Clinton congratulates Palin
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/08/26/clinton.delegates/art.clintongeneric.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Hillary Clinton praised the choice of a female for McCain's vp."]
(CNN) - Hillary Clinton praised the historic nature of John McCain's vice presidential selection in a brief statement released Friday that was eagerly anticipated by both presidential campaigns.
“We should all be proud of Governor Sarah Palin's historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain," Clinton, the first woman to win a presidential primary, said in the statement. "While their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate.”
The McCain campaign has made little secret of the fact the selection of Palin - the first woman to appear on a Republican presidential ticket - was in part designed to court supporters of Clinton's White house bid, some of whom feel the New York senator was treated unfairly during the primaries because of her gender and remain wary of supporting Obama.
Palin directly mentioned Clinton by name in her acceptance speech earlier Friday, saying, "Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all."
Clinton's statement reacting to Palin is markedly different than the Obama campaign's initial reaction which made no mention of the historic nature of the Alaska Republican's VP candidacy - instead painting her as woefully inexperienced to be commander-in-chief. The Obama campaign later released a joint statement from both the Illinois senator and his running mate, Joe Biden, praising Palin for making history.
It remains unclear just how many former Clinton supporters Palin may attract, but California Sen. Barbara Boxer said Friday that McCain is "badly mistaken" if he expects backers of the New York senator to break ranks with the Democratic party because of Palin.
It is unfortunate, but the vast majority of people never pay attention to the issues, so picking any woman will attract some of the low information voters.
I think this could get McCain the win. It is really scary prospect.
Please vote the issues and not your gender. We can not afford to move backwards.
DON'T INSULT THE INTELIGENCE OF WOMEN. THEY WILL NOT VOTE FOR A WOMEN JUST BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN. HILLARY WAS QUALIFIED FOR HER POSITION IN THE CAMPAIGN DUE TO HER INTELLECT AND EXPERIENCE. GOV PALIN DOES NOT MEET THESE QUALIFICATIONS.
Gov. Palin firmly put her foot in her mouth during her debut speech. She violated the first premise of operational security for military families. She announced to a world-wide audience her son’s specific unit, his MOS (military occupational specialty) and the specific dates of the unit’s deployment. This just is not done, ever. If I were the commander of that unit I would be screaming to the Pentagon to change the deployment and I would transfer that boy as far away from my unit as I could.
BTW, I am a military father and I did command an Air Force squadron during the Vietnam War.
Sarah Palin does not understand national security and she does not understand the needs of our great military.
So, what exactly is the historic nature of her nomination? Ferraro was picked as a running mate for Mondale well over 2 decades ago. Oh I get it.. it's historic because she is historically the least qualified person to manage to get their name on a major party ticket. Congrats to Danny Quayle for finally moving down to the #2 spot.
She has more governing experience, as Gov. of Alaska, than Obama, as Senator.
Does no one here have any grasp of feminism?
What are you democrates smoking? Palin has more executive experience than Nobama. She has more commander n cheif qualfications being a Governor and head of her states national guard.
Sounds to me like you should have put a woman on your ticket. I think she will make a great VP. She also will MOBALIZE the conservative base. Moderate Democrates and Independants will be more likely to vote for the GOP.
GO MCCAIN/ PALIN!!!!!!!!!
The Democrats say "she isn't experienced." What do you expect them to say??? Give her time and exposure and you will find that she is poised, articulate and tough as nails. Good choice McCain...........
McCain is showing he listens to the voters, unlike Obama's lies when he says the voters make decisions. HA. When they ask Obama to do something, he says NO, when they ask him to RE FLIP, HE SAYS NO...and hopes they will agree with maybe 90 percent of his other choices. THESE ARE EVEN ON DEMOCRATIC and HIS own positions before securing the nomination.
McCain in continuing further his Maverick politics, with a woman whose record of fighting unethical government and special interests.
He's showing again he isn't afraid of bringing bold change.
AND, she has more experience in the Executive branch than both Pres and VP candidates on the opposite side. LOL AND....her foregin policy experiience is greater than the Dem Pres nominee too, being in charge of the Naitonal guard and ACTUALLY VISITING WOUNDED in Germany, last year, instead of like OBAMA WHO CANCELLED HIS VISIT WITH WOUNDED BECAUSE HE COULDN'T BRING A CAMERA CREW.
At least the republicans are getting a lot of free press. My guess is Palin will drop out as soon as her background and looming political power abuse troubles hit the press. Meanwhile, free press is good press.
Could we get serious? Palin is NOT Hillary Clinton. Her lack of experience is a slap in the face to all the capable and well-vetted women in politics who could have made a good VP choice. Were they not selected by McCain because they aren't young enough? Or pretty enough? Certainly, the qualifications of every other woman who has been in play during this process are significantly higher than Palin's!!!
McCain is pandering, pandering, pandering. He thinks the voters – in particular, the women voters – in this country are fools.
Sorry, McCain. If the phone rings at 3 AM, I don't want someone with a serious lack of credentials in either national and/or international experience anywhere near it! I'll take the Obama-Biden team anyday!
Do Hillary supporters really believe one's gender is of greater significance than THE REAL ISSUES AND CHALLENGES in America today? Palin is a wolf in sheeps' clothing and McCain is counting on this. Please don't be fooled by this sellout of an old man.
Women are smarter than you think, John McCain! You can't fool them with your gimmicks.
Governor palin got elected on a platform of ethics. She is currently being invesitgated for ethics violations by her own state government. It was a horrible pick.
THANK YOU MCSAME. REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR NOMINEE. What a joke!!! And thank you President Obama. You are going to win this thing! Thank God!
BoneHead -Mccain..........it doesn't matter who he picked.......
THE DEMS WILL KILL YOU ON THE ISSUES........
OBAMA/BIDEN 08
WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!
hey look! it's ferraro version 2.0
palin. what a joke.
how can McCain's pick be both brilliant & Risky, That's Stupid. & With such young children month, where are her priorities?
For people who attack Palin for lacking experience, they should do a matchup tally with Obama's experience. It's actually pretty close. Well, not that close if you count that Palin had executive experience and actually balance a state budget, something Obama has never done in his lifetime.
On a funny note, the ticker about Obama speech got push all the way down by Sarah Palin's ticker. The headline today has been pretty much about John's VP pick. What great timing!
Judging by the protests, this has caught the Dems way off guard. They were gearing up to challenge someone like Mitt Romney or Tom RIdge, but their battle plans are foiled, at least for now.
Dear Hillary supporters;
Vote for McCain\Palin because of her gender and with the next supreme court appointment you can say goodbye to Row V. Wade.
I am a Democrat and I am a woman. My vote was going for Hillary. But the DNC did her wrong! Obama did her WRONG. If people had wanted Biden they would have voted for him on both attempts. But they did not. Why on earth would you make him number 2 ? If something happens to Obama then Biden steps in..No Thanks. Did'nt vote for him and don't want him.
Big Mistake Obama..You are an Arrogant Fool. Hillary was your ticket to the Presidency. She is the only one in the entire Primary that was worth a plugged nickel.
Go MCCAIN/PALIN!!!!!!!!!!!
I was an ardent Hillary Clinton Democrat, and while I will not - cannot - vote for the McCain Palin ticket due to obvious policy differences, I must say I was surprised and weirdly admire McCain for making such a risky - or do I mean reckless - choice. It's like by choosing her, he was saying... "All you people who want change... Here's change. Cause your guy - BO - couldn't even get over himself enough to offer the vp slot to the woman who so deserved it - because, to him, Hillary Clinton was an inconvenient truth he was unwilling to embrace.
I will vote for Obama but it doesn't mean I don't still feel gypped.
This is the happiest I've ever been as a conservative since I became a conservative back in 2000.
THIS pick, Obama-kids, is what REAL boldness and REAL change looks like... when Republicans get back to their Conservative roots instead of trying to be "liberal-lite" and "out-Democrat" the Democrats.
2008 will be a land slide... think "Reagan/Bush 1984."
As a woman I am totally insulted by McCain's pick. If he thinks that Hillary supporters are going to vote for him, becuase he has a female VP, he has quite a surprise coming his way. I would never vote to let the government decide what I can and can not do with MY BODY!!
Hello,
I am a life long Democrat for the first time going to vote Republican.... thanks to the dumb Democrats choice of leaving out Hillary on the ticket and NObama at the head.
Palin is an excellent choice. I am on board...
Go McCain/Palin all the way to the White House. '08 & '12.
McCain is moderate and experienced at the top.
He's got my vote.