Laura Bush says Palin lacks foreign policy experience
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/24/art.lbush.gi.jpg caption="Laura Bush said she has confidence in Palin."](CNN) - First Lady Laura Bush told CNN Wednesday Sarah Palin lacks experience in foreign policy, but quickly added the Alaska governor is "a very quick study."
Asked by CNN's Zain Verjee if she thought Palin's resume included sufficient foreign policy experience, Bush said, "Of course she doesn't have that."
"You know, that's not been her role," she continued, "But I think she is a very quick study, and fortunately John McCain does have that sort of experience."
The McCain campaign has pointed to Palin's gubernatorial service as head of the Alaska National Guard, part of which is deployed in Iraq, as experience in foreign policy.
But in the interview with CNN, Bush reiterated she has "a lot of confidence" in Palin.
"She's got a lot of really good common sense, and I think that's very important," Bush said. "She also has executive experience from being a governor and a mayor, and I'm thrilled to have the chance to vote for Sarah Palin on the Republican ticket."
Bush also said she agreed with those who have charged Palin is being treated unfairly because she is a woman.
"I do think there's a little bit of that going on, and I think it's to be expected," she said.
Laura Bush is in New York Wednesday promoting global literacy. She also met with political dissidents from around the world Tuesday, including a Burmese monk.
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She had BETTER be a "quick study" considering the position she is being considered for. Good trait to have, but not what I'm looking for in a VP.
Neither does Obama! Come on people what foreign policy experience does he REALLY have? Why just because he travelled to Europe and the Middle East this past summer gives him foreign policy experience? Give me a break. I wish someone in the media would enlighten me and show me what kinds of foreign policy experience Obama has. He was a State Senator for a number of years and then became a US Senator and then a year after that he began running for President. In those years I don't see any foreign policy experience. Prove me wrong!
SHE'S ALSO A DODGER OF SUBPEOANA'S!
Sure Laura, Sarahs' been such a transperant, non-secretive individual and besides, she can see Russia from Alaska, that's more than enough for us...
Rep's give it up!–THANKS BUT NO THANKS!
Too bad Geo. W. wasn't a "quick study." He'll still be trying to get it right long after he's gone from office.
Yes, John McCain does but he is 72 years old and has had cancer. So saying that it is ok that the Vice President doesn't have foreign policy experience because the President does, is like saying that it is ok that your spare tire doesn't have air because the other 4 tires do.
Yikes Laura! If you hear a bus coming, RUN!!!
I can't wait to hear Obama stutter through an explanation to the American people why he spent his 30s hanging with Bill Ayers and Rev. Wright while John McCain spent his 30 putting his country and his fellow soldiers first while he was being tortured in a Vietnam POW camp. I can't wait for the debates.
Pathetic to think some people would elect an empty suit over a true American hero who has shed his blood for this country.
Obama, Pelosi, Reid: Is this really the braintrust that we running our government?
Gotta give it to the repubs for making a plan, getting the word out and making sure that everyone sticks to the same story. If the Dems dared to bring anyone to the ticket who was as much a lightweight as Palin, they would have been laughed out of town. I wish I could've been a fly in the car of the world leaders that Palin met yesterday to hear what they really thought.
No news here! The entire world knows she doesn’t have any foreign policy experience. Clueless Palin is the biggest joke in US history. Thumps down on McCain & Palin! And, if I had two extra hands, I'll give them four thumps down!
END THE DRAMA, VOTE OBAMA!
If the first lady can clearly see the problem with Palin being a heart beat away from the big chair then for the love of Country do not let this person any where near the White House. It would be a mistake that we can't afford to live with. Remember this is not a drill!
Laura Bush offers great clarity and political overstatement in the same breath.
Yes, Palin's foreign relations creds are paper thin at best.
No, she's not being picked on because of her gender. She's getting called out as an inexperience, small time politician and in presidential politics that fair regardless of the gender. Stop the sexist whining stuff already...
The person I most respect in the 8 years of Bush/Cheney.
Laura Bush knows her stuff.
Listen to her.
with friends like this they will do you in every time
What does she or her husband know about anything??? Go back to your Crawford ranch and count your money.
mrs. palin also lacks some brains but quick transplantation can fix that, too...
So what then if, as it's happened 5 times in the past century, something happens to John McCain as president that causes the VP to have to step into the top spot? Are we just betting on a physically ravaged (allbeit for his service to this country), technologically challenged, mis-speaking, 72 year old to last for four years with no significant mental or physicial deterioration?? And if that's the case, what happens if we're wrong. You cannot learn what Sarah Palin needs to know in four months, and that is what they want us to believe. She needs to be ready on Day One. And I for one, take issue with the idea that the VP DOESN'T need to be ready immediately. She would only have two jobs, and clearly she's unqualified for one of them.
Laura should be happy that McCain is making her husband look intelligent smart and thoughtful...
With the current inaccuracies surrounding McCain and Palin- I am liking Bush more...He seems much 'trustworthy' in comparison to McCain...
Way to go McCain... Keep making Bush look better in his last few months in office....
I was supporting McCain.. but I cant take this anymore..
I don't have anything against Palin. The fact is America is at a very serious moment now so how do I support someone I don't know anything about. If Palin starts to give interviews and says more about her policies then maybe I can support her but she hides herself.
Well, at least one Republicans admitting it??
Wow! If the current President's wife even says it...
For someone who is one beat of a bad heart away from the Presidency, I would rather they be a little bit better than "a very quick study".
Just sayin' it. We're all thinkin' it. (as the movie line goes)
Laura says Pailin has no foreign policy experience but a lot of common sense. How does Laura know Palin has a lot of common sense? How long has Laura known Palin and how well. If not much longer nor any better than the Amercian people then how can she claim Palin has a lot of common sense? No one else knows this and many in Alaska who have known Palin much longer and better think that Palin prefers a my-way-or-the-highway approach to matters rather than a "common" sense approach.
Sure McCain has such foreign affairs experience that he didn't know that Spain was a member of NATO!
I am a Democrat and have always admired Laura Bush. I think she'd be a better VP choice.
If Gov. Palin knew anything about foreign affairs than she would allow the press, Hardball, Meet the Press and Sixty Minutes to ask her serious questions about foreign affairs and how she would handle the crisis and the American economy. We the American public have the right to know what she thnks about these two major issues. Why the McCain campaign continues to hide and surround Gov. Palin isn't a mystery to many Americans, because we all know that she isn't qualified to be VP; therefore, they have no other choice but to shield Gov. Palin. If Obama or Biden had continued to do avoid holding Press conferences or meeting with Hardball, Meet the Press or Sixty Minutes, the Republicans would cry foul.
You would think by how the media portrays it that Obama has foreign policy experience. Am I the only one who can't seem to find any evidence of him having such experience?