October 15, 2008
Posted: October 15th, 2008 09:50 PM ET

HEMPSTEAD, New York (CNN) - John McCain Wednesday praised his running mate, Sarah Palin as a "role model to women and reformers all over America" when challenged to defend her qualifications to be president.

"It's time that we had that breath of fresh air coming into our nation's capital and sweep out the old-boy network and cronyism that's been so much a part of it," the Arizona senator said of his running mate, the first-term governor of Alaska.

McCain was speaking at his third and final debate with Democrat Barack Obama before the November 4 presidential election.

Obama offered measured praise for Palin, whose qualifications have been widely scorned by Democrats.

"I think that obviously she's a capable politician," Obama said, adding that she had "excited the base in the Republican party."

Filed under: John McCain • Presidential Debate • Sarah Palin


Wayne   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

Funny Obama acknowledged Palin as a good leader, but McCain threw his friend under the bus.

Cynthia   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

Palin is an excellent choice for VP!!! She has alot more experience than this community organizer.

AnIndependent   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

What a role model Palin is! Not one I want for my granddaughters! She is an abuser of her office as Alaska Governor no matter how much she and McCain denies it! The evidence is clear and stated by independent group appointed by bipartisan Alaskan legislature.

Junior in Michigan   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

Uggghhh........ any person with even half a brain knows she is useless and nothing more then a ploy to get hillary votes. She's not smart enough nor qualified to be VP let alone president. America is growing tired of this no-name no-brain attack dog. Go away already lady. Obama just smile and brushes her off as she's not relevant to anything anymore.

Helena   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

No John! Sarah Palin is NOT a role model to women everywhere! I have nothing in common with that woman – she would set women in this country back 100 years. How dare you even imply that she is a role model.

kevinindc   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Anonymous   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

Please – Sarah Palin just became the mother of a special needs child. What has she done thus far that is so great for special need children. She has no history. What's she going to do, continue the same old same old with No Child Left Behind – what a joke this is.

jojodancer1119   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

As a woman I take offense to him saying that she is a role model to women everywhere. She is the main one spreading all of this hatred across America. I would never say she's a role model to women. I have more education and speaking capabilities than she does. I certainly have traveled to more foreign countries than she has and there's no way I would say that she's a reformer. Really she's just an unethical lier who spits out what McCain tells her to say. Just a robot doll.

wxlady   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

I'm a woman and she is NOT my roll model.

femi   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

she is a role model and a reformer in wasilla alaska, that is where she is going back to in a few weeks

Unbelievable!   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

She's a role model for stupidity.

Fitzpatrick   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

what a joke

John, London   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

Role model and Performer......To who?
McSame is definately in Lala land.

wendy   October 15th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

a reformer?? a role model?? since when does ethics violations make you a role model and reformer??

mn   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

which mom will have her as a role model, (you want ur kids out of school and drunk
yiu want ur spouse to tell you what to do , Mccain keeps saying her husband is atough guy.
role model for what finished a degree in 5 collges.
who wants to be as ignorant as her

Ohio Stater   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

NOT a role model to most women... ridiculous for thinking we are that stupid

Cheryl from Minnesota   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

No she is not a good role model for women, I don't like what she stands for. She will send women back to the dark ages with her ideas.

laura   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

role model on how to be a hateful, liar. She's not a role model for women, please. he just lost women's votes.

Annie, Atlanta   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

He must be joking. This woman is about as dirty as a politician gets.

David   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

Palin IS a reformer: for instance, she does not want to read newspapers and criticizes at will everyone who does not support her. She also is a new breed of politician who refuses to answer to the media, and when accurately depicted, rebukes the media as "liberal". Yeah, she's a reformer alright – a reformer to destroy America. Also, McCain JUST equated Obama's lack of going to Latin America as being a disqualification from being President. Where has Palin gone? Hmmm

Denise OKC   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

yea and I wanna throw up

TexicoFrom Mexico   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

She is the most unqualifed person in the history of this country to be a heartbeat away from teh most powerful office in the world! She can not even string 3 sentences together in an interview thats not scripted!

pdixon   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

I am a woman and she is not my role model!

Carrie Pa   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

Reformer: cut the programs for the disabled children.

Bobbie Shrivastav   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

Did you notice how McCain is repeatedly negative, even with a well qualified candidate as Joe Biden, he is being very very negative.

steven   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

he really is old and senile if he believes that Palin is qualified to be president

tigka   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

one WORD she has no qualifications to be VP.

Kevin   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

She's an inexperienced, ethically questionable, unqualified far-right idealogue. Even mainstream conservatives have a problem with her.

Kisha   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

I am a woman, and Palin is no role model to me. I think she is stupid and offensive. Even if she was a role model, that does not make her capable of being VP. My mother is my role model, but I do not think she should be VP.

Tamra   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

WHATEVA!!! NOT THIS WOMAN.

Go Obama!   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

You have to be kidding me!!!! Palin is a JOKE and McCain is trying to hard!!!!!

Jen from IN   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

She isn't my role model. just because I am a woman and a mother doesn't mean i am automatically drawn too her and i DO NOT consider her a role model. Hillary Clinton is a role model

Karen   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

In all honesty what else was he to say...oops, I did it again???

Obama/Biden 08

Michelle   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

She is not role model for me or my daughter. Any women that wants to take my choice away wants to put women down can not stand for us.

Voter   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

Yvonne speaks the truth! I don't know a single woman that likes her... and I'm in TX!

Bama4Obama   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

Role model for who? People who bomb abortion clinics,unwed teen mothers, or white supremacists?

Deb, Allentown,PA   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

And did you see Obama stay above the ugliness by not bringing up the abuse finding?

Obama is looking great; McCain is looking angry and desperate.

Cathy, Peoria AZ   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

She may be a reformer but she is not qualified to be President of the United States and she is not a role model to all women!

gurarro   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

McCain is just opening his mouth a letting words out. He is not thinking about what he is saying.

Meg Madison, Cary North Carolina   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

She is a power abuser and has been nailed on this – unethical thugs!

Tim in Syracuse   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

She's a role model alright......for fabrication of truth and miss-use of power.

Kim   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

Well said, Yvonne!

Richie   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

Yvonne - Yeah baby.

Mick   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

He didn't do a very good job. Todd is a "tough guy"?

Sabrina   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

What a joke! Palin's a lying, far right wingnut, puppet, period.

changein08   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

This is laughable.

Jay   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

Role model for the Republican party – Abusing Power!!

brian   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

LOL

CTSadler   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

A role model for pregnant teenagers, separatists, demagogues, kooks, and imbeciles everywhere!

Rachielle from VA   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

doesn't mccain know that drilling NOW won't produce a DROP of oil for an other SEVEN years??

Mia and Mike   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

John McCain, you have turned into the biggest, sorriest political liar I have heard in all my lifetime!!!!! You have fallen so far from the pedestal we once placed you on, I just can't believe it. I am SO SICK and tired of you attacking all of the things you don't like about Obama. I want YOU to talk about YOUR plans- how about that John!! We are sick and tired of hearing you talk about everything wrong with Obama. What's right about what you want to do- tell us!

Tyree in Virginia   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

Palin is a Bimbo.......and McCain has once again showed that he is an erratic mean old man. Obama is finishing him off and about to send him to the old folks home.

Dem in PA   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

Ok, i'm a woman and Sarah Palin is no role model to me. She has gotten herself in WAY over her head due to her AMBITION (an accusation she made against Obama). The issues that McCain listed as her strengths are first lady issues, not presidential qualifications. She is scary.

I get that he's in a corner so i guess he's just saying what he has to say. Poor guy.

zuq   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

Are you kidding me? I hope my daughter doesn't end up like hers.

Lynne   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

as a working woman..yes, she makes a good role model...but she presents to me as being so mean spirited and just not ready to be on the national stage, that no, she is not a role model to me!

voter   October 15th, 2008 9:53 pm ET

what about her abuse of power and two other investigation for violating ethics. she is no reformer; she is an illusion.

Achille Salesh   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Palin's so stupid I could never vote for ever.
Did she know that Barack was 8 when Ayers bombed the country ?

Ayers has'nt been repudiated by the nation. And why Palin think Ayers can't afford to be redemed ?

This a country that should replace Mc Cain in the office he's incapable to continues ?

The nation will all die with palin the second day of her presidency.

Amazing vice president.

Fritz   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Role model to women everywhere?
Ha!

DEM in Franklin, Wisconsin   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Uh, not a role model for me. But thanks for thinking of women everywhere, John. I'm glad to see it's also reflected in your social policies.

And that was sarcasm, by the way.;)

Zion   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Seriously?

Kris K in RM CA   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Palin is losing the election for the GOP. She is under educated and cannot answer a question unless asked by the conservative GOP base. She is not capable of running the country.

EVN   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

I praise Palin too but not for the same reasons.
I praise her for being able to stand upright and having the skill to walk and chew gum at the same time!

shes an Idiot.
friggin Moose Killer!

Briana   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

booooooooo

Victor   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Senator Obama also praised Palin, showing her the respect she, as a politician and fellow American, deserves. McCain, however, immediately attacked Senator Biden.

California Democrat   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

She is not a role model for all women. John McCain did not say one valid reason why she is qualified.

Maya Lawrence   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Yes, like I said to my daughter. Make Sarah Palin your model of how NOT to be ignorant about the world around you.

So yes John McCain, she is a role model on how I do NOT want my daughter to be close minded and ignorant...

Jason   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Nothing says "reformer role model" like being FOUND GUILTY OF ABUSING HER POWER AND VIOLATING STATE ETHICS LAWS.

Jesus Christ.

Yvonne   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

She's not a role model and reformer, she's a model and a performer.

yeah right   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Outside of the Far Right Wing who is Palin a role model for?

Nancy   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

I don't know how Obama did that. I choked and practically threw up hearing McCain talk about how "proud" he is of Sarah Palin. She is a liar a she abused her power!!

Chan   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

She is corrupt. She unethically abuse her power!!! I cannot vote for him as a result.

Queen   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Lies-all lies!

Kim   October 15th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Is anyone buying that?

bnavoter   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

when mccain talked about palin, it sounded like he was taking about a child of his. hello???? we're talking about the person that will be one heartbeat away from running this country. it's frightening.

Angry Citizen   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

HAHAHAHAH ROLE MODEL. hilarious.

Rob R   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

Except that she abused power and didn't know that Russia was having oil meetings in her home state.

What a joke.

McCain must go away to the retirement home.

Reg   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

McCain cannot be SERIOUS! Palin.......please...

ines   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

Palin a role model to women. Not to any woman I know or myself. Far from it.

Matt   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

there is not doubt in my mind that she would be the worst president in history.

Angie-Savannah   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

She is not a role model to this woman!

pyrites   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

Palin is more of an insult to EDUCATED WOMEN.

NIKI   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

he is just digging himself down again

NA Nevada   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

He's blind.

saint paul mn   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

what a joke

does he think we the american people can not think

Smarter than the GOP   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

Palin is a sessesionist and a role model for racists and guys who think she's HOT

mn   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

That should be enough for a voter , if he thinks palin is good , we are doomed

Heidi   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

I'm a mom of three and sorry but Palin is nothing close to my role model.

Molly   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

I am a woman and she is NOT a role model for me!!

RS-Texas   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

God forbid something happens to old John McCain…can you actually fathom a SOCCER-MOM running the country – reminds me of South Park The Movie and the song BLAME CANADA (by Kyle‘s mom)!!!

PEACE = PROSPERITY = DEVELOPMENT OF U.S. INFRASTRUCTURE

WAR = PROSPERITY = PROFITABILITY FOR WAR MONGERERS

YOU CHOOSE!!!!!!!

STABLE U.S.A. = STABLE WORLD

Disappointed Republican   October 15th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

Nice stump speach.

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