Palin takes heat for saying VP 'in charge' of the Senate
Watch Palin's comments on KUSA Wednesday.
(CNN) - Sarah Palin is taking heat Wednesday for appearing to overstate the role of vice president, saying in a recent interview that she would be "in charge of the Senate" should John McCain win the White House.
The comments came in an interview with Colorado TV station KUSA in response to a third-grader's question, "What does the Vice President do?”
"[T]hey’re in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom," she said.
The comments have drawn criticism from Democrats and liberal blogs which note the actual role of the vice president when it comes to the Senate is simply to cast a tie-breaking vote in the event of a stalemate. According to Article I of the U.S. Constitution, the vice president is the "President" of the Senate, but has no executive position when it comes to presiding over the chamber.
Donald Ritchie, a historian in the Senate Historical Office told CNN that Palin's comment was an "overstatement" of what her role would be.
"The vice president is the ceremonial officer of the Senate and has certain ceremonial functions including swearing in new senators and can vote to break a tie," he said. "It’s a relatively limited role. It's evolved into a neutral presiding officer of the Senate.
Ritchie also noted recent vice presidents have played a behind-the-scenes lobbying role on Capitol Hill for an administration's policies, but called it "somewhat limited."
"It's not comparable to the Speaker of the House who is certainly in charge of the House," he said. "The slogan that political scientists use is that the House is ruled by the chair and the Senate is ruled by the floor…the senators are in charge of the Senate."
Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for Palin, said the Alaska governor was simply answering the question in a way a third-grader could understand.
"Governor Palin was responding to a third grader's inquiry," she said. "She was explaining in terms a third-grader could understand that the vice-president is also president of the U.S. Senate."
In an interview with CBS earlier this month, Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden also said he hoped to play an influential role in the legislative branch if Barack Obama wins the White House.
"I hope one of my roles as vice president will be as the person actually implementing Barack Obama's policy. You gotta get the Congress to go along with it," he said. "And it's presumptuous to say, but I know it pretty well. And I think I am fairly respected on both sides of the aisle."
From CNN Politics
- Harris faces painful Black history in emotional slave outpost visit
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Kentucky law aimed at increasing parental oversight in education takes effect
- New York grand jury won't hear Trump case again this week
- Defense secretary defends abortion policies at center of Senate nomination hold-up
- Justice Department moves to end consent decree with Seattle Police Department
THE REPUBLICANS NEED TO START NOMINATING
PEOPLE THAT CAN AT LEAST ANSWER A 3rd. GRADER'S
QUESTIONS IF THEY WANT ANY OF US BACK. SOME OF US
ACTUALLY GO TO COLLEGE & ACTUALLY LEARN SOMETHING.
GOOD GOD, WE THOUGHT BUSH IS AN IDIOT !!!
Actually we need to give both of them more rope so they can continue to hang themselves.
We don't need to do anything more.
Can you spell "DONE"?
This goes to show that Sarah Palin is Dick Cheney with a hair bun.
Her future role as VP in a McCain's administration is pretty clear: wink at the camera while saying "I betcha!"
Please, do we really want a person with a third grade mentality in charge of our country?!
VOTE! Obama/Biden 08!!!!
After spending 150K in outfits, may be GOP can invest in some good quality duct tape to place on Palin's mouth.
Ethan See Pat's comments below. Then go read the constitution.
Obviously you don't have a clue on what you are talking about.
Thanks Pat!
She continues to amaze me with her foot in mouth disease. Palin has no grasp of reality or politics. Electing McCain/Palin would be comparable to electing the Three Stooges...McCain, Palin, and Palin's hubby!
Wildwood Crest, NJ
Teresa
...I AGREE.....YOU PEOPLE ARE GETTING TAKEN AS FOOLS ...WITH ""BOTH PARTIES""" .......DO THEY REALLY THINK WE ARE THAT STUPID ????? ....EX. BIDENS STATEMENTS ..OBAMAS LIES .......ETC
Guys guys! Be kind. It's the vicious, elitist , third grade media filter that is to blame.
This Lady scares the living day lights out of me.... SHE IS NOT LEADERSHIP MATERIAL...
ooooh she is so dumb! She wasn't speaking to a 3rd grader nor are they usually her audience. She is so pathetic.
I would not worry about her doing her job (VP) as she controls the senate.As stated many times while she was Alaska Gov, her husband made all the decisions..She would only have the title....If the RNC spent $150,000 on clothes for her durning the primary,if elected I do not think there is or will be enough money left in the treasury for them to clothes her and her family..What she really needs is a course on what the duties are for VP....The RNC should take some of the clothes money and send her to college...I almost forgot she went to six collegs in five year.
Joe Biden has been able to give the correct description for the VP role. You'd think that someone in the McCain campaign would educate Palin and bring her up to speed.
CNN keeps pushing the liberal agenda. They have brought this out twice now. Why don't you report on how the political insider Joe Biden, who has been a member of the Senate for 30+ years, has mistated the role of the VP numerous times as well. Obama will be our next president because the media is praising him and rediculing his opponent. I thought media was supposed to be unbiased??
Wow, just wow. Lack of knowledge from a VP canidate at such a level leaves me speechless. This woman has the potential to be very damaging to our beloved country. As much as I love and admire John McCain, I just cannot vote for him with her on the ticket.
I suspect 3rd graders already know more about the Senate and the role of Vice President than Gov. Palin. Just a hunch....
Article 1, section 3 of the US Constitution states, "The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided." Article 2 along with other portions list other duties.
My interpretation of that is that the VP has more than just "tie voting" duties... but I am just a constitutional law scholar.
Most of you seem to be like a herd of sheep. If it is said on TV or other media, you repeat it over and over again, as if it is accurate.
Do us all a favor, actually do some research and know what you are talking about before you speak or write.
And we thought Dan Quayle was stupid......
I don't understand this. That Sarah Palin as a sitting governor of a State in the "United States of American" cannot give an anwer to what the role of a VP candidate is? That's annoying to me as a Republican. has Sarah heard about our Constitution? A VP to be in charge of Senate and change rules anyhow he or she wants? Where did you read that, Sarah?
To John McCain and my Republicans, this is embarrasing! We may need to just accept defeat and dump this VP pick. This, among other Sarah Palins ignorance, shows the quality of the vetting process that selected Sarah Palin.
Funny, I didn't see anything on the ticker from the VP debate when Biden quoted Article I of the constitution referencing VP responsibilities...that would be Article II Joe. I also didn't see anything about his Scranton hangout he was "just at" that closed 10 years ago! Complete double standard in the media!
@Gary:
Wow, Biden gaffed, he went off message. But please email the link to where he said that Obama would be unable to lead, please. You won't, know why? Because he didn't say that. What grade are you in?
Can someone please tap Palin on the shoulder and tell her to stop talking??
She has been asked this question at least 3 times. The first time, it looked like she honestly didn't know. Since then, I'd guess she's been told the correct answer, but _not_ to even hint at the possibility that she could take over the role of president, i.e., she's probably not allowed to answer correctly.