COMMENTARY | Both GOP presidential hopefuls from Minnesota have weighed in on the partial government shutdown affecting their home state. Rep. Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty have agreed that the budget impasse, in the long term, is a good thing.
Perhaps both candidates need to rethink their positions, because perception is everything when it comes to a presidential election.
CBS News reports Pawlenty had this to say: "There's going to be a variety of near-term impacts but the longer-term goal is most important here."
Bachmann echoed similar feelings, according to Politico. "I applaud Minnesota Republican legislators for standing up to reckless spending and higher taxes."
The problem with both of these candidates is that the trouble is in their own backyards. Instead of trying to help with the dilemma, Pawlenty and Bachmann simply offer platitudes that don't find solutions for Minnesotans.
They both can complain the Democratic governor is useless. They also can say they aren't responsible for the current conundrum. Pawlenty solved a budget crisis in 2005 when he created a cigarette fee, which amounted to a tax increase. He was hailed as brilliant back then, but now Pawlenty finds himself fiscally conservative.
It does matter that Pawlenty was in a statewide office as recently as January. The Washington Post reports he was partially responsible for state spending leading up to this fiscal year.
Bachmann was formerly in the state Senate and can share a measure of blame for Minnesota's future woes as well. If other GOP candidates want to use this to their advantage, they certainly should. Government shutdowns and finances were used as political leverage after the 1995 federal government budget. The threat of overspending was also used by conservatives to win many elections in November 2010.
It wouldn't be above the GOP's mainstream candidates to push these buttons again in a debate against Pawlenty and Bachmann. At this point, there may be a political perception that Minnesota is damaged goods. The two presidential candidates from the Land of 10,000 Lakes may have their past record on the state level used against them in the current crisis.
The mavericks of the 2012 GOP primary election may have some damage control to do for Minnesota's reputation to the rest of nationwide voters. Pawlenty and Bachmann need to please voters everywhere, not just in their home state. Depending upon how badly the state shut down goes for Minnesotans, either candidate may have a hard time taking Minnesota in their primary election next year if it is perceived they helped cause the current shutdown by their past behavior.
Both Pawlenty and Bachmann rave that the long term consequences are more important than the short term needs. Hopefully no one dies because of the government shut down, because then it won't matter about any consequences because human life is far too precious to quibble about money.
William Browning is a research librarian specializing in U.S. politics. Born in St. Louis, Browning is active in local politics and served as a campaign volunteer for President Barack Obama and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.
