From The Road
October 17, 2008 4:34 PM

Palin: "I Know Obama Loves America"

By
Scott Conroy
Topics
Sarah Palin
(CBS)
From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

(MUNCIE, IND.) - Just two weeks ago, she accused him of palling around with a terrorist, but Sarah Palin left no doubt at an impromptu press conference on Friday that she believes the Democratic nominee is acting in what he thinks is in the best interest of the country he loves.

"I know Obama loves America," Palin said on the short flight from Cincinnati to Indianapolis when asked by CBS News whether she thinks the Democratic nominee loves his country as much as she does.

"I'm sure that is why he's running for president. It's because he wants to do what he believes is in the best interest of this great nation. I believe that our ticket can do a better job for America as we reduce taxes and rein in government and allow our private sector and our families to prosper, to grow, and to keep more of what they earn and produce so that they can reinvest according to our own priorities. I think that that is best to get the economy back on track. It's a better agenda for America. But I don't question at all Barack Obama's love for this great country."

Though she continues to hammer Obama on a daily basis on issues ranging from alleged voter registration fraud to taxes, Palin has stopped mentioning Obama's relationship to 1960s radical William Ayers on the stump. The Alaska governor told reporters that it's now up for the public to decide whether that relationship is relevant.

"Well, I think that American voters are understanding that association—that it's OK to talk about fact," she said. "Of course, Barack Obama had been bringing it up, even in challenging John McCain on that, saying if you want to talk about it, talk about it, too, so McCain did that, and the association is out there. It's up now to the people of America to decide whether that association is important enough to them to research and find out more about a person's judgment and truthfulness."

Asked why it was appropriate to question Obama's judgment over his association with Ayers, while John McCain has declared off limits the Illinois senator's relationship with his former pastor Jeremiah Wright, Palin said that the decision to bring up Wright was "up to John McCain to decide." CBS News pointed out that Obama had sat in Rev. Wright's church for 20 years (the senator's relationship with Ayers has been shown to be something far less than a close friendship).

"That's true," Palin said. "He sat in the pews for 20 years and heard Reverend Wright say some things that most people would find a bit concerning. But again that is John McCain's call."

  • Scott Conroy

    Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.

Add a Comment See all 126 Comments
by targaray-2009 October 18, 2008 9:56 PM EDT
The question is does Todd Palin and the rest of the Alaskan Independence Party love America?
Reply to this comment
by sunshine406 October 18, 2008 9:28 PM EDT
DOES SARAH PALIN EVER TELL THE TRUTH? I CAN''T TELL WHAT''S A LIE OR WHAT''S TRUE FROM THIS BIMBO.

BIMBO - a young woman indulged by rich and powerful older men

Fits Sarah perfectly!


Reply to this comment
by fredp089 October 18, 2008 9:24 PM EDT
"Pro-American"? This is exactly why she and her follower must be defeated on Nov 4th. This country cannot stand another 4 years of this divisive political destruction. Sarah, tell me, what areas of America are not "Pro-American"?

I cannot believe anyone of reasonable intelligence would even think of this remark? Vice President? Could be, President? I sure hope to hell not!!!!
Reply to this comment
by white-eagle1 October 18, 2008 6:02 PM EDT
lets drop the 2 party system and vote for individuals then maybe all you cry babies will have nothing to cry about.... "register" "vote" and live with the results.... don''t slander those who have the guts to get up and be heard and run for office
Reply to this comment
by maresy2 October 18, 2008 2:58 PM EDT
To be so cruel & despicable to Sarah Palin because she is an attractive,strong,capable woman & isn''t ashamed of her morals & faith in God shows just how hateful you are.
if you thinks she''s dangerous you''re a pinhead. You should be more afraid of an unpatriotic man who never tells the truth & says he would rather have "I''d like to teach the world to sing" as a national anthem. An
unpatriotic,potential leader who smirks like a boy when he doesn''t like what his opponent says. You call him calm, but he does nothing but yell & tattle on his opponents in his speeches. you are not really listening as he says nothing. Your being sold on his empty charm reminds me of hitler''s audiences-so
dangerously naive.

If your mother agreed with him on his partial birth abortion stance- you might not be here to spew your ugly anti-sarah garbage. this man came out of nowhere with no experience & just a mouthful of empty rhetoric. The truth will be hard to hear when it''s too late. Hopefully McCain /Palin will be elected & we will already have heard it from them and they can get on with the kind of change that will help America- not destroy it.
Reply to this comment
by tomodachi3 October 18, 2008 2:52 PM EDT
And Troopergate? Does she still think that she''''s been cleared of any "hint" of wrongdoing? Has she even actually read the report?
Reply to this comment
by tomodachi3 October 18, 2008 2:50 PM EDT
And where''s the video of this interview? Did the McCain campaign''s "Republican Guard" prevent the press from taping this interview?
Reply to this comment
by jetsetter08 October 18, 2008 1:55 PM EDT
She just can''t seem to rise above the lies and smears.
Reply to this comment
by G H M October 18, 2008 1:44 PM EDT
Alaska why would you vote Palin into office,
It must be the long days in the dark or their is a lot of lead in the water.
Impeach the bimbo!
Reply to this comment
by julez41 October 18, 2008 1:27 PM EDT
Sarah''s a pit bull all right. She grabs onto a subject even if it''s false and just doesn''t let go. If she''s saying Barak Obama is patriotic too then she''s been ordered to do so. That just wouldn''t come naturally to her.
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