(CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty attempted to prove how tough he is Thursday by boasting about his fighting past.
"The loudest guy or woman in a bar usually isn't the toughest," Pawlenty said Thursday at a town hall, according to audio posted by Radio Iowa. "I'm an old hockey player and I've probably been in more fights than all these candidates combined."
The former Minnesota governor is often categorized as soft spoken. When an Iowa voter pressed him to show his "strong demeanor on the campaign trail," Pawlenty responded by saying "I've got more than one gear."
"You can be nice and strong," Pawlenty added. "You don't have to be a jerk to be strong."
From CNN Politics
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AHA !! That explains some of the brain damage.
Next he'll be telling us he has "sex appeal".
Hey T-Paw, you were a hockey player huh? What the H.E. double hockey sticks does that have to do with how you left Minnesota with a massive deficit????
After the debate, whatever Pawlenty says sounds like this, "Baby talk... Baby talk... It's a wonder you can walk..." POW! "My toof is loof... My toof is loof..." Brady Bunch 1978
He will ALWAYS be seen as weak now. Dukakis had his "helmet" moment, and now Pawlenty has his "choke" moment.
"You don't have to be a jerk to be strong."
You don't have to strong to be a jerk.
He don't have a chance in hell.
Sir, you were given MULTIPLE opportunities to prove your mettle against Mitt Romney. You failed. You punked out.
On a Sunday, you were talking trash about Romney's healthcare plan in Mass – - meanwhile, come the following Monday, you had nothing to say with the man standing right in from of you. You are giving hockey "tough guys" a bad name.
You certainly won't get one from the "Jung IL" boys in N. Korea. I'll bet you'd wet your pants if you had to face China or Russia. I'm sorry but as President, you won't get a second chance to stand up for what you claim to believe in. You couldn't even pass the practice exam – - even with John King as a tutor.
Yeah right, stupid hockey dogs fight!..now I understand the Republicans' definition of "TOUGH".
powlenty your first impression have already past. you only know how to throw stones from across the street. when someone is right in front of you you freeze up like a ..... americans dont need that kind of leadership in these times and age you might freez up and sell us out.
Then Please go and keep playing hockey. Politics is not for fist and stick fighters.
Isnt it a little eary in the election cycle to be rolling out the 'biggest kid on the playground' lines? If we're already down to the silly 'my dog is bigger than your dog' nonsense, then it's going to be a LONG and DIRTY election cycle. >sigh< I think i'm going to have to turn the TV off early this year.
The people dont want the schoolyard bully. They want the Nerdiest kid on the playground. If we were at war with Aliens from another galaxy – fine. Then we would want the Governator, or something macho like that. But right now, we want someone who understands economics, and knows how to deal with congress. Hockey goon doesnt cut it.
Some hockey player. This guy couldn't even focus on being governor, let alone have the tenacity of an athlete. I assume he got out of hockey because he was as bad at that as he is at being a politician.
"I'm an old hockey player and I've probably been in more fights than all these candidates combined." Assuming the truth of this ridiculous statement, who cares? Harry Reid was a boxer. Who cares? What is Pawlenty going to do, duke it out with Harry? Ghadaffi? Hockey mom Palin?
Oh Lord, is he trying to puff up his manhood? Then come clean about how badly you screwed up Minnesota and used stim money to pay for your tax breaks. Honesty is a greater indication of toughness and masculinity than how many brawls you think you've been in.
Your hockey tales might be more credible if you'd have body-checked Romney during the debate.
Timmy is still trying to run from the fact he would not confront Romney face to face when he had a chance and chose to do so on his Twittter instead. So he was a big bad hockey player and he's a fighter, huh? Most big bad players and fighters don't have to talk about it, they show it.
Little Timmy just proves more and more each day what a spineless, wimpy little weeny he is.
So you playing hockey make you better than any of the Other. The only thing I see It would do Is mess up your brain. And the way you are taking It all ready happen. You and Saran Palin Got to understand that playing Hockey don't make you any thing special. And It doesn't make you any tougher . You know the more you talk the dumber you sound. You till when you were GOV of Minnesota left It In Billions of dollars In dept and Bridges fallen down. so I don't know why you think you are so great ,because I don't see IT.
Pawlenty has a track record alright. The state of Minnesota is shut down after his term in office. Now he wants to bankrupt the U.S. in order to help the wealthiest 5% of the nation, who own him.
this dude is mentally retarded....o.k,
Timmy promises to deliver some hard checks to his opponents. Of course, he'll wimp out when they actually get together,
Frankly, if I was caught in dark alley with Tim Pawlenty and fuzzy kitten; I’d be more wary of the fuzzy kitten. Pawlenty is about as intimidating as Palin is intelligent and Bachmann is sane.
"I've probably been in more fights than all these candidates combined."
Not with that haircut, you haven't.
You couldn't even stand up to notorious spineless flip flopper Mitt Romney, when you had a chance to call him on the carpet over the Obamneycare statement you made..