Palin Pledges Greater Access

GOP VP Nominee Says She Will Take More Questions From Voters And Reporters; Says She Was "Annoyed" In Interviews With CBS

(AP)  Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, declaring that "my life is certainly an open book," vowed Friday to take more questions from voters and reporters after allowing only a handful of interviews and solo campaign events.

"I look forward to speaking to the media more and more every day and providing whatever access the media would want," Palin said in an interview with Fox News.

Palin said she was disappointed that the McCain campaign decided to stop competing in Michigan, saying she had "fired off an e-mail" Friday morning questioning the move.

"Todd and I, we'd be happy to get to Michigan and walk through those plants of the car manufacturers," Palin said, referring to her husband. "We'd be so happy to get to speak to the people in Michigan who are hurting because the economy is hurting."

Alaska's governor burst onto the national scene just five weeks ago when GOP presidential candidate John McCain plucked her from relative obscurity to be his running mate. After a well-received speech at the party's convention, Palin was effectively barred from speaking to the press except for a few high-profile interviews.

In sessions with ABC and CBS, Palin badly stumbled over basic policy questions, giving weight to growing criticism that she had no experience in foreign affairs and lacked a strong grasp of domestic issues. Even some conservative commentators began dismissing her as ill-prepared to assume the presidency in an emergency.

Palin has also taken few questions from voters at campaign events, sticking carefully to a stump speech rather than joining in the type of town-hall meeting that is a staple of McCain's campaign. Her 90-minute debate Thursday night with Democratic rival Joe Biden has been her longest speaking event since the nominating convention.

In the Fox News interview, Palin denied being "reined in" by nervous McCain campaign aides. But she acknowledged that she needed to communicate more regularly on the campaign trail to be effective.

"I'm accessible. And now that the debate is over ... the wings are flying here," Palin said. "Let's soar, let's get out there and speak to voters and let them know what their choices are."

Palin said she had been "annoyed" in her interviews with CBS News anchor Katie Couric and had been caught off guard when asked what newspapers and magazines she read and to name Supreme Court decisions she disagreed with, questions Palin appeared not to be able to answer.

Her responses, Palin said, were "an indication of being outside that Washington elite, outside of the media elite also."

Of the CBS News interviews, she said: "The Sarah Palin in those interviews is a little bit annoyed. Because it's like, no matter what you say, you're going to get clobbered. If you cease to answer a question, you're going to get clobbered on the answer. If you choose to try to pivot and go on to another subject that you believe that Americans want to hear about, you get clobbered for that, too."

[dexman5-2009]

Let''s see, one post say''s "It''s Time for Obama to Go On to O Reily factor again, and Hannity". Been there, done that. Actually I think it''s time for McCain or Palin to appear on Countdown with Keith Olbermann or Rachel
Maddow. You wont see that. Wonder why? O'' Reily and Hannity are perfect examples of right wing broadcasting. Their approach is if I don''t agree with you I will ask a question then talk or scream over you when you try to answer. Not the case with Olbermann and Maddow. As a matter of fact both have publicly invited both to come on their shows. Oh by the way, the Fox interview with Palin cleared up a lot of issues why she looked so silly with Couric. Ha.

[oldguy4truth]

She would be as acessable as Cheney...A troll who pops out of his hole once in a while to show he is still mad as ever.

[vet_sk]

I don''t beleive it either. She avoilded the Sunday shows today. And after her disasterous interviews with Charles Gibson and Katie Couric, she went on FoxNews and said how the interviews were meant to make her look bad. ...that being a journalism major that she knew the tricks. You know, if Sarah would have instead, hey, I was getting up to speed on the national issues and was a little overwhelmed by the myriad of issues that Katia and Charlie brought up, I may have been able to respect her for at least being honest. But instead to blame the media for asking questions. She deserves no respect. Folks, this is ultra scary that this person has a shot at the VP and is not being vetted by the media. You can say what you want about the media but Katie and Charlie are the not the far left "conspirational" media.

[mccainisevil]

MY HOLIDAY WITH JOHN McCAIN

http://myblogthebword.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-holiday-with-john-mccain-it-was-just.html

A MUST READ - THIS GUY IS AS SICK AND CREEPY AS IT GETS!!!!

"McCain''s appreciation of the beauty of Asian women was so great that David the American economist had to move his Thai wife to the other side of the table from McCain as McCain kept aggressively flirting with and touching her. Needless to say I was irritated at his large ego and his rude behavior towards his wife and other women, but decided he must have some redeeming qualities as he had adopted a handicapped child from Bangladesh. I asked him about this one day, and his response was shocking: "Oh, that was Cindy''s idea - I didn''t have anything to do with it. She just went and adopted this thing without even asking me. You can''t imagine how people stare when I wheel this ugly, black thing around in a shopping cart in Arizona .

[karela33]

Interesting that we again hear Palin pledge greater access and again this week she has avoided the Sunday morning shows. Palin is going to have to answer real questions and have real discussions. There are only a few Sundays left. What''s she waiting for? And no Sarah, an exclusive diet of Fox News and Sean Hannity isn''t going to cut it. That''s like having your Mom write a job reference for you.

[prudentvoter]

She thinks that she can just flash her big eyelashes at us and we wont notice her dumb remarks. We need more than a wink and a smile, we need intelligence and real substance. That cutesy flirting might work in Alaska where they don%u2019t see too many females, but down here we expect integrity and intelligence.

[sbelknap01]

I''m concerned about Governor Palin''s behavior in public. She repeatedly claims to be a good Christian Conservative, yet she is an unmitigated flirt in hooker heels. Giggle, wiggle, wink and jiggle is perfectly fine for a Hooter''s waitress but let me clue you in: Joe Six Pack may spot you a twenty for a lapdance on a friday night, but he''s not going to trust you to drive his truck OR run his country. And his wife may take you on at a friendly game of pool, but she''s not going to let you give dating advice to her 16 year old daughter. You may talk directly to the common people as much as you like Mrs. Palin, but you''d better come up with something substantive. We like cheerful cute friendly people and beer at our backyard BBQ''s, but we already HAVE those. We have learned our lessons electing beer-buddies and now we''d like smart, well-informed people who aren''t afraid of Katie Couric for crying out loud. My great aunt Edna knows what newspaper she reads. Granted, it''s the National Enquirer, but she can answer the question. One more point, a serious one: John McCain is neither stupid nor misguided. He chose Sarah Palin as his running mate because she agrees with him on every major issue and his choice of her is your best indicator of where he wants this country to go.

[sallievoter]

WOW, LOOK AT THE IRONY HERE IN THESE TWO QUOTES:


2008----------Palin said of (Madeline)Albright. %u201CShe said, There%u2019s a place in Hell reserved for women who don%u2019t support other women.%u2019%u201D


2000--------------McCain said of the rumor spreaders (in the 2000 election who said his daughter was an illegitimate black child), "I believe that there is a special place in hell for people like those."


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[misha128-2009]

BUT GRUMPY MCCAIN SAYS NO.

[spredbury]

Just the thought of Palin doing anything in an unsupervised environment is enough to cause one to break out in extream prespiration. This woman is dangerous, arrogant, self important, and a danger to the constitutional rights of American citizens. Ole Sarah needs to pack up her lipstick and head back to the land of polar bears and snow machines. If ole Sarah decides to stay she needs to provide a full explaination and justification for her taxes. There appears to be some items in her returns that should be explained to the American voter...

[valforobama]

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Posted by g4u2 at 12:57 AM : Oct 04, 2008
+ report abuse


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To g4u2

Sentor Biden has a wealth of exprience and knowledge than pit bull Palin. Pit Bull Palin is a embarrassment to have as VP. Your opinion is dumb as dirt. I would agree with you she does draw large crowds but, if you think that drawing large crowds gives you confidence that Mccain/Palin ticket wil the presidency,think again and look at the polls. Obama/Biden are leading in the national polls and the electoral college. Go to electoralvotes.com and you will see Obama kicking A--! I rest my case! Palin favorable rating have gone down with independent and swing voters due the fact after interview with Gibson and Couric. Palin take that pit bull lipstick,Joe sixpack,hockey mon,drill baby dril B.s. and shove it up where it doen''t shine!

[loudyk]

I think we''ve heard enough from Palin. She has done a great job exhibiting her ignorance and the inability to be a professional politician. She is in way over her head and the McCain camp is using her for their own personal dummy. Of course, if she wants to continue talking publicly, good laughs during the election season are always welcome!

[usnae2aw]

god protects baby''s and fools and sarah is not a kid anymore.

[worldpeace5]

Sarah Palin''s remarks against Katie Couric''s ethical journalistic standards are a continuation of Palin''s strategy to deflect her obvious shortcomings. If the roles were reversed, I think I might have a hard time deciding who to vote for this fall. Katie could run circles around Sarah Palin on foreign policy, econimics, health care reform etc... Not to mention Katie is an excellent mother. I can''t imagine Katie putting her daughter on the national stage when she is still in high school and pregnant and dating a drug addict. I think she has more class than Sarah, who can''t admit when she makes a mistakes, has accepted a nomination which she has no qualifications for, and uses her childlike presentation skills at a serious debate.
Sarah Palin is a national disaster for all the women in the country who want equality...Bring in FEMA!

[jab232]

Of course. She''ll give greater access to Shawn Hannity and Fox News.

[bigsk8fan]

a vice presidential candidate that will not talk to reporters; and the only vice president or presidential candidate that did not answer a legitimate subpoena while campaigning for that office. mccain and palin, just not ready to lead america.

[grumpas]

It could go a long way in putting a lot of voters fears to rest if she would answer a legal Subpoena!!! That was issued by a bipartisan committee to investigate her wrong doings. But, much like Bush she considers herself to be above the law!!!! That should tell voters McCain/Palin are more of the same elitist crime family!

[gambi3]

More public access? Haven''t we seen and heard enough?
Your celebity status will not get us out of the serious problems we face as a nation no more than Britiny Spears would. You can''t just WINK away serious issues and I find it insulting when you do. This is not a high school popularity contest this is my family''s and this country''s future at stake. When McCain the Maverick made the decision for you to be his running mate he lost the title and has become just plain reckless.
Independent Voter
Obama/Biden

[harbinger09]

Now that Palin knows she can ignore what she does not know (vis a vis the debate) she is willing to do free interviews instead of Ads?

No thanks. if you just want to blow McCain and your horn and NOT talk about policy or issues in any meaningful way--do like everyone else and PAY for taking out an ad.

[madkey1]

If the Mccain campaign would let Palin speak and be herself, I bet she doesn''t even agree with Mccain like so many other republicans. Even during the debate when she spoke about taxing the oil companies and giving the credits to the people of Alaska that is exactly what Obama/Biden wanted to do.