Palin says voters 'irritated' by robocalls
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/18/art.swain.cnn.jpg caption="Palin discussed GOP robocalls and socialism on Sunday."]COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) - All of a sudden, Sarah Palin is eager to meet the press.
John McCain’s running mate took questions from her press corps for the second time in three days late Sunday after flying into Colorado Springs. But Palin was not completely on message.
Wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and standing on a breezy tarmac, Palin said that if she had her way, the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee would not be flooding battleground states with automated phone calls tying Barack Obama to former radical William Ayers, as they have done over the last week.
Several top Republicans, including Senators Susan Collins and Norm Coleman, have condemned the tactic. Asked about those criticisms, Palin at first dismissed the matter as "inside baseball stuff" and said it's "some of the campaign top brass’s call on that."
But when asked if she would approve the use of robocalls if she were running the campaign, Palin said she’d probably chart a different course.
"If I called all the shots, and if I could wave a magic wand," Palin said, "I would be sitting at a kitchen table with more and more Americans, talking to them about our plan to get the economy back on track and winning the war, and not having to rely on the old conventional ways of campaigning that includes those robocalls, and includes spending so much money on the television ads that, I think, is kind of draining out there in terms of Americans' attention span.
"They get a bit irritated with just being inundated," she continued, "and you're seeing a lot of that of course with the huge amounts of money that Barack Obama is able to spend on his ads and his robocalls also."
Ultimately, the Alaska governor said she was not calling for an end to the automated calls, and she did not say if she had spoken to campaign officials at any point about the calls.
Palin was also asked if she and McCain believe that Barack Obama’s tax plan, which would raise taxes on Americans making over $250,000 and provide tax credits to middle and lower-income workers, is socialist. At a campaign rally in New Mexico earlier Sunday, Palin said Obama wants to "experiment with socialism."
"There are socialist principles to that, yes," Palin said of Obama's plan. "Taking more from a small business or small business owners or from a hard working family and then redistributing that money according to a politician’s priorities. There are hints of socialism in there."
Asked if she thinks the government’s plan to inject billions of taxpayer dollars directly into troubled banks amounts to socialism - a belief held by many conservative legislators, talk radio hosts and bloggers - Palin said, "No, I do not."
"I believe that there are those measures that had to be taken by congress to shore up not only the housing market but the credit markets also, to make sure that that’s not frozen, so that our small businesses have opportunities to borrow, and that was the purpose, of course, and that part of the bailout and the shoring of the banks," she said.
Maggie, VT
Another example of this campaign not knowing which hand is doing what. I am sure the McCain campaign was not happy with her comments
So she should open her mouth towards McCain. Talking to voters is just pandering.
Palin knows how to run a winning campaign. She knows how to reach voters and connect. She knows how to listen. McCain would be well advised to listen to her.
Those running the show blew great chances to use momentum created by Palin and they blew it both times. And this auto-phone all thing, well Palin is honest and I agree. There is a better way.
with all of the "money" games the RNC has to compete with because Obama broke his word about public funding, they have no choice but to run robo calls. At least the McCain campaign can be trusted to keep their word to the American people.
Sarah Palin and other new comers to the political process represent a new idea and future agenda no matter which party that represent. It’s well past time to put all the old dinosaur’s in Congress on notice and head them towards retirement. It’s the OLD people in D.C. that are ruining America today. Go Sarah and Go Obama!
It is not worth to listen to an illiterate, fundamentalist moron like Sarah Palin.
Well, you can stop it. So put up or shut up, Palin.
If she understood what she was saying, it would be scarey.
Palin, I have zero respect for you. You were too dumb to even realize that they were making a mockery of you to your face on SNL. Stop being a robot while trying to be a so called feminist. The look isn't good.
You aren't posting my comments, but I'll keep trying!!
That's the only sensible thing I've heard her say since she was chosen!!
Ole southern white "granny" for OBAMA/BIDEN
I have not decided on who to vote for, but the media is really starting to annoy me. Obviously, CNN is a political entity for Obama; whereas FOX is for McCain – so it's hard to find an outlet that is truly unbiased. I like Obama, but there are some things that irritate me. Why won't he release his birth certificate? That is troubling, because if you investigate this issue online, there are many credible articles that cast doubt on his citizenship. And the factcheck version has already been exposed as a Photoshop fraud. Also, Obama doesn't have to act so arrogant – it turns a lot of voters off. He has a message, so why the pompous attitude? As for McCain, he has a good message as well, and Palin is not as bad as the media plays her up to be – but for some reason, he has trouble sustaining a theme. I have two more weeks to decide. One thing I do know.....the election will be much, much closer than CNN and FOX report. I would not be surprised if it ends up 269-269 and goes to a Congressional Vote.
Nobody cares. You wasted your own time writing about her. She's irrelevant.
This lady has nothing to offer us, she doesnt even understand McCains policy, if she did she would actually talk about it, instead shes the campaigns attack dog, figures, what a good role model for woman. Being used like a bad pet. Have to be a serious ditz to think someone like this airhead has anything to offer at a time like this. Not to mention that pro American area comment was way out of line, as an American im so offended by that i cant even believe someone was dumb enough to say that and not think before they spoke. Give me a break, a child could do a better job. News flash people, its not patriotic to walk blindly off a cliff with a failed administration, i know its in style....but its not patriotism tools. Anyway, the people voting for these 2 are ancient, they still seem to think Obama is muslim, that kind of stupidity leaves me speechless. All due to a 5 second clip on google, apparently these people dont realize 5 seconds doesnt give much insight into the convo....bunch of simple simons. Anyway that was what a year ago?? i think we've moved on, apparently the news is a little slow making it to the Republican areas =/ oh wait, thats right they watch fox. HAAAAAAA, and all this socialist talk, a few of you may want to look into our allies political stances and so on youd be surprised to find there are quite a few socialist ideas picked up by governments, want to know why?!?!?! it works!! moving on....
The first good thing coming out of Palins mouth... wow...
Yet more evidence that Palin and McCain are less than a team..
I guess things are different in America than here in Europe, but if a political party stalked me by phone that way, they would loose my vote faster than that robot can say "Hello".
Personally, I'm a lot more annoyed by the constant stream of Obama commercials on TV. I live in Virginia and it's non-stop Obama. I'm sick and tired of seeing the man's face 24/7.
To put a play on the lipstick on a pig line: you can inject billions of taxpayer dollars in our financial systems but it is still socialism. Technically both parties hint at socialism to varying degrees.
What is she really talking about. If she had her way....sounds UNDERMINING to me. IS she undermining Mr. McCains EXPERTS????????
The robocalls are of a piece with F A I L I N's own nasty rhetoric and, along with other dangerous words and actions, instigated by it. Apart from himself, McSAME's greatest liability is now F A I L I N , so soon
"Not suddenly". she has always been eager and media friendly.
Go Sara 08
sarah palin just lacks intelligence. honestly, it would be a national embarrasment if this woman ever holds an office greater than the alaska governorship
Oh I see...helping the banks...no hint of socialism
Helping the people...yes..hints of socialism in there.
If this wasn't for real...it would be a bad film parody. Let's get this over with so she can go home and become a footnote.
Sounds like a Bush tactic, do what you want in the first part of the campaign [7 1/2 yrs] and then try to appease the people by calling out YOURSELF to make the other party look like the bad boy. Shameful. Still screwing with the America peoples minds!
If McCain and Palin can't run a unified campain, what kind of Presidency and Vice Presidency would they offer? Don't we have enough problems as it is?
The link to this piece reads "Palin attacks Obama comment"...it's all about the robocalls. Someone needs to change that link wording.