DNC: Pawlenty trying to 'out-Palin' Palin

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Friday hit at Minnesota governor and potential 2012 presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty (R), comparing him to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) for criticizing President Barack Obama's back-to-school speech.

Pawlenty joked that the speech, which is set to take place next week, will encourage schoolchildren to write the president, only for them to be subject to a White House effort to gather Americans' personal information.

Several Republican members of Congess last month accused the White House of collecting the personal data of people opposed to current healthcare reform proposals.

"There are going to be questions about -- well, what are they are going to do with those names and is that for the purpose of a mailing list?" he told WCCO radio today.

"The only joke here is Tim Pawlenty, who is clearly trying to out-Palin Sarah Palin in his sickening attempt to please the radical right-wing Glenn Beck's of the world," DNC Press secretary Hari Sevugan said in a statement.

Some conservatives have slammed Obama's message to students as an attempt to "indoctrinate" the country's youth, a charge that Democratic leaders have derided.

"Outrageously, Governor Tim Pawlenty, who, as a leader in his state, should be encouraging the success of our children, would rather pander to the extreme right wing of the Republican Party by dismissing and joking about next week's speech," Sevugan added.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs addressed criticism of the speech at his daily briefing today, saying "I think we've reached a little bit of the silly season when the president of the United States can't tell kids to study hard and stay in school."