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Palin: Obama Not Qualified to Be Commander-in-Chief

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October 03, 2008 2:02 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis, Rigel Anderson, and Arnab Datta Report: Speaking to Fox News on Friday, Sarah Palin indicated for the first time that she does not consider Barack Obama qualified to be commander in chief and sharply criticized him for saying last year that U.S. troops in Afghanistan are "just air raiding villages and killing civilians."

Calling Obama "reckless," Palin said that where she comes from Obama's remarks "disqualify someone from consideration for the next commander-in-chief."

"Some of his comments that he's made about the war, that I think, in my world disqualify someone from consideration for the next commander-in-chief," said Palin. "Some of the comments he's made about Afghanistan, what we are doing there, 'just air raiding villages and killing civilians.' That's reckless."

Palin invoked Obama's "just air raiding villages and killing civilians" remark during her Fox News interview as an example of the kind of issue that she wanted to be asked about by Katie Couric, the CBS News anchor who recently stumped the Alaska governor by asking her to name a Supreme Court case other than Roe v. Wade with which she disagrees.

The Alaska governor first brought up her objection to Obama's comments at Thursday's debate.

"That's not what we're doing there," said Palin, referring to Afghanistan. "We're fighting terrorists, and we're securing democracy, and we're building schools for children there so that there is opportunity in that country."

Obama made his controversial remarks while campaigning in New Hampshire on Aug. 13, 2007. His comments came when he was asked how he would refocus U.S. troops out of Iraq to better fight terrorism.

Watch Obama's remarks here: LINK

"We've gotta get the job done there," said Obama, referring to the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, "and that requires us to have enough troops so that we're not just air raiding villages and killing civilians, which is causing enormous problems there."

The Obama campaign responded to Palin's criticism by standing by the Illinois Democrat's 2007 remarks, directing ABC News to an Associated Press fact check from Aug. 14, 2007 which says of Afghanistan that "Western forces have been killing civilians at a faster rate than the insurgents have been killing civilians."

The McCain campaign slammed Obama for not retracting the "just air raiding villages and killing civilians" remark and instead pointing to data about civilian deaths in Afghanistan.

"Americans have at times questioned Senator Obama's support for American troops because of what were believed to be ill-considered remarks," said McCain spokesman Michael Goldfarb. "The fact that Barack Obama and his campaign would stand by this statement is a stunning admission to the contrary -- Barack Obama actually believes American troops are engaged in war crimes as a matter of routine."

October 3, 2008 in Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (1064)

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Interesting, where she comes from, that disqualifies someone from being commander in chief...Too bad where she comes from is Alaska; so it's irrelevant.

Posted by: Dem4Life | Oct 3, 2008 2:07:41 PM

Actually she agrees with Joe Biden
on that! Go back and check out
the debates!

Posted by: reaganfan | Oct 3, 2008 2:09:10 PM

LOL!!!

She will only talk to FauxNews now...
that's okay...

Palin exceeded expectations only because the bar for her was set inside the rut of a wagon wheel. Biden absolutely dominated on issues and leadership. I encourage everybody to watch the debate again. Clearly, if something were to happen to McCain, Palin would need yet another script to proceed - and as with the last eight years and continuing through the McCain Campaign, it will be written by GOP lobbyists.

Bottom Line: Our own “Six-pack Joe” moved more uncommitted voters to Obama than Palin did for McCain. Score 2 out of 2.

I can't wait for the next Presidential debate!!!!!

Posted by: Libratine | Oct 3, 2008 2:13:31 PM

OMG: She didn't state that when she agreed with bidden. The didn't tell her about their stances very well when she memorize those lines. Give me a break! This lady is way out of her leauge.. Wake UP - THIS CRAP THAT SHE IS PULLING SHE PULLED IN ALASKA – SHE HAS A LACK OF BASIC UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE ISSUES....THEY FELL FOR THE FACADE...COME ON AMERICA WAKE UP............This is Sarah's M.O. and that's Why she felt comfortable..... She's a Manipulator and it's working right under our noses..... She kept turning the TOPIC BACK! She memorized those lines and couldn't pull her thoughts together to counter Bidden.... My family knew more about the topics then she did... We almost throw the Television down the steps because she wouldn't debate..........SHE'S USE TO Manipulations AND USING THE "CUTESY" THING AND IT HAS WORKED FOR HER..........HELL CAN BRITNEY AND JAMIE SPEARS RUN THE NEXT TIME.....I BET THAT WILL ENERGIZE THE PARTY TOO... One thing she did prove she is good at winking, that was not cute at all!

Posted by: Mike_Sharp | Oct 3, 2008 2:14:38 PM

Obama supporters are contributing $16 as nod to the Obama's wedding anniversary today! I just did.

Posted by: Libratine | Oct 3, 2008 2:15:57 PM

Obama isn't qualified to be CIC and shouldn't be. She's right. And for everyone who wants to rip us a new one regarding Gov. Palin's experience, there are as many who feel the same disdain for THEIR TOP of the ticket....you know, what 100% of Americans vote for. The VP's won't matter....it's always top of the ticket.
HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN even BEFORE he chose PALIN.

Posted by: DLM | Oct 3, 2008 2:15:59 PM

“MOTHER OF ALL GAFFES”

Rick Moran of Right Wing Nut House has followed the wars in Lebanon more closely than most bloggers, and Joe Biden’s assertion that the US and France “kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon” has him gasping for breath. Calling it “completely insane”, Rick deconstructs the rest of the answer on this question to seriously challenge whatever credentials Biden claims on foreign policy.

Read more here -
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/03/mother-of-all-gaffes/

Liberal MSM silence on this at 3…2…1 *Cricket*

Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 3, 2008 2:17:13 PM

it is rather pathetic that stating the obvious and complete truth about what is going on pakistan at that time is consider unpatriotic by a set of disllusional, war-mongering duo who believe that american lives and that of its soldiers are above the lives of other citizen of the world. mccain and sarah duo are a grave danger to the world. they will never accept the truth even if it is staring at them in the face. obama only stated the obvious truth as back up by facts.

Posted by: 9ja | Oct 3, 2008 2:17:43 PM

Oh Good God - even top commanders in Afganistan are saying they need more troops and are concerned about civilian deaths. And before she critiques anyone she should get the name of the top commander in Afganistan right.

Caribou Barbie indeed.

Posted by: Ann | Oct 3, 2008 2:17:53 PM

Sarah Palin Is the Reagan Candidate

Friday, October 3, 2008 10:31 AM

By: Ronald Kessler Article

Sarah Palin won the debate with Joe Biden because she came across as the Ronald Reagan candidate.

Like Reagan, Palin projected pride in America, optimism about the future, and determination to reform the government and vanquish our enemies.

Like Reagan, she was at times self-deprecating. Like Reagan, she took a swipe at the mainstream media. And like Reagan, she made it clear she was not afraid to take views contrary to conventional wisdom in Washington.

Posted by: Alice | Oct 3, 2008 2:18:30 PM

Hmm.........

Posted by: Thinking | Oct 3, 2008 2:18:53 PM

She is absolutely right, Obama is not qualified to run the country.


Palin was awesome last night!


Former Clinton supporter for McCain/Palin

Posted by: jeff | Oct 3, 2008 2:18:58 PM

As Palin suggested, Biden’s constant attacks on the Bush administration during the debate did nothing to illuminate what he and Obama would do in the future.

Palin made a convincing case that, when it comes to change, she and McCain have done it. She could have added that Obama has mainly changed his mind. When she referred to Biden’s comment that paying higher taxes is patriotic, Palin illuminated the distinction between her outlook and his.

When it comes to the economic crisis, Palin issued a call to arms that resonates with everyday Americans.

“I think we need to band together and say never again,” she said. “Never will we be exploited and taken advantage of again by those who are managing our money and loaning us these dollars. We need to make sure that we demand from the federal government strict oversight of those entities in charge of our investments and our savings and we need also to not get ourselves in debt.”

Posted by: Alice | Oct 3, 2008 2:19:38 PM

Yeah I agree! She is going to speak to Fox News only now. They will just let her continue talking about those rehearst lines similiar to the convention speech... I want someone to get a little in depth responses from Ms. Cheerleader. She doesn't appear to understand most issues beyond the probable memorized lines from advisers and offered very few specific examples of how a McCain-Palin administration policies

Posted by: Mike_Sharp | Oct 3, 2008 2:19:58 PM

Palin is a heartbeat away being president if McCain dies and I don't think she is qualified either. McCain made a poor decision choosing her, its not too late for her to drop out, McCain can choose Romney as veep.

Posted by: Randy | Oct 3, 2008 2:23:03 PM

Finally!! It's time to put Obama on the defensive for some of the things he has said. Me thinks the tide is turning.

Posted by: Just following along | Oct 3, 2008 2:23:57 PM

Palin - Scares me, her answers to questions are CUCKOO and the folks that are support her is really making America look sick.

Posted by: cuckooforcocopuff | Oct 3, 2008 2:24:22 PM

So now Palin runs to the safety of FOX news...Just curious....when will she appear before Face the Nation, Meet the Press, or ABC This Week programs? As for her statement on Obama....I believe we need to get out of Iraq today period. Americans are sick of this war. Her and McCain can demagogue all they want but have no plans to end a war that should not have taken place to begin with. I am willing to go along with Obama's plan for slow withdrawl over 16 months. McCain has no plan. I believe he truly believes staying in Iraq for 100 years is okay....at $60 billion a year.

Posted by: indy_voter | Oct 3, 2008 2:24:46 PM

They have to go back an entire year to find something to try and light a fire about?

Now who keeps "looking at the past" (or whatever her comments were during the debate last night) Sarah?

And by the way Sarah, if you are going to start talking about Afghanistan, make sure you get the General's last name right.

Posted by: Greg | Oct 3, 2008 2:25:08 PM

Me Thinks She doth protest To Much

Posted by: m.pEASR | Oct 3, 2008 2:25:17 PM

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