Pawlenty: ‘No absolute or real cuts in defense’

[Playinghardball]

Source: RawReplay
By David Edwards

Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty said Sunday that Social Security and Medicare needed to be sharply cut but defense spending was off the table.

“I believe strongly that the first responsibility of the United States federal government is to protect this nation and our citizens, so I’m not calling for absolute or real cuts in defense,” he told ABC’s Christiane Amanpour.

“I think the growth can be slowed down. I think efficiencies can be found within defense. But I think those monies should be plowed back into defense to support it.”

The former Minnesota governor added that he doesn’t support raising the nation’s debt limit

More and see the video at: http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/05/pawlenty-no-absolute-or-real-cuts-in-defense/