Sarah Palin: Hillary Clinton ill-suited for president
September 23rd, 2013
09:21 AM ET
10 years ago

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."


Filed under: 2016 • Hillary Clinton • Libya • Sarah Palin
soundoff (1,017 Responses)
  1. John W, Hawkins

    Sara Palin is a moron to say the least. She and the entire Republican Party need brain transplants.

    September 23, 2013 01:25 pm at 1:25 pm |
  2. Kevin A Hunter

    If anyone is unfit for President of the US, it's a quitter who did not bother to complete a term of Governor.

    September 23, 2013 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |
  3. Gumby

    Ok, let's see...Failin will be "disappointed" if Hillary becomes a POTUS candidate and Cubano Canucklehead Cruz was "embarrassed" by voting for McCain in 2008!

    Not a bad start to the week, I'd say!

    September 23, 2013 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |
  4. Anonymous

    Well, she certainly is an authority on who is ill-suited for the Presidency being number 1 on that list...

    September 23, 2013 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |
  5. Malory Archer

    cwiz

    For once she's right. We still don't have all of the answers for Benghazi, and she wants to be considered for Commander In Chief?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    We still don't have any answers on what happened on September 11, 2001 either, and THAT was 1,100 times WORSE than Benghazi.

    September 23, 2013 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |
  6. Ron

    Interesting that NOW, when its the Democrats turn to run things, the Republicans have decided the Benghazi affair is worth endless debate. This unfortunate incident took place in a nation still reeling from its own war. A very dangerous place for any diplomat to be in.

    BUT, it was far from the only attack on American consular offices. In fact, compare this 'incident' to U.S. Embassy and Consulate Attacks Under George W. Bush were as follows:
    January 22, 2002: US consulate at Kolkata, FIVE Killed
    June 14, 2002: US Consulate at Karachi, TWELVE Killed
    February 28, 2003: US Embassy at Islamabad, TWO Killed
    June 30, 2004: US Embassy at Tashkent, TWO Killed
    December 6, 2004: US Compound at Saudi Arabia, 9 Killed
    March 2, 2006: US Consulate in Karachi, Two Killed
    September 12, 2006: US Embassy at Syria, FOUR Killed
    March 18, 2008 US Embassy at Yemen, TWO Killed
    July 9, 2008: US Consulate at Istanbul, SIX Killed
    September 17, 2008 US Embassy at Yemen, SIXTEEN Killed

    TOTAL DEATHS: SIXTY PEOPLE KILLED DEAD!!!

    OUTRAGED REPUBLICANS: 0

    September 23, 2013 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |
  7. Julian

    why won't this wolf-shooting, governor of alaska quitting, katie couric embarassing, college quitting, community college graduating, VP losing, USA joking, dumbo just go away?

    Of course the cast of saturday night live wants her to stay

    September 23, 2013 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |
  8. Mam

    OMG!!!!!! Please!!!!! Someone shut her up!

    September 23, 2013 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |
  9. Drumler

    2014 – Hillary vs. Sarah.... oh God help us....

    September 23, 2013 01:27 pm at 1:27 pm |
  10. Greg

    And you wonder why Republicans can win an election?

    September 23, 2013 01:27 pm at 1:27 pm |
  11. dinaosullivan

    The problem is not just that Half term governor Palin is stupid, it is why CNN covers what she ways. Why bother with this mis informed and uneducated woman.Why keep her in the news. She has no idea what is gong on in the world.STOP COVERING HER.This is CNN's responsibility.

    September 23, 2013 01:27 pm at 1:27 pm |
  12. RH

    Bwahahahahaha. Palin is back out of her cave again? Why is this "woman" still getting attention.

    September 23, 2013 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |
  13. KD

    Let's put history in order here .... I'm still waiting for Bush and Chenney to explain why we went into Iraq ?? Now, let me see, how many innocent Americans (and Iraqi's) were killed there ? Sure, Ms Palin, we'll get to Benghazi, but plse set the record straight about Iraq ?? Four Americans dead, full congressional investigation. Countless dead in Iraq, crickets. Palin must have gone to the same school of reality as Hannity. "hey, stop blaming us ......

    September 23, 2013 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |
  14. Nino

    Palin unfit to speak....

    September 23, 2013 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |
  15. Landru

    Now they have something more in common than being female.

    September 23, 2013 01:29 pm at 1:29 pm |
  16. Tatiana

    That's strange - if Hilary is unfit, what this makes you Palin -the missing link in the evolution process?

    September 23, 2013 01:29 pm at 1:29 pm |
  17. Len Judt

    Did not the American public a few years ago say the same thing about the Sarah Palin?

    September 23, 2013 01:29 pm at 1:29 pm |
  18. DW

    Thats why we are so different than anybody else in the world. Every moron could express their opinion.

    September 23, 2013 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |
  19. matsci2

    Well, Palin would certainly know about being ill-suited for the presidency.

    September 23, 2013 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |
  20. khan in chandler

    She is qualified to make these remarks as she can see Russia from her backyard, and, as a matter of fact, Russians can her backyard from their backyards.

    September 23, 2013 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |
  21. tatanka

    Palin's just "envious."

    September 23, 2013 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |
  22. Anonymous

    Once again a USELESS comment from a person who QUIT on her state because she wanted to pursue a FOX News career. She would be the worst Commander in Chief!!

    September 23, 2013 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |
  23. 1twinsfan

    Palin does realize that Libya, as the hosting country, provided security, right? Oh, who am I kidding? Palin can't even point Libya on a map.

    September 23, 2013 01:32 pm at 1:32 pm |
  24. honestuck

    If the Republicans want to win back the WH they need to lock Sarah Palin up somewhere remote. Her presence helps Hillary Clinton and the Democrats. I am a Republican and she is detrimental to our party.

    September 23, 2013 01:32 pm at 1:32 pm |
  25. Hogan's Goat

    "We still don't have all of the answers for Benghazi" We had most of them by Day Two. Stop listening to FOX and go outside in the sunshine and fresh air. Take a few breaths. The real world is still here, fella. At the end of the day, Paul Ryan cut the funds for more embassy guards . . .

    September 23, 2013 01:32 pm at 1:32 pm |
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