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Graham on Palin: 'Ready to Lead'
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ShareAugust 31, 2008 2:46 PM
ABC News' Ben Newman Reports: Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., made his case this morning that the Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, is ready to serve in the White House. “She's tough. She's talented. She's ready to lead,” said Graham.
In an exclusive interview with George Stephanopoulos on "This Week," Graham, a longtime friend and staunch supporter of presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain, backed the Arizona senator’s pick. “John McCain is trying to tell the American people I got it… I've picked somebody that knows how to fix government, I've picked somebody that will stand up to powerful people in her own backyard and together we’re going to change this place,” said Graham.
When questioned whether he would feel safe and confident with Palin as president, should something happen to McCain, Graham responded, “Compared to Barack Obama I think she would make one hell of a commander-in-chief.”
In a separate interview on "This Week," Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts disagreed, challenging Palin’s foreign policy credentials.
“[McCain’s] chosen somebody that has zero, zero experience in foreign policy," said Kerry. "The first threshold test of a president, of a nominee, is choosing a vice president, is to prove to the American people that the person that you have chosen can fill in tomorrow."
Kerry also suggested Palin was not qualified to take over office should tragedy strike McCain. “I'm sure she is a terrific person,” he said. “I'm not attacking her. I think John McCain's judgment is once again put at issue because he has chosen somebody who clearly does not meet the national security threshold, who is not ready to be president tomorrow.”
Graham claimed, however, that Palin's executive experience as governor trumps the experiences of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. “She's been a governor. She's been in charge of the National Guard. What has Senator Obama done in terms of managing a war? His judgment when it comes to matters of war had been terrible.
Contradicting suggestions that former supporters of Hillary Clinton, Obama's rival in the hard-fought Democratic primaries, will flock to the McCain-Palin ticket, Kerry claimed the policy differences between the two women makes it highly unlikely.
The people who supported Hillary Clinton are not going to be seduced just because John McCain has picked a woman," Kerry said. "They're going to look at what she supports. The fact that she doesn't even support the notion that climate change is manmade -- she's back there with the Flat Earth Caucus. I think it's almost insulting to the Hillary supporters that they believe they would support somebody who is against almost everything that they believe in.”
August 31, 2008 in Veepstakes | Permalink | User Comments (139)
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Graham claimed, however, that Palin's executive experience as governor trumps the experiences of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. “She's been a governor. She's been in charge of the National Guard. What has Senator Obama done in terms of managing a war?
These same comments could be made in reference to all three current male candidates. Clearly, Palin is more qualified than any of them. McCain should put the "country first," and step aside to let Palin head the GOP ticket.
Posted by: Bad Idea | Aug 31, 2008 2:57:35 PM
Has anyone asked current military commanders what they think about Palin as their boss. Would be interesting to hear their thoughts.
Based on comments from Graham, Giuliani, and other GOP hacks, Palin is actually more qualified than McCain.
Posted by: JTC03 | Aug 31, 2008 3:00:52 PM
Hmmmmmmm......... Does anything but garbage come out of that guys mouth?
Posted by: Thinking | Aug 31, 2008 3:02:32 PM
McCain has put "Politics First" NOT "Country First".
Palin is a joke.
Posted by: vickie | Aug 31, 2008 3:02:56 PM
YES!YES!YES!
SHE'S READY TO LEAD......
SHE HAS EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE AS A
GOVERNOR OF ALASKA.....SHE'S COMMANDER
OF THE ALASKA NATIONAL GUARD.....
SHE HAS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES.....
COUNTRY FIRST......
McCAIN/PALIN '08
Posted by: NICHOLAS | Aug 31, 2008 3:03:53 PM
HOUSTON, Texas -- The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's controversial former pastor, reappeared here Sunday.
Wrights spoke glowingly of Obama while preaching at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church
===
Yes, yes, we so believe, but it is good to see an old dog can still learn some new tricks.
Posted by: d0 | Aug 31, 2008 3:04:58 PM
Bless post nasal drip Lindsey's heart! He's hoping Palin will lend him some of her clothes.
Posted by: Trish | Aug 31, 2008 3:05:09 PM
Actually Obama has demonstrated excellent executive skills. Obama has run the best run Democratic campaign EVER. It is the most efficient, most disciplined, and most organized Dem campaign ever.
Also, Obama has raised more money than anybody EVER has raised in a primary.
Obama has over 1,000 employees and has a budget of $100 million.
Obama has demonstrated his executive skills.
Posted by: vickie | Aug 31, 2008 3:05:45 PM
Why wasn't Governor Palin making the case for herself? Hard to make the case she's ready to lead if she's not even ready for the Sunday morning shows.
Posted by: rst | Aug 31, 2008 3:05:53 PM
"Ready to lead" as class president.
I bet you right now McCain regrets chosing Palin as his VP. Of all the qualified office elected Republican women he could have choose, he choose the MOST unqualified one. And now he has to defend his choice. Poor judgement.
McCain just handed Obama the election on a golden platter.
Posted by: Vanessa | Aug 31, 2008 3:05:57 PM
Whatever Kerry says should also be considered for Obama.
Posted by: Obama-Yah-Wright | Aug 31, 2008 3:07:30 PM
I love the fact that the Dems number one on the ticket hasn't even been class president and they are picking on the Republicans number two on the ticket who has actually run a city government and a state government.
Yeah you really convinced me John "I shot myself in the butt, now where is my purple heart" Kerry.
Obama doesn't even know how many states are in the U.S. Yeah got to love the Dems, "Party of Chicken Little".
Posted by: Scott | Aug 31, 2008 3:07:58 PM
When questioned whether he would feel safe and confident with Palin as president, should something happen to McCain, Graham responded, “Compared to Barack Obama I think she would make one hell of a commander-in-chief.”
My 18 yr old is better suited to lead this country than Obama Bin Lyin!
Posted by: david from texas | Aug 31, 2008 3:08:01 PM
vickie,
Which part don't you think Zerobameus, God of Nothingness is a joke?
Name one.
Posted by: d0 | Aug 31, 2008 3:10:04 PM
Has anyone asked current military commanders what they think about Palin as their boss. Would be interesting to hear their thoughts.
Posted by: JTC03 | Aug 31, 2008
----
In case you have trouble of basic understanding of the Constitution, they obey.
Posted by: d0 | Aug 31, 2008 3:12:13 PM
Ms Palin leadership skills include her husband strong arming and getting very involved with anyone that challenges her. There was a petition when she was mayor to recall her. Something about firing people that didn't vote for her, Like the local police chief, and a local librarian. All this will come out as we "get to know" Sarah Palin.
Posted by: Trish | Aug 31, 2008 3:13:50 PM
McCain has put politics first not country first, after forgetting how many houses he owned he picked someone who had one house.
Posted by: Kathy | Aug 31, 2008 3:14:59 PM
Obama is going to use his campaign experience to show he has leadership qualities? Lets see, in a campaign you spend everyone else's money, as fast as you can, usually on commercials that nobody wants to watch. I guess that does sound like his presidential strategy. Raise taxes and spend money on big government programs that nobody wants.
Lets not vote for Obama-nation.
Posted by: John Kerry Who??? | Aug 31, 2008 3:16:52 PM
I laugh watching these Republicans defend McCain choice of VP.
If you think it's bad now imagine how much worse she will look when she has to face Biden.
Posted by: Vanessa | Aug 31, 2008 3:17:32 PM
RE: TODD PALIN [ex 6 figure BP employee who had to resign, er check that, take leave because his wife was working on taking leases away from Exxon and giving leasing them to BP.]
"He will be passing information on to me and participating in getting work force development programs up and running in Alaska," Sarah Palin said. "That's in addition to doing all the things that make Todd Todd.
Posted by: Mr. Coffee | Aug 31, 2008 3:18:02 PM
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