Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) offered his congratulations to President Obama not one but twice on his weekly public radio show today. Pawlenty said he was “struggling” with the Nobel committee’s decision, but in the end offered his good tidings.
From Minnesota Public Radio‘s transcript of the show:
“I would say regardless of the circumstances, congratulations to President Obama for winning the Nobel Prize. I know there will be some people who are saying ‘Was it based on good intentions and thoughts or is it going to be based on good results?’ But I think the appropriate response is when anybody wins a Nobel Prize that is a very noteworthy development and designation and I think the appropriate response is to say ‘Congratulations.”
More:
“I do think the concern that is it’s more about process and aspiration rather than results is a valid one but I do think overall when someone wins a Nobel Prize the appropriate response is to say ‘Congratulations.”
Another exchange from the show:
Pawlenty later said on the show “I’m struggling with this” when he talking with Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle [D] about it. Doyle said “I think it’s great” that Obama won the Nobel Prize. Doyle also said he thinks Obama will be president for eight years (Irony alert that Doyle said that on Pawlenty’s show since Pawlenty is a possible 2012 opponent to Obama).
(h/t ThinkProgress)
