McCain defends Palin against experience attacks
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/01/art.dmr.cnn.jpg caption="McCain became visibly frustrated during an interview with the Des Moines Register when he was questioned about Sarah Palin's credentials to be vice president."](CNN) - John McCain defended embattled running mate Sarah Palin in an interview released Tuesday night, telling an Iowa newspaper he thought she had the” experience and knowledge and background” to be president and that he was “proud of her record.”
McCain ticked off Palin’s achievements with the editors of the Des Moines Register – a swing state paper that endorsed his presidential bid before January’s Republican caucuses.
"So, with due respect, I strongly disagree with your premise that she doesn't have experience and knowledge and background,” he said. “I fundamentally disagree, and I'm proud of her record.”
Later, after continuing to counter Palin’s critics, he pointed to what he called a divide between the press and the public on their view of the Alaska governor. “…You and I just have a fundamental disagreement and I'm so happy that the American people seem to be siding with me,” said McCain.
When editors pointed to similar recent assessments from conservatives, McCain responded “Really? I haven't detected that,” attributing those sentiments to the “Georgetown cocktail party” circuit.
“Some people allege that others may have spent too much time inside the Beltway, and too much time not out in touch with the American people,” said McCain. “Some people that know that Franklin Delano Roosevelt didn’t address the American people on television.”
Asked later if he had benefited from taxpayer-subsidized health care his entire life, McCain replied that the question had no relation to his ability to understand the concerns of those Americans who had not.
“You know that's an interesting statement, isn’t it?” he responded. “And I have never been an astronaut, but I think I know the challenges of space. And I have never done a lot of things in my life that I think I am familiar with.”
According to CNN's Iowa poll of polls released September 22, before the first presidential debate, Obama held a 7-point lead (50-43 percent) in the state. Iowa narrowly voted for President Bush in 2004, but gave a major boost to Obama's presidential fortunes earlier this year at the start of the primary season.
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On a different site, I saw McCain's response to questions about if and why McCain and McCain's campaign strayed from the "straight talk". He demeanor and tone is troubling, coming across as arrogant, mean and bull headed. This is an important clip to see.
Joe six pack palin is a Veggie
Its really nice that Sarah Palin is so much like your average joe. But do we want the average Joe running this country. She apparently has managed in Alaska for a while although I have read that even there her decisions are based on her own extremely limited experience. As an average joe myself, I don't want an average Joe running the country. That takes a Way Above the Average Joe person. I find it very very scary that she could end up as President. She has shown an extremely limited knowledge of world affairs and her communication skills, other than her sarcasm are severly lacking as well.
It's truly sickening that we are even discussing the prospects of such an airhead becoming VP, who must go to debate camp, cannot put together a coherent thought, and claims that her foreign policy experience is based on being able to see Russia from Alaska. It's ludicrous and shocking and terribly sad. It's like we're watching a twelve-year-old audtion for a school play.
Didn't McCain said on the first debate with Obama that America doesn't need a president on job training but some one who is experienced. This man can say any thing for his advantage while he is accusing Obama when it comes to his advantage. I don't think McCain loves his country first. If he truly loves his county first he would have picked some one who is well experience and intelligent. Even though Obama has less experience compared to McCain he, proved himself that he is smart, intelligent and fast learner during this election. McCain picked Pailn just to win the election. It is hard for me to believe after George Bush Americans are smart people any more.
GET BACK EVERYONE . . . . HE IS GONNA BLOW!
A misuse of words and a total ignorance of policies are two different things. This has nothing to do with Sarah misusing words to get her point across this has everything to do with her not knowing the issues and facts. She wasn't involved in US economics as a whole nor was she involved in foreign policy. I personally don't care if you like her as a person, this has to do with our country. She may be likable but so was Bush. She is not on the same education level, the same political level or the same speaking level as Barack. Barack has done practically everything right throughout his life. Worked hard, went to school, graduated, became successful, given back to his community and that is still not enough for people. You have to think that they are underlying reasons why others don't support him but can support a person with less than half the education and political experience as him. Its so incredible I am starting to think we are living on another planet.
obama is a musilim,why cant america see that,he has friends who wants to destroy america,obama wants to make all white people poor in that is a fact,the reason he is leading is because of this liberal media,how can you white people vote for a black?i wouldnt care if mccain was the biggest crook in the world in barck hussein obama was the most honest guy in the world,i would never vote for a monkey,because if this monkey gets elected we are in a world of trouble.
PA Quinnipiac polls shows he's now down 15%; he should consider saving his dignity and leave those stupid ads alone. He is wasting his money. Americans are more intelligent
Thank GOD people in this country are beginning to wise up and realize what a disaster an Obama Presidency would be.
The only answer is McCain/ Palin '08.
Sarah is the new voice of America!
Only the Liberal Left Hate her-but then they Hate everything that isn't "Obama"!
She will be a GREAT Leader for many years to come!
I'm looking forward to the debate, I think it may be the most watched EVER!
McCain/Palin-08-In a Landslide!
Of course he's defending her. And he will continue to defend her. He has no choice. Without her he has nothing to offer. How scary is that! He has no policy's, he was wrong on the war in Iraq and what does he think we're going to win!!! There is nothing to win.
All he has is Palin.
McCain is a bitter old white man whose choice for VP is going to haunt him. And he knows it already. His team has kept her hidden to give them a chance at the election. I hope this defeat is so huge McCain retires to one of his 9 homes.
It seems unbelievable to me that Sarah Palin is saying these things as though this is the extent of her knowledge. Perhaps, the McCain camp is having her act this way to have low expectations concerning the up coming debate. Senator McCain has created theater and drama in his campaign so far. Why not do the same with Sarah Palin. Give the country all this blankness and suddenly shock everyone on the night of the debate. After the Bush escapades, how can anyone trust McCain and company in what they say and do with Senator McCain being the director of this major and somewhat questionable "Play"
Keep on dreaming Senator McCain. It is not the journalists you better worry about, it is we, the people. And we say she just does not cut the mustard!
Interested voters should go on the web site of The Public Record to see all of the scandals and truths about Sara Palin. She really is a Barracuda!! Now former supporters who previously said she had nothing to do with the Troupergate problem are changing thier stories when they know they can be charged with perjury. And you want this person as your Vice-President and possibly President should anything happen to McCain. Think hard and long before you pull the lever.
McCain is in big trouble and it's showing. For him to have to come out to cover up for his running mate while she is in hiding is not a good thing. I thought Sarah said she was a pitbull. Pitbulls are not treated like delicate flowers. Quit speaking for Sarah and let her speak for herself. Enough is enough.
McBlame – Can you find another word to use other than "fundamentally"?
Gwen Ifill is writing a book about black politicians so, of course, Barack Obama is in the book. It's a piece covering cultural changes in politics.
John McCain put this information out today to do a preemptive smear against Ifill in case Sarah screws up. He's working the refs again and GOP lemmings, like Darko above, are parrotting that new smear.
Gwen Ifill is a highly respected and non-partisan journalist. She is not "in the tank" and this attempt to smear her journalistic integrity is just another McCain cheap shot. How can anyone vote for this "fundamentally" dishonest politician who is John McCain. Disgusting!
TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT THINK PALIN AND MC CAIN ARE GREAT. I HAVE ONE WORD TO SAY TO YOU. IDIOT'S. YOU ARE THE ONES THAT BLUNDER BLINDLY THROUGH LIFE. WHITH NO CLUES AS TO WHAT REAL LEADERS DO. YOU ARE LIKE ZOMBIES. THAT BLINDLY FOLLOW THE LEADER. YOU HAVE NO FRESH IDEAS OR THOUGHT.THIS COUNTRY IS IN TROUBLE, REAL TROUBLE. WE HAVE HAD 8 YEARS OF BLINDLY BLUNDERING ALONG. AND YOU WANT TO ELECT TWO MORE PEOPLE LIKE THEM. NUTS
McCain just doesn't seem to get it......
Jan,
If someone else is supposed to be so "scared", why are you the one using so many exclamation marks to make a point? Projection?
It is also worth noting how you conveniently left out the misstatements of McCain during this election, who probably has everyone beat in that regard.
SARAH PALIND'S DAUGHTER, WILLOW IS SCHOOLING HER FOR THE DEBATE...WHAT A JOKE..THIS WOMAN IS NO MORE VP MATERIAL THAN KIM KARDASHIAN....
MCCAIN HAS SHOWN ME THAT HE TRULY LACKS JUDGEMENT, OR HAS THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SHOWN ME THAT THEY TRULY LACK JUDGEMENT AS WELL...... PALIN ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5 GRADER......
McCain always looks angry! When he says "my friends" it feels like a threat! Why on earth would I want an angry old man with a long record of supporting policies that are destroying our country and an intellectually challenged, disrespectful, snippy vice presidential running mate? The answer is I don't and you shouldn't either. Obama/Biden 08!
Jan,
You must be smokin' from the same pipe as Sarah Palin. You sound almost as stupid as she does. Must be some of that Columbian stuff McCain brought back after his trip there this summer.
Sarah Palin's popularity is the purest evidence we now have that the dumbing down of America has succeeded.