Sarah Palin: Hillary Clinton ill-suited for president
Washington (CNN) - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said she would be "disappointed" in the American electorate if Hillary Clinton becomes a serious candidate for president in 2016.
The 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee argued Clinton would not be right for the role as commander in chief after four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, died last year in a terrorist attack against a U.S. consulate in Benghazi.
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"If (Benghazi) doesn't have an impact on the 2016 presidential election, if she is a candidate, then America, I am very disappointed in our electorate," Palin said Sunday on Fox News, where she's a contributor.
She said "anyone who would just throw away 200 years of military ethos and leave our men behind to be murdered" should "never be considered as a commander in chief."
The lack of security at the consulate and the September 11, 2012 attack are poised to be a major point of contention by Republicans if Clinton decides to run for president. Clinton ultimately took responsibility for diplomats' safety, and was grilled before two congressional committees in January.
At one point she lost her temper while responding to questions from Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin. He was asking her about the erroneous, initial talking points that claimed the attack stemmed from a spontaneous protest against an anti-Islam video, though the administration later defined it as a terrorist attack and said a protest never happened.
"What difference at this point does it make?" Clinton responded. "It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, senator."
The attack on Benghazi is still a matter of congressional investigation by House Republicans.
"That's why I'm so grateful for Congress to be pursuing what happened in Benghazi," Palin said. "Because at this point, it still makes a difference what happens in Benghazi."
"Anyone who doesn't understand that and dismisses it as being indifferent, they should not be our commander in chief," she continued.
For her part, Clinton said in a recent interview with New York Magazine that she is in no hurry to decide about a potential 2016 bid for the White House, saying it is a decision "not to be made lightly."
Asked how she plans to combat any conflicts she may face related to her political legacy, she said the best course is to "find common ground."
"I have a lot of reason to believe, as we saw in the 2012 election, most Americans don't agree with the extremists on any side of an issue," Clinton said in the interview. "But there needs to continue to be an effort to find common ground, or even take it to higher ground on behalf of the future."
Palin's comments mark a stark contrast to high praise Clinton received Sunday from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who said if Clinton decides to run, "she will win."
"And when she becomes president, she'll be one of the best-equipped, best-prepared people to enter the White House in a very long time," Pelosi said on CNN's "State of the Union."
Noting Clinton's experience as secretary of state, as a U.S. senator from New York and as a first lady, Pelosi said Clinton would be "more prepared than President Obama; certainly more prepared than President Bush; certainly more prepared than President Clinton I might admit."
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I'm a republican, and sometimes a democrat, at other times a liberal. I'm a constitutionalist and love our flag, I'm a patriot, but above all ... I'm an american! BUT I AIN'T FOR NO CLINTON!!!
II guess CNN knows that giving a platform to this gasbag results in more hits on their website, so I understand this to a degree. But the irony of Caribou Barbie calling anyone else (particularly someone with Hilary's qualifications) "unfit" is just too ridiculous to not point this out.
Rather odd for Sara Palin to say someone else is unfit for the White House. She is a prime example of unfittness for public office.
Sorry, but Sarah Palin is NOT qualified to make a statement such as this NOR pass judgement... she was WAY more unqualified for the white House than Hillary... Palin made a total fool of herself.
If you give a national interview while running for VP and answer a national security question by saying you are located next to Russia, then you should never mention someone elses national security credentials ever again. I'm also willing to bet Hillary Clinton can name one newspaper she reads regularly and one supreme court case.
I hardly think Sarah Palin is qualified to assess the value of any respected, experienced politician much less Hillary Clinton.
This is like an endorsement coming from this drop out.
I see a lot of comments using the term "the pot calling the kettle back". Is that allowed in this day and age? Just askin. Do not want anyone losing their job or anything over it.
Sarah Palin, unfit to be quoted in the press.
Can we please stop giving this woman a voice on the front page of any website or newspaper? She is an idiot. Her opinion is meaningless. She was unfit to be governor of one of the least populated states in this nation. If FOX new wants to give her attention, by all means. She fits right in with the rest of them. She's old news and I'm tired of seeing her face.
Hilarious. Palin couldn't even point to Benghazi on a map.
Oh dear, this lady is back??????????
If anyone needs to know how the RWNJ's manage to fool so many people, just read the comment by Dean.
They take people's words and twist them in ways to enrage their uneducated base.
Hillary NEVER said, What difference does it make that 4 people died! She asked what difference did the reason for the attack make??
The reason Sarag quit diring her 1st term is, someone told her instead of sweating out elections she could have a full time job as a idiot. She is very good at her new job.
As long as she can see both Beghazi and Russia, from her window, then she must be stuck in a very thick and oily bubble indeed. Too bad. She had a promising future under McCain until she opened her mouth. Now, all anyone remembers is that she is a quitter.
Sarah does have the power to influence elections. She changed my mind about McCain within 3 weeks of choosing her as the VP canidate. She may have now just convinced me that hillary is the one for 2016.
Palin really doesn't have room to talk in this matter. She couldn't even handle being the governor of Alaska full term. As far as Benghazi goes, I love how the Conservatives love to drum this up while "forgetting" that under Bush our embassies were attacked numerous times (at least 11) resulting in over 50 deaths over the course of his presidency....under obama we've had 4 such attacks.
I think she will be angry and mad in the American electorate because Hillary Clinton going to be the first female president of United Estates. I do believe If Sarah Palin do not wants for that happen she needs to run for president, and we will see, which one the American people will choose.
And this idiot isn't suited to be a human being!!
Palin stated: "Women should stay in the kitchen and let the White Men run this nation".
Is it just me, or does it seem that the old tandem of McCain and Palin are trying to outdo the other for "Most ignorant politician"?
Poor little Sarah Who. More of a comedian nowdays than poliTICKian.
Did somebody squawk, let go of a brain f.art? Oh, well, happens every day, no need to pay attention to the lowest forms of life.
Could there be a louder endorsement for Hillary than Palin saying she is unfit? That seals the deal for me. Hillary is our next president. And I hope Hillary will banish that POS Palin to Wajiristan.
When are people going to stop caring (and the media stop publishing) anything that half-witted Alaskan wannabe says?!
And so is this one.