(CNN) – Sarah Palin has increasingly embraced the attack dog role on the Republican ticket – but in a new interview, she seems to endorse a line of attack John McCain had distanced himself from earlier this year.
The Republican VP nominee told Bill Kristol of the New York Times that Obama's long-time relationship with minister Jeremiah Wright should be a bigger issue on the campaign trail. "I don't know why that association isn't discussed more," she said.
Watch: Wright situation 'difficult' Obama says
"Because those were appalling things that that pastor had said about our great country, and to have sat in the pews for 20 years and listened to that - with, I don't know, a sense of condoning it, I guess, because he didn't get up and leave - to me, that does say something about character," said Palin. ".I guess that would be a John McCain call on whether he wants to bring that up."
Watch: Obama hits back after Palin accuses him of 'palling around with terrorists'
When the North Carolina Republican Party launched a television ad this spring taking aim at Obama's ties to Wright, McCain first repudiated the attack. "I've said again and again, I do not believe that Sen. Obama shares Rev. Wright's extremist views which he has stated, whether it be the United States Marine Corps or the flag or what," McCain said. "I am leaving that issue to a dialogue between Sen. Obama and American people."
He added that all he could do, "in as visible way as possible, is disassociate myself from that kind of campaigning."
But McCain soon signaled that he might have changed his position on whether state Republican parties or downballot GOP candidates should exploit the Wright issue in local campaigns, suggesting that he had shifted his stance after Obama told an interviewer that the controversy surrounding his ex-pastor was "a legitimate political issue."
"As I said before, I am of the belief that Sen. Obama does not reflect the extremist statements that Rev. Wright has given," McCain told reporters. "I have no comments on it, but I also understand why millions of Americans may, as Sen. Obama said yesterday, view this as a political issue."
Still, the issue has not been major fodder on the trail since McCain himself dealt with fallout from the endorsements of headline-grabbing pastors this spring. Reports of controversial statements by evangelical leaders John Hagee and Rod Parsley ultimately led him to reject the backing of both men.
From CNN Politics
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Why don't we call vote Sarah Palin President.
Economy........you can see the congressional hearings from back when the Democrates argured nothing was wrong with fredddie and fammie.
The Rep & McCain were fighting to put resolutions in action to stop the mess we have today. Watch it on youtube and see for yourself who said what.
Don't be blind.
McCain/Palin 08
Now lets see if CNN takes this post. Most times my stuff never gets on.
Desperate acts by desperate people. McCain/Palin are running scared.
wow this is coming from a lady who who is under investagation
wow
When I see that she is coming on tv I mute her. When I see that something has written about her I don't read it. This incapable women is irrelavant.
The best attack the repugs have is going back to old news. Maybe it's because McCain can't remember what already has been tried. Seems like it's time for the rocking chair for McCain.
Now I known that Palin doesn't have room to talk!!!!!
What she need to talk about is troopergate.
This from a woman who had a ritual done on her, in her own church, by a Kenyan revivalist to protect her against witchcraft. Excuse me. McCain and his camp are pitiful.
Since they have no shame, I am ashamed for them.
When Biden got emotional on his family lost, Palin had a chance to offer sympathy or civility..she offered none. and now Biden is burying his Mother in law and she was still on the attack today..go figure
You think Rev. Wright is scary? He's old news. If you really want to see scary, check out the new Rolling Stone cover story about John McCain – it's available online now.
What a pathetic, disgusting piece of work she is. Go Home Sarah. She is up for VP of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Sorry Sarah, The American People deserve much better than you or John McShame.
CNN-You make it sound like Palin just blurted out about Wright issue, when in fact she was asked about it by Kristol. Please correct your article to make that clear.
There are very important issues that are at steak right now. Instead the the Republicans are bringing up Rev Wright. That is so low.. I believe that the McCain and Palin ticket is now stooping very low. They must be far removed from what is really happening in the Country. God help us!!!
I hope reporters and news anchors are now starting to question her past, too – plenty of opportunities here: Let's start with the rape kits that she cut off support for, to save a few thousand bucks a year (check the New York times for "rape kits Sarah Palin").
You liberals who worship Obama can no longer tell lies from truth. Your party (Democrats) caused this fiscal crisis and your candidate stands for nothing but himself.
I can't believe it .... I am watching my retirement funds go down the tubes and then read this ..... PLEASE, young people, show up at the polls, vote Obama, save yourselves and save your parents, other wise you'll be serving us soup on the bread lines. How out of touch McCain-Palin !
It appears some people forgotton what our founding fathers said about the rule of law ,it a must we know and under what a democracy is and that to be govern for the people and by the people. Said enough.
Will Jack Cafferty & Wolf Biltizer ask McCain, what about the bad tactics that was not going to be used. This man has chance in so many issue's, doesn't anybody have the gutts to tell him to stop, its not going to help him, probadly hurt him more than help. Maybe tomorow Obama will tell him to his face, I sure would love to see that
Jay, please don't ever put Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney in the same category. Give the evil mastermind his due.
This is how stupid Steve Schmidt is. These childish, baseless attacks are having the opposite affect.
They are bringing to everyone's attention how desperate McCain/Palin are and people are already stressed out about their future finances.
Go away McDrama and take your new girlfriend with you.
She is turning into another tired/tiring politician. My respect for her as governor of Alaska early on has been diminished greatly by her willingness to become the shill (shrill?) of the Republican party. She sounds nothing like she did when she was her own boss. Pity.
The more Palan and McCain talk bad about Obama the higher Obama's ratings go, keep up the good work Palan and McCain
THE FACT TAHT SARAH PALIN WOULD BRING UP REV. WRIGHT WHEN SHE HAS ONE WHACKED-OUT PASTOR IN HER "CULT" CHURCH IS LAUGHABLE.
WE ARE NO LONGER DRINKING THE KOOL-AID SARAH!
SEND MCCAIN BACK TO WHINING IN THE SENATE AND LET'S GIVE PALIN A ONE-WAY TICKET BACK TO MOOSE COUNTRY.
not to mention she was actually sitting in the front row when that happened. it's been confirmed. all the rev wright comments that have been posted, it's been proven that obama wasn't present for any of those. why bring up something that makes you look even worse than the person you're attacking? idiot.
Everything is going to hell in a handbasket, the market is tanking, there is still no money flowing, and the presidential candidates are talking about who hung around with who back when. It doesn't matter!!!! Get serious about what you are going to do to fix this mess instead of trying to smear one another from here to kingdom come!
If you have nothing else to talk about, guess you need to bring up something that has been covered.
How many people have been to church and your preacher made some off comment that you thought was inappropiate. Did you leave the church? We are not at fault for what our preachers may and may not say.
Please come up with something new. Seems you need to focus more on the important issues: Economy, high gas prices and uneployment rate.
I am a female and would never any a million years vote for her just because she is a femail.
Yes We Can
Si' se Puede
Obama/Biden 08