Gov.: Palin Is "Perfect Candidate" For Mo.

GOP's Portman And Blunt Debate Dems Kaine And Wasserman Schultz Over Palin, Powell’s Endorsement

(CBS)  Countering new criticism of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, Gov. Matt Blunt, R-Mo., called her the "perfect candidate" for his state.

"I can take Sarah Palin to my Stratford hometown or any community in our state and she would immediately connect with people," Blunt said on CBS News' Face The Nation. "She understands the real world. She understands the struggles that ordinary families face. She is the type of person we need in Washington, D.C. She's a proven reformer. And she's been a great help in Missouri, as we move forward this campaign."

Blunt was responding to statements made by former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who served in the Bush administration but endorsed Democratic Barack Obama on Sunday.

"I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States," Powell said. (Read more about Powell's endorsement.)

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., also appearing on Face The Nation with Blunt, called Palin's selection as a running mate “extremely bad judgment” by John McCain that would hurt him in her state of Florida.

"I mean, there have been several examples of John McCain's bad judgment, Sarah Palin being the top of the list, as far as choices are concerned," she told host Bob Schieffer.

Wasserman Schultz also said Palin has "really disturbed" the Jewish community in Florida, despite the fact that she is strong on Israel.

"She has extreme right-wing fringe views on most of the issues that the Jewish community cares about … opposed to a woman's right to choose, even in the case of rape or incest … really wrong on civil rights and civil liberties, wrong on public education, wrong on health care," she said.

On Israel, Wasserman Schultz said, "It is most definitely of interest to the Jewish community, but the Jewish community wants a president and vice president that share all of our values, not just some of them."

"And Sarah Palin … and John McCain are wrong on the issues that matter to working families - establishing universal health care, investing in alternative energy research, bringing our troops home."

Former Republican Rep. Rob Portman of Ohio and Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia also appeared on Face The Nation. All four guests said they were confident their preferred candidate would win in their states, all battlegrounds.

Portman (left) countered Wasserman Schultz by pointing to the large crowds Palin has received in Ohio.

"She brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the ticket. She's got great executive experience. As the two governors, probably, on the show this morning, would agree, that's the best experience to be president," Portman said. "She's the most popular governor in America. So I think she has a lot of assets she's bringing to the campaign."

As for McCain's chances in the state, Portman pointed to the Republican nominee's economic message.

"John McCain has, really, a very simple message now, which is that, for the economy, Barack Obama is going to be risky. And it's very clear. If you look at what Senator Obama is proposing, in terms of taxes, he is saying he wants to tax the generators of what little economic activity we have out there," Portman said.

But Kaine (left), in support of Obama, took an opposite view of the candidates' plans for the economy.

“If you compare the records and plans of Senator McCain and Senator Obama, what you see is that it's Senator Obama that is going to do tax relief for the middle class. 'Joe the Plumber' gets a tax break under Senator Obama's plan, not under Senator McCain's. Senator Obama has tax relief for the middle class and also for small businesses,” he said.

All four panelists also reacted to Powell’s endorsement of Obama and how it would play in their states.

"I don't know that it will make a difference in Missouri,” Blunt said. “Missourians admire Colin Powell for his many years of service to our country, but in the end they're going to evaluate where the candidates on issues that are important to them.”

Portman, the other Republican, echoed that sentiment: "I don't think it makes a big difference. Endorsements are typically overrated, I think. But Colin Powell is well-respected. I was interested to see that he said this morning that he thought either man would be a good president."

But Democrats Kaine and Wasserman Schultz disagreed, saying they thought the endorsement would matter.

"General Powell is not seen as a dividing figure but a uniting figure. And so him vouching for Senator Obama convinces those of us who want to see a greater unification of the nation that he's the right guy," Kaine said.

"We have thousands of military retirees in the state of Florida," Wasserman Schultz said. "And I think what Colin Powell's endorsement does say is it shows that Barack Obama can build bridges across party lines. He's going to be able to reach out and bring in and embrace different ideas and, you know, isn't necessarily, you know, cut from one particular cloth."

---

Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

[janesche]

I do want to thank you for one thing however, and that%u2019s letting the cat out of the bag on what you and Barack Obama consider %u201Cchange.%u201D Who could imagine such %u201Crevolutionary%u201D ideas as taking even more money out the private sector and giving it to government to %u201Credistribute%u201D in the middle of an economic downturn, no less? Higher taxes on the %u201Crich,%u201D aka small business owners, is also pure genius. Why? They%u2019ll fire %u201Clittle people%u201D employees to make up the difference. And what can possibly compare with the %u201Cbrilliance%u201D of putting us all in even deeper hock than the NINE TRILLION DOLLARS of debt that you and your cronies have already amassed with years of irresponsible spending?
That%u2019s 35 years in the Senate just for you, Joe. 35 years of insinuating government deeper and deeper into the lives of every American. 35 years of ever increasing amounts of waste, fraud, corruption and out-of-control spending by a bunch of self-interested, self-aggrandizing egotists.
Egotists whose concept of patriotism begins and ends with one idea: getting re-elected.
And you have the nerve to tell us WE should be more patriotic?
Take your %u201Cpatriotism%u201D and shove it, Senator Biden.

[janesche]

You wanna be a patriot, Joe? Here%u2019s a few suggestions: Get you and your colleagues to stop taking earmarks. Cut down on your staffs. Pay for your own health and life insurance. Travel coach. Stop pretending you%u2019re %u201Cone of us%u201D when nothing could be further from the truth. Oh, and one more thing:
Stop spending us into economic ruin even as you have the gall to tell us it%u2019s for our own good!
Spending other peoples%u2019 hard earned money isn%u2019t patriotic, Joe, especially when most Americans know that billions of dollars are wasted on out-of-date and ineffective programs. Programs whose primary functions are to bribe certain constituencies or to make guys like you look good. Take a gander at Congressional poll numbers, Joe. Most of us don%u2019t think you guys look good at all. Most of us think Congress stinks to high heaven.

[janesche]

Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden thinks paying more taxes is %u201Cpatriotic.%u201D You wanna talk patriotism, Mr. Biden? Here we go%u2026
First and foremost, let%u2019s talk about why Joe thinks people should pay more taxes: to fund a government run with no concept of fiscal responsibility. Zero. This year%u2019s budget is close to three trillion dollars. That%u2019s a number so large it%u2019s almost meaningless, so let me put some meaning behind it: Since the population of the entire country is 300 million, every single American is getting charged an average of TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS apiece by our %u201Cpatriots%u201D in Congress.
Here%u2019s some of the things those patriots get just for themselves: staffs of 14 assistants for each member of the House and 34 for each Senator, on average. Top-notch health care and insurance plans. Pension benefits two to three times more than those paid in the private sector on similar incomes. Limousines, and special parking spaces on Capitol Hill and at Washington%u2019s two major airports. First-class travel all over the world. Their own private health clubs, one for the House, one for the Senate. Their own doctor%u2019s office on premises. And last, but not least, a work schedule with numerous holidays and a full month off in August.
All of it paid for by us.

[pastdue1]

What a horrible indictment the governor of Mo. gives the citizens of Missouri. Most Americans would not like to be classified in the category in which he places his electorite. While it may be true that the citizens of Missouri may connect with her on her level, Missouri citizens, like most American citizens want a national candidate to be able to connect on a much higher level than the parochial issues and attacks that she uses in her rallies.

[noloyalisti]

Yeah, Palin is perfect. Dumb moron in midwest want someone for pResident as stupid as they are. I don''t understand it.

[zorar-2009]

I was undecided now that Colin supports Obama, I will also..
Colin is more credible than all the Bush cronies & Palin combined
Thank you Colin Powell

[dredigga]

Well atleast Palin is more qualifed than Obama.

If Obama can run for President then anybody in America can, after all this is one of the worst ever candidates in American history to run for President.

Posted by Gregg_7

As I read this I am disppointed. What kind of though processes do people use? Obama ran for President against some of the most experienced candidates we have seen. He has given countless interviews with the press, been in many debates and does not need a script to communicate with the American people. Palin has done absolutely nothing that compares and was selected by McCain (not the American people) to be in line for the Presidency. No compaison here! Only a fool would write what you did!

[dredigga]

One must wonder if Barack Obama will release his birth certificate?

Posted by DoILookligaf

I am not wondering about his birth certificate and if you had the slightest bit of common sense, you wouldn''t either. This man is running for Presient of the United States and if you think he has not been fully vetted by everyone (other candidates, the Secret Service and other government agencies) you don''t have much common sense. If they had found out something that disqualifies him, we would have known a long time ago. Please try to use a little common sense. I am a officer in the Army and you wouldn''t believe the background check I went thru, you would think I was trying to be the leader of the free world.

[antoniof123]

One must wonder if Barack Obama will release his birth certificate?
Posted by DoILookligaf at 10:23 AM : Oct 20, 2008

Can I ask it is a requirement that all neo cons be dumber than dirt or that they must attend a special school of dumber than dirt.

He was born in the USA like all natural born people.

God I am so sick and tried of neo cons that I could scream I will be screaming on election day when I vote for Obama/Biden.

[acjupiter]

Lay off the people of MO. GOP (Greed oil pollution) They have been punished enough with eight years from yoour masters Bush Chaney corrupt and bankrupt policies. Let wacy Sarah go back to Alaska and shake down the oil companies so the rest us can pay for gas and the Alsakan can get a bigger check. They deserve for living in the artic circle.
As for the Neo con and other GOP haters. You had 8 years and you destroyed America. America does not want to hear from GOP haters for 8 years. Good ridance to you.
GOP-Get some new policies you greedy gun loving warmongers death penalty anti-Earth haters and hate mongers. Smear and fear party. Any way see YOU in 2012. Happy days are here again. Thank God.