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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People can talk and talk until they are blue in the face. But in the end McCain picked Sarah and not the other way around. So if it was a mistake to choose her then it was his and nobody elses. It is entirely wrong to knock her for not living up to the McCain campaign's expectations. What do you expect when they didnt even vet her?
I don't get it. Why are some of you people blaming Obama supporters, Democrats, and the so-called liberal media when this stuff came from the McCain camp which the last time I checked was REPUBLICAN??? Some of this stuff was even put on FoxNews the love channel of all the far-right. I'm sure most supporters of Obama have better things to do now than slam Gov Palin, it seems her own people can do that.
She certainly helped McCain lose the election but he CHOSE her so duh....It's John's own fault.
But let's be clear. There are precious few people he could have chosen as his running mate to prevent this landslide.
To Sarah: Dry your eyes and go back to the ice box to relax with some hot chocolate. Kick your feet up and snuggle by the fire and forget these politicians and their bitterness....and intellect. Watch SOME TV. Gossip about old friends.
And most importantly, know your place in history.
You're not the Republican Hillary Clinton, honey. You are the Republican Geraldine Ferraro:
A FOOL.
Sarah Palin = Dan Quayle = Irrelevance
I don't think anyone can really blame just McCain, or just Palin for their failure. They are a team, and as a team, you win and lose as one...
Wow all this hate for Sarah Palin. Makes me love her even more. She did something right to bring out all this adolescent hate! Chin up Sarah!
I don't really doubt any of these stories... she already showed us that she was not the most intelligent candidate. I really believe that Obama's incredible intelligence is what led him to victory...we as Americans are tired of mediocrity.
the fact she was THIS close to being VP of the United States of America is one that still troubles me deeply. i really fear the people that wanted to put her in office. they terrify me, really.
"She deserves a modicum of respect and thanks by all Americans for at least attempting to better this country through her heartfelt commitment and patriotism by running for any political office, whether the majority of you agree with her presence in politics or not."
After her particular brand of divisive politics, where her supporters were "Real Americans" and her opponents were not, after refusing to swiftly denounce supporters who screamed death threats at her opponent at her rallies, I will NOT concede this point. She brought shame on her running mate, her party, her state and to a certain degree, all of us, by her hateful campaign style.
I believe McCain should share some of the blame for this lost. He was never clear on what he would do in office. On how he was going to fix the economy, bring the troops home, and education. He spent his time on old boy spear campaigning that no one wanted to hear. Instead of informing Gov. Phalin on how much to spend on her wardrobe, it did not look good when everyone is struggling to keep their homes. It look like Marie Anonette telling everyone to eat pie. As a American hero, stand up, and be accountable.
Excuse me but these allegations were brought to our attention by unnamed MCCAIN AIDES and not Obama supporters or the media. Republicans, it is time for you to stop finger pointing and start supporting OUR President. If you want to place blame, look honestly at your own team. They are ones who have created this debacle for your party, not the Democrats, and it's time you acknowledged and admitted that.
God bless America and God bless President Obama.
hey governor your no one now
Actually, the problem with Palin falls exactly at the feet of McCain for President headquarters. He picked her, he vetted her (if in fact she was ever vetted) and he pushed her into the limelight before talking to her so he knew at least she knew minimal geography. His choice of Palin says far more about McCain than it ever could about Palin. It was up to McCain to vet her and he flunked out. John is the one who is it! Imagine having someone like him in charge of our country. EEEEKKKKKKS1111
Everybody blames Mccain and the GOP for selecting her, but it seems everybody forgets one thing, she could have refused the selection. It seems that her ego would not let her turn down this oppurtunity. She should have known where her experience level was and realized that she would not be prepared for the position. She has to accept part of the blame for being hammered by her opponents. To paraphrase the line from Top Gun...Her ego wrote checks that she wasn't prepared to cover.
I'm a Republican, however, I didn't vote for McCain largely because of her. She should just go back to Alaska and stay there.
Very well said Patrick!
I am just visiting this country – and the venomous words that others have for someone who has the courage to run for a big office in government is frightening. I can only hope these people represent a very small minority in the population. What did she ever do to you to deserve this loathing from you? She was a candidate – you did not like her resume – you did not vote for her. That should be it. To all of you who have so many unkind words for Sarah Palin – if you are truly so much better than her – if you truly care enough about Americans and your country I would like to challenge you to run for office – mayor? governor? Are you qualified? Will you win?
go home.
It is a shame the media didn't treat Uhbumba the same way they treated Palin. Truly pathetic how one sided the main stream media is, and how stupid the people are who bought into it. Good luck, everyone. We will need it.
I bet those "bitter" McCain supporters are making Palin cling to her moose-killing guns and her voodoo witch doctor religion too...
sleep with dogs you might get fleas.
I agree with Campbell Brown's commentary. The aides are the ones that help choose her. If she wasn't qualified then face up to it. Just leave Palin alone. Everyone molded her into what they wanted to her to be. Give her some space to breath and let her speak her mind, since she wasn't allowed to do that before.
Bull. I don't believe the story. Obama bought and paid for the newsmedia this year so any story involving this kind of coverage I'm going to consider a lie unless I know otherwise. This story sounds like it is completely manufactured by liberal elites in the media. Sarah Palin is nothing like the person described in the so-called gossip portrayed in this article. What's most telling is the old saw of trying to portray her as stupid. Anyone who has spent any amount of time knows this is not true. That tack was attempted on every successful conservative in history, noteably, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Clarence Thomas. Another old trick liberals pull out is invective. If you can't beat their argument, call them names! This had been used on every conservative and even not-liberal-enough Republicans throughout the years. If you can't beat their argument, make fun of their looks, or children. Nice people, right? The USA no longer has a free press as such. It's too bad, really. These comment sections are a symptom of it. Obama supporting sites flood every story with anti-GOP
and anti-conservative rhetoric. It would be nice to have real conversations with real people here but that ended a long time ago.
WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND...DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT YOUR LIES AND VILE TOWARDS OBAMA. THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST...YOU SAID HILARY WAS A CRY BABY WHEN THE PRESS WERE AFTER HER...UHMMMMM!
It's hard to question the truth of these stories, because throughout the campaign, the indications were all there. Sarah Palin embodies a combination of arrogance and ignorance – on steroids. She's a fiscal disaster, leaving Wasilla in a huge financial hole, and by all reports she's now done the same to Alaska, especially with the price of oil dropping dramatically. Don't be at all surprised to see her replace Ted Stevens should he survive the still contested election. That way she can leave all the fiscal problems to her Lieutenant Governor and move on to greener political pastures in the Senate (which she thought she would be in charge of as VP) . Her scorched earth policy should be a concern for all. Of all the stories, you just have to believe the description of "Wasilla hillbillies looting Nieman Marcus from coast to coast" is dead on. From day one, she seemed to truly be double-wide material. Sarah, if you're smart (and most of us can sadly see you aren't) , you will just quietly fade away from politics.
She has been the sacrifice of this campaign. The GOP looked for a weak candidate and are now blaming her for their very poor judgment and loss of the presidency. The nomination of Sarah Palin is the most sexist attack of the entire political campaign. Sarah, you have been used. Sadly, I'm not certain you realize it.