McCain defends vetting of Palin
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/02/art.mccainpalin.ap.jpg caption="McCain is defending his choice of Palin."](CNN) - Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain defended his campaign's vetting of newly named VP candidate Sarah Palin Tuesday, amid a stream of revelations about the Alaska governor that could potentially harm the GOP presidential ticket.
"My vetting process was completely thorough and I'm grateful for the results," McCain told reporters in Philadelphia.
The comments come a day after Palin announced her 17-year-old daughter was pregnant and news surfaced the Alaska governor had hired a lawyer weeks ago to act on her behalf as state legislators investigate whether she may have abused her power in the firing of the state’s police chief for refusing to fire her ex-brother-in-law, a state trooper.
Watch: McCain defends vetting process
Speaking on Fox News earlier Tuesday, former top Bush aide Karl Rove echoed McCain's comments that Palin was fully vetted.
"They knew all of it," Rove said of the recent revelations on Palin.
McCain has previously faced fire from Democrats over the fact the Arizona senator only met with Palin once in person before offering her the No. 2 slot on his ticket.
Related: Top Republicans defend Palin and vetting process
UPDATE: Speaking with reporters in Ohio Tuesday, McCain reiterated his support for Palin.
"I just want to repeat again how excited I am to have Sarah Palin, the great Governor of Alaska, as my running mate," he said. "America's excited and they're going to be even more excited once they see her tomorrow night. I'm very, very proud of the impression she's made on all of America and looking forward to serving with her."
From CNN Politics
- Trump's legal team seeks to throw out special grand jury report on 2020 election interference in Georgia
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- American citizen held hostage for 6 years in West Africa has been freed
- Why a Trump indictment would have huge political and national implications
- Untitled
- House GOP requests Manhattan DA's testimony as they seek to discredit investigation into Trump
In the four years she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, population 6500, Sarah Palin secured 27 million dollars in earmarks from the Senate Appropriation Commitee, chaired by Ted Stevens of Alaska, currently under investigation for corruption.
The earmarks for Palin, who's personal worth grew to over 10 million dollars in the same period, came rolling in shortly after Palin employed Stevens' lobbying firm.
To put that figure in perspective, the town of Boise, Idaho, population 169,000, recieved 6.7 million in earmarks during the same period
John McCain and Sarah Palin are not mavericks, they're sidekicks of the lobby and oil industry up to their necks in muck.
Haven't we had enough of politics as usual?
My vetting process was completely thorough and I'm grateful for the results," McCain told reporters in Philadelphia. Is this the kind of judgment that we need from a commander-in-chief? This VP pick Sarah Palin is just ludacris.
Republican voting for Obama/Biden 08
People on the right are spinning faster than a top!!! THIS IS THE MOST BLATANT FORM OF PANDERING EVER RECORDED IN POLITICAL HISTORY!!! Voters on both the Right AND Left should be insulted and outraged!!! Obviously McCain picked her ONLY because she's a woman!! She has even LESS experience than Obama and has NOT been thoroughly vetted...charges that the Right REPEATEDLY made against Obama.....This is at the very least pandering and at the worst hypocrasy!
Only in Republican America would a BLACK man with a law degree from Harvard, 12 years in politics, four years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and manager of one of the most impressively flawless and forward thinking presidential campaigns be charged with not being ready for the presidency while a WHITE female evangelical former beauty queen with 19 months in national politics and a bachelors in journalism is considered "ready on day one."
Karl Rove was a trooper for Bush,McDumb did'nt even get him in the game.Mitt Romney was the best pick for V.P if not Mitt,Then Mike Huckbee, I don't care about Hillary supporters our party did great the last 2 election's with out them! I say we save our money now,and trash this election, then hit them hard in 2012.
I will always be a Hillary supporter. Up until this past Friday I refused to vote Obama. Now I refuse to vote McCain. I couldn't be more insulted that he thinks that it was simply about a woman and not substance.
In the end, who cares about Biden and Palin-they are only pawns to get the blue-collar, catholic voters right now and possible next up for president in the future. I'm for Obama, but in the end, the VPs answer to and support the president's policy's, agendas, etc. They can paint whatever picture of Palin they want in that she's a reformer, maverick, etc...but that doesn't mean a hill of beans in that she won't be against McCain on any of his issues or legislation-she will, just like Biden, support their president and chief.
I was a republican until last week. This is very sad especially when I have been Republican for over 16 years. I even worked as a volunteer for both father and son Bush. McCain has really messed this up for the Republican. He did not do his research. Immediately after selecting Palin, he and the party and constantly defending her qualification. If he wanted a women, he could have chosen 5 others more qualified. If he wanted someone with executive experience, no one better than Mitt Romney.
This pregnancy issue although it is private issue. The moment you run for the 2nd office in the US, there is no privacy. Everything will be and should be scrutinized. I want a presidency that I can look up to. If Palin can't run her own family, how can she run the country.
For the first time, I will not be voting for GOP. Obama looks more mature and experienced that any of the other candidates.
McCain/Palin – 4 years of real change that we can now see possible. OB has empty words that he has to tell to adoring crowds. McCain and Palin speak to americans face to face and act on what the american people want. Sarah Palin is the most popular governor in the whole USA, that is because she cares about her constituants and cares about the american tax payer.
You Obamaniacs are terrible. You rant and rave without knowing any facts. What kind of country would this be if all Americans were like you? Can't we wait for facts and talk about them in a civil way?
Which VP would you TRUST your future with? Which VP do you think would keep you Safe? Biden vs Palin
I bet McCain wishes there was a "morning after pill" ......for stupid political decisions !!!!!!
I don't believe McCain.He didn't vet Palin completely! He only met with her once! I'm sure he's put more thought into the purchase of a Car! And his Platform is County First! In What? How do you put a country first when you meet only once with the person who will be second in line as Commander of a Nation in War in Iraq and with the situation between Russia and Georgia ongoing!!!! I view that as putting your Country Last and your Election First! But the latter is going to backfire on McCain big time. The woman has not got the experience required to lead this Nation! I'm very dubious that McCain has the mentality and judgement to lead his Nation! And he's only made me more dubious with his choice for VP! No Way, No How, No McCain, No Palin!
What else can he say?
He can't admit he made a mistake in selecting her as that would really show that his judgement in people is lacking.
He will have to live with his choice.
Maybe he will be the godfather of the child
This is not about the girl, it is about bad parenting and silly defense of a lame mother!
I am very troubled by the latest developments related especially with Paulin’s teen pregnancy. Despite the fact that no one in the campaign acknowledges it publicly, this is a very sticky issue for many conservative and independents.
I am even more troubled by the positions this religious leaders have taken than Paulin’s teen pregnancy itself!
They would only tarnish the maverick and independent stature for McCain by shilling too hard for Paulin's poor parenting record.
Paulin and these evangelicals are supposed to represent the new moral values for this country and the young generation. Instead the republican change theme becomes more like an abdication from the values that guided this party for decades.
Just remember the Lynn Spears teen pregnancy outrage or how babies were removed from teen FLDS members just some months ago.
Everyone was up in arms condemning those immoral acts, but today suddenly is not just OK, but also encouraged by the very same fanatical clergy.
I am puzzled by the judgment and values of this kind of leaders and I definitely don’t want them as spiritual mentors or examples for my daughter.
________________Self 1st_____________
Let me see you wiggle your way out of this one McCain.
If you do, then it will be proven that the american people are a bunch of . . .
I would never personally attack a 17 year old. But keeping the candidates' families "out of politics" is not reality within the political arena. Specifically when the family dynamics tells something about the candidates policies. Does Palin still believe in abstinence only education?
It is also patently ridiculous to me that GOPers are calling for a cease fire claiming that this type of politics is somehow unfair. Does anybody remember these same individuals ruthlessly attacking Michelle Obama a few months ago and Hillary Clinton in 92? What goes around comes around. Something to think about.
(By the way you can not seriously equate Palin being the mayor of a town of 9,000 with Obama's experience in the state of Illinois which is populated by millions.)
She didn't even win Miss Congeniality!
With her unadulterated support of the oil industry, her ability to tell bald-faced lies and her Creationism view of Religion, she obviously was well-vetted.
Good judgement, Songbird.
Wait....Palin believes that the government has the right to tell me what I can do with my body. She believes the government has the right to dictate who I can marry. AND...the government should not allow our schools teaching about sex.
BUT...her children are off limits?!?!?! I respect Obama's comment - and generally agree. But the RNC saying that her daughter getting pregnant is not a political issue is the case of pot calling the kettle. How come my body...love...and education IS a political issue? How come her personal privacy and decisions are more important than mine?
I will vote for Obama 08!
I don't believe he truly vetted Palin – another example of McCain's lack of judgement and impulsive behavior. But just as bad as his bad judgement is her bad judgement in accepting the VP offer. My concern/outrage is not about her daughter being pregnant, it's about how a mother could make the choice/accept the offer to run as VP when she's got an infant baby with Down's Syndrome and a teenage daughter who is 5 months pregnant. I would think her priorities would be her family first. It seems she's putting them second behind her political ambitions. Being VP is different from other typical jobs where women can juggle (easily or not) work/life balance.
When you're VP (or President), let's face it – you don't get much family time. I would think she'd need/want to be there for her infant child as well as her daugther who is pregnant. It's as if she had no regard for her daughter, who I'm sure is having a difficult enough time without being thrust into the limelight and put on display to all of America.
As a single professional working mother, I can say that this doesn't seem to speak very well of her family values or priorities. McCain had/has lots of VP choices (better than Palin) – it's not as if the country wouldn't be just fine if she wasn't a VP. I don't think she can say the same thing of her family (daughter and infant baby) if she isn't there for them.
McCain we question your judgement..
So if you croak, you expect us to believe Palin is the best suited to run the country?
She is underinvestigation for abuse of power. She has no experience and you said that was your major qualifiyer for VP. She lobbyied for over 26 million in earmarks. And her major claim to fame is a wash: She was before the bridge to nowhere before she was against it.
And am I supposed to trust your off the cuff decision making while running the country..?
I think not
Actually they all knew back in Jan who the VP would be.
They registered the following domain Jan 08. It's all a game to win your hearts and minds.
mccainpalin.com
if you want to talk about a stupid vp pick, obama picked the MAN with 9000 votes, over the woman with over 18 million votes! mccain/palin08, hillary 2012!
Has anyone asked the father of the baby if HE wants to marry her? Does he want to move to Washington DC (she will want to stay near her mother with a new child). What if he doesn't marry her? They sure are taking a lot for granted...I've seen more of the "disappearing boyfriend" trick in these circumstances than I can count. Nobody can "make" him marry her. Only pay child support, maybe. First, he's got to finish high school.
I AM JUST WONDERING WHAT CRITERIA CNN'S BLOG WATCHERS, EDITORS, REPORTERS, JOURNALISTS , JOURNEYMEN USE TO "MODERATE' OUR BLOGS . MY COMMENTS HAVE BEEN TAGGED ' YOUR COMMENTS ARE AWAITING MODERATION' AND UNDERLINED MY SCREEN NAME. I AM REMINDED OF THE McCARTHY-ISM OF THE PAST PARTISAN POLITICS OF RABID ANTI COMMUNIST PURGES WHICH USED
RUMORS AND GOSSIPS FROM PANDERING GOSSIP COLUMNISTS TO DESTROY THE REPUTATIONS OF WELL KNOWN
AMERICANS AND HOLLYWOOD ACTORS AND OTHERS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY DURING THAT ERA.. I AM AN AMERICAN AND PROUD OF IT . I SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND OUR DEMOCRACY
JUST AS MUCH AS ANY AMERICAN . I DO NOT CURSE NOR USE PROFANITY NEVER OBSCENITY OR CRUDE LANGUAGE ON ANY BODY.. WHY THEN CNN ????
Question? What happen if Mrs Palin is found guilty of abused her power in the firing of the state’s police chief for refusing to fire her ex-brother-in-law, a state trooper. Who would Sen McCain chose next or can she still run for VP. The state legislators investigation is not over yet or will the State of Alaska will put the investigation on hold now that she is Sen McCain VP. Go Obama