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Actor Duvall Blasts Palin Critics at Fundraiser

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October 14, 2008 8:24 AM

ABC News' Imtiyaz Delawala Reports: Introducing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at a GOP fundraiser Monday, actor Robert Duvall blasted conservatives who have criticized the McCain-Palin ticket in recent days, calling conservative columnist George Will a "super-nerd" and former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson a "block of wood".

At an RNC fundraiser in McLean, VA, Duvall introduced Palin for the third time since her nomination to the Republican ticket, taking the opportunity to accuse Republicans critical of the McCain campaign as giving "credence to the other side."

"It bothers me that certain people in the Republican Party are attacking the McCain-Palin ticket, like super-nerd George...What's his name?” Duvall asked, prompting a few attendees to laugh and shout out George Will. “George...George, I can't even think. George Will," Duvall said, referring to the Washington Post columnist who has been critical of Palin.

The legendary actor then attacked former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, who campaigned with McCain last Friday in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Thompson had expressed unhappiness with the McCain campaign in an article that appeared in Sunday's New York Times. Asked if he was happy with Sen. McCain's campaign, Thompson told the paper, "No," adding, "I don't know who is."

"Tommy Thompson of uh, that original block of wood, from Wisconsin," Duvall responded at the fundraiser. "He attacked the team today. I mean, that's like being, instead of Monday morning quarterbacking, it’s during the game. It's Friday and Saturday night quarterbacking. It's like giving credence to the other side.” 

The rhetoric was a departure from recent days, where Palin has toned down her criticism of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama. Duvall used no such caution in his remarks, saying of Obama, "we gotta keep this guy out of the White House."

Duvall then introduced Palin, who quickly thanked him "for that very kind introduction" before giving her standard stump speech to the crowd of 400 Republican donors.

October 14, 2008 in McCain, John, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (414)

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Typical Republican...name-calling and everything.

Posted by: Lee | Oct 14, 2008 8:28:44 AM

I'm happy that Duvall has not "toned-down" his criticism of "The One." This made my day!

Posted by: tina | Oct 14, 2008 8:30:04 AM

Does this make Sarah Palin a celebrity?

Posted by: Enviro | Oct 14, 2008 8:31:35 AM

It doesn't matter. We might as well get ready for "The Republic of America" with Comrad Obama as our "Good Leader".

Posted by: sandalwood | Oct 14, 2008 8:32:09 AM

Both Obama and McCain internal polls show this race is close – that’s why Obama is buying half-hour slots of TV. (Remember the last candidate who did that – President Ross Perot??) Much of the poll numbers put out by the MSM are skewed to favor the liberal candidate – big surprise there. McCain Democrats, do you really believe what the polls say, that 90% of Democrats are supporting Obama? Look around at your own families and friends - are they 90% on board for Obama? The liberal media is attempting to create an air of inevitability around Barack Obama by skewing polls, and by ignoring or playing down stories that might harm Obama. They hope to discourage McCain voters from going to the polls. This race is not over until the polls close in November. If you stay away from the polls, you are doing exactly what Obama and his allies at ABC, NBC, CBS and ACORN, the voter fraud specialists to whom Obama gave $800,000, want you to do.

Posted by: JB in St. Louis | Oct 14, 2008 8:35:55 AM

Sarah Palin is such a lightweight. I really get tired of her hate filled yapping. My most recent "you're kidding" moment is the fact her daughter's boyfriend is QUITTING SCHOOL to go to work to support Palin's daughter. He'll be a high school drop out! Gimme a break! What kind of example is that for kids? I guess it's just as good as "abstinence only" for pregancy prevention. Where's that family support Palin talked about? Where are their heads?

Posted by: LittleMissMooseShooter | Oct 14, 2008 8:36:12 AM

"I can't even think." said Duvall.

Eminently qualified to support Sarah Palin.

Posted by: Cincydaddy | Oct 14, 2008 8:38:00 AM

Duvall: Stick with the sinking ship no matter what!

Posted by: linda n carolina | Oct 14, 2008 8:40:30 AM

Robert Duvall? Wasn't he an actor once? Didn't he used to make movies or something back in the 80's?


Posted by: Tom | Oct 14, 2008 8:41:59 AM

This country has always been a Republic. What's your point, sandalwood?

Posted by: Rodger | Oct 14, 2008 8:42:57 AM

Both Obama and McCain internal polls show this race is close – that’s why Obama is buying half-hour slots of TV. (Remember the last candidate who did that – President Ross Perot??) Much of the poll numbers put out by the MSM are skewed to favor the liberal candidate – big surprise there. McCain Democrats, do you really believe what the polls say, that 90% of Democrats are supporting Obama? Look around at your own families and friends - are they 90% on board for Obama? The liberal media is attempting to create an air of inevitability around Barack Obama by skewing polls, and by ignoring or playing down stories that might harm Obama. They hope to discourage McCain voters from going to the polls. This race is not over until the polls close in November. If you stay away from the polls, you are doing exactly what Obama and his allies at ABC, NBC, CBS and ACORN, the voter fraud specialists to whom Obama gave $800,000, want you to do.

Posted by: JB in St. Louis | Oct 14, 2008 8:43:01 AM

Finally a positive from the media on PALIN!!!!! whew whooo....

Posted by: Joe V | Oct 14, 2008 8:43:45 AM

Always loved Robert Duvall. Love him even more now!

Posted by: Lily | Oct 14, 2008 8:44:27 AM

hey sandalwood -

we are already a republic - read the back of your currancy - have been for years - catch up and get educated

Posted by: jozy | Oct 14, 2008 8:45:00 AM

Fact: ACORN has implemented the most sophisticated quality-control system in the voter engagement field but in almost every state we are required to turn in ALL completed applications, even the ones we know to be problematic.

Fact: ACORN flags in writing incomplete, problem, or suspicious cards when we turn them in,. Unfortunately, some of these same officials then come back weeks or months later and accuse us of deliberately turning in phony cards. In many cases, we can actually prove that these are the same cards we called to their attention.

Fact: Our canvassers are paid by the hour, not by the card . ACORN has a zero-tolerance policy for deliberately falsifying registrations, and in the cases where our internal quality controls have identified this happening we have fired the workers involved and turned them in to election officials and law-enforcement.

Fact: No criminal charges related to voter registration have ever been brought against ACORN or partner organizations. Convictions against individual former ACORN workers have been accomplished with our full cooperation, using the evidence obtained through our quality control and verification processes - evidence which in most cases WE called to the attention of authorities

Fact: Most election officials have recognized ACORN's good work and praised our quality control systems. Even in the cities where election officials have complained about ACORN, the applications in question represent less than 1% of the thousands and thousands of registrations ACORN has collected.

Fact: Our accusers not only fail to provide any evidence, they fail to suggest a motive: there is virtually no chance anyone would be able to vote fraudulently, so there is no reason to deliberately submit phony registrations. ACORN is committed to ensuring that the greatest possible numbers of people are registered

ACORN will not be intimidated, we will not be provoked, and in this important moment in history we will not allow anyone to distract us from these vital efforts to empower our constituencies and our communities to speak for themselves.


Thank you, ACORN, for both the tireless work in support of democracy, and for not being intimidated by those who hate it, and who realize that if it exists, they cannot win elections.

Posted by: linda n carolina | Oct 14, 2008 8:45:14 AM

Robert Duvall is MORE QUALIFIED to be Vice President than Sarah Palin.

At least he can *act* presidential. Sarah Palin's appears to be acting out the role of one of the frat girls from 'Animal House'.

Wink. Wink. Wink. Wink.

Hell, my mother would make a better president should the need come up. My boss, also a woman would DEFINITELY be a better president than Sarah. Barbara Walters should be on the list before Sarah.

Whoopi Goldberg! She is both thoughtful and funny, two qualities Sarah is missing. I would trust Whoopi Goldberg with the future this nation WAY before I would trust Miss Bridge to Nowhere.

Posted by: John McCain's conscience | Oct 14, 2008 8:45:24 AM

Palin has no foreign policy experience to be a VP. I wonder what is she going to do in that office???

I am a republican but I would rather vote for OBAMA because he has addressed most of the issues facing us in this year presidential campaign.

Posted by: I.A.T.SMITH | Oct 14, 2008 8:45:49 AM

Maybe Duvall will look at the moon from his back yard and decide he's qualified to be a rocket scientist.
Or maybe Duvall is on LSD. Whatever,
if he thinks Palin is remotely qualified to be VP, he's trippin on something.

Posted by: Gus | Oct 14, 2008 8:47:48 AM

Palin has no foreign policy experience to be a VP. I wonder what is she going to do in that office???

I am a republican but I would rather vote for OBAMA because he has addressed most of the issues facing us in this year presidential campaign.

Posted by: I.A.T.SMITH | Oct 14, 2008 8:48:02 AM

Duvall is right. If Thompson was campaigning for McCain then he should support him all the way. I don't know why Huckabee and Romney are not out there campaigning for McCain like the Clinton's are for Obama. Of course Obama needs the Clinton's because him and Biden can't do it alone. He believes Hillary is an attraction. However, Palin is a bigger one and took all the celebrity status away from Obama. Also, race is not an issue in this election issues are. The economy is good. People that bought houses or condos with no money down or 5% down are the problem because many stopped making payments and caused the foreclosures. Banks and Mortgage lenders are not always at fault. Gas prices are going down. And food will be next. I don't know why the public is so caught up on the economy issue and jobs. Apparently they don't understand that the population in this country is greater than the job industry. We need a president with the experience to know how to run this country not try to control it. And that is McCain. And one that has never associated himself with terrorists but has a good clean background.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Oct 14, 2008 8:49:03 AM

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