Video: MnIndy’s Andy Birkey discusses Pawlenty’s Morgan Stanley ties with Free Speech TV

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s ties to Morgan Stanley and some of its top executives was the topic of a Thursday Free Speech TV conversation featuring Minnesota Independent senior reporter Andy Birkey.

As Birkey reported Wednesday:

… Pawlenty’s Freedom First PAC got $79,500 from Morgan Stanley executives last year. Only Federated Insurance gave more to Pawlenty. Pawlenty has also tapped Morgan Stanley executive Bill Strong to co-chair his presidential campaign, and under Strong’s leadership, Pawlenty raised $800,000 in two events — one in Chicago and another in Texas.

The financial firm has been the target of several probes related to investing and the mortgage-backed securities crisis that eventually led to the nationwide economic recession.

While it’s not unusual for politicians, especially Republicans, to receive donations from the financial sector, Birkey posits that it might rankle some in the tea party movement.

“I think the unusual piece,” Birkey tells FSTV’s Jared Jacang Maher, “is that Pawlenty’s come out pretty strongly against bailouts, yet people helping him raise his money [including Morgan Stanley] have benefited from those bailouts.”

Watch it: