Palin Indicates She'll Take Aggressive Approach To VP Debate

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: Sarah Palin

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

(SEDONA, Ariz.) In an interview with conservative radio host Sean Hannity, Sarah Palin gave a hint of what to expect during Thursday's vice presidential debate in St. Louis.

Palin told Hannity that she had been brushing up on Barack Obama and Biden's voting records and has realized "how extremely liberal the other ticket is."

The Republican vice presidential nominee took several swipes at both Democrats on issues ranging from energy independence, the war in Iraq and taxes.

Though Biden will be her opponent in St. Louis, Palin saved the majority of her attacks for Obama, referring to the Democrat's vote to cut off funding for troops in Iraq as "reckless and irresponsible" and "so political." Palin noted that Biden chastised Obama for the Illinois senator's vote on the issue during the Democratic primary battle.

Palin has been sequestered at John McCain's Arizona ranch over the past couple of days, which she has spent conducting mock debates outdoors. If the Hannity interview is any indication, a major part of her debate strategy will be to portray the Democratic ticket as tax and spend liberals.

"When Obama talks about raising taxes on the rich, he doesn't tell Americans that 85 percent of small businesses will be impacted by his tax increases," she said.

Seeming to agree with Hannity's assessment that she has been treated unfairly by the press, Palin blamed the "filter of the mainstream media" for "trying to censor my comments" and said "the state of journalism has changed a bit since I received my degree." She added that she cares deeply about the freedom of the press but wants more accountability.

Asked about the controversy surrounding Thursday's debate moderator Gwen Ifill, who is writing a book scheduled for publication in January called "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama," Palin said she's "not gonna let it be a concern," adding that it's "going to make us work just that much harder."

On the financial crisis, Palin repeated her praise of McCain's leadership and said that although Americans have been "taken advantage of," the crisis should lead to "simple lessons" about personal responsibility, such as saying no to an extra credit card or declining to purchase an unaffordable mortgage.

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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by newslink October 2, 2008 10:42 PM EDT: She will be aggressive alright. I can bet any amount of money. That she will talk about kids, sports and Iraq. I hope Biden take her down another notch. Because she just don''t get it.; Reply to this comment


by seattlesteph October 2, 2008 9:46 PM EDT: Palin''s idea of an ''aggressive approach'' is to come to the debate armed. Who needs an earpiece when a 12 gauge shotgun can take care of business? If sticking to her talking points don''t work, she''ll just shoot Biden. Would Palin then win by default?; Reply to this comment


by truthisgood October 2, 2008 8:46 PM EDT: I heard the interview last night 10/1, and didn''t recognize her voice at first - the woman was talking in complete sentences, for one thing, and seemed to actually be responding to Hannity. Too good to be true? Here''s a thought: Either Hannity gave her the questions in advance, or vice-y versi - I can''t imagine her answering any questions beyond "Would you like fries with that?" in any coherent way.; Reply to this comment


by bmig October 2, 2008 5:36 PM EDT: So a major part of her debate strategy will be to portray Obama as a "tax and spend liberal"? That''s laughable coming from the Republicans who have run up a national debt of close to 10 trillion dollars and practically bankrupted the country in the process. Well bump that up to almost 11 trillion once the bailout is approved. If that''s the kind of damage so called "fiscal conservatives" have done maybe Americans are ready for "tax and spend Liberals". At least the money will be spent in the US instead of on a midde-eastern country that''s overflowing with oil riches. Bah!; Reply to this comment


by dagrandma October 2, 2008 2:38 PM EDT: On the one hand I think Biden needs to be on his toes tonight because Ms. Sarah''s obviously been to obedience school for the past several days and will be on the attack.

On the other hand, that''s an awful short period of time to learn the names of all the major (or any)periodicals as well as the titles of any significant Supreme Court cases. It''s kind of like studying to be a Jeopardy contestant. Hell, maybe Alex Trebek should be the moderator.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 October 2, 2008 1:03 PM EDT: Witchy Poo Sarah is RUDE, SNARKY, and MEAN. Governor Palin deserves everything that%u2019s coming to her in tonight%u2019s debate because she will be attempting to defend the detrimental and disastrous Conservative Agenda.; Reply to this comment


by barbaralexi October 2, 2008 4:35 AM EDT: Oh yeah, I''ll git back to ya, I''m pickin up the kids and headen twards the white house with grandpa. But, but auh first I''m gonna git some magazines and papers to read on. We''re gonna be puttin on a barbacue of cooked bull. And I''m gonna have ta git crammen so I know what to say to the commoner folks I know nothing about. Who knows, Pootin might just outta be there. cause ya never know, who''s who''s gonna show for these things. How''s that for language skills! I think I covered it. Guess who?; Reply to this comment


by barbaralexi October 2, 2008 4:11 AM EDT: How sad it is that plain old folks can''t see blue for being blue. How is it that anyone with even a half a brain can see, Palin has no grasp of the English language. Someone taught her how to say a few big words, and she most willfully super imposes them into just about every sentence speaks. They just forgot to teach her the meaning of the words and without that intellect, it comes out sounding like jibberish. Stupid for the white house is pretty ugly and I''m seeing red! I''m sure she''ll sink the ship on debate day!; Reply to this comment


by notadem October 2, 2008 3:39 AM EDT: A woman who can only talk about sports and get guffaws from one line slingers is not the the type of woman I want representing me or my country. She is not typical, not average, she may be smart, but can not think on her feet- let alone name a newspaper that she reads for current events, or a single Supreme Court ruling she does not like? She is NO typical working mom, billing her state for the 371 days she worked from home, I highly doubt she is wondering how her kids are getting day care, how her mortgage will get paid, how her kids are going to college, how to pay the heating bill- the real nitty gritty details that are putting stress on the "average" American. Come on, I want a VP that is better than me, that is well rounded in WORLD politics, and can have more than back door BBQ small talk. And if being close to Russia and Canada makes her know foreign policy, maybe we should ask the other 14 Governors with States that border Canada and Mexico to jump in.; Reply to this comment


by nobush3rd October 2, 2008 12:55 AM EDT: The country is sick of your snark, Miss Congeniality. Take your tiara and go home, you are an embarrassment to women with brains.; Reply to this comment