posted on September 11, 2008 08:11:37 PM new
Palin, on TV, Says U.S.
Should Defend Its Allies
By LAURA MECKLER
September 12, 2008
WASHINGTON -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Thursday that Georgia and Ukraine should be admitted to NATO and that the U.S. should be prepared to go to war if Russia invades Georgia again.
"I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and help," she said in an interview with ABC News. It was her first interview since being chosen as Sen. John McCain's running mate, aside for an interview with People magazine about her family.
Gov. Palin also defended her national-security experience by citing her knowledge of energy issues. She said she hadn't traveled to foreign countries except Canada and Mexico until last year, when she went to Kuwait and Germany. She said she has never met a head of state and dismissed others who have.
"We've got to remember what the desire is in this nation at this time," she said. "It is for no more politics as usual, and somebody's big, fat résumé maybe that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment, where, yes, they've had opportunities to meet heads of state."
Gov. Palin has proven to be extremely popular, ginning up enthusiasm on the trail and helping to lift Sen. McCain's poll numbers. But critics have questioned whether Gov. Palin is experienced enough to step into the Oval Office should she need to. And until Thursday, she hadn't appeared publicly in anything but scripted settings.
Associated Press
In this image released by ABC, Charles Gibson talks to Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin in Fairbanks, Alaska.
On the Russian-Georgian conflict, her comments appeared to go further than Sen. McCain has in the past. When asked in August whether he would consider using military force to defend Georgia against Russia, he said, simply: "The answer to your...question is no." He has also emphasized that while he strongly supports Georgia, he isn't trying to reignite the Cold War. But his national security adviser, Randy Scheunemann, said Thursday that like Gov. Palin, Sen. McCain believes that U.S. military action would be needed if Georgia was a member of NATO and Russia invaded.
"If John McCain were asked, 'would we act to defend another NATO member that was invaded?' the answer would be yes. That is the core of NATO -- the Article 5 security guarantee that an attack on one is an attack on all."
Gov. Palin cited her state's proximity to Russia in explaining her understanding of the international issues. That prompted Mr. Gibson to ask her what insight that gave her into what Russia is doing in Georgia. Gov. Palin replied with warmer comments toward Russia.
"Well, I'm giving you that perspective of how small our world is and how important it is that we work with our allies to keep good relation with all of these countries, especially Russia," she said. "We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it's in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along."
The Bush administration has criticized the Russian invasion, but hasn't offered to help Georgia rebuild its military. Instead, it has announced a $1 billion plan to help rebuild civilian infrastructure.
In the interview, Gov. Palin appeared unfamiliar with the Bush doctrine, the term used to describe the administration's policy that the U.S. has the right to pre-emptively strike nations that pose national security threats, even if that threat isn't imminent. Asked by ABC News anchor Charlie Gibson if she agreed with it, Gov. Palin replied: "In what respect, Charlie?" He replied by asking for her interpretation. She said:
"I believe that what President Bush has attempted to do is rid this world of Islamic extremism, terrorists who are hell-bent on destroying our nation. There have been blunders along the way, though. There have been mistakes made. And with new leadership...comes opportunity to do things better."
--Elizabeth Williamson in Fort Wainwright, Ark., contributed to this article.
posted on September 11, 2008 09:10:20 PM new
I see she's flipflopped on her "God's plan" statement about the war. Now she "wouldn't presume" to know the mind of god, just like Abe Lincoln! The woman is a liar and a fraud.
posted on September 11, 2008 09:44:41 PM new
She sure did try to weasel out of that statement about God's plan. In the excerpts I saw, she seemed quite disingenuous---always remembering to say "Charlie" after every statement. More worrisome is she seemed flummoxed when Gibson asked her about the Bush doctrine. I don't think she knew what is was.
[ edited by coach81938 on Sep 11, 2008 09:47 PM ]
posted on September 11, 2008 09:58:47 PM new
Oh my gosh. "We've got to remember what the desire is in this nation at this time," she said. "It is for no more politics as usual, and somebody's big, fat résumé maybe that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment, where, yes, they've had opportunities to meet heads of state."
So this means she will NOT be voting for McCain???
posted on September 12, 2008 09:13:44 PM new
I hope all middle of the roaders who see this interview will ask themselves- with McCain's advanced age, do you really think Palin is fit to be president?
posted on September 12, 2008 11:28:20 PM new
It's obvious that S Palin is a quick study, can repeat what she's learned in this short time. But I can't wait for Joe Biden to debate her.
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posted on September 13, 2008 06:33:49 AM new
I must admit that she looked better the second set of interviews than the first. Still, however you spin it, you can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig.
No amount of preparation is going to convince me that a woman whose biggest claim to expertise in foreign diplomacy is that she can see Russia from parts of Alaska, is fit to be in line for the top office of this country. There is no way I want her answering the phone at 3 am.
Not that he's any great political pundit but I think Matt Damon had it right when he compared Palin running as VP to the plot of a BAD Disney movie - "Hockey Mom from Alaska becomes president" - Absurd. Totally absurd.
posted on September 13, 2008 04:03:10 PM new
Without arguing the point whether Obama is more qualified than Palin, Obama has gobs of experience in Biden who can fill his shoes if necessary. McCain has Palin. Enough said.
posted on September 13, 2008 05:38:24 PM new
OH please Bill. Truman was a haberdasher for maybe 5 years before he began his life in public office. He was a Senator for 10 years before being nominated as Vice President. http://www.trumanlibrary.org/hst-bio.htm
From 1905 to 1911, Truman served in the Missouri National Guard. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, he helped organize the 2nd Regiment of Missouri Field Artillery, which was quickly called into Federal service as the 129th Field Artillery and sent to France. Truman was promoted to Captain and given command of the regiment's Battery D. He and his unit saw action in the Vosges, Saint Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns. Truman joined the reserves after the war, rising eventually to the rank of colonel. He sought to return to active duty at the outbreak of World War II, but Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall declined his offer to serve.
On June 28, 1919, Truman married Bess Wallace, whom he had known since childhood. Their only child, Mary Margaret, was born on February 17, 1924. From 1919 to 1922 he ran a men's clothing store in Kansas City with his wartime friend, Eddie Jacobson. The store failed in the postwar recession. Truman narrowly avoided bankruptcy, and through determination and over many years he paid off his share of the store's debts.
Truman was elected in 1922, to be one of three judges of the Jackson County Court. Judge Truman whose duties were in fact administrative rather than judicial, built a reputation for honesty and efficiency in the management of county affairs. He was defeated for reelection in 1924, but won election as presiding judge in the Jackson County Court in 1926. He won reelection in 1930.
In 1934, Truman was elected to the United States Senate. He had significant roles in the passage into law of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 and the Transportation Act of 1940. After being reelected in 1940, Truman gained national prominence as chairman of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program. This committee, which came to be called the Truman Committee, sought with considerable success to ensure that defense contractors delivered to the nation quality goods at fair prices.
In July 1944, Truman was nominated to run for Vice President with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On January 20, 1945, he took the vice-presidential oath, and after President Roosevelt's unexpected death only eighty-two days later on April 12, 1945, he was sworn in as the nations' thirty-third President.
You can't compare Palin to Truman.
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posted on September 13, 2008 05:51:10 PM new
Bill: Harry was a man of deep integrity with lots of experience in public life, plus grit in the face of controversy. Having lived through those years, I'm not aware of his being caught in a lie. It's almost insulting to compare Sarah favorably to Harry Truman.
Edited to add: AND . . . Harry stayed married to Bess for about a half century. No arm candy for him (like McCain's two choices of wives.)
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[ edited by roadsmith on Sep 13, 2008 05:56 PM ]
posted on September 13, 2008 06:37:50 PM new
Not from me - it is not that she is a woman, it is that she stands for just about everything I am against. Simple.
Romney would have been a much better choice for the Rep ticket, but the Fundamentalists would not have a Mormon. Doesn't that bother you Bill?
Don't fool yourself. Sarah Palin is on the ticket for two reasons: 1) to satisfy the conservative right (translate Moral Majority or whatever they are called these days) 2) to bring in voters who want to vote for a woman.
I will never vote for a woman just BECAUSE she is a woman.
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posted on September 13, 2008 06:38:33 PM new
I thought you were comparing Truman to Palin, not Obama. My mistake.
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posted on September 14, 2008 05:29:59 PM new
That was really funny. The line about being able to see Russia from her house will probably stay with Palin through the campaign.
