Couric, Gov. Palin: The Interviews

On the Eve of the Release of Sarah Palin's Book, "Going Rogue," We Revisit Katie Couric's Interviews with Palin

(CBS)  In September of 2008, CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric conducted a series of interviews with then Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

The interview segments dealt with the economy, foreign policy, and a look behind the scenes on the campaign trail.

The videos, and transcripts are below.

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Katie Couric interview with Gov. Sarah Palin, airdate 9/24/08

When CBS News anchor Katie Couric sat down for an exclusive interview with vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, she focused on the economy - but also addressed reports that the lobbying firm of Sen. John McCain's campaign manager received payments from the controversial mortgage giant Freddie Mac until August 2008. Couric asked for the Alaska governor's reaction to that.

Watch the Videos
Couric/Palin: the Economy 9/24/08
Couric/Palin: Foreign Policy 9/25/08
Couric/Palin: Behind the Scenes 9/30/08

Sarah Palin: My understanding is that Rick Davis recused himself from the dealings of the firm. I don't know how long ago, a year or two ago that he's not benefiting from that. And you know, I was - I would hope that's not the case.

Katie Couric: But he still has a stake in the company so isn't that a conflict of interest?

Read the Transcripts
Couric/Palin: the Economy 9/24/08
Couric/Palin: Foreign Policy 9/25/08
Couric/Palin: Behind the Scenes 9/30/08

Palin: Again, my understanding is that he recused himself from the dealings with Freddie and Fannie, any lobbying efforts on his part there. And I would hope that's the case because, as John McCain has been saying, and as I've on a much more local level been also rallying against is the undue influence of lobbyists in public policy decisions being made.

Next, Couric asked about the $700 billion government bailout of bad debt - and whether she supports it.

Palin: I'm all about the position that America is in and that we have to look at a $700 billion bailout. And as Sen. McCain has said unless this nearly trillion dollar bailout is what it may end up to be, unless there are amendments in Paulson's proposal, really I don't believe that Americans are going to support this and we will not support this. The interesting thing in the last couple of days that I have seen is that Americans are waiting to see what John McCain will do on this proposal. They're not waiting to see what Barack Obama is going to do. Is he going to do this and see what way the political wind's blowing? They're waiting to see if John McCain will be able to see these amendments implemented in Paulson's proposal.

Couric: Why do you say that? Why are they waiting for John McCain and not Barack Obama?

Palin: He's got the track record of the leadership qualities and the pragmatism that's needed at a crisis time like this.

Couric: But polls have shown that Sen. Obama has actually gotten a boost as a result of this latest crisis, with more people feeling that he can handle the situation better than John McCain.

Palin: I'm not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who's more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who's actually done it?

Couric: If this doesn't pass, do you think there's a risk of another Great Depression?

Palin: Unfortunately, that is the road that America may find itself on. Not necessarily this, as it's been proposed, has to pass or we're going to find ourselves in another Great Depression. But, there has got to be action - bipartisan effort - Congress not pointing fingers at one another but finding the solution to this, taking action, and being serious about the reforms on Wall Street that are needed.

Couric: Would you support a moratorium on foreclosures to help average Americans keep their homes?

Palin: That's something that John McCain and I have both been discussing - whether that ... is part of the solution or not. You know, it's going to be a multi-faceted solution that has to be found here.

Couric: So you haven't decided whether you'll support it or not?

Palin: I have not.

Couric: What are the pros and cons of it do you think?

Palin: Oh, well, some decisions that have been made poorly should not be rewarded, of course.

Couric: By consumers, you're saying?

Palin: Consumers - and those who were predator lenders also. That's, you know, that has to be considered also. But again, it's got to be a comprehensive, long-term solution found ... for this problem that America is facing today. As I say, we are getting into crisis mode here.

Couric: You've said, quote, "John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business." Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

Palin: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie - that, that's paramount. That's more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.

Couric: But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

Palin: He's also known as the maverick though, taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about - the need to reform government.

Couric: But can you give me any other concrete examples? Because I know you've said Barack Obama is a lot of talk and no action. Can you give me any other examples in his 26 years of John McCain truly taking a stand on this?

Palin: I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.

Couric: I'm just going to ask you one more time - not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.

Palin: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.

[loatman]

Please, please release all the unedited Palin interviews with Katie Couric. She is complaining that if we had heard what she "really" said, she would not have come off as such a dimwit. I'd like to see for myself if that is true... so please put them out there for all to see. I'm hoping Charles Gibson will do the same. So far I'm not seeing any substance but who knows, maybe there was something in those interviews like she claims.

[toldyouso21]

Just reading the transcript leaves no doubt that this woman does NOT know what nation building is, has no idea what merits experience in foreign policy and does not have a clue what direct diplomacy is or even what McCain's record which is still marred by the Keating 5--out of control bank scandals--really is about. It shows an extreme lack of preparation as if having the right clothes and hair and trying to be ordinary was enough to connect to voters and get the vote. It might have been enough for a few ignorant right extremists but in the end, anyone with intellectual weight within the GOP had to either abandon ship, voice their concerns (like Buckley) or hold their nose and pretend the Emperor and his amazingly stupid sidekick were not an incompetent pair and butt--naked. A hard act to perform since we could see the bad vaudeville like act from around the world. Vis a vis the interviews, the speeches--and it was not Katie Couric's fault that Palin answered questions so stupidly--whether one likes Couric or the questions or not--they were pretty benign, simple and straight forward and most persons beyond the 7th grade should have been able to answer them adequately.