Will Tim Pawlenty’s Pastor Hurt His Candidacy?
- Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:20pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Pastor Leith Anderson
Following the 2008 presidential campaign’s rampant debate surrounding Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his potential influence over then-candidate Barack Obama, the subject of pastoral impact may emerge, once again, as a theme in the 2012 race. Already, some conservatives and liberals, alike, are questioning how GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty’s pastor, Leith Anderson, has influenced his views.
Anderson is the president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and has been the pastor at Wooddale Church in Minnesota — one of the nation’s largest evangelical churches — since 1977. With an interesting set of beliefs on a variety of issues, Anderson’s politics can most aptly be described as “moderate.”
Judging from Pawlenty’s own words, there’s no doubt that the pastor has had a profound impact on the politician. In Pawlenty’s 2010 autobiography, “Courage to Stand,” he wrote, “I’m not the only one Leith Anderson has inspired; great leaders have many followers. But he’d be the first to underscore that his mission is not about him; it’s about drawing others to Jesus.”
While Anderson is careful to stay relatively political neutral on the whole, he and his church have taken definitive stances on a variety of highly contentious sociopolitical issues. According to The Huffington Post:
Anderson isn’t shy to discern a political agenda in Scripture. When he reads in Psalms, “I knit you together in your mother’s womb,” he sees a strong anti-abortion message. He also opposes same-sex marriage on biblical grounds.
But, on other issues, the pastor has found himself dancing left of the line. The Atlantic reports that he is a firm believer in global warming:
In 2006, when Anderson added his name to a high-profile group of Evangelicals who signed a “call to action” statement, the Associated Press described his support as being in favor of “strong government involvement” on the issue.
Earlier this month, The Blaze covered Tim Pawlenty’s change-of-heart when it comes to global warming and cap and trade. While it is perfectly acceptable that a politician would change his or her opinions over time, critics will surely question whether Anderson’s views previously impacted Pawlenty.
On another issue — illegal immigration — Anderson also takes a more leftist approach. While Pawlenty has waged a hard stance on the issue (pushing for an end to “birthright citizenship” and punishments for business violators who willingly employ illegals), Anderson’s NAE has pushed for “comprehensive immigration reform.” According to The Atlantic, Anderson supported:
…2007 resolution calling for the “government to establish a fair process for undocumented immigrants already in the country to earn legal status and fair labor and civil laws for everyone.”
Politico further highlights some of the actions that the NAE has taken that agree more readily with the Democratic side of the aisle:
They issued statements of support for the START Treaty ratification last year, supported Obama’s push for comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act, and issued a report on 18 issues in which NAE and Obama concur.
While there are certainly some issues with which conservatives would disagree, Anderson’s background paints him as a compassionate, Christian pastor who happens to have very balanced views. That said, some of the most left-leaning streaks are certainly causing some questions to emerge regarding his influence over Pawlenty’s viewpoints.
What do you think?
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Comments (82)
Stu Pedaso
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 3:28pmNot too excited about Timmy to start with. I am not impressed by anyone who can swayed by a pastor. Read the book and decide how you plan on living your life. For me I live as though someone is might one day critique my performance.
Report Post »bruce_baker
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 3:26pmYou have to respect Pawlenty for breaking ranks with that pastor when his intellect told him that those positions were wrong.
Don’t be too hard on the pastor. Even though he’s a Christian, he went through the same Public Education Monopoly Socialist Indoctrination that most of the rest of us did. At least he hasn’t gone as far on “Collective Salvation” and “Social Justice” as some of the real loons like Wright do.
People have been leaving the churches in droves for decades. That’s because most of the churches are just going through the motions without any real religious understanding. It‘s too bad we’ve left, because the church was one of the few factors that kept most of us moral.
While the truth behind the Bible is real, you can’t take it litterally the way most of the churches do. The Bible is mostly parable, allegory, simile and metaphor. That‘s because that’s the only way you can communicate real religious knowledge. The language is inadequate to convey the concepts any other way. The churches lost that understanding a long time ago. The fact that ANY of the faithful attain salvation in spite of the churches is a Miracle. The real losers are the Athiests. They don’t study the Bible. Even if you don’t believe in God, the Bible has more good practical advice about dealing with life‘s problems than any other book I’ve seen. You just have to wade through a lot of “begats” to find it.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 3:01pmTim Pawlenty will have more of a positive/negative impact on his own success/failure that his Pastor. Obama’s Pastor was spewing anti-America hate, which was shocking to much of the country. That’s the ONLY reason he got so much air time.
Sad this minister has gotten himself roped into the “Global Warming” garbage, though. While I do believe that treating animals humanely, and being responsible about how we care for the environment is a spiritual matter (the Bible shows us as stewards of creation), I think MANY people have gone off the deep end and turned this whole “Green” thing into a pseudo-religion reminiscent of the ancient pagan Gaia worship. Very dangerous, and quite stupid.
Pastor’s ought to expect their views and opinions to be held up and examined. I think that’s a good thing, that helps clarify in people’s minds whether or not this is a man they can follow and grant spiritual authority in their lives.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 2:56pmHurt his candidacy? He doesn’t stand a chance, so who cares!
Report Post »TheMarine
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 2:47pmSo… does this pastor condone violence, promote black panther and racist organizations, and preach radical, anti-American messages… or does he just believe in global warming? Hmmm….
Report Post »Margaret Thatcher
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 2:45pmNo McPawlenty.
Report Post »No McRomney.
No McHuntsman.
No McGingrich.
usaywhat
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 2:30pmWOW–reading a comparison to T-Paw’s pastor and Rev. Wright pushed me back down the rabbit entrance. Is this Alice and Wonderland2?
Report Post »REALLY??
I like T-Paw. So far, he appears to be honest, kind, loves his wife and family, smart, and was a walking miracle worker in MN as gov. Allegations of being a bit of a bore I can handle.
Big Kahoona
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 2:13pmHe doesn’t need his Pastor, he just needs to be himself.
Report Post »hi
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 2:00pmAt first I like him but now I see he is a RINO.
Report Post »SpeaknUp
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:52pmHaving been a member of Wooddale for over three years, listening to Pastor Anderson nearly every Sunday, I can attest that unless one has a close personal relationship with Leith, they will be hard-pressed to know what his political leanings are. (I actually learned something from this article.) On the other hand, issues such as abortion and marriage may have become political issues over the past 50 years or so, but they are first and foremost moral issues addressed by God himself in the Bible. You will never hear a pastor at Wooddale preaching politics from the pulpit in the manner of the not-so-reverend Wright. I can’t imagine how a background of listening to sermons about honoring God and living a moral and upright life can be presented as a detriment to any presidential candidate.
Report Post »NanaLaLa
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 3:13amSPEAKUP you are so right. AND to the guy who said Pawlenty is a milktoast, a wimp – I don’t believe so. I believe the man may be a emotionally controlled man and when it is the time to get tough I think he would be. forth right and stand up for the Nation and the Constitution. He believes that we should not murder our children and that is very good in my book.
Report Post »Doctor Strangelove
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:51pmThrough admitted Marxist, Czar Jim Wallis, Obama has taken the helm of the Church in this country.When will the G.O.P. learn that they can’t win with liberals like Pawlenty, Romney, et al?
Report Post »Sunnyr
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:48pmSarah Palin is looking better and better every day. Hope she gets off the fence and jumps in. We need a REAL CONSERVATIVE to save this nation from the leftist agenda.
Report Post »republic2011
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:39pmWhy should that matter. Everyone has overlooked the fascist that Obama had ties to for over 20 years.
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:32pmHas he screamed “God Dammmm America”?
Report Post »Has he preached ‘White liberation theology and how the black man owes whitey his soul and labor for freeing him from this millennial honored culture of slavery still in existence in Africa, or some crazy warpage as that’?
jim
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:18pmTPaw isn’t going to get the nomination, but I can’t imagine ANY pastor hurting ANY candidate, after Obama got away with carrying the sins of Rev. Wright. Religion is a joke to the liberal media anymore.
Report Post »cobra two
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:54pmYawwwwn! zzzz zzzz snore.
Report Post »Texas woman56
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:51pmI think many people have changed their mind on Global warming since 2006 after we found out we were lied to on several different “facts.”
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:07pmI never believed it, even before the lies. It was a stupid theory and knowing Al Gore wanted to outlaw small gasoline engines, like those on lawnmowers, I was skeptical about ANYTHING he had to say, anyway.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:16amLIED TO? We weren’t lied to, we were hoodwinked by a bunch of con artists, sending e-mails to each other about skewing the facts all the while bilking billions of dollars from governments, foundations and universities world wide.
Every one of these so called “Scientists” and professors who participated in this debacle should be charged with obtaining money under false premises, jailed and made to reimburst the donor governments, foundations and universities.
The master liar, Al Gore, should be the first in line. He made millions off this fallacious precept and lives in luxury while much of the rest of the country is hurting due to his efforts to destroy America’s prosperity. Obama sniffs Gore’s bicycle seat with his “Cap and Trade” proposal and his EPA’s overbearing regulations causing the closure of power plants in the USA. Hey, we can join Spain, the most “Green” country in the world and have 30% unemployment while China builds 40 coal fired power plants a year. Soon, China will be responsible for realeasing more pollutants in one week than the USA can emit in an entire month. Do you see Gore and the rest of the leftist environmentalists protesting China? NAAAH!
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:50pmIt shouldn‘t matter at all if reverend wrong didn’t affect obama…but Pawlenty isn’t the one who can lead us out of this cr*p anyway.
Report Post »SunnyinVegas
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 4:55pmAgree….Pawlenty is too milquetoast for me…a wimp
Report Post »starman70
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:27amP.S.
Pawlenty was off my lis anyway.
Report Post »StevenL1955
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:46pmTim? Just tell them that Jesus is your Minister, you’ll be fine.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 2:52pmJust like it worked for Obummer
Report Post »geonj
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:39pmdid this pastor say “… God damn America” the way the reverend wright did in his church?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:29pmSo the guy is anti abortion and feels homosexuality is a sin and that’s supposed to be controvercial?
Report Post »Hey Huffpo, that’s what Christians believe. Get used to it.
Josiah914
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:37pmDude, Christianity is now the official, internationally-controversial religion! It‘s the only one that’s vogue to hate by the “tolerant, compassionate, caring” Left.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:47pmNo doubt you are correct on that but, if you run those two issues by likely voters, I’ll bet more than 60% of respondents will agree with the preacher. Huffpo acts like he’s talking about handling snakes or something.
Report Post »Josiah914
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:21pmYou’re exactly right about that, although I think you’ll find the number closer to 75% on homosexuality and 60% on abortion. You’ll just never have the media ever report it. If you watch TV shows & movies, you’d think every other person is homosexual, though most true polls continue to show their representation at 5% or lower; while professing Christians reportedly are at 80%.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:27pmAnd you run them by most religion and they will tell you the same thing. Through out recorded murder and homosexuality are bad pretty much across the board, and when civilizations stop believing them they don’t remain civilizations for long..
Report Post »Sound The Trumpet In Zion
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:27pmWell when people start listening to even a pastor’s opinion then they are likely to get sucked up into foolish and even stupid beliefs. That is why when paying attention to even your pastor, it should be limited to listening to God’s Good News. Otherwise, you better be prepared to be confronted on some of your beliefs when they are actually based on someone else’s belief instead of your own. Pastor’s have opinions just like anyone else, some correct and some not.
Report Post »STAR SPANGLED SPAMMER
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:27pmAnother flounder who flips like a circus monkey, yet remains neutral mostly? Great. Another flip flop spineless turd.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 2:55pmT-Puss doesn’t have the stones to stand up to Mitt-ins R.
What can a minister doe to harm that image?
Report Post »gramma b
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:25pmWhat a non-story. All Pawlenty has to say is that he loves and admires the man, but that does not mean he agrees with him on every point. At least this man has not been shouting “God damn America,” and making humping motions at the pulpit.
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:46pmAgreed. If Wright was a non issue for BO then T-Paw should not be condenmed for anything his pastor says. He is polling so low now that I don’t think he has to worry about it. Hopefully people will start paying more attention to Bachman.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:09pmGreat point. The two disagree on issues. None of which even approach “God damn America” which Barry has never fully condemned.
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:22pmObama‘s didn’t hurt him and that is as low as you can get!!!!!!!
Report Post »Josiah914
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:33pmDoes any of this matter anyway? Pawlenty has no chance to be the GOP candidate! He wilted under pressure at the last debate. He’s blown it already.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:36pmRun, RINO, run!
Report Post »Revere1
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:36pmThe fact that a candidate is a Christian automatically makes the media furious. They’d prefer no one had a pastor except Reverend Wright. http://www.elephantwatcher.com/2011/05/rise-of-tim-pawlenty.html
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:49pmThere is a difference between politics and principle. Talking about abortion over a pulpit is normal since it is a philisophical belief. It is not political like Jeremiah Wright use to talk about. How he is still a non-profit church is beyond me.
Remember how bias the media was, protecting Jeremiah Wright: http://tiny.cc/7odrt
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:51pmThe Global Warming view alone is enough for me not to want him on the ticket, let alone immigration reform. I don’t like politicians who change their views to fit the political winds.
Report Post »Uncurable wound
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:54pmNo RINOS-This guy only wants power,and he will SELL out to anyone to get it.
Report Post »No thanks timmy,time to sit down…
MONICNE
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:04pmNo real thinking human believes that a minister has any claim to a Politician’s actions. The opposition tried this against Jefferson and failed, against Kennedy and were proven wrong, and today; only a knucklehead or just plain hater would try using such an argument.
Report Post »LibertariansUnite
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:07pmGood ole T-Paw got 18 votes at the Straw Poll recently.
18
Only…..18
Why in the world are we talking about T-Paw?
Of course the blaze has nothing good to say about the Ron Paul effect this election, and of course the Blaze has nothing to say about him in general.
Hrm……..Could it be….that…….they are……an….arm for FOX?
NO WAY!
Report Post »VRW Conspirator
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:14pmJust one more nail in the coffin of the RINO Pawlenty and more reason not to vote for the man…he is wishy-washy on Cap and Trade…Illegal Immigration…
it might be hypocritical and a double standard…but Republican candidates have to be near spotless to survive…and Pawlenty was WELL spotted coming into the race…
bye bye Pawlenty…first Newt…now you…thank God we are kicking the RINO’s out early…
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:15pmBachmann has my vote over Pawlenty.
Report Post »LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:31pmObama critics have set a new presidents on all upcoming potential Presidents
Report Post »They will be scrutinized and be put under the proverbial microscope like never before
and not only them but their family as well ,,,were they a bed wetter,, did they play doctor ect.
sad really but what goes around comes around … this might prevent some of the best people from running …………………………………
MONICNE
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:43pmBenjarmon,
Report Post »The stories behind Michelle’s close personal relations and political meetings with her pastor(s) and their direct content insertion of her Minnesota bills would be a much bigger problem than T-Paw has. (If this were fair game which is is not.)
TomFerrari
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:55pmHardly as offensive as, “God DAMN America”.
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 2:27pmTim Pawlenty is hurting Tim Pawlentys’ candidacy.
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 2:29pmT-Paw had a chance to take Romney out or at least give a him a few good blows and he didn‘t do it though he did it the day before when Romney wasn’t around. He was for Cap-n-trade now he isn’t. Subsidies now he isn’t. Seems consistent he changes his mind a lot. Will he change his mind a again if elected……Not a T-Paw supporter…
Vote consistent, vote Constitutional, vote Ron Paul 2012
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 1:46amAbsolutely, Okie.
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