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In First Official Party Ticket Appearance, Palin Comes Out Swinging
September 05, 2008 3:00 PM
ABC News' Imtiyaz Delawala and Bret Hovell report: John McCain and Sarah Palin made their first appearance as the official Republican party ticket Friday, at an idyllic Main Street rally in Cedarburg, Wis.
Palin, the vice presidential nominee and governor of Alaska, came out swinging, criticizing rival Barack Obama for initially opposing the troop surge in Iraq, and, as the McCain campaign has repeatedly said, not admitting that it worked.
"But, just last night, Sen. Obama finally broke, and brought himself to admit what all the rest of us have known for quite some time, and that’s, thanks to the skill and valor of our troops, the surge in Iraq has succeeded," Palin said, referring to an answer Obama gave to Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, Thursday.
In his first appearance on "The O'Reilly Factor," Obama said that the troop surge succeeded "beyond our wildest dreams. ... I think that the surge has succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated, by the way, including President Bush and the other supporters," he told O'Reilly.
Palin took issue with Obama’s response and reminded voters that McCain initially supported the troop surge.
"I guess when you turn out to be profoundly wrong on a vital national security issue, maybe it's comforting to pretend that everyone was wrong, too. But I remember it a little differently. It seems to me there was one leader in Washington who did predict success, who refused to call retreat, and risked his own career for the sake of the surge and victory in Iraq, and ladies and gentlemen, that man is standing right next to me -- Sen. John McCain," Palin said.
Despite the staggering job loss numbers released today by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, McCain largely glossed over the report that 84,000 jobs were lost in the month of August, giving it only a tiny mention in the middle of his speech.
"These are tough times. Today, the job report is another reminder. These are tough times. They're tough times in Wisconsin, they're tough times in Ohio, they're tough times all over America," McCain told the large crowd in Cedarburg.
He did however, have a lot to say about his new running mate, Palin -- who has been credited with helping to energize the conservative base.
"Isn't she the most marvelous running mate in the history of the nation?” McCain asked the crowd. "She's magnificent, and I'm so proud, I'm so proud, my friends."
McCain also had glowing things to say about Palin's professional snowmobiler husband Todd.
"Could I mention her husband Todd? That guy is crazy!" McCain exclaimed. McCain called his 2,000-mile treks in 40 degree-below weather "remarkable." "You'd have to be crazy to do that. But what a guy, a commercial fisherman, union member and a devoted father. What a family."
September 5, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (382)
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As a former resident of Alaska for 25 years, people there have to be gutsy, determined and honest to survive. Their life style is certainly different than LA, NYC or Chicago. Even people who migrate there from sophicated other parts of the country buy a rifle to go hunting and a boat and camper for fishing and outdoor outings. I think the Palens would be a typical Alaskan family and I would have welcomed them as friends and next door neighbors. I don't think the Obama's would fit in. After all, there are few mansions there paid for by crooks as favors in Alaska.
Posted by: Mary | Sep 5, 2008 3:12:20 PM
It will be fun to watch this trailer trash go down.
Posted by: jim | Sep 5, 2008 3:12:24 PM
Karl Rove says Palin may be worth +3 points. True enough. Its also true she may be worth -5, especially if:
- independents find her social views too radical
- independents find her campaign style too negative
- the on-going investigation in Alaska shows she did abuse her authority
- people start to ask more questions about her involvement with an Alaskan secessionist party
- more comes out about fired librarians, etc
Posted by: Paul | Sep 5, 2008 3:17:04 PM
It sure would be fun to see the leftist arrogant self annointed inexperienced radical loose in exactly 59 days.
Posted by: VS | Sep 5, 2008 3:17:43 PM
The "ALL AMERICAN TICKET"
COUNTRY FIRST........
McCAIN/PALIN '08
Posted by: NICHOLAS | Sep 5, 2008 3:18:05 PM
how about a question Ms Palin?
no ...good words they write for you even if they are false lol...
good intonation though you look tough.
don't know anything about the world?
oh that's too bad.
I guess that doesn't matter. Look how tough you are? ...wait where are you running to...
what do you mean you melt if someone asks you a question?"
Posted by: dl | Sep 5, 2008 3:18:20 PM
Mary: "I don't think the Obama's would fit in."
You may be correct, Mary. To the best of my knowledge Obama doesn't support Alaska seceeding from the United States.
Posted by: Paul | Sep 5, 2008 3:21:11 PM
She also continued her trashing of community organizers.Beware they are all listening and taking notes of her every snarly remarks. We raised 10 million in 24 hours and we can do so again.Your right Jim she is trailor trash only with nicer clothes and she's going down.
Posted by: linda n carolina | Sep 5, 2008 3:21:35 PM
5 pundits in one hour on three different stations playing in my office...
when asked why she hasn't done interviews
all said almost the exact same thing...
"the questions don't matter because a VP's policy positions don't matter"
literally ...this is their new talking point...
She won't answeer questions ...not because she doesn't know any answers... or that she is overwhelmingly wrong on them...and doesn't have any facts to back her up...
but because "the VP's policy positions don't matter"
get these bums out of here.
Posted by: dl | Sep 5, 2008 3:21:41 PM
Since the press has NOT asked her any questions about any of her positions, who cares what she has to say.
She is just repeating talking points.
Posted by: Nancy | Sep 5, 2008 3:21:46 PM
Did she take questions?
Posted by: JP | Sep 5, 2008 3:22:17 PM
It's the economy stupid. Who gives a crap about the surge.
Posted by: Barbara | Sep 5, 2008 3:22:23 PM
If she's so good, why no interviews? I don't see anyone else in politics handled with kid gloves!
Posted by: obamamama | Sep 5, 2008 3:23:08 PM
SOMEONE PLEASE CALL OUT FOXNEWS!
Top 7 Myths, Lies and Untruths About Sarah Palin
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/05/top-7-myths-lies-and-untruths-about-sarah-palin/
PLEASE TELL ME WHERE THE ARTICLE IS DEBUNKING ALL THE MYTHS ABOUT OBAMA ?!?!?!?
RIDICULOUS! SOMEONE PLEASE CALL THEM OUT ON THIS CRAP! THEY SAY THEY'RE FAIR, BUT CANNOT REPORT BOTH SIDES....
THE REAL FOX:
Y O U T U B E LINK:
http://tinyurl.com/5t4rch
Posted by: Chad | Sep 5, 2008 3:23:13 PM
Nicholas: "COUNTRY FIRST........"
Yeah, but which country? Is it Georgia, Alaska?
You know, all this McCain bluster about how he always puts the country first sure sounds suspect when you consider his 2002 quote:
"I didn't decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of patriotism. In truth, I wanted to be president because it had become my ambition to be president...In truth, I'd had the ambition for a long time."
Posted by: Paul | Sep 5, 2008 3:24:49 PM
the new talking point is the VP's policy positions don't matter so that is why she should not be asked questions that pertain to them...
yet McCain said his 2 leading issues were someone who agreed with his policy positions and someone who could take over as the leader of the free world...
yet she can't answer any questions on that
only read prewritten attacks and cues...
again THE WORST Presidential decision in the history of our nation picking a candidate who has so little knowledge and awareness of the details of these situations that face us around the world she can't do interviews.
Posted by: dl | Sep 5, 2008 3:24:55 PM
She is about as cool as cancer
Posted by: make it known | Sep 5, 2008 3:25:06 PM
"Are you better off than you were eight years ago?" Not even John McCain with a new woman on his arm can come up with a favorable answer to that question to the American people. Only the media can save John now, and believe me they just might save him for a second time. Remember it was the media who "saved" John's sputtering campaign. It sure wasn't conservative Republicans that brought him back from the dead. For as much as the party claims to hate the media as with the Palin fiasco which could have been avoided if McCain had done his homework, they listen and take their marching orders from the think tanks neo-CONS on the New York Times, LA Times, and yes even the Wall Street Journal. The Republican party has been hijacked by corporate fascists who want to conquer the world with the blood of dead Americans. And the so-called liberals and their corporate lackeys in the press, compete for the right to keep the meat grinder going. (Next up Iran) We have no opposition party, no people's interest, no common good beyond what's best for Wall St. at the expense of Main St. If the Investment bank bailouts, and the local bank closing have taught you anything surely they have taught you that. Your will doesn't matter and it never did. Remember "You are free to do as we tell you..." Sit down, shut up, watch American Idol and be "happy!" And for God's sake don't EVER ask questions of those in power over you. You think this is a Democracy!?! (Majority/Mob rule) No, this is fascism! (When the corporations manipulate the people into surrendering their will and best interests, to the interests of the state)
Posted by: argh! | Sep 5, 2008 3:27:28 PM
It's good to see that the rabid, vicious lies of the snooty, vain, sneering Left nuts is having the opposite effect they intend. Keep it up, and help us elect McCain/Palin!
Posted by: Mr. Incredible | Sep 5, 2008 3:29:38 PM
Sarah
what are your feelings on the historical constructs of separation of powers?
Sarah what do you think of the history of the mujahadin?
sarah explain how you plan on dealing with global warming and reeling in US,chinese and indian carbon debt...how will that effect trade agreements?
oh you don't "buy into" human effects on global warming...oh ...why? and what if you are wrong?
oh the interview is over...
get this person away from this election before she starts giving speeches about how the judicial branch should be replaced by the church and that the world is flat...and how her assisting in creating an oil pipeline in an oileconomy dependent state is "energy expertize"
ugh
Posted by: dl | Sep 5, 2008 3:30:01 PM
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