Palin To Take Questions From Voters For First Time

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: Sarah Palin

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

(CLEVELAND, OHIO) - For the first time since being named John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin will take questions from voters on Wednesday. Palin will join McCain at a town hall meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a blue state to which the Republicans are devoting a slew of time and energy in the hopes of turning red.

Throughout this election cycle, the economy has been far and away the top issue for voters in Michigan, where General Motors' woes have left a damaging impact on the state as a whole. For that reason, Palin is surely preparing for questions on the impact of the current financial crisis on Wall Street and the overall health of the economy.

Until today, Palin's sparse public schedule has included a series of large rallies but only one national interview shot over two days, no press conferences and no face-to-face interaction with voters aside from shaking hands at rope lines. Palin taped an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity this morning in Cleveland.

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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by demsdebreaks September 18, 2008 5:00 AM EDT: Yep, she took questions from Republican voters at this ticketed event. Guess who got the tickets?; Reply to this comment


by demsdebreaks September 18, 2008 4:08 AM EDT: McCain wants to continue the war in Iraq and possibly go to war with Russia over Georgia (with what army, I''m sure I don''t know). We are borrowing billions of dollars a month from the central banks of China and Japan to finance the war, backed with treasury notes. In addition, our banks are failing right and left. How are we going to pay back all of these loans? I suppose VP Palin would suggest putting our national parks on eBay. These two do NOT get it.; Reply to this comment


by demsdebreaks September 18, 2008 4:05 AM EDT: There''''s more to Sarah Palin than many are giving her credit.

Yes, much more. From all accounts, she runs her political offices on a ''reward your friends and punish your enemies'' platform, that is, when she''s actually in her office. She''s spent about 570 days as governor, and billed the people of Alaska for 312 nights spent at her home 600 miles away. That''s more than half her time away from the capitol. No wonder state and local officials can never get an audience with her.

When I first heard the news, I really thought Troopergate was about an abusive ex-husband. Now I''m becoming more and more convinced that it''s about an abusive ex-sister-in-law. Based upon articles in the New York Times and Washington Post (not exactly tabloid trash papers), she makes *** Cheney look warm and huggable. Unlike Cheney, there is a much better actuarial table likelihood that she would be the president before the end of McCain''s first term. She is not ready to be president.

And this town hall meeting where she took questions? Only 3,500 invitation-only tickets were ISSUED to the Republican faithful. Do you think the questions might have been staged? Hm? Do you?

These two are not mavericks; they''re one trick ponies. Their trick is to get America to vote them into office so they can continue the disastrous Republican policies of the last 8 years that are RUINING our country. Enough!; Reply to this comment


by pastdue1 September 18, 2008 12:50 AM EDT: http://dailysource.org/palin
Look at, read, watch, and pass on; Reply to this comment


by mossy20061 September 17, 2008 10:51 PM EDT: "... while at the same time when Obama stated he thought there were 56 states in America"

First of all he was including the outer lying territories, which was widely appreciated because no one had ever done that before!

"I wonder when Barack "I can''''t speak without a teleprompter" Obama will agree to debate McCain anytime anyplace in townhall style setting?"

Everyone uses a teleprompter you nitwhit! But the difference between Obama and let''s see... Palin, is that he knows how to deviate away from it and speak from memory most of the time because he writes a good portion of his speeches himself. Sarah Palin couldn''t write a speech to save her life, unless it was how best to see Russia from her house.; Reply to this comment


by mossy20061 September 17, 2008 10:50 PM EDT: "... while at the same time when Obama stated he thought there were 56 states in America"

First of all he was including the outer lying territories, which was widely appreciated because no one had ever done that before!

"I wonder when Barack "I can''''t speak without a teleprompter" Obama will agree to debate McCain anytime anyplace in townhall style setting?"

Everyone uses a teleprompter you nitwhit! But the difference between Obama and let''s see... Palin, is that he knows how to deviate away from it and speak from memory most of the time because he writes a good portion of his speeches himself. Sarah Palin couldn''t write a speech to save her life, unless it was how best to see Russia from her house.; Reply to this comment


by itsaname September 17, 2008 7:59 PM EDT: RWH5O wrote: "... who have fallen at the feet of Obama do not see the strength, character and integrity of Sarah Palin."

I haven''t fallen at Obama''s feet, but I don''t see it either. I see a reckless, gutsy woman who simiply isn''t qualified to step into the role of president if necessary.

I was one of those undecided, middle-aged white women whom McCain is trying to attract. When he chose Palin for a running mate, I was no longer an undecided voter. I will be casting my vote for Obama.; Reply to this comment


by mavsreader September 17, 2008 7:55 PM EDT: Tossing the press and American people a biscuit--how thoughtful G.O.P.. Apparently, many are happy snatch it up, hearing the bell.; Reply to this comment


by willywonker2 September 17, 2008 7:16 PM EDT: Sarah Palin spent eight years running a town of 7,000 people. she got elected each time with a total of less than 1000 votes. When she took over the town, it had a surplus. Shen she left it was millions of dollars in debt. A tiny town like that- How?

Palin, Mccains new energy expert, has said Alaska provides 20 percent of the energy America uses. Fact Check: Alaska only provides 3.5 percent of our energy. What''s she''s been smoking for the past eight years?

Obama authored more than 800 pieces of legislation in the Senate. Encluding a bi-partisan bill on ethics reform.; Reply to this comment


by rwh50 September 17, 2008 7:09 PM EDT: There''s more to Sarah Palin than many are giving her credit. To some degree, it is to be expected that those who have fallen at the feet of Obama do not see the strength, character and integrity of Sarah Palin. After all, they''ve been too mesmerized by his rhetorical eloquence to dare look below the surface. If they did, they would realize there''s nothing there worth following.

To the contrary, Sarah Palin has served 6 years as Mayor of Wasilla, AK and 2 years as the Governor of a state that has, within its borders and off its coasts, resources to help America address its dependence on foreign energy sources. That is 8 years of executive experience, actually making decisions and balancing budgets. Obama has 130 "present" votes, 2 memoirs and no significant legislation that he authored to show for his term in the Illinois legislature and his abbreviated time in the Senate.

Obama wants to change from leadership to "smoke and mirrors".; Reply to this comment