(CNN) - On the day Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann released a doctor's letter detailing her treatment for migraines, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty took a not-so-veiled swipe at his 2012 presidential campaign rival.
Although he declined to comment directly on the implications of Bachmann's headaches when questioned, choosing to "defer to the judgment of the medical professionals," Pawlenty did tack on an aside assessment of the qualifications needed to serve as president.
"The candidates are going to have to be able to demonstrate they can do all of the job, all of the time," Pawlenty said.
He made the comments about the congresswoman while campaigning for the 2012 GOP nomination for president in Iowa, the state where Bachmann was born and where she's been attempting to build a home-field advantage.
Iowa will host the Ames Straw Poll in August, an early predictor of how Republican candidates may fare in the critical first-in-the-nation caucus state during its early presidential contest.
Across the nation in California, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had an opposing view. "There's no question in my mind that Michele Bachmann's health is in no way an impediment to her being able to serve as president," he said.
Bachmann has been chasing Romney's lead in recent polls. He noted they have "different views" on some issues but stated, "We'll campaign in various states and express our views but her health should not be an issue in a campaign."
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Who cares? Both of them are very bad for our country.
Yes, if you have a migraine headache, you cannot be President. Tomorrow Tim will say she cannot be President because for 5 days out of the month, she would be more likely to "hit the Button" and start World War III. I guess that means Pawlenty cannot be President due to obscured vision. He obviously can't see that well with his head so far up his.......... Have a Nice Day
Cheap shot, I would expect no less from a non leader like Pawlenty! He ran Minnesota the same way, "cheap"
And so it begins...wondered how long it would take for them to start "eating" their own.
Pawlenty just rose on my ladder of republicans that have a brain. Not like the wicked witch of the west!
Headaches are not what concerns me about Bauchmann. What concerns me is that she is a religious zealout that would try to turn the US into a theocracy.
Is that all the Republican party has going for it...endless "straw polls"...meaningless pledges that they never keep.... endless personal attacks....and hypocritical actions and speech that defeat their own public philosophies?? Why would any sane, caring person want to vote for any of them?
Pawlenty is a spineless coward, he'll shy away from this statement if he is ever challenged to say this to her face!
Bachman is unqualified regardless of her migraines.
Be careful Pawlenty. Michelle might beat you up after school, out on the playground, by the monkey-bars, at 3 o'clock, when the bell rings... "My toof is loof... My toof is loof...", said Pawlenty. "Baby talk, baby talk. It's a wonder you can walk...", responds Bachman.
Brady Bunch (1978)
I have to agree with paw man on this one. You can't have a migraine at 3a when the call comes in!!
I'm not sure which is more humorous, Pawlenty once again going after Bachmann, or Romney stating "there's no question in my mind that Michele Bachmann's health is in no way an impediment to her being able to serve as president." Poor Timmy can't get past Bachmann in Iowa, a state he absolutely MUST win to further HIS candidacy dreams, and Mittens seems rather too arrogant in HIS assessment that Bachmann will NOT get past Iowa in HER dreams. This has got to be the silliest primary on record. Keep up the foolishness, GOPers, and thanks for the great laughs.
I don't think being subject to migraines alone disqualifies one from being President. I think being a magical-thinking, far-right Christian Dominionist wackaloon AND being subject to migraines certainly does.
gotta love the loser wars :^)
I have no respect for Pawlenty or sympathy for Bachman. I recall her efforts to promote the "Birther" nonsense and her questions about the President's religion. You reap what you sow. Beyond fairness, the question about medical fitness is valid. The POTUS can't be distracted by a medical condition that is certion to cause significant impairment.
We all know Bachmann is cooku for coco puffs, but T-Paw is just a bum. He's doing so bad in the polls, all he can do is throw attacks out there. What a loser!
Wow. Pawlenty is just a big dufus.
Bachman's headaches will be the excuse she uses to leave the campaign. She knows she's toast.
Remember back in the spring when Bachmann had to cancel some sort of event down in Iowa?......she blamed it on exhaustion?.....was she honest then?
While Bachmann's migraine headaches are of concern, more troubling are her lack of presidential qualities, extreme social/religious views, and fiery divisive rhetoric.,
Well maybe I'm wrong but I thought a person's ability to lead and\or govern depends heavily on their health. I remember this was a major factor in the 2008 compaign about whether John McCain was fit to be president due his age and health. Migrain is a serious issue. If she has these headaches on a regular basis and if they occur requently, then her ability to lead/govern need to be questioned.
Her migranes are probably being brought on by phone calls from constituents complaining about the financial mess in Minnesota resulting from T-Paw's excellent leadership and fiscal responsibility when he was Governor. Now that Former Governor Pawlenty is not in any elected he doesn't have to listen to these like Congresswoman Bachmann must.
Now, before my fellow Liberals have a coronary over my defense of Mrs. Bachmann, please note that I am only pointing out that T-Paw better look in the mirror before he casts any aspersions against any of the other candidates. In this he is demonstrating nearly the levels of Hubris only previously displayed by Bachmann, Palin, Cain and Perry.
I wouldn't vote for either of these individuals. Bachmann, however, is unfit regardless of her headaches.
Little Timmy, the coward. lol
Migraines for Mrs. Bachmann? Probably something as simple as not being judicious when wearing her tim foil hat.