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Tim Pawlenty And Rep. Michele Bachmann Rumble In White Hot Debate Exchange

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» 103 comments

Perhaps the most heated exchanges of tonight’s Fox News debate happened 20 minutes into the show, and, shockingly enough, it involved some sharp barbs from typically placid Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty. Moderator Chris Wallace, perhaps noting that Iowa was Pawlenty’s to lose to Rep. Michele Bachmann, turned the two against each other, resulting in an exchange where Rep. Bachmann called Pawlenty “a lot like President Obama,” only to have her “record of misstating and making false statements” thrown back at her.

Coming off a light-hearted moment where Pawlenty promised any American who could show him a specific economic program proposed by President Barack Obama, Wallace then turned to him to ask whether he had questioned Rep. Bachmann’s record. He noted that he had absolutely nothing to add to the migraine story and never commented on it, but “her record of accomplishments and results is nonexistent.” That was about where any amicable discussion ended.

Rep. Bachmann took with zeal to slamming Pawlenty, noting that he “implemented Cap and Trade” in Minnesota and once declared, “the age of small government is over.” “That sounds to me a lot like Barack Obama.” Wallace noted, likely accurately, that comparing another candidate to the President was “the worst thing you can say.” Rep. Bachmann didn’t back down, repeating every single claim she had tossed at him immediately before and repeating, poignantly, “that sounds like Barack Obama.” To that, Pawlenty retorted that Rep. Bachmann’s railing against small government “gave us more government” and her fight against Obamacare failed. What’s more, “she has a record of misstating and making false statements,” and her claim that he had been in the governorship like Obama was “just another one.”

The segment via Fox News below:

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  • Johnjguy

    A cruel, but very funny first question to Pawlenty from Wallace.

    Well this Match Up has been a long time on the simmer. I’m glad that they got to it here. I think its too early to make a judgement. 

  • Moosebooger

    WOW!

    A record of bat sht crazy statements…

    NOBODY SAW THAT coming in.

  • qwerty

    lol he wasn’t brave enough to face romney during the last debate, but he can pick on the woman in the race…weasel

    and on bachmann…she mentions freedom of light bulb bill she tried to pass? lol what kind of accomplishment is that?

  • Anonymous

    Check your article, I skimmed it but noticed you accidentally omitted what Pawlenty promised – dinner or lawn mowed. To my intended comment though, even before he opened his mouth I advised my wife ‘here comes the attacks’. That’s all this guy is nationally known for, at least by me. Seems the only time he is in the news is when he’s trashing another Republican. He may as well guest host Morning Joe.

  • Anonymous

    Wow, what a bitch.

    Bachmann didn’t come off too well either.  lol

  • Greg

    What a ragtag crew… I hope they go on tour with this act.

  • News Of The World

    It’s a battle for the hillbilly vote!!!

  • Re-Elect Obama 2012

    Well one thing Bachmann said that I found interesting and that is she would attempt to get elected another 13 senators elected so that she could override a filibuster.  At least it acknowledges her awareness of the limitations of a president.

  • Nature Freak

    The Aristocrats!

    It will be a Republican family act.

  • Nature Freak

    The irony is none of these candidates will actually do anything to help “hillbillies”.

  • Re-Elect Obama 2012

    Looks like New Gingrich has latched on too Sarah Palin’s technique of blaming gotcha journalism.

  • Anonymous

    I love the new campaign slogan for Herman Cain…

    ELECT HERMAN CAIN:  “AMERICA HAS GOT TO LEARN HOW TO TAKE A JOKE!”

  • Anonymous

    Should I side with the level-headed one that I don’t agree with, or the crazy one that I don’t agree with?

  • Greg

    Love it.

  • The_Reasonable_Lib

    Gotta love seeing them break Reagan’s 11th commandment.

  • The_Reasonable_Lib

    Neither! Side with the crazy one who says that both of them aren’t crazy enough! Rush will weigh in tomorrow.

  • Texan

    Wadd ‘em up, loons! :)

  • Nature Freak

    I could not help it.

    Thinking about it makes Nature Freak ill.

  • The_Reasonable_Lib

    More importantly Ron Paul is eating them all alive!

  • Anonymous

    T-Paw’s best moment was offering to cook dinner for anyone who can hand him The Emperor’s New Plan.

  • Ganymede

    This is amazing stuff – a competition about who could do the most harm to our country. I would really like some rightwinger to tell us what good the Republicans have done in the past 50, no past hundred years. The only Republican in my lifetime who had a positive effect on our country was Dwight Eisenauer.The Democrats, as pathetic as they are, have provided most of the progressive and beneficial legislation we have.

  • Ganymede

    This is amazing stuff – a competition about who could do the most harm to our country. I would really like some rightwinger to tell us what good the Republicans have done in the past 50, no past hundred years. The only Republican in my lifetime who had a positive effect on our country was Dwight Eisenauer.The Democrats, as pathetic as they are, have provided most of the progressive and beneficial legislation we have.

  • Anonymous

    Why has no one discussed the bias of making Michelle look crazy for the whole debate? Fox News should be just as ashamed as Newsweek.

  • Nature Freak

    Dwight Eisenhower would be considered a socialist by today’s Tea Party.

    Eisenhower talked about the “military industrial complex”.

  • Anonymous

    Pawlenty called Moondog a liar!

    First time he has been right tonight.

  • Greg

    Lol

  • Anonymous

    As a republican, I think we been given some pretty good issues to run on. How can we lose?
    Obama sucks. (Romney)
    No, I think Obama sucks more. (Cain)
    Well, I think Obama sucks times infinity. (Pawlenty)
    So, I think Obama and all progressives suck times Infinity. (Bachmann)
    I think you all suck (Paul)

  • Anonymous

    LOL at Bachmann not being able to shuffle back to the podium in time after teh break.

    Prolly took too long taking her crazy drugs.

  • The_Reasonable_Lib

    Oh my god I actually agreed with something Santorum said.

  • News Of The World

    I like how crazy-eyes Bachmann stared straight ahead like a robot when Pawlenty was addressing her… LMAO!  I’m pretty sure she is not human.

  • The_Reasonable_Lib

    That about sums it up. At least Paul is right though. Santorum wasn’t even relevant enough to be mentioned in your post LOL

  • Greg

    That last bit before the break was logical… Stunning!

  • News Of The World

    Where are all the rightwing wack-a-doos on here tonight to defend this sorry lineup of hillbillies?  Guess they’re all sitting naked in front of their TeeVees in shame as they diddle…

  • Anonymous

    Pass the popcorn. It’s fight on who can be the most craziest teabagger.  

  • Anonymous

    lmfao at Newt scolding Bret for Fox not carrying his “Libya” water.

  • News Of The World

    Why does Fake News allow this crowd of hyenas to react vocally to everything being said?  It’s not a debate.  It’s a popularity contest.  Typical.  Fake News doesn’t even know how to run a debate.

  • Re-Elect Obama 2012

    I just cast my vote for Ron Paul at Fox News.com as the winner of the debate.

  • Anonymous

    Did anybody else hear Mitt Romney say “I love your outfit” when he closed out the debate??

  • Anonymous

    You know your party is in trouble when Ron Paul comes off as the sane one.

  • Anonymous

    Sean Hannity! Thanks for providing your always thought-provoking analysis. Sean, I hear you doing a lot of talking…do you have a few words about your GOOD FRIEND Ron Paul??? Sean, what do “The Folks” think of how the debate went???

    http://www.topix.com/issue/fox/gop-debate-aug11

  • Anonymous

    Yes, what hillbillies really want is ObamaCare and revenuers.

  • Anonymous

    Do you have to submit your name?

    I don’t want to be on the KKK’s mailing list.

  • Anonymous

    LOL

  • Anonymous

    In fact I’m going to DVR Hannity just so I don’t miss a minute!

  • Anonymous

    Da! The proletariat must be controlled, eh Comrade?

  • Anonymous

    I honestly didn’t watch it. I knew it would be an Obama Bashing contest..  Fix News is entertainment.

  • Anonymous

    I honestly didn’t watch it. I knew it would be an Obama Bashing contest..  Fix News is entertainment.

  • Anonymous

    Congrats to Mediaite on excellent coverage of the debate.  Very substantive!

  • Anonymous

    Did Bachmann really introduce some type of light bulb amendment?

  • Anonymous

    The Propagandist and Chief.

  • Anonymous

    “Poignantly”?  Is that a joke?  Nothing poignant here at all.  Did you mean “pointedly”?  Please hire writers who understand English.  

  • Anonymous

    Did Huntsman fit it with the rest of the loons ?

  • Anonymous

    mee no speek eng…  only Plutocratic

  • Anonymous

    That shouldn’t be hard to do.

  • Greg

    Her biggest accomplishment the solution to a problem that does not exist.

  • Anonymous

    Конечно (of course)

  • Anonymous

    Gingrich was the best debater. Paul a close second or even a tie. Huntsman also debated, but not as well. The rest did not so much debate as repeat their talking points and fight each other.

  • Anonymous

    Republicans actually had less cuts in their plan, if you go and look..

    plus Obama can’t have a “plan”, it’s the entire party that creates one and when you’re locked in a stalemate with the other side… what can you do?

    Would you rather Barack create a signing statement and just ignore the entire democratic process? Wouldn’t you then call that illegal?

    You’re a ****ing stooge that only knows what he hears on TV.

  • Thomas

    Pawlenty and Santorum. My debate winners. Hottest men in the room. Gingrich is a bit cute too, but Pawlenty and Santorum give me goosebumps.

  • labman57

    Bachmann shows once again that she doesn’t know what the f*ck she’s talking about, but she does know how to recite simple-minded talking points over and over again.Cain demonstrat­ed that he desperatel­y needs psychotherapy to deal with his intoleranc­e of religions that begin with the letter “M”.Newt managed to repeated hide behind Sarah Palin’s skirts, ever fearful of “gotcha” questions such as ”Can you be a successful leader?”Mitt attempted to explain why corporatio­ns are people, whereas people are Soylent Green. He also did his best to undermine the prior accomplish­ments of Governor Mitt Romney.Both Santorum and Bachmann reiterated their disdain for gays, confirming their belief that the government should not intrude in the lives of (God-fearing heterosexual) Americans.And Palin was at the State Fair chowing down on deep-fried sticks of butter, because if nutritionists are for it, she’s against it.

  • Anonymous

    Ah that first minute of that video — I thought Paw was gonna finish it with an orgasmic moan.
    And them the nutty Michelle b-slapped him hard.

  • Anonymous

    No one would have believed that in the first years of 21st century, that American affairs were being watched, scrutinized as someone observes microscopic creatures swarm and multiply in a drop, of water.

    No one would have believed that minds immeasurably superior to those of own regarded this nation with envious eyes, and slowly, but surely, they drew their plans against us.

    A large crowd grew in the auditorium, hypnotized by the unscrewing of the participants.  Three feet of shining screw protruded, when suddenly, the lid, fell off!

    A large bulk, rounder than bear rose above the rim and stood at the podium.  Its lipless mouth quivered and slapped, it glistened like wet leather.

    Thats my take on the debate.

  • NeverWrong

    Little Timmy Pawlenty is and always will be a royal a**hole! He is a little man who acts like a little man. He is afraid to go after the male candidates so he attacks Michele Bachmann. He is gutless, clueless and classless…!

  • Anonymous

    Bachman: Baaawll_zaaac!!

    Pawlenty (mincing a bit): Rabelaizze!

    Romney: How’s the weather in July?

    Paul: Who?

    Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little, 
    cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little more 
    Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little, 
    cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little more 
    Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little, 
    Cheep cheep cheep talk a lot, pick a little more,pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little,
    cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep …

    Ioway…

  • Anonymous

    Reminds me of that line of Hannible Lector’s in Silence of the Lambs.  Could have been talking to himself, you know?

  • Anonymous

    Reminds me of that line of Hannible Lector’s in Silence of the Lambs.  Could have been talking to himself, you know?

  • Texan

    sez the loser that voted for the worst pres in history aka obama. lmfao

  • Anonymous

     That really made me laugh.

    Lord help anyone that googles that.

  • Anonymous

    She got a single guest shot at saying anything she wanted right after that debate. I don’t know if anybody else got a turn ‘cuz I changed the channel ASAP.

  • jan civil

    what in the world does that MEAN? Suggesting the moderation of a debate so as to try and present like professionals or grown people must mean a person is for TOTALITARIANISM!!!! What a complete moron.

  • Anonymous

    Oh, that was too good. Next time they should just throw on a beat, and have them go at it. That was more like a battle rap than a debate.

  • Anonymous

    x wrong place for comment I want to make.

  • Anonymous

    x wrong place for comment I want to make.

  • Anonymous

    x wrong place for comment I want to make.

  • Anonymous

    x wrong place for comment I want to make.

  • Anonymous

    That is why Sarah Palin (TM) wasn’t there. That 11th commandment is the only think that keeps her alive politically.

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  • Edward Newgate

    Bachmann pretty much owned him.

  • Billy Sunday

    Bachman: “When it came to Healthcare I lost …..When it came to Cape and Trade I lost……Champion?  she sounds like a loser to me.

  • Irish189

    All I have to say is, GOOD!

    They want the Presidents job, bashing him isn’t good enough, you not only have to sell me on why hes done a bad job but why the other candidates shouldn’t get my vote and why i should vote for you

    And it was nice to see Pawlenty actually appear to have stones this time but it was also typical political debate, once again too much ducking and dodging of questions

    The one surprise might have been santorum actually using the “trampling” of gay rights in Iran as justification for regime change

  • Wrwt2

    Well said. Kudos, kudos.

  • Wrwt2

    “plus Obama can’t have a “plan”, it’s the entire party that creates one and when you’re locked in a stalemate with the other side… what can you do?”

    1.) ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Obama can’t have a plan? Tell that to Obamacare or the stimulus?
    2.) So, if no one can come up with anything during a “stalemate”  how did the above get passed.

    Quit making excuses for the unctuous one.

  • Wrwt2

    “plus Obama can’t have a “plan”, it’s the entire party that creates one and when you’re locked in a stalemate with the other side… what can you do?”

    1.) ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Obama can’t have a plan? Tell that to Obamacare or the stimulus?
    2.) So, if no one can come up with anything during a “stalemate”  how did the above get passed.

    Quit making excuses for the unctuous one.

  • Wrwt2

    I think it’s that progressive and beneficial legislation that made you such a good speller.

  • Wrwt2

    So what if I like Robert Byrd?? He’s a good man.

  • Wrwt2

    She really took him to school on her “accomplishments”….oh…wait……nevermind.

  • Anonymous

    Then you do grasp PABLO’s cynical/satirical comment, “what in the world does that mean?”  Or, you simply used PABLO’s comment as a catalyst for your hyperbole?  (“complete moron”)

    I see through your clever ploy!  Wink wink…

  • Carol Ott

    Oh gawd.  Bachmann is still going on about the Light Bulb Bill that was brought to the committee back in 2007!!!!!!!  But I guess if that’s the ONLY thing you have done, you need to keep reliving it over and over again.
    Bachmann talks of too much Government and spending but she asked for financial help 16 times!!!!   She hates Fanny and Freddie but they held the mortgage to her home.  She hates medicare but her husband has made a fortune from medicare in his clinic for turning gays “straight”.   *ya, right*

    And now Bachmann is bad mouthing EPA and wants it gone when it was also them she requested aid and help from.   She talks from both sides of her mouth on every subject.

  • cma cma

    In 10/1960, Presidential candidate John Kennedy stated that “I say we can do more”, referring to the Federal Government. In 8/2011, Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, on behalf of the voters, stated that “We, the American people, can do more. That means our Government can and must do less.” This has been Congresswoman Bachmann’s principled position throughout her campaign, and she reiterated it forcefully at the Ames, Iowa debate on 8/11/11.

  • Anonymous

    purveyor, you want to translate that for us laymen? I have no idea what you just said.

  • http://www.darklady.com/ Darklady

    Thank goodness Bachmann knows what the priorities in the daily lives of Americans truly are.

    We DON’T need access to affordable medical care… but we DO need “freedom of choice” when it comes to light bulbs.

    The times they are a’crazy.

  • Anonymous

    The toothless are the ones who need health care most.

  • Hagen619dj

    It’s plain to see that Bachmann is not ready to run for President.  But, I might add,  Pawlenty is NOT either. He is a whinning baby when it comes to politics. If he did such great things in Minnesota why did the state have to shut-down?  I don’t like the way he made fun of Bachmann concerning migraines either. Pawlenty is a tail runner. He runs behind and really doesn’t want to be a leader….he is more a follower. He didn’t do such great things as governor of Minnesota. I live in Minnesota and he and Bachmann will not get my vote.

  • Hagen619dj

    The person in charge of the front page was the one who decided that picture was to be published. Too bad some people can’t stop making jokes out of others. There again the person who did that “knew she could get by with it”.  That’s what our government has become. Whoever can get by with something seems to be what they want.  It wasn’t necessary to do that but again “she could”.  Bachmann isn’t equipt with enough knowledge of government to run for president. Pawlenty is too contriversal and puffs up his own personality. New’t….can’t hold his temper but doesn’t no the business. Santorium and Paul may go alittle further but Huntsman isn’t well-known enough yet either. Romney came out looking the better.

  • Hagen619dj

    The person in charge of the front page was the one who decided that picture was to be published. Too bad some people can’t stop making jokes out of others. There again the person who did that “knew she could get by with it”.  That’s what our government has become. Whoever can get by with something seems to be what they want.  It wasn’t necessary to do that but again “she could”.  Bachmann isn’t equipt with enough knowledge of government to run for president. Pawlenty is too contriversal and puffs up his own personality. New’t….can’t hold his temper but doesn’t no the business. Santorium and Paul may go alittle further but Huntsman isn’t well-known enough yet either. Romney came out looking the better.

  • Hagen619dj

    Eisenhower was in the past!  We need to pay attention to the future and what is happening.

  • Hagen619dj

    Do you people listen to the debate or just make fun of all the other happenings?

  • Hagen619dj

    Nothing was fixed. Those people don’t know the questions till they are asked. The media was rather brash in saying/asking some of the questions they did ask.  It is a way of “weeding” out the people that don’t appeal to  you. The Bachmann/Pawlenty tiff was rather childish.  Pawlenty caused that problem. He needn’t try to discredit anyone….he is a discredit himself.

  • http://www.yourpredator.com Hunter Coch

    I think the ”military industrial complex” is part of the problem of today and the future. 

  • Anonymous

    Just me, being eccentric. (Wierd) LOL The entire scroll was was one line quips of varying validity. What more could I add that hadn’t already beens said? Anyway, I took a soliloqy from “War of the Worlds,” a snip here, a part there and oddly enough, the result kinda fit! LOL (In 1978, Producer Jeff Wayne took the 30s radio production of H.G. Wells, “War of the Worlds” and turned it into a Rock “concept” album with actor Sir Richard Burton, doing the narration. An incredibly dynamic album! THAT is where I got that from, my memory, so intense is the music and narration. If you read it again, envision the “cylinder is the Alien landing device in the common, that is unscrewing and the crowd of people milling around watching. Then the leathery, wet Martian emerges, soon to vaporize the humans) Yikes!

  • Anonymous

    I have this opportunity to pay you a compliment.  

    Respectfully, you are not constrained by your own political inclinations when you give a “Like” to someone.  Rather, you manage to be more objective than most people at this site.Simply put, for you it is “good point,”  ”point taken,” etc.  

    A comment’s viability depends on whether it furthers the debate or adds too it, positively.  I am not suggesting you vacillate, on the contrary, if the “comment” makes you further consider the issue, reasonably, it receives a “Like.”

    Still, how you arrive at a conclusion is a mystery for me, but accept the compliment and we’ll work that in the next session. Ouch!  LOL 

    Purveyor

  • Anonymous

    Phil,

    Tell me, have ever heard of the music or album?  You must know about H.G. Wells radio show?

    If you re-read the piece, try it with the beautiful voice of Richard Burton’s Shakespearean dialect.

    Send me a Post, you are the only one who wondered about it.  A couple liked it, but you wanted to know about it.

  • Anonymous

    I think Pawlenty is more Leftist than an Honorable Conservative, he certainly loves to use Leftist tactics, looks like!  He looks and acts like a wimp and I certainly wouldn’t vote for him.  He reminds me of a white Obama, just as ugly and skanky as the real one.  Seems like he Lies like Obama too!

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