Often criticized for being inaccessible, Sarah Palin opened up this week in her first radio interview since becoming the Republican vice presidential nominee to reveal her thoughts on her critics, her faith, and the economic struggles currently faced by Americans.
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(Photo: AP/Matt Rourke)Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, is seen with Ed Snider, chairman of Comcast-Spectacor, at a watch party prior to the first debate between presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, at the Irish Pub, a bar in Philadelphia, Friday, Sept. 26, 2008.
The Alaska governor, somewhat surprisingly, had few harsh words for her critics and reporters accused of using “gotcha” journalism to discredit her qualification for the second highest public office during her interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday.
Instead of venting frustration, Palin said she welcomes those “pop quizzes” because they are “good testing grounds” that motivates her to work harder.
“It makes somebody be even clearer and more articulate in their positions,” Palin, who noted that she also has a journalism degree, said on “The Hugh Hewitt Show.” “So really I don’t fight it. I invite it.”
Palin shared that she thinks the hostility is stemming from discomfort with the fact that an outsider is contending for the position of vice president of the United States.
“I think that that’s kind of taken some people off guard, and they’re out of sorts, and they’re ticked off about it,” Palin said, “but it’s motivation for John McCain and I to work that much harder to make sure that our ticket is victorious, and we put government back on the side of the people of Joe six-pack like me … ”
When the topic turned to the economic downturn, Palin readily said that she knows what Americans are going through. She said her husband and her are also currently going through tough economic times, “which may put me again kind of on the outs of those Washington elite who don’t like the idea of just an everyday working class American running for such an office,” she contends.
In particular, she revealed that her husband’s 401(k) plan was “hit” by the stock market crisis and they probably lost $20,000 last week.
“I’m thinking, ‘Geez, the rest of America, they’re facing the exact same thing that we are,’” Palin said.
“We understand what the problems are,” she added.
The Republican vice presidential nominee shared that she and her husband worry, like the average American, about how they will pay for their three teenagers’ college education and how they have in the past struggled with securing health coverage – sometimes paying out of pocket or forgoing it hoping no one would get sick.
In the past month, Palin with her folksy, no-nonsense attitude has taken the nation by storm since McCain declared the then little-known Alaska governor would be his running mate.
While social conservatives and the old guards of the Christian right have coalesced behind Palin and the Republican ticket, opponents have decried that she lacks experience for the office being only two years into her governorship.
They also find fault with her strong pro-life stance and question her religious affiliation.
For Palin, she shared that the attacks on her pro-life position has probably been the “most hurtful and nonsensical slap” so far in the campaign.
Her decision to give birth to her son Trig, who has Down syndrome, came from the belief that he had something precious to give to the world, Palin explained. Baby Trig has become somewhat the poster child for the extent of his mother’s pro-life belief. Continue >>
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Did Obama support the murder of Christians in Kenya? Aparently he raised $1 million dollars to his uncle who did.
Igh,
"It's a whole lot more than just knowing things.
Who can we Trust? "
'Knowing things' aka being intelligent and able to speak eloquently and in coherent sentences in response to direct questions should be expected. What we don't expect is lame excuses, and cutesy remarks or assertions that the media is just to hard. You wanted the gig, you knew media interviews would be part of the gig, and that you'd have to have upfront knowledge to represent in such interviews.
If they can't manage this, and can only refer to their simpleton values like being a 'joe sixpack' a 'maverick' (like 12 times!) and shooting wolves from the air, then there isn't much substance or experience behind their rhetoric or hot air. This is why consveratives see her as a liability as in our nations tough times we need a leader, not a 'joe sick pack'. 'joe six pack' equates to an average person, and folks being the VP shouldn't be the job of any average person, it's a special and very critically important job.
With such an underwhelming ability to convey her knowledge and experience, why on Earth would you trust her?
seed, at least your posts are entertaining.
Ooooo!
Scit, by you taking up the defense of those who hate America, I think that we all know what your political point of view is. Thank you for the confirmation.
seed "Will Sarah Palin be a politician or a Noble hearted, trust-worthy, servant of the people?"
Hmmmm, trust-worthy, noble hearted. Whats goin with that Troopergate thing? Their trying to keep it hush, hush. Sounds like continuation of bush administration. Alaskans will deal with her when she returns home after the Nov loss.
Will Sarah Palin be a politician or a Noble hearted, trust-worthy, servant of the people?
Palin?
Yes.
Obama?
No!
McCain?
Maybe!
Biden?
Not!
I just want to say there is a learning curve in politics.
Will Sarah Palin be a politician or a Noble hearted, trust-worthy, servant of the people?
Will obama and biden be a politician or a Noble hearted, trust-worthy, servant of the people?
It's a whole lot more than just knowing things.
Who can we Trust?
Obamas ties to Kalidi..and Ayers...
Fox News
http://sheikyermami.com/2008/10/07/barack-hussein-obamas-association-with-former-plo-operative-khalidi/#more-11395
One question,
Right now one poll has Obama in the lead at 52%, another has him at 48%. Given these polls are some what accurate if the people who hate America were banned from voting, who do you think would win the election then?
DP,
"Let's send him to talk to Iran then we can have a full world war.... "
Getting itchy for the 'end of days' are we DP?
"But no, that's not good enough, you wanted Palin burned at the stake."
Whoaaaah!? Dude, she's burned her self at the stake with her brain numbing remarks in her 1 on 1 interviews. SNL has made a field day out of her and her incoherent non-sequitors. $700 billion bail out, Alaska and Russian foreign policy experience, knowledge of newspapers she reads, etc. Seriously, Palin is a liability for the Rep.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDZiMDhjYTU1NmI5Y2MwZjg2MWNiMWMyYTUxZDkwNTE=#more
"seed first off, please tell me what are "bleeding heart liberals" you accuse me of being?"
Your 6:14 pm post is a good example of that.
As per your 6:21 pm post, you may be afraid of what Palin doesn't know, but what scares me is what Obama knows and what he doesn't. I would vote for Palin over Obama if they were running against each other. I would even vote for Hillary over Obama. He is a dangerous man. Even my Democrat relatives will be the first to admit that politicians from Chicago are born in corruption. We've had a long season with Blo-gut as governor. You accuse McCain being a do nothing, funny that's exactly what Obama did here in Illinois - nothing! Absolutely nothing! Even with the recent economic crisis he abandoned ship - "they can handle it." Give me a break scit, what do you really hope to accomplish? Do you think you will convince people to vote for the most liberal candidate in US history?
seed "....his presidency will be a disaster! "
Cant be any worse than what we have now. BUSH IS A FAILED PRESIDENT. Obama will have a heck of time cleaning up his mess, McCain is too old worn out, you can see this in his actions and speech, all the more reason palin has no business as VP, she is very frightening to those that can think.
seed first off, please tell me what are "bleeding heart liberals" you accuse me of being. Thursday night was not really a debate, if it had been, palin would have performed as poorly as she did on her previous one on one's. The moderator actually let palin off the hook. palin is not capable of talking in details as she has demonstrated, they are vague, and many times confused, generalities. Im sorry these comments of your prized candidate make you angry, but the truth can be hard to see and even harder to take..........
"Palin is a joke,she got off easy on the "debates"." -scit
Give me a break! You bleeding heart liberals want every thing handed to you on a golden platter with conservatives feeding you with a silver spoon. It isn't enough that Gwen Ifill was chosen as moderator of the debate between Palin and Biden. Ifill is writing a book called "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama." But no, that's not good enough, you wanted Palin burned at the stake.
Ifill put Palin on the spot on homosexual rights after she had already stated her position on the issue. This was completely unecessary and untactful on Ifill's part.
As if that wasn't enough, Ifill completely skipped the abortion issue. I wonder if that is because Obama has stated publically that the first thing that he would do in office is take away the states rights to ban local abortions. Do you call that democracy?
NObama is dangerous - his presidency will be a disaster!
"Our system is set up to attempt to screen out unqualified candidates such as palin."
It obviously isn't working considering the democrat ticket....
"The woman hasn't a clue."
At least she was sober.... I think the guy who showed up to debate her was Jack Daniels....
pastortim, "Our system is set up so average everyday folks like Sarah Palin can aspire to reach the highest office in the land"
AND
Our system is set up to attempt to screen out unqualified candidates such as palin. The US and the world are in serious trouble now, we do not need another no-nothing president, we have that now and see where it has gotten us..........
It amazes...and saddens me greatly to read these postings.Here we have the first person in a long, long, long time who clearly and distinctly identifies with the vast majority of Americans as simple, blue-collar, everyday people...and we are giving ammunition to the elitists in government and media whose sole purpose is to crucify her and destroy her reputation and her personhood. Instead of celebrating having the first woman running for vice president, we as a nation are trying to destroy her...and her family. I've been voting for presidents/vice presidents for 40 years and I HAVE NEVER seen such antagonism toward a VP candidate..and she is eminently more qualified than most of the VP candidates we've ever had. Folks, open your eyes and try to see what's going on here...we are in a critical battle for the heart and soul of America....a country where a blue-collar "hocky Mom" can indeed run for the second highest office in the land....and not have both her and her family destroyed in the process!!
It's sad to say.....but we deserve what we get. Our system is set up so average everyday folks like Sarah Palin can aspire to reach the highest office in the land....but the government and media elitists have taken it upon themselves to be the "deciders" who is qualified and who isn't. That's wrong and totally against our American ideals. All I can say is God help us!!!!
Palin is a joke,she got off easy on the "debates". If it were a true debate forum, she would have gone down in flames as she has on her one on one interviews. The woman hasn't a clue. If palin is the best the US can offer in leadership, then America really is in trouble.
"Sarah gave an OK performance last night, indicating she can memorize and is teachable. In another 5-10 years, she could have been a fine candidate."
My question is if the dem dude was sobber. He looked half stoned and kept figiting. Everyone knows his mouth is way more than a loose cannon. Let's send him to talk to Iran then we can have a full world war....
How much time has the media spent informing Americans on these issues Philo?
But you wouldnt have known that they even existed? ignorance is bliss philo...philoignoramus
Philo,
has the media covered creeping sharia law in England?
has the media covered sharia finance?
the OIC control of the human rights branch in the U.N.
Philo, do you think that the media ought to cover these stories on a scale where Americans are informed...instead of leaving it to the blogs who have truly limited resources?
How about 1st amendment rights threatened by billionaire sheiks? Using english laws to bring Ehrenfeld to court...and putting first amendment rights at risk..http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/4508
Why on earth leave the blogs to spread this information...information that is vital to our society?
how much
Perhaps these are questions that the media ought to address:
where have they covered the Orissa (India)riots.
and the riots in francehttp://groups.google.com/group/alt.conspiracy/msg/4a5ef21f511d8513
Philo
you have gotten over i havent. Why doesnt the media cover it?! I agree there...
I mean, the fact that to defend oneself against such accusations, one has to go to a high powered lawyer that has attempted to defend CAIR. A high powered lawyer who has used methods that attempt to deny others free speech(as noted).
The media hasnt covered it? philo, did you know that there were riots in France just a few days ago? did the media cover that?
Philo, I have a problem with a candidate that can run for the American presidency and have the qualifications to run for the kenyan presidency or prime ministeriship.
I cannot be sure that such a candidate is running for the American people as well. You may be sure. I am not willing to take that chance.
How does this nonsense get started? Here is a link to Baracks birth cert.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/06/obama-birth.html
If there was some kind of fraud, don't you think some news organization would have picked up on it by now? The man is in the Senate, has a security clearance, and, I'm sure, a detailed FBI file. You just can't fake stuff like this for long. He is an American, get over it!
Sarah gave an OK performance last night, indicating she can memorize and is teachable. In another 5-10 years, she could have been a fine candidate. Too bad McCain messed up her career.
Is this true about Obama?http://sheikyermami.com/2008/10/03/planet-obama/#more-11100...
Does Obama need to go this far over a birth certificate? seek help from a lawyer that has worked and is working for Cair?
I think Obama is going to win, but I think it has more to do with the perception that a vote for McCain means four more years of a Bush-like presidency.We all know that Bush's popularity is in the tank right now.
Gov. Palin did as I expected. A fine showing - if she had been on the high school debate team. She's a nice person but not ready to be VP.
steveh20,
She should have given a better response, but
it still is certainly better than believing in the gospel of death...atheism.
“I don’t belong to any church,†she stated. “I do have a strong belief in God, and I believe that I’m a heck of a lot better off putting my life in God’s hands, and saying hey, you know, guide me.â€Â
Oh, that sort of Christanity Steiner....
Homoousia316,
Had Palin been a democrat, Christianpost would have covered her story just as well...
Yet, I am certain that you would have still complained...
I think your problem is that Palin is unashamedly Christian...
well, that is about Christian society...not yours
And this article has WHAT to do with Christianity? Or have we all just agreed that Christian media is a publicity arm of the GOP?
As I watched the Palin Byden debate, I noticed that Byden took the debate to McCain.
Palin just kept defending McCain.
It is good to go on the defensive,sometimes, but it would have been better if Palin put Obama in the limelight...Obama and his inexperience...
Palin must be prepared to talk about Obama...and at the very least compare her experience to his inexperience.
I hope she does not simply fall in the trap of defending...
You can defend all you want, but if you are not going to take to the offensive, than defeat is simply a matter of time...
Social conservatives find fault with her strong pro-life stance and question her religious affiliation? Uh, folks, it's her faith that allows her to see the correct position to take on life. Obama on the other hand, is helping Margaret Sanger eliminate more people of color through Planned Parenthood.
Christians, you MUST vote pro-life! It is the right through which all others are granted.
Check this out folks, Parker a well reputable conservative collumist has spoken out against Palin, and it's not looking good.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDZiMDhjYTU1NmI5Y2MwZjg2MWNiMWMyYTUxZDkwNTE=
philo is right. This was a cheap trick by McCain, as if most women who were for Hillary Clinton could possibly vote for Sarah Palin. I've never been a governor, though I do have some executive experience. Still, I'm glad I was never brevited to US VP candidate and asked before a national TV audience about "the Bush Doctrine" or other even more obscure (to the average Alaskan) issues. Palin will be the new Quale, I'm sure. And it really is not her fault. The press (and people in general: I've been guilty myself) have been so contemptuous of Gov. Palin. The reaction has shown the mean streak so many of us have not far below the surface.
When everything is said and done in this campaign, she will return to her state to a political dead-end! Thanks to John McCain, and his anything-to-win strategy, Sarah will never be more then a punch-line, following in the proud footsteps of Dan Quail.
And it's too bad, 'cause it's not her fault! I think she's basically a good person, and I don't think anyone could resist the temptation to run for the vice-presidency.
Its to balance the one they did on Joe Biden
;-p
Steve
And this article has... WHAT to do with Christianity?