Palin Opens Up On Controversial Issues

VP Candidate Speaks Frankly With Katie Couric About Feminism, Homosexuality, Abortion And The Environment

(CBS)  As they gear up for the one and only vice presidential debate on Thursday night in St. Louis, candidates Joe Biden and Sarah Palin spent part of today prepping - separately, of course. Before the debate preps, CBS News anchor Katie Couric spent some time with Alaska's Gov. Palin on the campaign trail. And in an exclusive interview, she spoke frankly about a number of controversial issues - including at least one disagreement with her running mate, Sen. John McCain. Read an unedited transcript of all the answers to Couric's questions that were broadcast Sept. 30.

---

The day began early. After being briefed by her staff, Sarah Palin heads out with her 14-year-old daughter Willow in tow.

"So nice to meet you," CBS News anchor Katie Couric said to Willow.

At 8 a.m., Palin hit the ground running - accompanied by Couric.

"Do you have any down-time, though?" Couric asked Palin.

"I get to go running every day, which is my sanity," Palin said. "Sweat is my sanity."

First, a photo-op with hotel staff.

Then it's off to the McCain campaign plane, where CBS News was invited up front to ask a handful of questions. Couric asked Palin whether she considers herself a feminist.

"I do," Palin said. "I'm a feminist who, uh, believes in equal rights and I believe that women certainly today have every opportunity that a man has to succeed, and to try to do it all, anyway. And I'm very, very thankful that I've been brought up in a family where gender hasn't been an issue. You know, I've been expected to do everything growing up that the boys were doing. We were out chopping wood and you're out hunting and fishing and filling our freezer with good wild Alaskan game to feed our family. So it kinda started with that."

Before a rally in Columbus, Ohio, the candidates sat down with Couric for their first joint interview, where Couric and Palin focused on energy policy.

Couric: Gov. Palin, almost every expert says it will take about 10 years for domestic drilling to have an impact on consumers. So isn't the notion of "drill, baby, drill" a little misleading to people who think this will automatically lower their gas prices, and quickly?

Palin: And it's why we should have started 10 years ago tapping into domestic supplies that America is so rich in. Alaska has billions of barrels of oil and hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of clean, green natural gas onshore and off-shore. Should have started doing it 10 years ago, but better late than never. It's gotta be an all-of-the-above approach to energy independence.

Couric: Gov. Palin, I know you'd like to see drilling take place in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And Sen. McCain, you oppose this. You call it, quote: "one of the most pristine and beautiful parts of the world."

McCain: Uh huh.

Couric: Who's right?

McCain: Did you expect two mavericks to agree on - (laughter) to agree on everything? Look, I …we just have, we'll be talking more and more about this issue. We do agree on the off-shore drilling and other means of limiting our dependence on foreign oil. But for us to agree on everything would make us, I think, a little boring. You can … say a lot about us, but we're anything but boring.

Palin has brought plenty of energy to the campaign, attracting huge, enthusiastic crowds, like one at Capital University.

Her trademark feistiness is on display as she delivers a punchy sound bite about her rival, Joe Biden.

"I'm looking forward to meeting him, too. I've never met him before. But I've been hearing about his Senate speeches since I was in, like, second grade," she said at a campaign rally.

Couric: You have a 72-year-old running mate - is that kind of a risky thing to say, insinuating that Joe Biden's been around a while?

Palin: Oh no, it's nothing negative at all. He's got a lot of experience and just stating the fact there, that we've been hearing his speeches for all these years. So he's got a tremendous amount of experience and, you know, I'm the new energy, the new face, the new ideas and he's got the experience.

Couric: And when it comes to establishing your worldview, I was curious, what newspapers and magazines did you regularly read before you were tapped for this to stay informed and to understand the world?

Palin: I've read most of them, again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media.

Couric: What, specifically?

Palin: Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years.

Couric: Can you name a few?

Palin: I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news, too. Alaska isn't a foreign country, where it's kind of suggested, "Wow, how could you keep in touch with what the rest of Washington, D.C., may be thinking when you live up there in Alaska?" Believe me, Alaska is like a microcosm of America.

Then it's off to the bus where Palin sits down for a wide-ranging interview.

Couric: What's your position on global warming? Do you believe it's man-made or not?

Palin: Well, we're the only Arctic state, of course, Alaska. So we feel the impacts more than any other state, up there with the changes in climates. And certainly, it is apparent. We have erosion issues. And we have melting sea ice, of course. So, what I've done up there is form a sub-cabinet to focus solely on climate change. Understanding that it is real. And …

Couric: Is it man-made, though in your view?

Palin: You know there are - there are man's activities that can be contributed to the issues that we're dealing with now, these impacts. I'm not going to solely blame all of man's activities on changes in climate. Because the world's weather patterns are cyclical. And over history we have seen change there. But kind of doesn't matter at this point, as we debate what caused it. The point is: it's real; we need to do something about it.

Couric: If a 15-year-old is raped by her father, do you believe it should be illegal for her to get an abortion, and why?

Palin: I am pro-life. And I'm unapologetic in my position that I am pro-life. And I understand there are good people on both sides of the abortion debate. In fact, good people in my own family have differing views on abortion, and when it should be allowed. Do I respect people's opinions on this. Now, I would counsel to choose life. I would also like to see a culture of life in this country. But I would also like to take it one step further. Not just saying I am pro-life and I want fewer and fewer abortions in this country, but I want them, those women who find themselves in circumstances that are absolutely less than ideal, for them to be supported, and adoptions made easier.

Couric: But ideally, you think it should be illegal for a girl who was raped or the victim of incest to get an abortion?

Palin: I'm saying that, personally, I would counsel the person to choose life, despite horrific, horrific circumstances that this person would find themselves in. And, um, if you're asking, though, kind of foundationally here, should anyone end up in jail for having an … abortion, absolutely not. That's nothing I would ever support.

Couric: Some people have credited the morning-after pill for decreasing the number of abortions. How do you feel about the morning-after pill?

Palin: Well, I am all for contraception. And I am all for preventative measures that are legal and save, and should be taken, but Katie, again, I am one to believe that life starts at the moment of conception. And I would like to see …

Couric: And so you don't believe in the morning-after pill?

Palin: ... I would like to see fewer and fewer abortions in this world. And again, I haven't spoken with anyone who disagrees with my position on that.

Couric: I'm sorry, I just want to ask you again. Do you not support or do you condone or condemn the morning-after pill.

Palin: Personally, and this isn't McCain-Palin policy …

Couric: No, that's OK, I'm just asking you.

Palin: But personally, I would not choose to participate in that kind of contraception.

Couric: Do you believe evolution should be taught as an accepted scientific principle or as one of several theories?

Palin: Oh, I think it should be taught as an accepted principle. And, as you know, I say that also as the daughter of a school teacher, a science teacher, who has really instilled in me a respect for science. It should be taught in our schools. And I won't deny that I see the hand of God in this beautiful creation that is Earth. But that is not part of the state policy or a local curriculum in a school district. Science should be taught it science class.

The governor told us though she's not a member of any church, she visits a couple of them regularly when she's home. She took issue with news reports that one of them, The Wasilla Bible Church, sponsored a conference where gays could be made straight through prayer.

Palin: Well, it matters though, Katie, when the media gets it wrong. It frustrates Americans who are just trying to get the facts and … be able to make up their mind on, about a person's values. So it does matter.

But what you're talking about, I think, value here, what my position is on homosexuality and you can pray it away, because I think that was the title that was listed on that bulletin. And you know, I don't know what prayers are worthy of being prayed. I don't know what's prayers are going to be asked and answered. But as for homosexuality, I am not going to judge Americans and the decisions that they make in their adult personal relationships. I have one of my absolute best friends for the last 30 years happens to be gay, and I love her dearly. And she is not my "gay friend," she is one of my best friends, who happens to have made a choice that isn't a choice that I have made. But I am not going to judge people.

People may judge her after Thursday's debate, where she'll be unfiltered and unedited - something reporters complain the campaign has resisted.

Palin: The campaign knows that I am an open book. My record is out there and my life is out there.

[mortonredner]

Anybody can report the news. But the perceptions you brought out in your most recent interview with Sarah Palin are what we really want to know about the candidates. Go Katie!

[holdenlitgo]

He''s boring, she''s snide. Together they pretty much add up to a snide cipher. And having grown up there, Alaska is anything but a "microcosm" of anything. We''re tired of them already and they''ll only take us deeper into the abyss that Bush has pushed us into.

[jackieprep]

Katie your interview with Sarah Palin looks more like a comdey show and Sarah as Chrissy Snow from Three''s Company. It must be embarrassing for the people of Alaska to watch their Govenor look and sound like a complete idiot to the world. Looking and knowing McCain wouldn''t last a month as President just think Sarah would be President. Yes Sarah would say if we were attacked or our Economy would go into a second Depression Sarah''s only anwer would be " I''ll get back to you" or " can I call my life line".

[rookieat65]

Typical Catie. Ask the same question over and over hoping for a different answer. Wiser and wiser Palin learning political talk.
Will Catie ever hold Bidens feet to the fire or will she continue to "help" him along? "You mean OVER $250K" when Biden said increased taxes on the bus interview.

[gypsyzingaro]

I feel dumber have heard her speak.

She''s a feminist? Her "best" friend CHOSE to be gay?

Can you be ProLife and a big game hunter? A hunter of anything?

what is this world coming to?

[mutantdog]

Thank you thank you thank you, Ms. Couric, for not just blithely accepting evasive answers, as so many interviewers of candidates do. And thank you for asking questions of import about her positions and beliefs.

Your interviews have been virtually the only real unabashed insight we as the public have been able to extract from this candidate. I just wanted to express my appreciation and my gladness at seeing a journalist execute their function properly, professionally, and with integrity in such important interviews.

[wevehadenuf]

Yeah right feminist Sarah...thats why you have done nothing to fight for womens issues, equal pay for women for example? Katie please start asking these questions! What has she done? When is this freakshow going to end? This woman can''t even hold her own without a bun hairstyle...no more interviews! The woman has had chance after chance to come up with an intelligent answer, forget it! It''s not happening. Another thing, if your for contraception, was it a wise choice to have 5 kids while pursuing a career in politics?! Sarah''s best friend is gay! Sure!

[kiwinioe]

Now that the Supreme Court exchange is generally known, it is the responsible thing to release both footage and transcript. Hiding it only leads to misinformation or inaccurate speculation and reflects poorly on CBS as a news organization.

[shanev137]

Geez....another Katie Couric interview?

Do I even want to read it or listen to it?

Has Palin got any better at not looking and sounding like a total dimwit yet?

[mailani808]

Sarah Palin is so amazingly superficial with absolutely NO DEPTH. Her supporters know it, too. They are so far in denial it is silly except for the fact that actuarial data indicate McCain has a 37% chance of dying in office and we will all suffer the consequences of this idiot leading our country. WAKE UP AMERICA! WE ARE IN A DEEP CRISIS DOMESTICALLY AND ABROAD. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS PALIN MORON ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WASHINGTON!!!

[smurfcrusher]

"It would appear that, according to Katie Couric, the great American pastime is not baseball, but in fact it is - killing unborn babies.
Just how many babies to you think should be killed, Katie?
Do you feel it is important to have any and all means available to you to kill a child?
Do you think it is a fundamental right of women to commit murder of unborn children?
Is this what is most important to Liberals these days? Murder in the name of "feminism"?
Why did you mother not abort you, Katie?"

Posted by OneAmerican6

Here we go again. The Jesus Freaks are coming out of the woodwork.

They found a real champion in Palin - along with the rapists, and committers of incest, who previously didn''t have a politician to champion their reproductive rights.
The Jesus Freaks won''t be satisfied until the whole of the planet is teeming with unwanted children of rapists, with no resources or way to feed them.

Of course, they lust for Armageddon, and anything they can do to get their fantasy elevator ride in the heavens is just fine by them.

[wevehadenuf]

I think Sarah should lead a geography awareness movement. Points of discussion would include states and borders,which states are located where and which borders they touch and how this relates to foreign policy and healthcare and the economy.

[mullatojo]

Every time I see and/or hear Sarah Palin I can''t help but wonder if she''s really that dumb or whether she''s putting on an act to woo Rednecks.

[madkeyra2]

Sarah Palin reminds me of a 5th grader who is unsure of speaking properly. Always using their hands, as a sign of frustration, trying to get the right words out. Sarah Palin is disappointment. This woman will repeat the same sentence in 4 different ways. Sarah Palin acts as if she needs to build up her vocabulary. Watching Sarah Palin during an interview is troubling because she''s running as VP. This woman can''t speak, she doesn''t know what to say and these are simple questions, my 7 year old daughter could give a better answer than Palin.

[allisongayle]

Only real hardcore liberals could not like Sarah Palin. The more interviews she does, the more comfortable she gets giving them, the more natural she is, the more real she is. Folks, you cannot deny it... she is real. She connects with a whole lot of Americans in a very real way. You liberals can keep denying this if you''d like, but a whole lot of voters vote on the candidate that they connect with the most. That is why George Bush won two elections... because there were moments in each of his two campaigns where he seemed to genuinely connect with the voter in a real and personal way. If the economy improves by November 4th, then Barack Obama will need to find a way to achieve that same type of connection, or he will lose this election.

[mailani808]

They are not real Jesus Freaks. They are purveyors of hypocrisy. Real Christians do not spew the hatred and disdain these phony people do. They claim to be Christians and oppose abortion (which I understand) but then they turn around and say "why didn%u02BBt your mother abort you?" What perfect hypocrisy that is. They supported George Bush, who in the name of religion, started an unprovoked war on lies then castigated those that opposed him. Meanwhile, hundred of thousands died in Iraq, in the name of what? Now they want to do it all over again with McCain/Palin. More lies, more killing, more ripping off the American taxpayer - all blinded by wedge politics and singular issues like abortion. If these people prevail, this country will continue its downward slide lubricated by the hypocrisy of these red state ditto heads.

[madkeyra2]

I don''t care what anybody says, Sarah Palin is not going to do a good job because she doesn''t know how to speak. Sarah Palins brain is on one of those icebergs in Alaska. Its on Ice. If Sarah Palin doesn''t understand the question she''ll say anything. That is so junior highschool.

[thisandthat1]

YIKES! She''s a journalism major and can''t name even one newspaper or magazine that she''s read over the years to stay in touch with the world? Get the popcorn ready on Thursday night, folks .... this is gonna be good!

[madkeyra2]

At one point I wanted Sarah Palin to be interviewed but now, please no more interviews. This woman is a total nut job. She doesn''t know anything. She can''t give a straight answer on anything. She couldn''t even say what newspaper she reads. What the hell is wrong with her?

[bnimble603]

Spare us, Sarah!!!! Your 15 minutes of McFame will end shortly. Instead of garbling your speech and "field dressing" the truth, you will be able to return to your moose blind and wait to play war games with Bullwinkle!

[thisandthat1]

I have a feeling that Thursday night will be the beginning of the end for her as a VP nominee. I think by Sunday ... Repubs are going to be screaming for her to step aside.

[madkeyra2]

kk

[madkeyra2]

I don''t know what the Mccain campaign is telling her because she comes out as if she didn''t say anything wrong. I''m starting to think how did she become the governor of Alaska?

[madkeyra2]

Palin just isn''t ready for prime time. She doesn''t know about national or many issues.

[xraydude2000]

Did anyone get the part at the end where she states that homosexuality is a choice? That''s why they are sinners- because it''s a choice that they have made and the reason why you can choose to "pray the gay away".

[xraydude2000]

How can anyone say they support the troops and vote for Palin. Could you honestly say you''re alright with her possibly leading your sons and daughters in battle in the middle east which she has no understanding of? With her commanding General Patraeus?

I was in the Army and I''d be terrified if she were my commander. It''s easy for people to say in the comfort of their homes here in America that they would vote for her just because they like her. COME ON PEOPLE! We have a duty to our troops to pick the BEST Commander based on intelligence and ability!

[hoomyaj]

If she talks like a milf, and walks like a milf then.. she must be a milf.. wait that wasnt the question...sorry i misread, im admitting i made the mistake there. other than milf like qualities, she has none.

[yongamerica]

Sarah Palin is more closely associated to Tammy Fey Baker than to any other female. Right down to the makeup on her pitbull face.

This nation cannot tolerate a deep woods country bunpkin, an Alaskan Hillbilly, anywhere near the political powers of Washington DC.

Caribou Barbie should pack her makeup bag and resign. There are certainly better qualified female Republicans than her and it is an absolute insult and disgrace that the powers that be chose this bimbo over far superior choices.

[xraydude2000]

I don''t know if the best COMMANDER would be McCain or Obama or Biden. I think any of them would be good. I just know that it''s certainly not Palin and she must not be in a position where she could possibly become the Commander in Chief of our entire military. This is incredibly dangerous and arrogant of McCain to put our country in this situation. Also disrespectful of all the troops he says he supports.

[toby2957]

At the end of Bill Clinton''s presidency we had the highest budget surplus in our nation''s history. Now, eight years of near total Republican rule and we have an economy in the toilet, and endless war, spiraling debt, home values evaporating, record fuel, food and heating costs, massive financial institutions failing and collapsing and then being paid for by corporate welfare through taxpayer funds, and the neocons STILL try to blame the democrats. These are the facts. It''s just so incredibly pathetic.

McSame/Palin''s platform is the radical right wing agenda. McSame is no longer McCain, he''s completely reverted to type, and Palin is scary beyond all belief. She''ll be rolling around on the oval office floor speaking in "tongues". It is quite simply not possible to be patriotic American and vote for McSame. The ONLY reason anyone might want to vote for McSame is if they hate minorities and/or want to advance a radical religious agenda (Much like Iraq has done in their government).

Stop the hate. Be a patriot. Vote Obama/Biden 2008!

[earshot46]

Katie, well its been a long time since I''ve been here, but I thought this might be a good time to let ya in on something......YOU HAVE ARRIVED GIRL!!:) Your latest interviews have been fantastic! A while back when you first started CBS, I was so disappointed that you had left NBC Today show. I was the one who critiqued What in the heck is Katie wearing? And I wrote to you quite a bit. I thought Matt should have gone to Monday Night Football, and oh my Merideth taking your place....NO WAY!
I still havent gotten used to her....but see, Katie, I told you things would get better for you! And no, Im not one of those people who pretends to really know you...just the you I see on TV.
But, Your work shows wonderful integrity and the true Katie is coming through loud and clear now!!
Keep up the GOOD WORK KATIE! I knew you could do it!
Sincerely, Ann D.:)

[sheppdog69]

Palin: The campaign knows that I am an open book. My record is out there and my life is out there.
Wow where is the accountability for her Alaska abuse of power?
Her nepotism? May be de bunked but can''t be without cooperation.

This woman is vapid shrewd and vicious...IGNORANT and dangerous.Same GOP since Nixon.

Katie you have won me over as a thinking informed pro.
KUDOS

[andor3]

what is scarier than a radical right wing person who suddenly avoids giving straight answers or pretends to back away from her entire history of thought and action...

[globalzgramm]

Re Thisandthat1. You said:
I have a feeling that Thursday night will be the beginning of the end for her as a VP nominee. I think by Sunday ... Repubs are going to be screaming for her to step aside.
---
The problem is that the Republican Party has insisted on VERY short answer periods, in order to protect her from making an absolute idiot out of herself. If they keep the answers to less than a minute, she MIGHT be able to save some face.

That doesn''t alter the fact that she knows nothing, reads nothing, thinks nothing, has demonstrated no capacity for the job,

However sweet and demure her persona is, she needs to go home to Alaska, her family, and her comfort zone. She is fun political theater for the moment...the best entertainment we''ve had in years...but the bottom line is that the Presidency is no laughing matter. Our lives are at stake here. Our country is at stake.

[mitzy21]

Top news articles for obama and acorn
Family Told Obama NOT To Wear Soldier Son''s%u2026
Barack Obama

[andor3]

"The problem is that the Republican Party has insisted on VERY short answer periods, in order to protect her from making an absolute idiot out of herself"

interesting... so then her handlers will try to fill her up with pat answers and sound bite responses. But a good moderator would try to cross up the debaters and make them think and dance a little--not to be mean but to keep it from getting insanely boring sound bite regurgitation.

[smurfcrusher]

"YIKES! She''''s a journalism major and can''''t name even one newspaper or magazine that she''''s read over the years to stay in touch with the world? Get the popcorn ready on Thursday night, folks .... this is gonna be good!"

Posted by thisandthat1

Wow, what a great point! That didn''t occur to me.

It should be a fascinating train wreck... ;)

[smurfcrusher]

"Katie, well its been a long time since I''''ve been here, but I thought this might be a good time to let ya in on something......YOU HAVE ARRIVED GIRL!!:) Your latest interviews have been fantastic!"
Posted by earshot46

I must agree. I wasn''t a fan of Katie Couric for a LONG time, but she''s really redeeming herself, by giving us a reasonable window into Palin''s (frightening) psyche.

Well done.

[repguy]

Wow so many haters... Ouch! I am so glad that you guy''s paid attention during the Presidential debates but Jim Lehrer brought up some really hardcore issues that are facing our country in the next few years and oh BTW I am dying to get a guy in office whose political experience consists of more time campaigning than holding any political office postion to take control of our country??? I am still over here scratching my head saying Obama who? But I am sure you all know as much about him as you do Palin? NOT! We can all sit around and cry about how screwed up our economy is but hey the Democrats are the ones who hold the most seats in the Senate and the scale barely tips to the Republicans in the House! Ready for all that change that Obama offers huh? He''s got all kinds of new programs lined up to get us out of our economic crisis huh? I am sure that by the time he''s done the US government will be the single largest employer in the United States just like it is up there in Michigan after Granholm became governor. Someone will have to foot all those government employees wages yeah ok whatever but I am not ready for all that change...

[globalzgramm]

Katie, your interviews have given us a handle on who Sarah Palin is like nothing else has in the campaign. You have performed an incomprehensible service to history. You are a hero to the Nation.

It is obvious that you are not out to get Sarah Palin, that this is not "Gotcha Journalism". You have reached in, trying to find out who she is! And in the process, what has been revealed is that she is sweet simpleton who relies on being demure because there just isn''t much else going on inside that pretty little head of hers.

She reminds me of someone who has gotten by on charisma all of her life. All she had to do was skate the surface. And that was enough for her. She will still have that charisma after this is all over and it will continue to serve her in life.

To run for VP, though, you need substance too. You need depth. She simply doesn''t have any to offer up. She can''t do anything BUT throw up a smokescreen in flurries of words that unconnected to a structural thought. This isn''t her fault. It is McCain''s for choosing her without vetting her, on one of his impulsive strokes of genius, which obviously cannot be trusted.

How sad for her. But it is much sadder for the nation if she doesn''t go home. She simply doesn''t belong on this national stage, playing at this level.

Thank you, Katie. What a service you have done for us all. We might have gotten all the way to the election without this being so obvious if it were not for your interviews.

[globalzgramm]

Katie, your interviews have given us a handle on who Sarah Palin is, like nothing else has in the campaign. You have performed an incomprehensible service to history. You are a hero to the Nation.

It is obvious that you are not out to get Sarah Palin, that this is not "Gotcha Journalism". You have reached in, trying to find out who she is! And in the process, what has been revealed is that she is sweet simpleton who relies on being demure because there just isn''t much else going on inside that pretty little head of hers.

She reminds me of someone who has gotten by on charisma all of her life. All she had to do was skate the surface. And that was enough for her. She will still have that charisma after this is all over and it will continue to serve her in life.

To run for VP, though, you need substance too. You need depth. She simply doesn''t have any to offer up. She can''t do anything BUT throw up a smokescreen in flurries of words that unconnected to a structural thought. This isn''t her fault. It is McCain''s for choosing her without vetting her, on one of his impulsive strokes of genius, which obviously cannot be trusted.

How sad for her. But it is much sadder for the nation if she doesn''t go home. She simply doesn''t belong on this national stage, playing at this level.

What a service you have done for us all. We might have gotten all the way to the election without this being so obvious if it were not for your interviews.

[globalzgramm]

Katie, your interviews have given us a handle on who Sarah Palin is, like nothing else has in the campaign.

It is obvious that you are not out to get Sarah Palin, that this is not "Gotcha Journalism". You have reached in, trying to find out who she is! And in the process, what has been revealed is that she is sweet simpleton who relies on being demure because there just isn''t much else going on inside that pretty little head of hers.

She reminds me of someone who has gotten by on charisma all of her life. All she had to do was skate the surface. And that was enough for her. She will still have that charisma after this is all over and it will continue to serve her in life.

To run for VP, though, you need substance too. You need depth. She simply doesn''t have any to offer up. She can''t do anything BUT throw up a smokescreen in flurries of words that unconnected to a structural thought. This isn''t her fault. It is McCain''s for choosing her without vetting her, on one of his impulsive strokes of genius, which obviously cannot be trusted.

How sad for her. But it is much sadder for the nation if she doesn''t go home. She simply doesn''t belong on this national stage, playing at this level.

What a service you have done for us all. We might have gotten all the way to the election without this being so obvious if it were not for your interviews.

[globalzgramm]

sorry about the multiple posts, everyone. The PUBLISH button kept saying it was disabled.

[lottapolooza]

I am so glad they are spending so much time on digging up news on palin/mccain. Once again the main stream media will elect the next president. I guess if Obama does not deliver we can blame the replublicans until they return to office. Thats what common sense people hate about dems. It is always someone elses fault. so sad

[airboatboy1]

Anyone who would vote for McCain is giving Palin a chance to be president. If you do, I gotta give you credit, you are a die-hard Republican!

[repguy]

Don''t be so sure of that. I am pretty sure he''ll win because of his celebrity like status oh and BTW Sarah Palin may be a beauty queen, but Barack Obama and Joe Biden could have their Republican rivals licked when it comes to looking good. Obama has been named one of the world%u2019s best dressed men, and he had high praise for running mate%u2019s fashion sense today.

[kav1410-2009]

Though I''m not American, and not an American resident, I have been following this election with an unusual and keener interest. Some 4-5 months ago, I was not so sure as to whom I should support as I inclined slightly towards McCain but after he had chosen Sarah Palin, I just can''t digest the fact that someone with utterly no knowledge about the outside world could be elevated to such a responsible position.

To me, Sarah Palin is nothing more than a sexed-up Barbie Doll who is out there to attract women voters onto the Republican side by brandishing her image, by talking about feminism, and by, at times, projecting herself a victim of sexism.

Everything about Palin is just brilliantly sparkling but only on the surface. Scratch the surface, the hollowness is simply too obvious. Americans haven''t had much to cheer about under Bush, they will have much to worry about and continue to extend their woes and misery for the next 4-5 years should they decide to choose McCain-Palin team. Palin seems another plain Bush in the feminine form. I reckon she has brawns minus brains.

[repguy]

I''d rather give the Governor of Alaska a chance to be President than a guy who has spent most of his political career campaigning.

Seems to me they just ain''t too fussy about who they elect to the governorship up there in Alaska.

[repguy]

We were discussing who to put in a leadership position. I am over here thinking holding down a seat in the Senate doesn''t quite qualify? Hummm Governor or Senator? Kind of a no brainer...