Palin Fields Questions on Plane

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Palin Fields Questions on Plane

October 08, 2008 8:04 AM

ABC News' Imtiyaz Delawala reports: For the first time in a month on the campaign trail, Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin took questions from her full traveling press corps, covering topics ranging from her continued connection of Sen. Barack Obama with William Ayers to whether she plans to appear on “Saturday Night Live.”

While traveling from Pensacola, Fla., to Greenville, N.C., last night, Palin came to the back of her press charter plane for the first time, greeting reporters and then taking questions for 15 minutes from the group. Cameras were not allowed to film the impromptu question and answer session.

Palin repeatedly defended her connection in recent days of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to former 60s radical William Ayers, calling the issue “fair and relevant,” while saying that Obama’s lack of clarity on his relationship with Ayers, called into question his “truthfulness” and whether he could be trusted on his policy plans.

“It is pertinent, it's important because when you consider Barack Obama's reaction to and explanation to his association there, and without him being clear at all on what he knew and when he knew it, that, I think, kinda peaks into his ability to tell us the truth on, not only on association but perhaps other things also,” Palin said.

“I think it just makes us ask the question that, if there's not forthrightness there, with that association and what was known and when it was known, does that lead us to ask, is there forthrightness with the plans Barack Obama has on say tax cuts, or spending increases?” Palin added. “It makes you wonder about the forthrightness, the truthfulness of the plans that he is telling America in regards to the economic recovery because that is first and foremost on American's minds.”

When questioned directly whether she thought Obama was being dishonest, Palin denied the charge, while raising more questions about whether Obama has associated with Ayers recently.

“I’m not saying that he’s dishonest, but in terms of judgment, in terms of being able to answer a question forthrightly, it has two different parts to this. The judgment and the truthfulness…” Palin said. “Is there still -- has there been an association with him since ‘02 and ’05. We've heard a couple of different stories. I think it is relevant.”

In recent days, Palin has voiced disappointment with the McCain campaign’s decision to pull resources out of the state of Michigan, where the Obama-Biden ticket has a widening lead in state polls. Despite the decision, Palin said that she hopes the campaign’s economic message still reaches the state.

“I'm not going to forget about Michigan. The campaign isn't either,” Palin said. “Those hard-working families in Michigan and all over this nation are really feeling the economic woes and are seeking the relief that our plan can provide them. It's create jobs, as we reign in government spending so that our families, our businesses can keep more of what they earn and produce, that's how jobs are created. That's how economic recovery is gonna come.”

Palin said she was still energized by the campaign and optimistic of its chances despite being behind in most battleground states with just 28 days to go before Election Day.

“There’s a lot that can happen and will happen in this campaign still to go,” Palin said. “You know, I’ve been in an underdog position quite often in my life and so has John McCain and we both have come out victoriously coming from that underdog position, and I anticipate that that’s what’s going to be what we see at the end of the day on November 4th.”

Palin was asked why her husband had agreed to testify in the ongoing legislative inquiry into whether Palin abused her power in dismissing the state’s public safety commissioner because of a personal family dispute. Todd Palin and seven other staff members will testify in the investigation today. Palin said “nobody has anything to hide” in the case, while charging that the investigation has become political.

“What the investigation turned into, led by a Senate Democrat, has been kind of a goat rope, a very partisan and very controversial type of investigation,” Palin said. “It's an open book. Nobody has anything to hide. Nobody's done anything wrong. My choice, and my responsibility to replace a cabinet member, an at-will exempt political appointment whom I did replace, because his strengths were in other areas… So my choice, my responsibility had nothing to do with my husband or any of my staff members.”

When asked by a reporter if she’d like to appear on “Saturday Night Live” and give Tina Fey “a taste of her own medicine,” Palin laughed and said she would “love to” appear on the program.

“I would love to. I love her,” Palin said of Fey. “She's a hoot and she's so talented and it would be fun to either imitate her or keep on giving her more material and keep her in business.”

The brief press conference took place as Palin flew to Greenville, North Carolina, where she held a rally at East Carolina University, before heading to a local pizzeria to watch the second presidential debate, joined by Republican North Carolina Senators Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr.

The group watched the debate on one of eight televisions tuned to Fox News, while eating pizza and spaghetti. Palin watched intently as McCain spoke, regularly taking notes down on paper during the debate. After the debate, Palin said she thought McCain had done “great” and that she looked forward to the rest of the campaign.

“He's proposing real plans that will work for economic recovery and energy independence,” Palin said of her running mate. “I think Barack was even less candid than usual, which I was kinda surprised. But McCain has fought on and sounded very energized, and it was a good night for him, for all of us, for all of America.”

t oug

October 8, 2008 in Biden, Joe, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (330)

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My God, why is Palin so totally uninteresting? She's just babbling away in very poorly constructed sentences. What a nuisance she is.

Posted by: greta | Oct 8, 2008 8:32:52 AM

What mud will Palin be throwing today?
Caribou Barbie needs to worry about her own associations. A witch doctor, a group that wants to secede from the USA,
Troopergate, and where did that $85K go?

Posted by: Gus | Oct 8, 2008 8:38:00 AM

It's actually "kinda" hard to believe this woman is a United States governor.

Posted by: jon in maryland | Oct 8, 2008 8:40:12 AM

Enjoy the last few weeks of spewing your empty rhetoric & sleazey bitterness. The baked Alaskan and granpa John are toast. On Nov 5th its off to assisted living for gramps and back to Alaska for the sleaze queen to strangle Caribou & keep an eye on those pesky Russians.

Posted by: Jackson in NC | Oct 8, 2008 8:40:15 AM

What Palin answering questions? What is this world coming to!!!!!! Why won't she testify in "troopergate", if she is so innocent, what is the problem??? Started by a democrat?? Does it matter who started checking, if you're wrong, you're wrong. Unbelievable that she thinks she ready for vp or pres, doesn't know policies, foreign policy, economy - unless she reads what McCain has written (who is not always right). Scary situation.

Posted by: kmn | Oct 8, 2008 8:40:26 AM

Please forget about us in Michigan, we'd like to forget about you.

Posted by: MIguy | Oct 8, 2008 8:41:06 AM

Compared to the Chicago thug, radical Obama and his career politican running mate Biden, Palin is a breath of fresh air in this country and a inspiring leader.

Posted by: Greg h | Oct 8, 2008 8:41:55 AM

a little too late
a little too lacking

and perhaps she could have acted even just a little bit Presidential

somewhere...sometime

while her supporters screamed "kill him" and "terrorist" and "n@#$^er" and "boy"

this woman needs to go back to Alaska where they are probably going to throw her out of that office too.

Posted by: dl | Oct 8, 2008 8:44:20 AM

And in this dialogue; there was a real question, answer, or statement on her ticket's plans where?

Posted by: PoliticsAsUsual | Oct 8, 2008 8:44:22 AM

a "breath of fresh air"...

yeah perfumed to the hilt and laced with anthrax...

vitriolic moron... who conservative males have a ha#$-on for...

Mccain has made this race a vitriolic joke.

Posted by: dl | Oct 8, 2008 8:46:29 AM

Are we really supposed to take her seriously as a potential VP of the USA? This is like an old bugs bunny cartoon, kinda funny while completely ridiculous.

Posted by: Nichole | Oct 8, 2008 8:46:39 AM

Greg H wrote:
Compared to the Chicago thug, radical Obama and his career politican running mate Biden, Palin is a breath of fresh air in this country and a inspiring leader.

How does being in the minority thought process work for you? This chick is so out of touch she could kick herself in the ankle and wouldn't feel it for a week.

Posted by: BIGDADDY757 | Oct 8, 2008 8:50:05 AM

The only reason I can think of to vote for McPain is to keep Tina Fey doing the Sarah Failin skits. Truth be told, though, Failin could send Fey back to 30 Rock by just doing more impromptu interviews. Footage of the real thing is even funnier than the spoofs.

Posted by: Geoff | Oct 8, 2008 8:51:07 AM

I just can't imagine this woman in the policial arena and let alone governor.

Posted by: Mike | Oct 8, 2008 8:51:25 AM

Obama leads in states with 248 Electoral College votes while McCain is ahead in states with 163 Electoral College votes. When “leaners” are included, it’s Obama 300, McCain 174.

Posted by: Jeff | Oct 8, 2008 8:53:02 AM

Palin, keeping in mind the
extraordinary times full of
new crisis we are facing at the
moment, economy is "front and
center" of all issues.

You do not take time and talk about
it. Who is not smart to understand
your hiden agenda you have in mind.

Posted by: FM | Oct 8, 2008 8:53:14 AM

With his answers in last night’s debate, Obama has finally completed the Mobius Strip of Illogic which Liberals use in describing fiscal policy.

First:
government spending increases = "investment"

Then:
tax cuts = "wasteful spending"

Now, thanks to Obama:
tax increases = "spending cuts"

Obama: "but actually I'm cutting more than I'm spending so that it will be a net spending cut."

Are you kidding me? Maybe Obama thought he was doing an interview for The Onion.

Posted by: Ask Mister Language Person | Oct 8, 2008 8:57:08 AM

I'm not impressed. It's not like she came out running on this thing. She's been in hiding for the most part. When occasionally she would give a simple interview, it was catastrophic. She's simply not qualified to be one heart beat away from the presidency. Sorry, dear lady. You're nice but you need to go back to Alaska.

Posted by: D | Oct 8, 2008 8:57:14 AM

She will probably find something and bring them to "ya"

Posted by: Uche | Oct 8, 2008 8:57:21 AM

China has liscensed Johanna Solar Technology to build a plant there. Some of the newest and best technology out of Germany! They are ahead of us.

Did he go to Harvard and Columbia? He can’t speak ! It’s amazing…He’s a lawyer and has trouble making a point.
____________________________Please tell
THAT ONE all about it, he is so stupid

Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 8, 2008 8:59:45 AM

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