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Palin Dismisses Powell Endorsement, Won't Reject Robocalls

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October 20, 2008 7:57 AM

ABC News' Imtiyaz Delawala Reports: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin dismissed former Republican Secretary of State Colin Powell's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama as "not much of a surprise," and refused to call for an end to the campaign's use of robocalls -- one of the negative campaign tactics Powell cited as a reason for endorsing the Democratic presidential nominee.

At an impromptu press conference on the tarmac of the Colorado Springs, Colo. airport last night, Palin said she was not surprised by Powell's endorsement, saying it was "his prerogative" to back Obama over Republican Sen. John McCain.

"That was not so much of a surprise and certainly that is his prerogative, but John McCain and I are very appreciative of the four former secretary of states' endorsements that McCain has and the over 200 retired generals and other top brass military that have endorsed John McCain and his good ideas on winning the war, so that's appreciated that we have those endorsements," Palin said.

On "Meet the Press" on Sunday morning, Powell had cited Palin's lack of experience as one of the reasons for his endorsement of Obama.

"She's a very distinguished woman and she's to be admired, but at the same time now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she's ready to be President of the United States, which is the job of the Vice President," Powell said. "And so, that raised some question in my mind as to the judgment that Senator McCain made."

When asked for her response to Powell citing her lack of experience, Palin responded, "That's certainly his prerogative to express that also."

Powell also cited the use of robocalls by the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee linking Obama to former 1970s radical William Ayers as another reason for backing Obama.

"This Bill Ayers situation that's been going on for weeks, Why do we keep talking about him, why do we have these robocalls going around the country?" Powell said, referring to automated calls made in battleground states last week linking Obama to Ayers. Republican senators Norm Coleman, R-Minn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, who are both locked in tight re-election battles, both criticized the use of robocalls this weekend.

Palin at first dismissed the issue of robocalls as "inside baseball stuff" and "just getting that message out." "If the vehicle to be used is robocalls, that's the some of the campaign top brass's call on that," Palin said.

When asked if she would use robocalls if she ran the campaign, Palin said that she wishes the campaign did not have to "rely on the old conventional ways of campaigning that includes these robocalls," saying that voters feel inundated by calls and television advertisements.

"If I called all the shots, and if I could wave a magic wand, I would be sitting at a kitchen table with more and more Americans, talking to them about our plan to get the economy back on track and winning the war and not having to rely on the old conventional ways of campaigning that includes those robocalls and includes spending so much money on the television ads that I think is kinda draining out there in terms of Americans' attention span," Palin said. "They get a bit irritated with just being inundated, and you're seeing a lot of that of course with the huge amounts of money that Barack Obama is able to spend on his ads and his robocalls also."

But when pressed, she would not call for the campaign to end their use of robocalls. "I'm not calling for an end to the robocalls, no," Palin said.

October 20, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (186)

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It's rather sad that McCain and Palin haven't figured out that the reason Obama has so much money to spend, is precisely because so many people are so fed up they are willing to give up there hard earned money instead of risking 4 more years of these luncatics.

In my 59 years I have NEVER checked that box on my income tax to give money to a campaign nor have I ever given money to a presidential candidate. This year I gave $4300 to Barack Obama because frankly I cant take these religious war mongering country first right wing fanatic Republicans with IQ's less than 90.

Posted by: Reid | Oct 20, 2008 8:34:51 AM

palin should run home AND KEEP AN EYE ON RUSSIA--from her porch

Posted by: rodney | Oct 20, 2008 8:37:29 AM

she is as dumb as the people who are supporting her on these blogs

...in echoes of how they supported Bush in 2000 and 2004.

same team
same tactics
9th year.

Posted by: dl | Oct 20, 2008 8:37:49 AM

RODNEY
Check out the yahoo story in how Freddie and Fannie lobbied the Gop with the Help of RICK DAVIS,Mccains camp manager FOR NO REGULATION So the republicans as well as Mccain is responsible for the housing crisis! RODNEY Dont you agree its time to vote the bums out and send the Wicked Witch back to Alaska!

Posted by: Angie | Oct 20, 2008 8:39:03 AM

The robocalls are truly despicable. McCain, whom I used to admire, has dropped way down in my estimation. I have always been for Obama, but I did not dislike McCain until he went way negative in his campaign. And Palin? What can you say about someone who is so ill-informed and shallow. As someone in Alaska wrote, she is a mile wide and an inch deep.

Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | Oct 20, 2008 8:39:06 AM

angie
if these two got in office ,it would be disasterus. mccain is trying to duck responsibility for his past---when cindy and palin were in allentown area --an area that has had problems with skinhead and kkk activities---that was far too much--and the robocalls are just more of the same crap.

Posted by: rodney | Oct 20, 2008 8:43:26 AM

PALIN Alaska is calling you back sweetie we dont need someone like you in the lower 48! Dont need you, Dont like you, Dont want ya!!, Go back to Alaska hang out with you AIP Anti-american friends,Shoot some more Moose and Wovles, and leave this country to be ran by smart Intelligent people that know what their talking about and doing!

Posted by: Angie | Oct 20, 2008 8:44:43 AM

Sarah Palin REALLY IS dumb! We're (the Democrats) in good shape for many years to come. This is the future of the Republican Party! Cool! Rogelio

Posted by: Rogelio | Oct 20, 2008 8:47:17 AM

To al from nj and all other dissmissive McCain Voters:

Why would any of your types say blacks are voting for Obama because he is black. One could say whites are voting with McCain because he is white and not for Obama because he is black.

As for Bill Ayers, Rev Wright and Rezko, only uneducated people would fall for this nonsense. Firstly, Rezko was a guy Obama bought land from. This is not a big deal. Rev Wright, he may have said things that opened ears but to say somehow his views are Obama's views is ridiculous As for Bill Ayers, Obama did not have a close relationship with this guy. Its simply NOT TRUE!!!

It appears that the only people who buy into this crap are those with small minds.

Vot for McCain because you like his policies if you like, but stop with the racist overtures.

Obama will win this election because of everything Colin Powell listed.

When the truth hurts, you will be in pain.

Greg

Posted by: Greg Rodgers | Oct 20, 2008 8:48:57 AM

95% if double As are voting for Obama.

That's not moral clarity, that's black racism!

White liberals and obamaites must ask themselves why they want to vote in a racist presidency. At least 30-40% of whites are willing to vote for another ethnicity, as witnessed by Obama's support.

The irony is that whites in their support for Obama have shown that a white person will more fairly represent everyone, though not perfectly, in the office of the president than a black president.

Is Colin Powell caving in to whispers of black nationalism as well?

Posted by: Ron | Oct 20, 2008 8:50:39 AM

Is this the one on the ticket that comes first????McCain is using her as a mouth piece and she does not have the brains to know this.Don't dismiss Powell lady.He has more knowledge in his little finger then you have in you pee pick brain.This is the dirtiest and untruthful champaign I have ever witnessed in all my years

Posted by: NH voter | Oct 20, 2008 8:50:58 AM

This is typical of white people - if a black person can make them look good or win the game for them they are for them as long as they don't get uppity. I think McCain see what he thinks is his right of entitlement slipping away - and he will pull out all of the stops be fore it is over...

Posted by: jozy | Oct 20, 2008 8:51:14 AM

Robo-calls are annoying. You would think all candidates would realize that they are counter-productive. How is bothering people with a tele-marketing tactic supposed to HELP one's campaign?LOL

Posted by: Tele-marketers are the agents of Lucifer | Oct 20, 2008 8:51:43 AM

RODNEY
Ilive near the Allentown area There was no need for Palin to start those people up she knew what she was doing, Palin and Mccain are Dangerous for this country, Rodney you know whats funny where I live a very Republican area. Neighbors on my street have taken down their Mccain/Palin signs, replacing them with Obama/Biden signs. Shocking but at least I dont feel like the oddball on my street anymore THEIR REASON IS THEY ARE FED UP WITH MCCAIN/PALIN saying this is not the republican party i belonged too they think Mccain is running a sleazy camapaign! Most of them are Moderate Republicans and they feel Palin is too far right!

Posted by: Angie | Oct 20, 2008 8:52:18 AM

Does she really think people are listening to her? Soon she will go home to Alaska where her impeachment is inevitable. She is now fooling none of the people all of the time. Even the most diehard conservatives can't pretend she's worthy. Ambition without brains. The good looks only get you so far Ms. Sarah...and they don't last either.

Posted by: Virginia voter | Oct 20, 2008 8:52:55 AM

ron
forget the color thing---the man is far far smarter than mccain could ever dream of being.and the people behind him know this--the list is endless

Posted by: rodney | Oct 20, 2008 8:53:23 AM

>>We're (the Democrats) in good shape for many years to come.

Angie, yes, you are experiencing the high of a lemming before it falls off the cliff. Your daily diet of media and PC have dulled your brain.

Posted by: Tingo | Oct 20, 2008 8:53:36 AM

Why don't the media call for an end to the endless, endless hours of Obama T.V. ads? How much money does a candidate have to spend to win the election?

Posted by: rafraf | Oct 20, 2008 8:54:13 AM

NH Voter entitlement should go to the majority. That's how it is in all cultures with major and sub cultures. Read up! You are defying nature.

Posted by: NH Voter correction | Oct 20, 2008 8:55:26 AM

To all white people on board crying Racisim, The African America people have supported White Presidents all along, Look at Bill Clinton African Americans love him and Obama is BI-RACIAL his dad was Black his mom was white Therefore he is a BI-RACIAL AMERICAN!

Posted by: Angie | Oct 20, 2008 8:55:52 AM

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