I had to check the date to make sure it wasn’t April Fools day instead of New Years Eve. Why? Because it’s so rare to see a politician these days who actually seems to grasp the basics of government spending during a disastrous fiscal period such as the one we’re in now. Fresh from YouTube, an encouraging interview with Minnesota Governor and 2012 presidential hopeful, Tim Pawlenty.
PAWLENTY: In Minnesota, we need to do things like prioritize military spending, veterans programs, and some others, but basically, everything else is going to have to be slowed down or cut to make this work. That’s a hard message, but these are tough decisions that are going to be need to be made in tough times. And that’s what leadership is going to have to be about, but unfortunately that’s not what we’re getting from this current Administration or this current Congress.
Q: … How do you answer your critics?
PAWLENTY: Well, in fact, I got sued over it. In fact, we’re in court over it. I’m not going to make any apologies for trying to stand down and defeat proposals — particularly in a high-tax, high-spending state like Minnesota — I’m not going to apologize for trying to defeat proposals to raise taxes and engage in irresponsible spending. I don’t think that’s the right course for Minnesota. I don’t think that’s the right course for our country.
Bonus quote from the interview…
“This is no longer about being a Republican or a Democrat. This is about basic math.”
Watch it yourself below.