Pawlenty talks Huckabee, Somali issues and global warming

Posted at 7:11 AM on December 1, 2009 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: Tim Pawlenty

Gov. Pawlenty appeared on Laura Ingraham's show yesterday and discussed a wide range of issues.

Pawlenty said "Yeah, we got a problem" when asked if Minnesota has an "Al Qaeda problem in Minnesota" because of the indictments of 8 Somali Minnesotans who went to fight in Somalia.

Pawlenty also discussed the situation regarding former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's decision to grant clemency to a person who allegedly shot and killed several police officers in Washington. Pawlenty said he never granted clemency during his time as governor and would not have granted clemency to the alleged shooter in Washington.

He also said he's not concerned about a recent poll in the Washington Post and defended his position on global warming.

Listen to the entire interview here.

Update: Huckabee pushes back.

Comments (3)

Interesting that Pawlenty does not know the difference between commutation and clemency. It is concerning that he would not grant commutation (lowering the sentence) of a 16 year old who received 105 years years (basically a life sentence) for non-violent crimes. I would rather have a true leader for president than a weak individual who is more concerned for his political future than the future of a young man who has made a few mistakes. Granted Clemmons went on to later in life commit horrible crimes. But Huckabee had no way of knowing that. In fact the panel reviewing the commutation and the judge recommended commutation. Let's be clear that Huckabee did not pardon, release or grant clemency to Clemmons. Our justice system puts people in jail for the crimes they commit NOT the crimes they may commit in the future. I am saddened that certain politicians and the media/bloggers are turning this tragic event into a political opportunity. Shame on you.

Posted by lynn walker | December 1, 2009 8:25 AM

Are you kidding me? You are trying to say Huckabee 'had no way of knowing (that Clemmons would later commit violent crimes, murder)? What a complete joke! As governor, it was his duty to know! Not only did Clemmons commit crimes that landed him in jail, he was still violent while in jail! Huckabee didn't do his homework, no instead, he granted clemency at more than 3x the rate of his predecessors -- and this is not the 1st who received clemency under his term who later went on to commit murder. Sorry, Lynn Walker, but your post is ridiculously ignorant.

Posted by Ben | December 1, 2009 8:33 AM

Is Lynn Walker for real? Or is she Mike Huckabee under a fake name? I can't believe how ignorant her post is!!!

Posted by James | December 1, 2009 8:34 AM

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