Tim Pawlenty Bashes Obama in Quest for Tea Party Support

Republican presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty told a national tea party conference on Saturday that Barack Obama's view of government is "completely backward."

In prepared remarks issued in advance of his speech at the American Policy Summit, the former Minnesota governor said, "We dont want a bigger government shoving mandates down our throats. Hes got it completely backward.They, the bureaucrats, dont tell us what to do. We, the people, tell the government what to do.

"It appears President Obama has forgotten what this says. It says in the Constitution: 'In order to form a more perfect Union ' Mr. President, that does not mean coddling out-of-control public employee unions.And Mr. President, Wisconsin does not need a lecture from somebody whos never balanced a budget in his life."

Repeating one of his oft-used applause lines, Pawlenty said, "Now, Im not one who questions the existence of the presidents birth certificate.But, when you listen to his policies, dont you at least wonder what planet hes from?"

Former or prospective presidential candidates Pawlenty, Rep. Ron Paul and businessman Herman Cain appeared at the tea party summit. The host, Tea Party Patriots, said results of a presidential straw poll of attendees will be announced Sunday.

Sunshine State News is providing continuing coverage of this weekend's American Policy Summit, hosted in Phoenix by Tea Party Patriots (www.summit11.org).