By Rachel E. Stassen-Berger
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty declined to join other Republican critics in bashing President Barack Obama's win, announced this morning, of the Nobel Peace Prize but said he did have some questions of his own.
During Pawlenty's Friday morning WCCO radio show, "Lou from St. Paul" called in to say: "I haven't heard you congratulate the president on receiving the Nobel Prize....What is it you're waiting for?"
Pawlenty responded: "Regardless of the circumstances, anytime somebody wins a Nobel Prize I think an appropriate response is to say, 'Congratulations'."
Pawlenty then turned the question to Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, who called into the show.
"I think it's great," said Doyle, who told Pawlenty he thinks Obama will be president for eight years. Pawlenty may run against Obama in 2012.
Pawlenty added that he was "struggling" with the question over whether the prize was awarded more for process than results.
"I do think the concern that it is more about process or aspiration than results is a valid one," the Republican governor said.
