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Pawlenty: My State Should Opt Out
Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 4:37PM
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Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)
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Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential president candidate, says that his state should opt out of the public option if given the chance.
"I don't know if we would opt out, but I personally would like to opt out because I don't like government-run health care," Pawlenty said.
This shouldn't be too much of a shocker, considering that Pawlenty had previously talked about invoking the Tenth Amendment and attempting to nullify health care reform at the state level. Really, being given permission by the federal government to opt out isn't much in comparison.
It's unlikely that Minnesota actually would opt out, due to its legislature being heavily Democratic. But hey, Pawlenty can dream. And he can court the national GOP base.
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mans_best_friend
October 23, 2009 4:41 PM
Just like you refused to take all that stimulus money, right Tim?
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Michael A
October 23, 2009 4:49 PM
Liar. Only some repukes with their head up their ass would want to opt out.
By the way, a condition of the opt out should be that any state that opts out gets no federal handouts to shovel to the insurance industry. See how many opt out then. Zero.
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Justin H
October 23, 2009 5:10 PM
Our only regret in Minnesota is that we couldn't vote you out of office, you had to decide to not run for a third term. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, T-Paw.
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chimpale
October 23, 2009 5:28 PM
We don't really care what you want, Timmy. You don't even live here in MN anymore, do you? You just go on trying to cozy up to the lunatic base of the GOP. You're coming in behind Palin and there's no way she's going to make it. Personally, I'd like to see you be the GOP nominee in 2012 so we can shut your snotty little 13-year-old mouth for good.
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nwagle
October 23, 2009 5:29 PM
So Tim Pawlenty doesn't like government-run health care? Has he asked all of the Minnesota seniors to give up their Medicare??
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chimpale
October 23, 2009 5:32 PM
It's not really that he hates government-run health care. It's just that he hates the kind of people who have to rely on it, because the private insurers won't cover them. You know--middle class and below.
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Nancy Irving
October 23, 2009 11:06 PM
"I personally would like to opt out because I don't like government-run health care..."
This reminds me of a great bumper-sticker I saw once:
"AGAINST ABORTION? DON'T HAVE ONE!"
Pawlenty doesn't have to choose to be insured by the government. (Though isn't his current insurance provided by the state of Minnesota?) Just so long as he agrees to give everyone else in his state the same option.
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xargaw
October 24, 2009 2:24 PM
I don't see how this is going to help Pawlenty's Presidential aspirations. Even a fair amount of the GOP electorate thinks a PO is the way to go.
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maya89
October 24, 2009 11:29 PM
oh yeah? has this moron asked uninsured folks in his state how they would feel about that?? these Repugs prove more with each passing day what a friggin' joke they are...
there must be an incredible-shrinking brain disease going around with Repugs or something, they make less sense every day..
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bpollen
October 25, 2009 4:34 AM
Sheeeeesh, if the GOP came out against air, Pawlenty would say that MN should stop breathing....
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Kuyleh
October 25, 2009 3:40 PM
Doesn't like government run health care, huh? Has he revoked his job provided insurance yet? We need to hound him til he does.
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