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Biden Rejects Palin Complaint She Was Victim of 'Political Blood Sport'
July 04, 2009 11:40 AM
Vice President Joe Biden today rejected Gov. Sarah Palin's complaint that she has been the victim of political blood sport.
"No, I respect her decision, I don't," Biden told me when I asked him if he agreed with the Alaska governor's complaint that she had been the victim of "superficial, wasteful political blood sport."
Palin announced during a surprise news conference Friday that she is stepping down at the end of the month from her job as Alaska governor and won't run again in 2010.
During my exclusive behind-the-scenes interview with Biden in Iraq airing Sunday on "This Week," the vice president -- -- the last person to run against Sarah Palin in the 2008 election -- told me he takes Palin at her word that her decision to step down was personal.
"Those who've been deeply involved in politics know at the end of the day that it is really and truly a personal deal," Biden said, "and personal family decisions have a real impact on people's decisions."
Biden told me he often speculates about people who have rejected seeking higher office that their decision may have had more with "what the state of their life was and the state of their family."
"I don't know what prompted her decision to not only not run again and also to step down as a consequence of the decision not to run in 2010," Biden said, "and I take her at her word that it had a personal ingredient in it and you have to respect that."
Biden added, "I'm not going to second guess her."
--George Stephanopoulos
July 4, 2009 in Joe Biden , Sarah Palin, This Week with George Stephanopoulos | Permalink | Share | User Comments (429)
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Sarah Palin should be given full credit for awakening the consciousness of many true patriots across the nation who just want their country back. She gave us hope during the election for a brief shining moment with her honesty, intelligence, authenticity, and heart. She gives us something to aspire to and puts the corrupt, lying, sleazy, politicians that are now destroying our nation with glee to shame.
Whether she stays in politics or enters private life, she will do just fine and always remain an excellent example of what a true American patriot is.
Naysayers will have their fun tearing her apart. Let them. It seems to make them happy as clams. But they can’t take away the fact that she raised our consciousness to what it really means to be a patriotic, hard working, honest, and proud American. That will stick in their craw for a long time to come. Sarah will be fine, just fine.
Posted by: Phillip | Jul 4, 2009 12:07:16 PM
I AM SO PSYCHED!!! We are finally going to have our voice against the socialism that is taking over this country. Sarah was compelled to serve in this regard. That is her only motivation.
Posted by: Estelle | Jul 4, 2009 12:10:51 PM
My God, I am so depressed... this woman was the single best thing to happen to the democratic party! On behalf of liberals everywhere, I thank you Sarah for your work...
Posted by: Lunder | Jul 4, 2009 12:11:53 PM
Sarah Palin= attention seekr, She will never become president. That is for sure, V.P never.....She is a liability to the party because of her many lawless dealing that are still hidden. ha ha ha ha ha ha I feel good, don't yah
Posted by: sean | Jul 4, 2009 12:12:04 PM
"She gave us hope during the election for a brief shining moment with her honesty, intelligence, authenticity, and heart." Sara Palin didn't give me hope - she scared the heck out of me. You are right in that she raised the level of patriotism I feel for my country - I felt an overwhelming need to protect the land that I love from her utter LACK of intelligence experience, & common sense. I'm a Christian woman with an Ivy League degree who has a flag out to celebrate our country and would never in a billion years vote for Palin. She is a fundamentalist extremist with no academic credentials or experience and we can now add quitter to the list. Good riddance!
Posted by: allie08 | Jul 4, 2009 12:15:35 PM
Sarah was in WAY over her head, and it showed. It's one thing to be governor of Alaska where not much happens anyway, and another to be involved in national politics. She's not a politician at all. Hope she realizes that.
Posted by: leftyintexas | Jul 4, 2009 12:16:01 PM
:lol The Libs must be terrified of Palin, they know she
is a Reaganite who is the real deal. They have to console themselves that she won’t run… Now that Obama is a total disaster. They have their Obama/Carter, we have our alin/Reagan…. I expect Palin to fight Acorn and
help to get Conservatives take control in the senate and house next year.
Posted by: MBerges | Jul 4, 2009 12:16:58 PM
While I don't agree with all of the Gov.'s ideas- I was very glad to see a smart, tough woman in politics. I hope that she is not hurting her future by stepping down from her current role as Gov. I would have liked to see her finish her current term as Gov., become a more seasoned politician, and then launch herself more on the national scene. I hope she can redeem herself and answer strongly back to her naysayers.
Posted by: Angela | Jul 4, 2009 12:18:21 PM
In a few days when Palin is criminally indicted on federal corruption charges for receiving a free house in return for a multimillion dollar building contract, will the right wing zealots continue to believe she has "personal integrity" and is only "protecting her family"? Palin has proven that, in addition to being woefully uneducated and ignorant, she is both immature and irresponsible. You don't have to be a Democrat or Independent to see that, as those characteristics transcend political labels.
Posted by: Potter | Jul 4, 2009 12:21:06 PM
:lol The woman has a clear message as Reagan did. And she looks even better too. This country is starting to look like the last year of the Carter administration. Palin is the only one speaking with pure Reaganesque tones…
And with star power to back it up.
Posted by: mirnamorales | Jul 4, 2009 12:21:08 PM
Unless she's a total moron, there's no way she's running for president. Then again, maybe she is a total moron.”
Posted by: Robin from Colorado | Jul 4, 2009 12:23:07 PM
I've noticed one major item....Liberals
are so very afraid of Sarah Palin.
Every time a liberal posts something
about her it's so very obvious
their fear of her blinds them to any
and every positive aspect of this
very wonderful person. I normally
take offense to their negative
rantings but when it comes to Sarah
Palin the liberals are so closed
minded they lose all credibility
at their keyboards. They, in fact,
provide a very wonderful source
of entertainment. C'mon libs and
dims let's hear some more comedic
drivel. Your idols and messiahs
have nothing negative to speak of
right? There's only one side to
your stories and that's what
removes all shreds of doubt that
you type with blinders on.
Posted by: Jimmy | Jul 4, 2009 12:23:12 PM
Sean's comment is really off the mark. Sarah doesn't need to run for public office, she only needs to show up to introduce the GOP's next presidential candidate. She's a political rock star and those who trivialize her, instead of dealing with the issues this nation faces, will inevitably realize the futility of their distain.
Posted by: RHarrisonScott | Jul 4, 2009 12:25:58 PM
Often what seems like a great opportunity to others is in fact -- an opportunity on a superficial level if it undermines your own expectations of how you like to feel about yourself. Being all things to all people 24/7 is impossible unless you can bear unbearable loneliness or have absolutely no feeling.
Posted by: wisdom | Jul 4, 2009 12:26:13 PM
Sarah Palin should be given full credit for awakening the consciousness of many true patriots across the nation who just want their country back.
Who elected you to decide who real Americans are!
Posted by: Rob | Jul 4, 2009 12:26:16 PM
McCain was stuck with the nomination and knew he was over his head against Obama. So he picked a "weak link" to throw his own election. It worked and is still working. The Platitude Palin link is gone!
Posted by: Fred Conwell | Jul 4, 2009 12:32:23 PM
Jimmy- the idea that liberals are afraid of Palin is just comical. What exactly do you believe liberals are afraid of? Palin already lost. McCain could have had a chance of winning the election had he not put Palin on the ticket. What moderate republicans, independents, and liberals find so hard to understand is why in the world have the zealots in the Republican party decided to make Palin their spokesperson? If they want to win an election ever again, they should wake up. The majority of the population wants a second party which offers intelligent debate and creative and innovative solutions to the problems facing our country. At this time, the Republican party is not offering that.
Posted by: Dagny | Jul 4, 2009 12:34:49 PM
Please do NOT compare Sarah Palin to a great American like Ronald Reagan. She is not in the same league as him.
Jimmy, I find it very hypocritical that you say liberals are closed minded and call people their "Idols and messiahs", which I assume you are refering to Obama, when you seem to be idolizing Sarah Palin in your post, and have you given Obama a chance? Obviously not, because 7 months is hardly long enough to give someone a chance. So who is closed minded and who is being such a hypocrit? I see the Palin supporters all over saying that people are blind to her, I could say the same thing about them being blind to Obama.
Posted by: D90 | Jul 4, 2009 12:36:54 PM
Sarah is a victim of being Naive about national politics. I'm a former Alaskan and can personally attest to the fact that this girl had NO IDEA what she was getting herself into when she decided to go on the national stage. I DISAGREE with her politics and don't think she is qualified to hold a higher office, but I do feel for her personally. But I'm sure her ego will get her through.
Posted by: Jazzyjaxxi | Jul 4, 2009 12:37:03 PM
Allie08, I agree. I feel as you do. If she "awoke" anything in people, it's the idea to get out there and vote and prevent a disaster like Sarah Palin, EVER reaching the Oval office. One psycho in N. Korea is enough. The last thing this nation needs is a bible-thumping fundamentalist at the helm, who will take us to global war because "God told her to." By the way, I've been a Christian my whole life (before you fundamentalists decide to attack me as well as others); however, not all of us Christians have perverted our Christian faith as you have. You Christian fundamentalists are the worst kind; you're America's form of the fundamentalists we see in Iran right now. Your kind needs to go right back to the Dark Ages, from where you descended, and take your queen back with you.
Posted by: maicde | Jul 4, 2009 12:38:28 PM
Walking out on the job mid term dosn't say much for her as a person.
Unless she or her family have health problems. If thats the reason then I wish them best of luck
Posted by: Mungomunro | Jul 4, 2009 12:41:47 PM
Dagny is absolutely right. We need a competitive free market of ideas to come up with solutions. Most Americans want to hear honest, common sense debate. Sara is a quitter who barely graduated from college after quitting 6 times. Her record is a disgrace and most intelligent conservatives realize this. Obama is highly disciplined, articulate, educated and open minded. If Republicans want to get back in the ring they need to find comparable opponents and stop whining.
Posted by: Robin from Colorado | Jul 4, 2009 12:43:32 PM
I just won $50 in an office pool!
Posted by: MrSmith555 | Jul 4, 2009 12:49:49 PM
I sincerely hope that she runs for president. She has been torn apart by the press and libs for no good reason. Sure, she stumbled but then look at the moron in the White House - he can't talk without a teleprompter or pre-submitted questions that he can practice ahead of time at one of his "open" town hall meetings. Sarah is Ronald Reagan in high heels - she believes in all that is right about this country, at least what's left of it. You go Sarah!
Posted by: ravenhair49 | Jul 4, 2009 12:52:08 PM
Palin was subjected to vicious and over-the-top personal attacks. For those of you who think her treatment was fair game, I don't want to see you complaining when those you support are attacked similarly. You have sown the wind.
Posted by: Lily | Jul 4, 2009 12:52:21 PM
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