Last Friday, commentator Bill O’Reilly declared Tim Pawlenty was ‘too vanilla.’ He meant that Pawlenty was not an entertainer and lacked charisma. The former Minnesota governor says he isn’t running to be “comedian-in-chief.”
According to FoxNews.com:
Tim Pawlenty may be nice, but he’s not willing to be anybody’s fool. So says the former Minnesota governor and 2012 presidential candidate, who blasted claims by Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly that he is too “vanilla” to be president.
“Is he playing the race card on me?” Pawlenty jokingly asked on “Fox News Sunday” before getting serious.
“I’m not running for comedian- in-chief, or entertainer-in-chief. If people want that, they should go to the ball park or Broadway play or a Las Vegas show. … Being strong is not the same as being loud. … So, if you want the clown-in-chief, vote for somebody else. That’s not me.”
Interesting comments from both O’Reilly and Pawlenty. Is it really necessary to have great charisma? Remember Al Gore being compared to a wooden Indian? It was seen to be his downfall at the time. What does a candidate need? Is Pawlenty lacking personality or entertainment factor and is it really necessary to light up crowds? Do ideas even count any more?
The guy seems to be thoughtful and have some solid plans and policy platforms–some that just won’t fit on the head of a sound byte. Some of us find that very refreshing. 7 candidates will put in an appearance at the New Hampshire debates tonight. How will vanilla stack up against the flavor of the month? Odd choice of words after 2 weeks of Weinergate. I think O’Reilly did Pawlenty a big favor, considering the timing.
Those who want to sample the flavors can turn in to CNN tonight at 8 pm.
