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Palin: ‘I Begged Our Speechwriters, "Don't Make Me Say Joe the Plumber"'

October 17, 2008 9:35 AM

At a fundraiser in North Carolina last night, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said she sometimes gets "depressed" watching the media coverage of this race, and also suggested she didn't particularly want to discuss Joe the Plumber, unlike the man at the top of the ticket.

Palin talked about "those times on the campaign trail when sometimes it’s easy to get a little bit discouraged, when, you know, when you happen to turn on the news when your campaign staffers will let you turn on the news. Usually they’re like, 'Oh, my gosh, don’t watch, you’re going to, you know, you’re going to get depressed.' But yeah, sometimes you do get depressed watching what it is that they’re reporting, and the spin and some of the distortion of what our message is and what we stand for -- sometimes that, that gets draining."

She gets "energized and inspired" when she meets supporters, however, Palin said. "We feel your strength and we feel the power of prayer; so many of you tell us that you are praying for us and praying for our country, and that’s why we so appreciate you being here."

The Alaska governor said the election in 18 days "is the choice between a candidate who will raise your taxes and that threatens our future, and a leader who’s going to Washington to work for Joe the Plumber, as you heard a lot about last night. And I, I begged our speechwriters, 'Don’t make me say Joe the Plumber, please, in any speeches.'

"And I was asked, 'Just one time, just at this fundraiser.'"

We took a look at Joe the Plumber last night on "Nightline." Watch HERE.

- jpt

October 17, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (339)

User Comments

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I just watched your Nightline "look" at Joe the Plumber. Thank God ABC is on the ball and exposing this citizen for the FRAUD that he is. Playing football in his front yard when Obama just "happened" to walk through? Right. And, using his middle name? What is he trying to hide, anyway?

Anyway, as I said, I am encouraged by your newfound enthusiasm for exposing the truth about people involved in this election.

I look forward to equally hard-hitting pieces providing an in-depth look at Ayers, Rezko, Khalidi, ACORN, Wright, Pfleger and Obama's relationship to each.

Oh, and I posted this yesterday, but it was scrubbed. More hard-hitting, unbiased news coverage, eh? Doing a great job, ABC News.

Posted by: jana | Oct 19, 2008 6:47:02 PM

Perhaps Joe the Plumber is just a symbol for Palin - lacks the credentials for the job?

Posted by: lu | Oct 18, 2008 12:36:45 PM

Angie,

"Based upon the ideologies behind this political philosophy, is it fair or right or good, in "spreading the wealth to those behind you," for PERSON A to work, maybe even 2 or 3 jobs at a time, just to make ends meet while PERSON B refuses to work, knowing they will be supported by social programs (aka WELFARE), paid for through taxes levied against PERSON A? What if PERSON A were disabled yet chose to remain in the workforce and PERSON B were perfectly able-bodied but just not "motivated" enough to pry themselves from the cable TV that PERSON A cannot afford? If someone's deliberately refusing to contribute SOMETHING to benefit society, why should society spread anything to them, including the means of continuing to drain resources handed up on a silver platter?"

Moot. There are no jobs for able-bodied Americans. Nearly all good-paying jobs have been eliminated in favor of insourcing and outsourcing.

We have to turn this around to ensure opportunity for Americans, not just for foreigners.

Obama/Biden 08!

Posted by: Common Sense | Oct 18, 2008 7:47:23 AM

"Joe the plumber", like Palin, was never vetted.

Obama/Biden 08!

Posted by: Common Sense | Oct 18, 2008 7:25:02 AM

Jake Tapper is "da man"! Thank you for setting the bs straight.

Obama/Biden 08!

Posted by: Common Sense | Oct 18, 2008 7:23:31 AM

Matt:


"Uh, uh, that uh, that Sarah Palin, uh, she can't uh, "

Fantastic, Matt.

Your description of BoZo without his teleprompter is...... AMAZING!

Posted by: schmalka bernstein | Oct 18, 2008 1:00:01 AM

I am sorry here, but what is SO wrong with sarah palin?

mccain straight talk express was headed for a ditch until she can along.
do you know why they mostly campaign together now?
because she draws the crowds.

does this say they don't want mccain for president?
i don't know.

but i ask all of you palin knockers
what is so wrong with sarah palin?
she was asked to do a job, and she is trying to do it.
i agree, i am pretty certain if something were to happen to a pres. mccain, i would be worried if she became potus. quickly in a crisis.
but barring that happening, maybe she will learn to be vp.
bay buchannan said sarah palin is a quick study.

Posted by: wow | Oct 18, 2008 12:06:06 AM

Palin is an idiot, which is why she's so popular. Joe McCarthy would have loved her.

Posted by: Franco | Oct 17, 2008 11:27:42 PM

Palin is like a bad car accident. You have to look but the sight makes you cringe.

Posted by: Kellie | Oct 17, 2008 11:23:31 PM

No one of even the slightest intelligence could vote for a presidential campaign with Palin on the ticket. Even if you agree with her absurd big brother politics and religious views you cant credit her ability without outright deception of yourself and others. On another note, what would jesus do? Not shoot wolves from helicopters, make women pay for their own rape kits. I also find it hilarious that republicans cry socialism socialism when democrats want to give little kids healthcare but dont see the connection when it comes to THE STATE< THE GOVERNMENT controlling peoples bodys and minds, telling them what thay can and cant do to their own body's (abortion). I am American, I believe in Freedom.

Posted by: James Baxter | Oct 17, 2008 10:59:25 PM

As an independant here, I was strongly leaning towards McCain as I am a veteran of the 1st Iraqi war. But with the Palin, pick there is no way that I can support him as although I find her interesting, I am not sure she is ready to become VP. My vote is going to Obama.

Posted by: Anderson | Oct 17, 2008 10:32:58 PM

Palin and the Plummer really scare me. They truely believe the US is a good country and believe in traditional American values. They believe that the average person has an important place to play in politics; not just the elite and lieyers. They want to flush the Congress, with the lowest ratings in history, down the crapper. We must stop them at all costs and elect only socialists instead!

Posted by: freemort | Oct 17, 2008 10:04:17 PM

Reagan was told three times not to say "Mr. G. Tear down this wall". Each time he added it back into the speech. I guess as President he has handlers he can overrule. Obviously Sarah does not have the option of overruling handlers. It is depressing that she has to beg them for permission to say things.

Posted by: John Austin Tx personal trainer | Oct 17, 2008 9:50:36 PM

Uh, uh, that uh, that Sarah Palin, uh, she can't uh, she can't say anything that's not scripted, uh. We uh, need to change that, and uh, hope uh, that things will uh, change and uh, American will see her for what she is because change is hope and uh, uh, hope is change. Anyway uh, that Sarah Palin and uh, her uh, smooth talking scripted speeches, uh, we need to spread the wealth, uh...

Posted by: Matt | Oct 17, 2008 9:39:58 PM

Gee, you think Biden would ever be quoted as saying 'Please don't make me say "tax cuts for 95% of American" again'?? Cuz that is one lie which has got to be tiring even for the obamanobs. I know I've heard it 1000 times at least (and never followed by any details or questioned by an interviewer). I mean how can you cut taxes for 'everybody but the rich' when you are planning on letting everybodies tax rate go up a year from now???? Are they just planning on lying behing the log and planning on nobody in the MSM bringing it up? (duh, I guess I didn't need to ask that).

Posted by: bpjam | Oct 17, 2008 9:38:44 PM

Even Sarah is turning against her own ticket's Robopalin campaign. It's her best moment so far.

Posted by: sqrl | Oct 17, 2008 8:54:59 PM

The speechwriters ‘forced’ Sarah Palin to say "Joe the Plumber" by... torture? They locked her inside her tanning bed until she cried, "Uncle John" or what???

Great orator, successful politician, beloved by the unwashed masses...

According to the U.S. census bureau, in 2007 Alaska had a population of 670,000. Only 180,900 of these people were of voting age. Despite the extreme poverty of many Native Alaskans, the state’s median household income was ten-thousand dollars greater than the median income for the U.S. as a whole. Alaska also had one of the highest rates of fetal alcohol syndrome in the world.

Meaning that Governor Sarah Palin is a photogenic, clever, disingenuous, stone-age conservative who achieved the little she’s achieved because she grew up in a rich state with few residents, many of whom drink too much.

Sarah Palin is the best con artist to tap across the political stage since Richard Nixon and Joe McCarthy. She would rather see a pregnant 13 year old give birth to an AIDS baby fathered by a rapist than to allow the girl to have an abortion. She shamelessly holds up her Down’s syndrome baby as if the child were a symbol of her own virtue. She likes to kill and gut moose, elk, deer and other defenseless hoofed animals. She rails at ‘liberal’ principals because she obviously forgot to read the part of the Bible where Jesus says, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” Frankly, I think the poor woman suffers from a grave mental disorder.

I’m telling you: the next thing we’re going to see is Todd Palin reaching into a hollowed-out pumpkin and removing microfilmed footage of Barack Obama, Samuel Gompers, the late Earl Warren, Osama bin Laden, Warren Buffet and The Girls Next Door dancing naked on the rooftop at ACORN headquarters.

Posted by: Linda Janie Broussard | Oct 17, 2008 8:35:08 PM

18 more days of "Joe the Palling Around with Terrorist" and "Racism in Christian America" the pitbull and the maverick mutt the Mc K Lin Team coming to a government near you. Scary...

Posted by: Tired in America | Oct 17, 2008 7:09:26 PM

Hey folks:
This is my opinion and prediction:
1. Neither of these two candidates can resolve this economic crisis in 4 years.
2. Obama will for sure win this 2008 election. However, his popularity rating will go down for reasons that he cannot fulfill his promises to his current campaign.
3. Hillary will challenge Obama for democratic primaries in 2012, and Hillary will win.
4. A republican candidate will defeat Hillary in 2012 presidential election.
5. 2012 president will be a republican,and she is a woman by the name of Sarah Palin.

Posted by: Elaine | Oct 17, 2008 6:57:32 PM

I think we hit a sore spot.

Posted by: dw | Oct 17, 2008 6:45:52 PM

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