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Dem: Not Having Abortion Is Palin's 'Primary Qualification'
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ShareSeptember 10, 2008 8:36 PM
ABC News' Teddy Davis, Bret Hovell, and Arnab Datta report: A Democratic Party leader said Wednesday that Sarah Palin's "primary qualification" for the vice presidency is that she has not had an abortion, prompting Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to charge that Democrats are trying to "demean" the governor of Alaska and "wipe out" all of her accomplishments because she "disagrees with the NARAL crowd on one issue."
"Our Democratic colleagues are, quite frankly, in a meltdown," said Graham, referring to comments that South Carolina Democratic Party chairwoman Carol Fowler made to Politico. "I hope that [Sen. Obama] will take this opportunity to step out and get this campaign back on track, and reject this really outrageous, demeaning statement to someone who has accomplished a lot in her life other than not having an abortion."
Fowler did not dispute the accuracy of the Politico report. She responded to the uproar caused by her remarks by issuing a paper statement apologizing to anyone who was offended by her comments. Fowler said she was "clumsily" trying to make a point about single-issue voters.
"I personally admire and respect the difficult choices that women make every day, and I apologize to anyone who finds my comment offensive," said Fowler in her statement. "I clumsily was making a point about people in South Carolina who may vote based on a single issue. Whether it’s the environment, the economy, the war, or a woman’s right to choose, there are people who will cast their vote based on a single issue. That was the only point I was attempting to make."
Graham made his comments on a conference call arranged by the McCain campaign. He was joined on the call with reporters by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who sought to portray Fowler's comments as fitting into a broader pattern of sexism.
"What we are seeing is a pattern that has come into play," said Blackburn. "You can go back to the remark that Sen. Obama made to a reporter back during the primary, claiming she was referred to as 'sweetie.' And then, moving forward, he passed over Sen. Clinton, and many feel like he also passed over Gov. Sebelius, both as running mates, and then the lipstick comment that he made yesterday."
Obama spokesman Nick Shapiro responded to Fowler's comments, saying, "She was not speaking for our campaign, just as John McCain has said state parties don’t speak for him. But, obviously, this does not reflect our view."
Shapiro's comment was a reference to McCain saying earlier this year that he could not stop the North Carolina Republican Party from airing an ad against Democratic gubernatorial candidates, which featured the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's controversial former pastor.
A McCain spokesman distinguished the Arizona senator's posture toward the North Carolina GOP by noting that McCain -- rather than one of his aides -- personally spoke out against the state party's ad, even while acknowledging that he was powerless to stop it.
"What she said was beyond the pale," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers. "I think Barack Obama needs to step up and speak to this. This kind of stuff has no place in this campaign."
September 10, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (338)
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it was the south carolina delegate that laughed at the Hurricane hitting Lousiana also. What kind of constituents , what kind of people do they represent. I alway thought of south carolina as a decent state to vacation and travel , apparently not. They laugh at other peoples destruction and belittle women.
Posted by: notouristtosc | Sep 10, 2008 8:56:08 PM
dems have sunk to a new low palin is a sitting governor
Posted by: david serra sr | Sep 10, 2008 8:56:16 PM
She is wrong and she should not have said it.
Having said that, I still can't find ONE qualification for Palin to be VP.
Posted by: ron | Sep 10, 2008 8:56:19 PM
McCain refused to apologize for Westmorland calling Obama "uppity." No need for Obama to "speak to this" then.
Posted by: Paleo | Sep 10, 2008 9:01:13 PM
Someone needs to keep the dems away from all microphones, particularly Obama. When not on a teleprompter, he sounds like a bombing comedian about to get booed off stage. Not very presidential.
Posted by: Becky | Sep 10, 2008 9:03:13 PM
No longer a democrat.
Posted by: justme | Sep 10, 2008 9:04:46 PM
No longer a democrat.
Posted by: justme | Sep 10, 2008 9:06:24 PM
Moslems and Democrats are just alike.
They both kill babies.
Moslems blow their up.
Democrats abort theirs.
Posted by: W Reeves | Sep 10, 2008 9:08:43 PM
Moslems and Democrats are just alike.
They both kill babies.
Moslems blow their up.
Democrats abort theirs.
Posted by: W Reeves | Sep 10, 2008 9:09:43 PM
Why in the world would anyone apologize for something as plain as this? The fact is that this Palin woman uses her kids as props. Her kid is pregant, she has a whole bunch of her own, and she has placed her career above her family.. what is so hard to figure out? In the meantime anyone regardless of political party, race... Hey, I don't care if you're from the moon. anyone with a brain realizes that this woman is a career hound and could care less about her own kids. Especially the one with the Downs syndrome. She like to yap liekshe's in one of her silly church services about what everyone else oughta be doing. Who cares if she had a kid or didn't have one.
Posted by: pekopper | Sep 10, 2008 9:10:49 PM
Why is ABC reporting on what this guy says? Makes no sense to what his opinion is more than anybody else's. BTW: When are we going to hear how that fraud case is going against Biden's son???
Posted by: Bill | Sep 10, 2008 9:13:57 PM
ron - what qualification might Palin? Look at John Edwards when he was considered. He had served some time in the Senate, but prior to that, he was a personal injury lawyer collecting fees. What qualified him to be VP? I didn't like Carter and Clinton, but you can't argue against their experience since both were sitting governors of this country? How come nobody questioned the qualifications of Al Gore whose only claim was a senator. Yes, only a senator - he didn't have any executive experience.
Posted by: Gina | Sep 10, 2008 9:14:04 PM
No longer a Republican.
Posted by: ItsObama | Sep 10, 2008 9:14:51 PM
No Longer a Republican.
Posted by: ItsObama | Sep 10, 2008 9:15:24 PM
Classy. Not really. That was as low class a comment as could be uttered by a public servant.
I hope that the citizens of SC take note.
Posted by: DenverDem | Sep 10, 2008 9:17:14 PM
Governor Palin at least has had the opportunity and risk from making decisions that impact the lives of many people. Yes, people in Alaska are also members of this country. What about Obama? What's he done that he would take the risks on decisions he's made? None? Yes, you're right, none. His so-called claim to work across the isle was debunked by Senator Luger, with whom he claimed to work. Obama is a joke. He has no experience, he's immature politically, and personally. He cannot and will not respond to these criticisms without making it personal. His elitism is the turnoff to people in flyover country.
Posted by: Gina | Sep 10, 2008 9:17:37 PM
It was a very ill-concieved choice of wording.
The fact is that Palin's only qualification (by the standards of experience set by McCain up until a few weeks ago) is that she is palatable to the religious right.
I’ve become disenchanted by this election cycle.
It’s all about diversions.
There Will Be Backlash.
First the Hail Mary” - “Trust us - you’ll like her.”
Too much deceit, and now attacks about an unfortunate (but true) choice of words, and the mindless spinning about “lipstick on a pig,” and hourly Rove style childishness.
Posted by: Republican VN Era Veteran | Sep 10, 2008 9:25:44 PM
ron...I can't find one good reason to vote for Obama either.
http://ruckmaker.blogspot.com/2008/03/ncobra-typical-whites-candidate.html
Posted by: carolyn | Sep 10, 2008 9:31:53 PM
Wow, call me crazy here, but I think it's kinda foolish for people to bring up the experience issue and equate it with Gov. Palin. Let's face it folks, she's the only one of the four Pres\VP candidates that has ANY executive experience whatsoever. Taking that and equating it to both parties recent candidates over the past 10-15 years, I'd say she was more than qualified to lead.
Posted by: Lovesthiscountry | Sep 10, 2008 9:33:31 PM
So I keep hearing the angry left scream that Palin used her kids as props. So, did Barry? Or Biden? I seem to recall a little ploy at the DNC where Barry, on video had a quaint discussion with his girls. Reality, the angry left have lost it. As for how you keep screaming about her qualifications, what is Barry's again? Keep it up, Obama is sinking fast.
Posted by: jwbe | Sep 10, 2008 9:36:25 PM
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