Emma GrumpPrecisely, Cape - it was obvious that he burst her snarky little bubble when he corrected her on national TV, and she sure didn't like it . She had to quickly find a suitable replacement jab , hence the "truth squad" comment. Good for Tim!
Just
August 28, 2008 - 12:26 ET by afuelanother MSM moment courtesy of Sawyer.
The saga continues.
Do you want the best for your country or do you just want to win ?? Dems just want to win.....
"SAWYER: Thanks for
August 28, 2008 - 12:26 ET by Killgrave"SAWYER: Thanks for correcting me there. I meant to say six years..."
So she's claiming she really meant to say: "You've been governor for JUST six years."
It makes absolutely no sense if you re-examine the context of her original question.
To be ill-prepared for an interview, especially on national television, is unforgivable. But to be caught, red-handed, filling in her ignorance with wishful thinking (downgrading this man's qualifications) should get this "journalist" fired. Period.
Fools in the MSM...
August 28, 2008 - 12:50 ET by SchnikeysSeriously! What's been up with them for the past couple of weeks? Their bias has become so much more blatant; the magazine racks at my local stores have been overflowing with Obama-laden (no pun) covers and front pages (Note: this began before the convention started). I guess the same thing has been happening on the tube.
When's somebody going to "change the subject" for McCain?
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"My morality is your morality."
Even the cover of last month's
August 28, 2008 - 13:59 ET by Cape ConservativeLadies Home Journal featured the entire Obama family!!!!
There's only three words for it.
August 28, 2008 - 14:30 ET by Schnikeys"Free ad slots"
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"My morality is your morality."
facts
August 28, 2008 - 14:55 ET by scotthFacts suck to liberals and the MSM.
Let's compare
August 28, 2008 - 17:44 ET by CobraManDiane, if you really want to compare my Governor and Obama, let's compare this:
Under Governor Pawlenty's leadership, Minnesota leads the nation in a variety of measures. Minnesota ranks first among states in Fortune 500 companies per capita, first in overall quality of life, first in homeownership, first in percentage of residents with a high school diploma, and first in residents over 25 with a bachelors degree. Minnesota has the highest average ACT scores in the nation and was recently named the "Healthiest State in America." Source
Did I mention that Pawlenty's also managed to balance our state budget 3 times even though we were facing massive deficits?
Pawlenty's now entering his SECOND TERM as our Governor. How does that stack up against Obama's single term in his state legislature? My bet would be that Pawlenty has done more in six years than the entire Democratic party has accomplished over the last 30 years!
Unlike Obama and the rest of the Democrats, Pawlenty actually delvers.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade