Palin camp fires back over claims by some McCain aides
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/06/art.palin07.gi.jpg caption="Palin has been the target of tough leaks from some former McCain staffers."]
(CNN) - The war of words between supporters of each half of the Republican presidential ticket escalated Thursday, as a spokeswoman for Sarah Palin called charges circulated by former campaign aides to John McCain ‘sickening,’ and the Alaska governor herself said the advisers spreading the rumors were ‘small, evidently bitter’ people.
Former McCain campaign aides have been sources for a string of embarrassing stories about Palin that have become public since GOP defeat Tuesday night, including the charge that she spent thousands of dollars more on clothing for herself and her family than the $150,000 that has been reported.
There have also been reports of a somewhat distant relationship between John McCain and his running mate.
“This is so unfortunate and, quite honestly, sickening,” said Palin aide Meghan Stapleton in a statement. “The accusations we are hearing and reading are not true and since we deny all these anonymous allegations, there is nothing specific to which we will respond.
“We have the highest regards for Senator John McCain. Governor Palin was honored to be chosen as McCain’s running mate. And as Governor of Alaska, Governor Palin looks forward to working with President-elect Obama on securing energy independence for America.”
Back home in Alaska, Palin herself said she would not respond to individual accusations.
“If they’re an unnamed source, then that says it all,” she said. “I won’t comment on anybody’s gossip, or allegations that are based on anonymous sources. That’s kind of a small, evidently bitter type of person who would anonymously charge something foolish like that, that I perhaps didn’t know an answer to a question. So until I know who was talking about it, I won’t have a comment on false allegations.”
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Now you are griping over Ms Wasillabilly. She was unfit from day one and she knew that. The McCain campaign used her and she turn the tables on them..Palin girl go home and mind you baby.
Palin should get her African witch doctor to raise the rotting corpse of Joe McCarthy for a run in 2012. Joe could mumble about "communist sympathizers" and Palin can nasally whine about "terrorist sympathizers". They'd make a perfect fascist team!
Dear "Becky",
You couldn't be more wrong. Men CAN stand powerful, intelligent women. It's just that Palin isn't one of them. Comparing Palin to Clinton is just silly, and you know it. It doesn't matter what "experience" Palin got while mayor of a tiny town and gov of AK, she just plain isn't smart enough for one of the top two spots at the White House (we learned that with Bush). She may be a nice person, but she would be a disaster as VP or, god forbid, President. Don't confuse pragmatism with sexism.
And in all honesty, America is less of a laughing stock right now than its been in 8 years. Did you SEE the rest of the world rejoicing in our selection?!
Please get over your obvious bitterness about America not electing a woman, and use some common sense to figure out WHY America didn't elect a woman. Thanks.
I'm afraid Sarah will never go away. It was a narrow escape. It's unfortunate the there is this sort of scapegoating, but I'm rather relieved to have my own opinions of her confirmed. She seemed to me, from the beginning, to be abysmally ignorant. And unaware of it.
(By the way, Lady Phil, whose mother is named Sarah and who is sorry to see the name sullied by Palin, the name Sarah doesn't mean "laugh." It was Sarah's son Isaac whose name means "laugh.")
Sarah is a good, respectable name in any case – but Palin will live in uncomfortable memory. And I do fear that there are those in this country who don't see ignorance as a bar to high office in the land. I do want leaders who are well-educated AND wise AND good. Thank goodness, we have Barack Obama as our new president and good, solid Joe Biden for his back-up.
Lilarose in Bandon, Oregon,
How dare you refer to a precious child as a big genetic mistake! That is a human life you are referring to, and God does not make mistakes. If you have a comment to share about Governor Palin's political position then share it, but if you have nothing to say other than cruel remarks about an innocent child then keep your thoughts to yourself!
The election is over, let's move on and see what the future holds for America. We should learn from the past and focus on the present and the future.
Thank God, it is not people like Becky, truth Hurts and Patrick who decide who gets to be president.
Personally I was not happy with McCain or Obama for choices of President at this time in our country. Sarah was the only one to have the guts to stand up for us and say things like they are. Shame on John McCain for not speaking up and making a very bad decision being silent on the trashing of Sarah. I have respect for McCain but on this matter no respect at all!!
She deserves NO thanks! All she was trying to do was feed her ego and advance her career and much of it at the expense of the man who errantly picked her. All that came out of her mouth was hate and lies! All she did was try to divide the country and smear another person. She has to earn respect and based on her ignorance, actions and power abuse she deserves none. I am not sure what is more of a joke – her or the people trying to defend her!!
I'm amazed at how nasty some of these comments are "AFTER" the election!!!
I thought Obama's message was one of unity...
It's not Obama's message that I dislike; it's the "HATE" coming from the supporters!!!!
GROW UP!!! MOVE ON!!
ALL OF YOU STOP WITH THE NEGATIVE REMARKS< GOP HAS RUIN THIS COUNTRY AND THE RESPECT FROM AROUND THE WORLD PALIN WAS CHOSEN JUST FOR THE GOP TO DOG HER so stop please we no the gop don't CARE ABOUT NOBODY ONLY A FEW. USE YOUR MIND FOR THE POSITVE AND SPEAK GOOD OF PEOPLE ARE DON"T SPEAK AT ALL, ARE YOU HAVE THE SAME HEART AS THOSE THAT HATE LETS DO BETTER AS PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT YOUR RACE < GRACE IS THE KEY TOO HAPPINESS
Now that they can't make those outragous accusations about Obama, they are making them about each other. Please shut down the hate machine. People make mistakes - it's a new day - let's go forward.
I'm just thanking God that this lady (term applier loosely) isn't going to be one, shaky, 72 year-old heartbeat from the Presidency!
Some of you are disgraceful idiots. I supported McCain. He lost. The American people spoke and he is now our President of which all of us Americans should now support until proven otherwise.
It's time to stop bashing Palin. The Rep ticket lost. Likley for many reasons. But primarily because they got out-gunned by the the opposing campaign staff.
Remember one thing. McCain was ahead in the polls until the mortgage crisis bomb fell. That was the ball game right there. To McCain's credit he did not attack those that were really responsible....
Franks and Reid. Franks is Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
If anyone is to balme for the melt-down, it was Senator Franks. Peiod!
Palin is a smart woman inspite of these liberal attacks. In hindsight, Romney would have been the stronger selection because of this economic savvy.
It is time to leave Palin alone and quit the uglty, unneccesary attacks. I hope she runs for the US Senate representing Alaska. She could very well become a political force.
The real uneducated ignorance, stupidity and arrogance are the inconsiderate Dems that are happy enough to merely accept victory. It is not necessary to keep slandering this woman.
Sarah Palin was mean spirited in her speeches against what she calls it the Democrat party. Bush used that term also.Republicans become more and more malicious each year. The republican party will soon be history.
Patrick,
I disagree. A smart Palin would have said: "thank you for the offer but I'm not qualified." There was no "country first" in her acceptance of the post.
Betty–
No wonder we don't take Palin seriously. If this is the best you got to defend your support for her, then it is easy to brush off this wanna be.
And I have no issue supporting women--I voted Hillary in the primary but proudly cast my vote for the best candidate, Barack Obama.
"when the sharks have no prey left, they begin to eat each other"
Patrick – Its hard to find sympathy for a person that did exactly what you are rallying against. SP attacked, attacked, attacked and didn't offer any solutions.
List all of you GOP'ers – your party needs to look deep inside and realize America is changing whether they like it or not. Catering to a select few and ignoring the real problems of the majority of Americans is a losing philosphy.
Hey Becky with comments like yours, YOU are the laughing stock! I have no porblem with a strong woman like Hillary. Palin is an incompetent, hate spewing, power abusing, light weight who has no business being a V.P. or governor for that matter! Hillary would have destroyed her because she was more competent and more intelligent. Palin does not even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath. As for Obama – HOPE WON! Maybe Palin has room for you in her igloo for you too?
It's come out that Palin has abused her power in regards to the trooper probe. It's come out that Palin has been billing lots and lots of money to the Alaskan taxpayers so that she can stay in luxury hotels and bring her kids to events they aren't invited too. (She's also lied about why her kids came with as well to make the taxpayers pay.) It's come out that Todd Palin was using the office while Sarah Palin was not there. All these abuses of power, and now we're supposed to believe Palin that all these allegations about clothes and lack of knowledge are false? Give me a break!
Obama '12!
Beck from the Midwest:
"I will NEVER VOTE A MAN AGAIN! They're too stupid."
That's NOT sexist, right? You are a complete fool.
Crying sexism every time a woman is criticized is not only sexist, but demeans the real struggle women are really going through.
If you want to be equal, grow a set and accept criticism or at least respond to it without always crying sexism.
(Yes, I understand the irony in that statement.)
Patrick November 6th, 2008 10:24 pm ET
Kudos to so many of my fellow Americans for endorsing the mean spirited nature of wretched individuals who would demean a person, simply because she lost. I’m impressed by the fact she was willing sacrificing so much of her personal and professional time and energy to step up to the plate and run for such a high profile political office in our nation,
***************************************************************************
Patrick,
This lady stepped up for the deal of a lifetime; a deal that she didn't even earn.....
And just so you fully understand, it's her Republican buddies who are ratting her out!
What many of you Obama haters fail to realize is that its not all about years of experience, its about leadership qualities. Its about the ability to bring people together to get things accomplished. Its about vision. Its about intelligence. Palin may have experience but she doesn't have the vision. Tell me this, if she had the vision then why didn't she run for President? Why did someone have to come and pick her in order for her to be known? Thats not ambition or vision. Obama has the intelligence, the leadership qualities, the vision and the drive to become a great president. His intelligence alone eclipses most of the presidents if not all, that we have ever had. Look at this man's education. He is a brilliant thinker as well as a person who can bring a nation together. He didn't mud sling. Not once did he say a derogatory thing about McCain or Palin. Only McCain and Palin brought out words such as terrorist, socialist, Marxist, elitist, un-American. It was ridiculous. I think the most Obama said was erratic. He never once uttered a word about Palin even though she was dragging his name in the mud. And you people have the nerve to whine. We got behind your picks for president 20 out of the past 28 years and you can't get behind our pick for 4 years. Shame on you all. What's so funny is now the truth about Palins lack of qualifications is coming out. McCain pulled your strings and you are mad at Dems for realizing it early on.
Palin is an idiot. She was the reason that McCain lost. Well the reason Obama won is because he ran one of the best campaigns in history. He is a true visionary and we are witnessing history. Palin is not bright and does not even know Africa is a continent. Obama has raised our standards. Palin has reduced them lower than Bush and Cheney. Let's hope she goes back to Alaska and is never heard from again.
Hey Becky,
Does being a "strong woman" mean willingly being a puppet for someones political agenda? It is exceptionally strong to let someone drag your entire career and character through the mud. Although she does have a strong knowledge of the continents. Real strong. Not. Kudos for your stereotyping though.
She thought that Africa was a country? Uh! What do you to say about that, Patrick, Becky, Truth Hurts and Jim D
I bet you think the same.