Gov. Pawlenty's Support Of Controversial Candidate Raises Eyebrows

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) came under fire from Democratic party organizations Wednesday for participating in Bob McDonell’s (R) controversial campaign for Virginia’s governorship.

“Pawlenty is in Virginia today fundraising for a man who has stated that working women destroy families,” said Donna Cassutt, the Associate Chair for Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party during a conference call, referencing McDonell’s recently unearthed college thesis in which the candidate described women in the workplace as “detrimental” to families.

“[Pawlenty] is selling his soul to further his ambition,” Cassutt added.

The Minnesota Governor has been rumored to be a key contender for the 2012 Presidential election.

McDonell's thesis, which was written in 1989, has garnered additional controversy for opposing abortion in the cases of rape or incest and condemning homosexuality. McDonnell dismissed the thesis as a mere academic exercise and has stated that he no longer subscribes to many of the views he once expressed.

The Democratic National Committee also took not of Pawlenty’s campaign appearance, and implied an ideological link between the two Republicans.

“By coming down to campaign for Bob McDonnell ... Governor Pawlenty has completely embraced this man who holds views that are utterly antiquated not just for this century, but for the last century,” argued DNC Press Secretary Hari Sevugan.

Pawlenty, Gingrich, and Sharpton discuss education reform

This morning, "Time to Choose: Children or Bureaucracy" a panel on education reform was held at the Marriot Hotel in Minneapolis. It featured presentations from several distinguished speakers, including documentary director Bob Compton, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and the Rev. Al Sharpton. All participants spoke about reaching across party lines and acting on education reform as soon as possible.

Rev. Sharpton said, "The fact of the matter is that all of us, whatever we believe, whatever our party, our philosophy, our religion or our ideologies, all of us will leave behind a world that somehow our kids must go through." Much of Sharpton's focus on reform was aimed towards making parents more responsible for and involved in their children's education.

Speaker Gingrich had a more dramatic approach, one that appeared to be popular with the crowd. "I believe we have to elevate math and science education to a matter of national defense," he said. "We must improve it greatly to increase our security and secure our future."