Pawlenty, Bachmann speak out on Quran burning
Thursday, September 09, 2010 at 1:32 pm
- 4 Comments
Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Rep. Michele Bachmann spoke out on the planned Quran-burning by Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Florida on Sept. 11. Pawlenty stopped short of saying the burning shouldn’t happen, deferring to free speech rights, but he did say it wasn’t a “wise” idea. Bachmann condemned the event as “reprehensible.”
According to Minnesota Public Radio, Pawlenty said, “You know, I think everybody has to make their own judgments. But in my view, I don’t think it’s a helpful or needed thing. It’s not something that’s a wise act on his part.”
Gen. David Petraeus’ has raised concerns in recent days that the Quran burning might jeopardize the safety of American troops.
“He is the expert on the situation in Afghanistan relative to American troops,” Pawlenty said. “I would certainly give anything he said great deference and respect.”
Bachmann told WCCO’s Esme Murphy, “I think it’s reprehensible and I don’t think he should do it particularly in light of the remarks by Gen. David Patraeus,” she said. “This could put our troops in harm’s way and I think it’s an absolutely terrible move and I would call on the pastor to please not to do anything like that that would put our troops in harms way.”
Meanwhile, on the national level, President Obama has spoken out about the event, too. This afternoon, he tweeted, “Burning a Quran is contrary to our values—this country was built on the notions of religious freedom and tolerance.”
Related: Ellison: Religious bigotry behind recent anti-Muslim fervor
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter4 Comments
Comment posted September 9, 2010 @ 3:53 pm
Does anyone else find the TEA Party spokes-model calling Muslim hating “reprehensible”, hypocritical. She is responsible in part for the climate. “This could put our troops in harm’s way and I think it’s an absolutely terrible move and I would call on the pastor to please not to do anything like that that would put our troops in harms way.” Now would be a good time for an apology from Bachmann, it would be the Christian thing to do.
Comment posted September 9, 2010 @ 4:41 pm
Yeah, because sending our troops into war is keeping them out of harm’s way.
How about voting to end the War in Iraq if you’re so concerned for troop safety, Bachmann?
Comment posted September 9, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
Bachmann is a hypocrite for her remarks. She has fed for years off of Christian dominionist politics. On the other hand, what she said is better than spineless Tim’s murmurings. He finally speaks out after deciding that it’s safe (i.e. won’t rile up the folks at Fox) to do it. Even then, he does it in the most equivocal way the English language can support. “It’s not helpful or wise, but everyone has to make up their own mind.”
That’s not a condemnation. That’s how you admonish a four-year old for using mildly offensive language. Tim Pawlenty wouldn’t know political courage if it came up and bit him on the nose.
Comment posted September 11, 2010 @ 1:31 pm
Although i favor neither Michele Bachmann’s nor Tim Pawlenty’s political philosophies, both came down on the right side of this Quran-burning issue.
It is refreshing that there was nearly universal recognition of the Pastor’s free expression rights, along with nearly universal condemnation of how he might have exercised those rights.
Gives hope that partisans can agree with those in opposition on the important stuff
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