Dem: Palin "Cliff-Noted" Her ABC Interview

Four Leading Female Politicos Discuss Qualifications And Media Scrutiny Of GOP Veep Nominee

(CBS)  When asked to characterize Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's qualifications to be the Republican vice presidential nominee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., stated flatly that Palin isn’t ready to be vice president.

"She doesn't know anything," Wasserman Schultz said on CBS' Face The Nation, responding to a charge by a fellow guest, former Mass. Gov. Jane Swift, that Palin has been forced to undergo scrutiny in the media that some would characterize as sexist.

"There shouldn't be a double standard," Swift said. "We shouldn't ask of her questions about her ability to do the job that we wouldn't ask a guy in a similar circumstance.

"But I think that we also have to acknowledge that, because we've had so few women running for these high-level offices, although this is a great year on that front, that we're also not attuned to hearing women's voices and to seeing them in these positions.

"So it may be that we have to be most attuned to not having a double standard, to not asking any female candidate of either party to clear a bar that we wouldn't ask a male candidate in the same situation to clear."

Wasserman Schultz disagreed that Palin has had to meet an unfair standard.

"All Sarah Palin is being asked to respond to is whether she's up to the task," she said. "And it is absolutely fair game. And all I've seen is her being asked about her background, her experience, what qualifies her to be vice president, and whether she knows anything.

"So the tough questions that have been asked of Sarah Palin thus far just have been about the fact that she doesn't know anything and isn't ready to be vice president. That's fair game and it has nothing to do with her gender.

"You're saying she doesn't know anything, or you're saying that's what she's been asked about?" asked host Bob Schieffer.

"Well, she's been asked what she knows," Wasserman Schultz said. "She's been asked to demonstrate her foreign policy knowledge, which she clearly has very little, based on the Charlie Gibson interview. I mean, she didn't know what the Bush doctrine was. She really had almost no grasp of America's foreign policy. She really knew very little about domestic policy.

"Quite honestly, the interview that I saw and that Americans saw on Thursday and Friday were similar to when I didn't read a book in high school and had to read the Cliff Notes and phone in my report. She's 'Cliff-Noted' her performance so far. And all of that is fair game. The American people deserve better than that."

When asked of Palin's qualifications as governor for the number two spot, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Tex,(left), said her foreign policy credentials were less important.

"I think what we're looking for and what the McCain-Palin ticket is talking about is changing the way Washington works. And she does have experience in that for sure.

"She has shaken up Alaska politics. And she has an instinct about reform and ethics that's very, very strong that people in this country are looking for.

"So I think to say that, well, she has very low depth of foreign policy experience - name one governor who has become president who has had in-depth foreign policy experience.

"The fact of the matter is, John McCain has vast foreign policy experience, and he's the candidate for president," said Hutchison.

However, another Governor, Democrat Janet Napolitano of Arizona, said that in the discussion of Palin's credentials it was John McCain's qualifications that were the issue.

"He chose Sarah Palin because she's going to support those views," Napolitano said. "And that's why she shouldn't be the vice president."

---

Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

By CBSNews.com producer David Morgan.

[cdfoxtrot3]

"she has an instinct about reform and ethics". Yeah, that''s for sure. Crazy Palin has fired people who don''t agree with her views and given plum, high paying jobs to her unqualified high school friends. Read the New York Times article. Whacko Palin knows nothing about ethics. And her idea of "reform" is to hire her pals, at the expense of competent people. Sound familiar? Welcome to the third Bush term. Let''s hope there isn''t another Katrina under Crazy Palin''s watch.

[ofbyfor2]

Without doubt, she is simply not qualified.

[elz523]

(CBS)When asked of Palin''s qualifications as governor for the number two spot, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Tex,(left), said her foreign policy credentials were less important.

"I think what we''re looking for and what the McCain-Palin ticket is talking about is changing the way Washington works. And she does have experience in that for sure.

Yes she "for sure" has experience in changing the way Washington works doesn''t she. She has zero experience in how Washington works. It ain''t Anchorage!

Shame on you John McCain, for choosing for putting winning an election ahead of keeping the American people safe!

[keystonebull]

From what I hear Debbie Wasserman Schultz will not be reelected this time. She has made a terrible congress person. The people in her district are wanting change.

[keystonebull]

Palin is as qualified as Obama or Biden. She is qualified to be President. Probably what we need is a person to come in without any Washington experience. They seem to make the best Presidents. You libs are really upset because you have fallen behind in the polls.

[ofbyfor2]

You libs are really upset because you have fallen behind in the polls.

Posted by KeystoneBull at 05:37 PM : Sep 14, 2008

No, we''re actually more concerned about putting ''Country First''. No way is Palin qualified to be POTUS.

[alanrobisch]

It would seem that this interview proved virtually nothing other than that if you are a democrat you dislike her and if you are a republican you like her. By the way a recent say today shows 50% of voters support John McCain. This was done by rasmussen.

Also I thought the contest was between McCain and Obamma. Have they left the stage and Palin is running against who?

[marshall65]

Sen. Hutchison sure tried to dodge the bullet on her response. If you read it, it really doesn''t make any sense. As if she was mumbling something to herself. She''s a sharp and respected senator so it had to bug her to respond to any question about Palin. If Palin lacks all knowledge of foreign policy, she is a danger to the country. Give her four more years of learning but then she will always be overly ambitious. She''s ready-doesn''t mean prepared but ready to assume control of the earth if it is offered to her.

[alanrobisch]

No, we''''re actually more concerned about putting ''''Country First''''. No way is Palin qualified to be POTUS.

Posted by ofbyfor2 at 05:40 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ report abuse

She isn''t running for president. John McCain is.

[strangeworld]

It should be clear by now to everyone that Sarah Palin is exactly the same kind of secretive, controlling, unethical politician that the republicans have been bringing to the table since 1980. When you set aside the hype and BS from the McCain camp and actually look at her vindictive personality and "accomplishments", you quickly come to the realization that the emperor has no clothes - she''s a RNC molded hollow facade who would be a disaster as VP or God forbid, our president. Be realistic folks...if someone chose a male VP candidate who had as little background, experience, etc., as Mrs. Palin, the guy would be going through a lot more scrutiny about his background, etc., than she''s been subject to - the RNC is counting on the media backing off of her because of her gender and use cries of sexism each time that Palin is revealed to be something less than the McCain camp claims she is.

[alanrobisch]

Give her four more years of learning but then she will always be overly ambitious. She''''s ready-doesn''''t mean prepared but ready to assume control of the earth if it is offered to her.

Posted by Marshall65 at 05:43 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ report abuse

Fascinating What makes her overly ambitious?

[notfooled]

The Rep''s are in quite a state. McCain who''s not sure how many houses he owns or which country borders another in the middle-east and Palin who didn''t know the Bush doctrine and apparently hires old school chums for jobs that require experts.

I can''t see how either of them are qualified to run this country.

We''ve had 8 years of substandard, some would say criminal leadership. We don''t want more of the McSame.

[marshall65]

"You libs are really upset because you have fallen behind in the polls." The first response you got is spot on. The people who are concerned about Obama not winning are a cross-section of every idelogical-philosophical viewpoint in this country. We want the country to take a turn back towards its greatness with an eye to a future that offers hope and possibilities for everyone. The people who will vote for McCain either do not give a d#mn about the country or are just blind to the fact that it will be a third world nation if McCain takes the presidency.

[alanrobisch]

the RNC is counting on the media backing off of her because of her gender and use cries of sexism each time that Palin is revealed to be something less than the McCain camp claims she is.

Posted by Strangeworld at 05:45 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ report abuse

I guess this is a strange world. Obamma certainly does not have the experience to be president, but this seems to get by you. He also has spent the little time he has had as senator working to become president. His chief plus an ability to give great speeches and for dems he is a liberal

[aladent]

Scheiffer said "give wasserman schultz "a chance to get a word in, here". Sheesh, she was talking over the republicans,as was Napalitano, all during the show. Come on, Bob. Go back and check it out! How rude of them to do that. And, how rude of you to let them do it.

[erichsh]

"All Sarah Palin is being asked to respond to is whether she''s up to the task," she said....

Has ANY MSM outlet ever asked that basic question to the man at the TOP of the Democratic ticket?

And besides, Gibson already directly asked that question of Palin.

[pakaal]

Palin? I care about as much about her as I do Biden, ''cause the race is between Obama and McCain. And frankly, that is about as lopsided a match as you can get. Poor McCain, he still has to actually stand on stage and try and debate Obama!

[texannodnc]

How HILARIOUS! The DNC candidate for PRESIDENT has ZEROOOOOOOOOOOOO, ZIPPPPPPPPPPPPP, NONEEEEEEEEEEEEE, NADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, ZILCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH foreign policy experience!!!

[alanrobisch]

e''''ve had 8 years of substandard, some would say criminal leadership. We don''''t want more of the McSame.

Posted by notfooled at 05:47 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ repor

good you have memorized democratic talking points. McCain has a much different life history than our
present potus and he is his own man. He isn''t a repeat. You want to claim he is so you can''t claim he is the cause of our current problems, but so far this hasn''t sold with the voters.

[nmiller17]

Geez, does it matter that Palin has yet to lead a population larger than any medium-sized town? I''m from NC and Charlotte has a bigger population than the entire state of Alaska. All you people who love her because she reminds you of yourself, need to take a look in the mirror. Unless you think YOU are qualified too, she isn''t either. I don''t have anything against her and think she has a bright future, but to say she is ready NOW is delusional to say the least.

[mycomment1]

The people who will vote for McCain either do not give a d#mn about the country or are just blind to the fact that it will be a third world nation if McCain takes the presidency.
Posted by Marshall65 at 05:48 PM : Sep 14, 2008

Don''t you just love the hysterical ranting of dems when they are scared.

[alanrobisch]

he people who will vote for McCain either do not give a d#mn about the country or are just blind to the fact that it will be a third world nation if McCain takes the presidency.

Posted by Marshall65 at 05:48 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ report abuse

Do you have to resort to stupid exaggerations to attack McCain. I have noticed that many Obamma posters don''t tell us why we should vote for their candidate but attack the other with venom based on nothing.

[marshall65]

"Fascinating What makes her overly ambitious?"......The fact that she would take a position that she is absolutely not qualified to take and put the lives of millions at risk. Ambition and pride override common sense and humility. That''s another interesting point, she says she''s a Christian, practicing Christians are genuinely humble. She definitely is not.

[alanrobisch]

Palin? I care about as much about her as I do Biden, ''''cause the race is between Obama and McCain. And frankly, that is about as lopsided a match as you can get. Poor McCain, he still has to actually stand on stage and try and debate Obama!

Posted by pakaal at 05:51 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ report abuse

Yeah he spent 30 yrs in the senate as successful senator in which he had to advocate for many bills and has his name on important bi-partisan bills but yeah he''s going to be shredded. In a pigs eye

[mycomment1]

I don''''t have anything against her and think she has a bright future, but to say she is ready NOW is delusional to say the least.
Posted by nmiller17 at 05:52 PM : Sep 14, 2008

Funny but that''s what repubs have been saying about Obama for the last year. We were called racist when we brought up that point.

[nmiller17]

One question unrelated to this story but that I haven''t heard anyone answer yet. Has anyone else wondered about the timing of the birth of her oldest son, Trac? Not just 1 media outlet, but all of them, have reported that Trac was born 8 months after she and Todd eloped. Not that I particularly care, but the combination of the elopement and the birth 8, not 9, months later make a person go "hmmmmmm".

Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy had it right. McCain''s choice of Palin was "cynical" and "gimmicky." McCain sold his soul when he hired the Bush/Rove operatives to run his campaign. It proves he is not a leader, he has to be lead.

[notfooled]

Do you have to resort to stupid exaggerations to attack McCain. I have noticed that many Obamma posters don''t tell us why we should vote for their candidate but attack the other with venom based on nothing.
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 05:54 PM : Sep 14, 2008

Sounds exactly like the Rep''s game plan alright - anything but talking about the last 8 failed years or the issues at hand.

Now that Palin is under the microscope the Rep''s cry foul. I geuss that''s what you get for trying to buy the women vote with a hick from the sticks.

[alanrobisch]

That''''s another interesting point, she says she''''s a Christian, practicing Christians are genuinely humble. She definitely is not.

Posted by Marshall65 at 05:54 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ report abuse

That''s interesting since advertising for Obama speaks of him as the one. Gee talk about arrogance. I even read a piece critical of his arrogance and he is a practicing Christian. It also pointed out quite correctly that it takes a degree of arrogance to believe one has the qualifications to be president.

[shanev137]

I''m glad women are finally ripping Palin.

Other than stay at home hockey moms, most women in this country are smart, liberated and career-minded and aren''t going to vote for a backwater ultra-right wing nutjob who wants to take woman''s rights back to the 1950''s.

[alanrobisch]

ow that Palin is under the microscope the Rep''''s cry foul. I geuss that''''s what you get for trying to buy the women vote with a hick from the sticks.

Posted by notfooled at 05:57 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ report abuse

You just proved my point using hick from the sticks. I guess A Lincoln would certainly have qualified. I support McCain because he is conservative and he shares my values and will be able to rein in a democratic congress which would cut and run from Iraq and tax the American public into oblivion.

[trillion1]

The closer we get to Nov. the screwier the rightwing arguments will get. I don''t know any Obama supporters who are really worried about mccain winning. mccain has shown himself to be out of touch, short tempered and like bush surounds himself with lobbists and sycophants.

[notfooled]

Republicans minds have decided who they will vote for in the election. Democrats have decided who they will vote for in the election.

So what is there to debate?

Posted by BajaJohn1 at 05:59 PM : Sep 14, 2008

I''m geussing that some of us that are neither Rep nor Dem are trying to get those that are to wake up and see the light.

We just can''t afford more of the failed and corrupt Rethuglican "values."

[shanev137]

I support McCain because he is conservative and he shares my values and will be able to rein in a democratic congress which would cut and run from Iraq and tax the American public into oblivion.


-----------


How do you propose how we should pay for the $10 trillion dollar debt you''ve racked up in the last 8 years?

Republicans.....conservative......myass.

[alanrobisch]

Other than stay at home hockey moms, most women in this country are smart, liberated and career-minded and aren''''t going to vote for a backwater ultra-right wing nutjob who wants to take woman''''s rights back to the 1950''''s.

Posted by shanev137 at 06:01 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ report abus

Speak for yourself it would seem that many women who supported Hillary are now voting for McCain. She attracts working class whites both men and women. Also note the power of VP is virtually nothing so the fear tactic is ludicrous. Get over it our first female VP will probably be a republican

[nmiller17]

Funny but that''''s what repubs have been saying about Obama for the last year. We were called racist when we brought up that point.
posted by Mycomment1 at 05:57 PM : Sep 14, 2008

Yes, well there are a few differences. Obama has traveled the world and has had his passport for more than 6 months. Obama got his undergrad from Colombia, and was the President of the Law Review at Harvard. Sarah went...let''s see....to about 4 different schools, none of them noteworthy, leaving at least one because she didn''t like the weather. Obama was a community organizer in a city with 5x the population of the state of Alaska. Yes, that''s right...Chicago alone has 3 million residents. He represented the state of Illinois, and was elected to the US Senate. Most importantly, and I suspect this will become obvious in the debates with McCain, he actually KNOWS what he''s talking about and doesn''t need to parrot answers based on key words given to him by people helping him "cram" for an exam. If Palin can''t hold her own with a reporter like Charlie Gibson, and people like you are going to cry fowl and say he was "mean", I can''t wait to see what happens when someone like Putin gets hold of her. You''ve got to be kidding me....

[erichsh]

I QUESTION SARA PALIN''S JUDGMENT AND THINK SHE IS UNQUALIFIED TO BE VICE PRESIDENT BASED ON HER FLAWED JUDGMENT.

Posted by jMcGilvray

Can you believe ths clown? In his view, Palin''s "poor judgment" is that she did NOT have an abortion. Yeah, go abort the baby - that''s good judgment for ya! And if she DID - all you libs would be screaming about how heartless she his, killing her own baby! Beyond belief.

[paris1969]

Napolitano was against Hillary too ... I don''t think she really likes women in bigger positions than she herself is in. She''s kind of like McCaskill ... for Obama even though he has less experience than Palin ... and for he''s running for President!!

[zhynaryll]

I seriously doubt that Ms. Waterman-Shultzy has a clue about the so-called ''Bush Doctrine''. Last I heard, there were actually 4, and none were ever written down as such. So, did she know herself what they were, or is she the one using Cliff (Dim) Notes? Amazing how these talking head Dims hew to The One''s line, isn''t it?

[alanrobisch]

It also takes intelligence and tolerance to be a VP. Not just having a view of Russia in your front yard.

Posted by Mel130ny at 06:03 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ report ab

Try again. You don''t get to choose one from column a and one from column B. I suspect that you have already decided to vote democratic and you would have attacked her for this reason alone. Calling her lacking in intelligence speaks to your own snobbery. I

[samthetvcat]

---"She doesn''t know anything," Wasserman Schultz"---

There seems to me to be two tiers of women Dems:

A-Team: Diane Sawyer, Hillary Clinton, Whoopie Goldberg

B-Team: Campbell Brown, Wasserman-Schultz, Tina Fey

The B-Team are who are causing all the problems for the ''media''. I think it''s immaturity because I''ve got the same problem trying to channel my thoughts into more dignified equanimity.

(Although they kept Tina Fey on a short leash last night which raised her up to the A-team level.)

Oh well, live and learn . . .

[shanev137]

it would seem that many women who supported Hillary are now voting for McCain.

---------


Other than having a ***....go ahead and tell me what Palin and Hillary have in common.

[p-syrus]

She isn''''t running for president. John McCain is. Posted by alanrobisch2

You have a grave misconception of the vice presidency. It has EXACTLY the same requirements as for the presidency PRECISELY because the vice president has to assume the office of president in the event that the president is unable to fulfil its responsibilities.

In the case of John McCain this is NOT a "hypothetical question" as he is of advanced age AND has already experienced 4 bouts of cancer not to mention other health issues.

Selecting Palin is an egregious error in judgement on the part of McCain equivalent to the Admiral of the Fleet selecting a rank ensign as his vice admiral.

Clearly a poor choice occasioned by political grasping not the benefit of the country.

[samthetvcat]

PS I don''t know if Diane Sawyer is a Dem - I''ve never been able to tell her party affiliation . . . she''s amazing . . .

[paris1969]

gun_tower wrote: "Here''''''''s the TRUTH:"
... where? .. you didn''t include the truth in your message.

[alanrobisch]

Here''''''''s the TRUTH:

Obama''''''''s tax plan gives relief to the middle class and will jumpstart the economy.

McCain''''''''s plan puts a NEW TAX on the middle class and gives more tax breaks to the rich.

Now who do you want in the Oval Office?


Posted by gun_tower at 06:06 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ report abuse

Lets see you are obviously wrong since McCain supports the bush tax cuts which included reducing the taxes on the middle class.

[shanev137]

COME ON!!!!

SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT PALIN AND HILLARY HAVE IN COMMON. LOL

YOU CHICKENS!!!

[bookout2]

Debbie Smasserman you are a real suck*ss to Barack
Obama. You have lost all of your credibility, that
is, if you ever had any.
Boy, here comes not the dirt, but the mud slinging.

[shanev137]

Osama so desperate because Sarah Palin is more qualified than him?

----

How many rape kits did Obama make rape victims pay for in his state?

You mean those kind of qualifications?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080912/ap_on_el_pr/palin_rape_kits

[alanrobisch]

Other than having a ***....go ahead and tell me what Palin and Hillary have in common.


Posted by shanev137 at 06:09 PM : Sep 14, 2008
+ report abuse

You got it Sarah Palin is much more like the people that are voting for her. Hillary is an elitist. A woman I know feels that she can empathize with the struggles of being a mom and handling a job at the same time. She would have voted for Hillary if nominated.