Transcript: Palin And McCain Interview

More In-Depth Answers To Questions Katie Couric Asked McCain And Palin On The Broadcast

(CBS) 
Couric: Let me get your take, if I could Gov. Palin, on a number of social issues. Because that's, they've gotten some attention, your position. If a 15-year-old is raped by her father,you believe it should be illegal for her to get an abortion. Why?

Palin: I am pro-life. And I'm unapologetic about my position there on pro-life. And I understand 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. So … I respect people's opinion on this.

Now, I would counsel to choose life. I would like to see a culture of life in this country. But I would also like to see taking it one step further. Not just saying I am pro-life, and I want fewer and fewer abortions in this country. But I want, then, those women who find themselves in circumstances that are absolutely less than ideal, for them to be supported for adoptions to be made easier. For more support given to foster parents and adoptive families. That is my personal opinion on this.

Couric: But, ideally, you think it should be illegal …

Palin: If you …

Couric: …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.

Then, now, some may characterize my position as being extreme, because I am pro-life … and I want women empowered to know that, you know, we can help them. They can be strong enough, and they can have the resources provided them to give that child life.

The extremism, to me, is those who would support partial-birth abortion. Those who would disallow parental consent when it comes to a minor child who would seek an abortion. I think parents should have a say in that. They should be a part of their child's health care there. And those who, like Barack Obama, would support measures that would actually allow in a botched abortion, late-term abortion, that child being born alive, to allow it to not receive medical help to save that child's life. That's extremism to me. That is so far on the left side of the political spectrum and public sentiment in this country. That's the extremism to me.

Couric: So you want more support so women have more options, or girls have more options. But you also think it should be illegal, that there should be no punishment if a woman does break the law…

Palin: I would like to see more women given more support so that those of us who say, "You know, a culture of life is what we believe." Is best … for human kind, you know, to respect the sanctity of every human life. And to understand … that we live in a pretty messed up world sometimes.

When you consider what's going on in this world. The most promising and good ingredients in this world … is a child. The hope that a child brings. And just understanding that. Being near and dear to my heart. I want to do all that I can to reduce the number abortions.

And to usher in that culture of life. And in my respect for the other side of this issue, I have not spoken with one woman who do, may disagree with me on, when abortions could or should be allowed, not one woman has disagreed, as we sit down and rationally talk about … the common goal we have, and that is to see fewer and fewer abortions. And to provide more and more women support in this world.

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

Palin: Well …I'm all for contraception. And I'm all for any preventative measures that are legal and safe and should be taken. But, Katie, again and we can go round and round about the abortion issue, but I am one to seek a culture of life. 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 is isn't McCain-Palin policy …

Couric: That's OK. I'm just asking you.

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

Couric: Do you think it should be illegal?

Palin: I don't think that it should necessarily be illegal. But we can go, again, round and round. And what the foundation I believe of this debate, of this discussion, even of your questions, is do you believe in the sanctity of life? Are you are you gonna side on the pro-life position or not when decisions are in front of you and you have to make them? Now, as a vice president, what positions would a vice-president have to take on the abortion issue? They're not legislating. A vice president does not make law.

Couric: But if you have a moral problem with abortion, it seems to me you would do everything in your power to make it illegal and overturn Roe v. Wade and …

Palin: Of course, it's the legislature, the law-making branch of our third, of our three branches of government …

Couric: But they …

Palin: …makes the laws.

Couric: …your vision or the administration's vision.

Palin: Well, let's be practical about it and let's be realistic about a vice-president's role in this debate. I can personally share my views, which I don't apologize when I share my views of being pro-life. And, you know, I'll do that all day long if you want me to. But a vice-president does not make law. And a vice-president does not interpret the law either.

Couric: So you're saying this won't be a top issue for you if you're elected?

Palin: I will do all that I can personally to encourage that culture of life, to remind women that I believe with more empowerment, they - more and more women will realize that they are strong enough … and they are able to carry a child and still continue a career, still continue education opportunities, all with the goal being fewer and fewer abortions in this world.

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

Palin: Oh, I think it should be taught as an accepted principle. And, 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 ever deny that I see the hand of God in this beautiful creation that is Earth, especially coming from one of the most beautiful states in the Union and traveling around this country also in this last month. My goodness, just seeing, you know, the beautiful landscape of New Mexico recently. That was just breath taking and seeing the rolling hills in Virginia and all … the beauty that is this Earth, I see the hand of God in that. But that is not part of state policy or a local curriculum in a school district.

Science should be taught in science class.

Couric: Should creationism be allowed to be taught anywhere in public schools?

Palin: Don't have a problem at all with kids debating all sides of theories, all sides of ideas that they ever - kids do it today whether … it's on paper, in a curriculum or not. Curriculums also are best left to the local school districts. Instead of Big Brother, federal government telling a district what they can and can't teach, I would like to see more control taken over by our school boards, by our local schools, and then state government at the most. But federal government, you know, kind of get out of some of this curriculum and let the locals decide what is best for their students.

Couric: Your church sponsored a conference that claimed to be able to convert gays into heterosexuals through prayer. Do you think that gays can be converted, governor?

Palin: Well, you're absolutely wrong, again, on the facts. My church, I don't have a church, I'm not a member of any church. I get to visit a couple of churches in Alaska when I'm home, including one, Wasilla Bible Church, and that's the one that you're talking about.

Couric: Right. I think James Dobson's group … had a convention or a meeting there. And your church…

Palin: No, I think they …

Couric: …supported it.

Palin: The Wasilla Bible Church had a flyer that was part of a bulletin or something …

Couric: But you know what? That doesn't even matter. Let me just ask you the question.

Palin: Well, it matters, though, because, 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 …

Couric: …you're correcting us.

Palin: But you are talking about, I think, a value here, what my position is on homosexuality and can you pray it away 'cause I think that was the title that was listed in that bulletin. And, you know, I don't know what prayers are worthy of being prayed. And I don't know what prayers are gonna be answered or not 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 who 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 gonna judge people. And I love America where we are more tolerant than other countries are. And are more accepting of some of these choices that sometimes people want to believe reflects solely on an individual's values or not. Homosexuality, I am not gonna judge people.

Couric: You know, one thing that the press, and I appreciate your correcting that. And I'm gonna have to go back and see the (unintelligible) for that, that your church was …

Palin: I wish I had …

Couric: …sponsored it.

Palin: …time and the consistency to be a more regular attendee of a church but, no, have not.

[floras-2009]

" This is an unedited transcript of the interview portions broadcast on Sept. 30. "

An unedited transcript of THE PORTIONS BROADCAST. To show they are being honest, they should publish a transcript of the WHOLE interview, not just the portions they chose to broadcast.

[rcreed4]

There is nothing at this point that makes me happier than to see someone push politics into a different direction. What happens if politicians can''t talk in circles b/c they might actually have to face consequences?

Come on America, only we can make change stick. %u201CWe the people%u201D...not the government.

Unless we stand up and change our tolerance and expectations of politics, no change will last no matter who is elected.

Laughing is healthy and usually we do it when we are happy. It is also a natural reaction to fear. I laugh sometimes when my kids get caught in a fib but not the individual that 50% or so of you think can lead our country.

[bellatisha1]

Can''t find any articles in yr 2008, regarding Joe
Biden''s proclivity toward "plagiarism". Did his values
change?

[finchman6363]

Don''t forget that the VP casts the tie-breaking vote in the senate. I was an undecided voter until McCain appointed Sarah Palin. It is obvious from her interviews and her speeches that she lacks any intellectual depth or curiousity, much like the current president, who, I might add, also faltered when asked about the news sources he relied upon, at least admitting that he didn''t read a lot. Her answers are vague, off point and suggest that she is accustomed to getting by with brushing past real inquiry with bravado. It just doesn''t seem to work as well in the intense limelight of the national stage. I also have grave concerns regarding her education, or lack thereof. Again, not to say that she isn''t intelligent, but that when it comes to putting in the time to really learn the issues, she doesn''t have the "track record". Larry Sabato, who teaches political science at the University of Virginia put it best (and I am only paraphrasing)when asked if Palin could be ready for the debate tonight. His response was that he has seen students cram for exams and get satisfactory results on a single exam, but it didn''t mean that they had actually learned the material. Sarah Palin can learn the catch phrases taught to her, clearly, but is she truly ready to be the vice president and possibly the president of the United States? Certainly not as much so as a legion of other contenders for the VP nomination that were passed over for Palin.

[kc629]

i agree with many of the posts here but the one fact is we already know about the other candidates, we know what their answers would be to these questions!

she may personally not like Palin but she is still human. every journalist or piece of journalism for that matter is biased to at least some degree; everyone puts a little of themselves in their writing

i think Katie was trying to give those of us who want to see Palin answer for herself not one of Bush''s hand-me down spokesperson answer for her, as a journalist trying to "get the story" that frustrated her as it has many journalists

Palin set herself up for all this bad press!

[usafes]

Also not mentioned is the muslim influence that has been a constant in Obama''s life. Like all the, soon to be voters, I can''t help but want to know as much about what drives a potential president or vice president. If questions are asked about ones church envolvement, shouldn''t each be questioned on these matters? Why does Palin''s family life style draw interest and with Obamas request that family is of limits are rewarded. I think Catie Curic''s interview is very much biased and without forum to equal fact finding. In case you are wondering I have never voted Republican except for the second time Ronald Ragan ran. I did not vote for Clinton the first time but did the sencond time. Point is I did not have enough information provided by the media on the man the fist time he ran but considered his record the second time. NO I do not think Clinton was a good father, husband, or moraly good man.

[blues2003]

Palin is so unqualified it''s laughable.....
Thanks John McCain for pandering to the Hillary vote and putting yet another bullet in the gun that shoots the GOP in the foot come November.
Every election seems to be about the "lesser of two evils" in canidates.....Palin Makes my choice so much easier.!!!!!!

[blues2003]

Palin is so unqualified it''s laughable.....
Thanks John McCain for pandering to the Hillary vote and putting yet another bullet in the gun that shoots the GOP in the foot come November.
Every election seems to be about the "lesser of two evils" in canidates.....Palin Makes my choice so much easier.!!!!!!

[darrren12000]

to the snide person who wants to meet the individual who "chose" being gay -- a lot of gay and lesbian people do actually feel that it''s a choice. at the end of the day -- it doesn''t matter whether it''s chosen or not. it shouldn''t be the source of discrimination. give me a break. palin vetoed a law that would have allowed discrimination against *** and lesbians. what has obama done for glbt people? NADA

[darrren12000]

this wasn''t too bad. i''m VERY liberal, and i can see the discrimination. katie couric would never be so tough with a democrat. she asked three follow-up questions on ledbetter and a few on the abortion issue. usually they just let it go. obama is against gay marriage. why hasn''t that been an issue for katie?

[sawfingers]

Also, no mention of Obama receiving contribution from both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. No mention that McCain had warned Congress of the impending time bomb the financial industry had set up with the housing start frenzy and directly marketing those homes to people who could not clearly afford to own them. CBS and the other mainstream media outlets are so clearly biased, they have no credibility.

[sawfingers]

KC is no Walter Conkrite. CBS has made it clear that it supports Obama through the shaping of its stories and posturing Couric as a heavyweight anchor. I cannot believe she let Biden pass on FDR appearing on TV in 1929 when Hoover was president and before TV was invented. Generally, the media is a disgrace.

[rcreed4]

KC did a great job campaigning for one side, wasn''t that obvious? I am not surprised though...the media has always done a good job of assuming the American people are to dumb to see thru their attempts to sabotage those who have different sided opinions than they personally "claim" to have.

How important is "the freedom of speech"? What happened to our right to form an opinion based on non bias truthful reporting?

If you didn''t read the opening page interview and the "full un-edited interview%u201D you should...they are different.

For all you one sided close minded people out there, you only win if there is change that sticks and makes everyone stronger. If you can%u2019t hear the difference in our candidates and understand what it means to be a leader of change than please read the full articles.

There is a %u201Cright%u201D and a %u201Cwrong%u201D in everything and great leaders don%u2019t make decisions solely based off a personal opinion. They make decisions to impact the culture, values and visions of all those involved.

McCain and Palin have my vote and I choose to not hate or discriminate against anyone for having a different opinion. Some of my best friends are liberals and homosexuals and just because we may not see eye to eye does not mean I am against them or want to force them to change. Can you say this about yourself?

This is not about political parties, race or gender%u2026it%u2019s about making a choice that America must come first.

[f77111]

McCain voted against the Ledbetter Equal Pay Act , and Palins answer was pure BS. Do your homework Americans,these two are a couple of ignorant clowns,don''t let them anywhere near the White House.

[f77111]

Being Governor makes her a Geologist and a Scientist too, I guess that I''m a Dentist,an Engineer,and an IT Professional,and that''s just from playing poker today.At this rate I can be President in a week !

[dranreb4-2009]

I want to meet this gay best friend of hers who "chose" to be gay.

[spinner49]

Has anyone noticed that SP often sounds like she''s saying one thing, when she''s actually saying the opposite?

Like saying she wouldn''t want anyone put in jail for having an abortion, but never saying she wouldn''t want anyone put in jail for performing and abortion.

And again, she''s "not going to solely blame all of man''s activities on changes in climate." Huh? One wants to think she means she''s not going to blame climate change on man''s activities.

If she''s ever at the United Nations, the interpreters are not going to know what to do about her grammar!

[strandc]

There was a lead story buried in Palin''s response to Katie''s question about that Wasilla church''s quest to cure homosexuality.

Is the Republican base aware that Sarah Palin is not even a church member? She says she "gets to visit" a couple of churches when she''s home.

What kind of good Christian does not even join a congregation?

She goes on to say that she wishes she had the "time and consistency to be a more regular attendee of church, but no, have not."

No time to regularly attend church? Not a priority apparently. Sarah Palin has 5 children and those kids not been raised in a church atmosphere?

Does the Republican base know this about her??

See the quotes below.

Couric: Your church sponsored a conference that claimed to be able to convert *** into heterosexuals through prayer. Do you think that *** can be converted, governor?

Palin: Well, you''re absolutely wrong, again, on the facts. My church, I don''t have a church, I''m not a member of any church. I get to visit a couple of churches in Alaska when I''m home, including one, Wasilla Bible Church, and that''s the one that you''re talking about.

...

Palin: I wish I had time and the consistency to be a more regular attendee of a church but, no, have not.

[bux1fan]

I would much prefer to have a woman who loves and believes in America as vice-President, even if she might not be as polished or professorial as the media elite would like her to be, than to have a glib, blame America first, silver-tongued, Saul Alinsky-trained Marxist, as President. Further, Palin has MUCH more executive experience than does the community agitator Obama. She has actually accomplished things in the political world other than voting "present". And the above post that says "Palin is no Hillary by a long shot"? To that I would only say, Thank God. (Yes, I said God. So sue me.)

[chazzzman2]

http://www.cbsnews.com/
stories/2008/09/24/eveningnews/
main4476172.shtml