Sarah Palin on God and the Iraq War
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP nominee for vice-president, tonight offered an explanation for her widely circulated remarks, videotaped in June at the Wasilla Bible Church, in which she urged the assembly to pray ''that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them (American soliders) out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we are praying for, that there is a plan, and that that plan is God's plan.'' The comments have been attacked -- and abridged -- by critics (including Dan Payne in this morning's Globe) who argue that Palin was describing the Iraq War as God's plan. She contests that interpretation.
Here's Palin's exchange on the subject, in an interview today with Charlie Gibson of ABC News:
GIBSON: You said recently, in your old church, "Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God." Are we fighting a holy war?PALIN: You know, I don't know if that was my exact quote.
GIBSON: Exact words.
PALIN: But the reference there is a repeat of Abraham Lincoln's words when he said -- first, he suggested never presume to know what God's will is, and I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words. But what Abraham Lincoln had said, and that's a repeat in my comments, was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God's side. That's what that comment was all about, Charlie.
GIBSON: I take your point about Lincoln's words, but you went on and said, "There is a plan and it is God's plan."
PALIN: I believe that there is a plan for this world and that plan for this world is for good. I believe that there is great hope and great potential for every country to be able to live and be protected with inalienable rights that I believe are God-given, Charlie, and I believe that those are the rights to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That, in my world view, is a grand -- the grand plan.
GIBSON: But then are you sending your son on a task that is from God?
PALIN: I don't know if the task is from God, Charlie. What I know is that my son has made a decision. I am so proud of his independent and strong decision he has made, what he decided to do and serving for the right reasons and serving something greater than himself and not choosing a real easy path where he could be more comfortable and certainly safer.
(Photo, of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Charlie Gibson of ABC News, from Getty.)
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Talk about a slippery liar. She made the comment, that's plain as day, then she tries to say she didn't and tries to avoid the whole question by going into philosphical la-la land. She said it, period, and meant it at the time (probably still does, - she just doesn't want you to know it). Let's hope the voters put their thinking caps on in November and recognize a liar as a liar.
Palin's quote from the church was "and we have to keep praying that there is a plan, and it is God’s plan." Watch it on youtube. Gibson botched it (leaving out the prefatory "we have to keep praying that", and now people are suggesting her quote was that "there is a plan, and it is God's plan" (i.e., that Palin knows what God's plan is, ala Obama being "the One"). What Palin was telling the Church was just what she told Gibson: we don't know what God's plan is, but we have to pray the war is part of that plan and that we are on God's side. We have to pray that our war in Iraq is part of God's plan for the good.
Great interview. Sarah rocked!!
IF YOU'RE AN AMERICAN, THIS SHOULD REALLY PI$$ YOU OFF REGARDLESS OF PARTY
State Republicans, though, have a plan to give the McCain campaign an edge: suppress the vote.
The chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County Michigan, a key swing county in a key swing state, is planning to use a list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting in the upcoming election as part of the state GOP's effort to challenge some voters on Election Day.
"We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren't voting from those addresses," party chairman James Carabelli told Michigan Messenger in a telephone interview earlier this week. He said the local party wanted to make sure that proper electoral procedures were followed.
State election rules allow parties to assign "election challengers" to polls to monitor the election. In addition to observing the poll workers, these volunteers can challenge the eligibility of any voter provided they "have a good reason to believe" that the person is not eligible to vote. One allowable reason is that the person is not a "true resident of the city or township."
The Michigan Republicans' planned use of foreclosure lists is apparently an attempt to challenge ineligible voters as not being "true residents."
The scheme would, of course, disproportionately affect African-American families in the area, who are more likely to vote Democratic, and more likely to be in foreclosure as a result of sub-prime loans.
This is just part of a "comprehensive voter-challenge campaign" Michigan Republicans are launching this year, which will coordinate with the regional McCain campaign to train volunteers in challenging those who wish to vote on Election Day. (Whether the foreclosure-driven scheme will be implemented statewide is unclear.)
Asked about the GOP's efforts, Carabelli said, "I would rather not tell you all the things we are doing."
I didn't know that God wrote our bill of rights...and he's American! Now if we can just convince the Islamic extremists of this....
Either way...the scary thing is the Bush Doctrine...her lack of knowledge of that but her adamant support for any and all things war related. That's a problem.
A suggestion that we should go to war with Russia. A stance that we should be entering Pakistan(that McCain has said he disagrees with)
What is going on in American politics...we have got to get it together. The stakes are TOO high for the American people to get duped again!
Since Sarah likes it so much...I hope the Lord has a plan for this....because she is !!!really scaring me
"Regardless of party" oh please. You just slammed the GOP only. What, you don't think Left wing libs won't try to do the same? Extreme right or left is no good. Gotta stay in the middle folks. Keep your head on!
I sure wish the American voter could chose a candidate that didn't go around spouting gibberish about their imaginary super-friends. Why must American political leaders bow to these childish ideas? The only thing worse than a dictatorship is a theocracy. I, for one, long for the day when the US is more secular and such delusional ideas do not dominate the minds of those holding the most powerful positions of power on the planet. We need leaders that can think independent, without consulting a deity or even pretending to do so.
I agree Greg! Wow, she just lied as if it were nothing. She never even answered the question. She said her son is serving something greater than himself then she turns around and says, I don't know if this is from God! What? is she on drugs?
We've already had nearly eight years subjected to one president's certainty that he's following God's plan, especially with respect to invading and occupying Iraq. We do NOT need to elect another national leader with that kind of viewpoint.
Oh I get it, it is a task from God, and it isn't, and she said it and she didn't. Furthermore, exactly what she might have meant by saying or not saying it is, well, something put very well by President Lincoln. Sure, it is very clear.
Thank God for an "ordinary" American that can make a difference.
I'm impressed.
This is just a big joke! She is such a liar and how dare she try and compare herself to President Lincoln???? We do NOT need a VP for this country who is a prejudice hypocrit and tries to make America as if its the only country protected from God. This war is about saving those people and doing what is right....it has nothing to do with God's plan they believe in God as well. Different religions may have different names for him but there is only one God and he is throughout this entire world watching over everyone.
Great, another religious nut. Sighhhhhhhhh.... Tired of all this god crap already
Evangelicals are dangerous and I am a Christian! Jesus is the prince of peace! As Neil Young said, they hijacked our religion.
We cannot afford to have another jesus freak in the white house or anywhere near the white house. Democrats realize that religion is a private matter, not to be used for political gain. Palin is no different than all the holy rollers that preach morals and turn out to be less than holy. Hypocrites! Think Larry Craig, Ted Haggard, Mark Foley, etc.
Save America, vote OBAMA!
Does the McSAME/ Palin ticket seem surreal to anybody else!!!
How did these two become the republican nominees???
Here is a statistic the news doesn't tell you, and I cannot believe my family is the only one?
My entire family voting Obama/Biden. My two brothers are marines, served in Vietnam and my dad 87, was in the Airforce in WWII. My mom 84 and me 47 a registerd independant... They see Mccain as more of the same and say that they did not serve in the military to have this "jerk" come along and ruin what America once stood for.
I thank God that you morons never got off your asses and vote.
Many spiritual people feel that God has a plan for us. The New York Times bestseller by Pastor Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, talked about this plan. This is a common ideaology and to try and distort it to the point that you make Palin seems like some over-zealous religious fanatic is just childish!
I'm so tired of this ordinary comments about Palin. She's orginary so we should vote for her. She's ordinary so she'll be a great president.
I consider myself an "ordinary" american and I don't want an ordinary american in office. There is far to manny problems facing the world and the U.S. for an "ordinary" american to be elected. You can easily understand other people by using empathy without having to be an "ordinary" american.
Palin just scares me because the republicans have been hiding her for so long, and the first interview she is on she dances around the answer because she knows her true answer would scare the crap out of alot of americans.
Didn't she say her phrase, a task from Gods, was a reference to the words of Abraham Lincoln.. If so, why didn't she quote him when she originally made the statement?
Hass she at anytime demonstrated any interest or knowledge of history or historical heroes, has she?
She has been coached.
She is an attractive woman, a good speaker, but it isn't enough, is it to be a breath away from the presidency?
Yeah Thomas... we all know that 'ordinary' americans all come from small towns, root for their kids in hockey, try to ban books in public libraries, greedily try to get over $1000 per person in their small town in federal earmarks and then spew caustic smart-aleck half-truths just to further their own cause.
By the way, 80% of Americans live in or near metropolitan areas... so small towns aren't America.
Palin is not only a religious extremist, a political hypocrite and the environment's worst enemy. Now with her saber rattling, she's also.a threat to US national security. Anyone for war with Russia?
great a bunch of liberal idiots that watch to much CNN. why is it when obama says a whole lot of nothing its great, at least Palin has strong beliefs and morels and for the most part actually says something when she speaks. this whole thing about the iraq war was taken out of context by the liberal media to try and smear the woman becuase hey are afraid that they are going to lose the election again.
Seems like Sara has a lot of pretty upset... Tell me if you are upset now.. what is ahead for you.
This woman is a liar and more than that she is a know-nothing. She is like George W. Bush who takes his orders directly form God. Scary Sarah is truly unprepared and unqualified. . McCain has put at risk the long term stability of this country by bringing this wingnut into the election. He has made of mockery of the American voter. Palin must be rejected for the sake of future generations and for the entire world. Shoot First is not an acceptable policy in a nuclear world. She is another Goldwater.
I don't believe she is a liar. I think she is a Believer. And to me Believer's can present much more of a problem. Believer's don't let facts get in the way of what they think is true. And this, more than anything is what led to this disasterous situation in Iraq (and Vietnam in an earlier generation) when an administration's "belief" in weapons of mass destruction outweighed the facts that they didn't exist. It is Believer's in radcal Islam that lead to such venemous and destructive terrorist acts; it is Believer's in Marxism and Facism that lead to totalitarian states; It is Believer's in creationism that lead to denial of reality. The United States of America is founded on tolerance and openeness, in separation of the state from a church, in individual freedom and pluralism. It is belief in this that is the true Americanism.
I don't see that Mrs. Palin gets this.
This country was founded by God fearing men and women, unfortunately our society has discarded Christ like a peice of trash. God IS in control if this once great nation is to survive we must put our faith in him and those he appoints to be our authority figures.Don't judge to harshly they to are human." In God we trust" should not be just a phrase. God bless John McCain and Sarah Palin, they are going to need it.
Question for Sarah: Who would Jesus bomb?
Oh, God. Those NUKE nightmares I used to have as a kid during the 80's are coming back to me. No joke.
Palin did well, but she also got the answers correct. The qould you go into pakistan to get Osama bin laden is a trick question where the right answer is "it depends". Pakistan is an ally that must be coordinated with, but clearly if there is a window of opportunity that is time sensitive and the target is very important, it's time to "steal home" and hope you don't get outted at the plate and beat up by your own time. There is no "yes" or "no" on this question.
What if you see Osama Bin Ladin in your target, even he's in Parkistan, you have to shoot (fire) right away. you don't want to miss that opportunity to catch him. You can't wait for Parkistan's approval for that, By the time if you get the approval, you might have missed your target. That was what had happened with Bill Clinton's presidency..they saw Osama Bin Ladin (the tall guy) within their radar and failed to capture or shoot or open fire at him. Who knows..if he was killed on that day..I believe there will be no (9/11).
Palin's answer of we need to do whatever is necessary in the interest of our national security. Good answer. Smart lady. I'm behind you...Go Girl!!!!
She clearly states "Our national leaders are sending them out on a task from God"
And she wants her church to pray for oil companies as well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZihQ7X9rzlM&feature=related
Exactly 7 years ago was the worst day in American history. And as I recall, the horrible despicable cowards who attacked our country did it for the love of god. Don't we have audio of them saying "Praise god" before they murdered all those innocent people in the Towers? Right?
So? Let's fly some planes into some buildings! Let's invade a country without actual provocation which will breed more terrorists! God says these are good ideas!
For those who are missing my point: I think America has had enough of religious extremists who let fairy tails cloud their ability to think reasonably.
What a wonderful woman for vice president!
Her comments were nothing short of good. There are many negative people in the world, who spew out perverse and unholy words in the name of religion or in the name of atheism. Who is to say they know another's heart. I, for one, believe God. And I believe those who seek him (even in political decisions), will find better answers and better solutions than those who only complain, criticize, or belittle someone for their words.
GOD BLESS AMERICA and every other nation on this earth.
Gotta love it when one of the globes own calls out their peers for twisting words...
Go Sarah! And to those of you don't beleive in God, good for you. Now please stop belittling the rest (majority) of us.
I believe that it is not possible to explain what was meant in so many words or in the context of any interview with anyone in the current media. So much is being taken out of context here it is ridiculous - any further expense of life and energy upon it is stupid.
The Democrats are treating Sarah Palin so unfair!! How can they hold something against her that she said before she was nominated for VP??? I mean, just because she was a religious extremist a few months ago doesn't mean that she still is... So what if she supported the bridge to nowhere when she was Governor? Now she says she was against it, so isn't that good enough? So what if she supported all those millions in earmarks when she was Mayor and Governor? Now she says she's against earmarks, so isn't that good enough? We have to remember, we should not judge someone based on their actions in the past, only on what they say now that they are running for VP..
She calls herself a "maverick" but she's just Bush in a beehive.
Liberals are so dumb. You all actually think the "Bush Doctrine" is something official for the text books. It is open to interpretation. However, apparently good ole Charlie has been reading the Democrat's talking points. My God, so dumb?!?
"We cannot afford to have another jesus freak in the white house or anywhere near the white house. Democrats realize that religion is a private matter, not to be used for political gain"
s perry...are you kidding. Dems realize that religion is a private matter. note the below quotes from michelle obama who was campaigning today at the US Baptist Convention:
"" come here today as a Christian, a person of faith, who believes that we’ve all been called to serve our fellow men and women, and to honor all of God’s creation. "
"Because underneath it all, we are all God’s children…"
and she goes on to quote the book of Hebrews and Luke. ohhh..is this what you call keeping religion private and not using it for political gain. what a hypocrite!
"That's what we have to make sure that we are praying for, that there is a plan, and that that plan is God's plan.'' Why did Gibson keep leaving this part of the quote out, it is in the paragraph right above in this very document. It sure seems clear to me she is asking her congregation to pray that there is a plan (interpertation - please oh please God I hope you have a plan) and then praying that our leaders are following that plan (Interperation: please oh please God (or maybe I just hope) our leaders see and align with Gods plan). As far as I can tell that's what she said to Gibson, he just didn't want to hear that. I suspect none of you do either.
Like it or not, as far as I can tell she tried to stand by her words until it was obvious he was not going to see it any way but: Palin says we are fighting God's war. Then she tried to move on. I don't blame her, he wasn't going to bother to listen
The moral justification for going to war in Iraq just wasn't there. Nevertheless, God can use even this conundrum for His plans for earth. That's all Gov. Palin meant by this. She certainly does not see this as a holy war in the same sense as Muslim Jihadists, and Charlie Gibson's use of the term "holy war" was a devious attempt to draw a parallel in the minds of his viewers between radical Muslims and sincere Christians. If you fell for this, shame on you!
Perhaps someone needs to remind Stalin...er...I mean Palin that: Jesus was a "community organizer."
Pontius Pilate was the "governor."
"Great, another religious nut. Sighhhhhhhhh.... Tired of all this god crap already"
"Great, another agnostic fruitcake.. Sighhhhhhhhhhhh.... Our founding father's were not agnostic. In God We Trust.
Sarah you are no Abe Lincoln...
I like Sarah!! I always wanted a real war with real nukes!!! Bush is a wimp! He only attacks countries with tiny armies that he knows we can beat! I'm with Sarah! Time for us to give our military a real war! Let's start a war with Russia! God is on our side! God will shield us from their nukes!
God's plan huh?
Thou shalt not kill.
Enough with the jesus freaks! It is disgusting that people fight over fairy tales. It is also sad that politicians must pander to religious nuts. I wait for the day when a politician has the courage to admit that they find religion ridiculous. Bill Maher may only be a comedian, but like Carlin, the truth is in their comedy. People like Jon Stewart (another comedian) have more common sense than all these religious nut jobs.
A nation free of religion will be a nation moving forward, not backward.
Holy War (n.): A war declared or fought for a religious or high moral purpose.
Sarah Palin: "Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God."
It sure sounds to me like she is saying this is a "holy war." If John McCain and Sarah Palin are elected, there will be a very fuzzy line between "Islamic terrorists" and "Christian terrorists."
Where is Hillary?? She needs to step up to the plate and challenge the lady from Alaska. Male dems who do get labeled sexist. Come on Hillary, if you are the devoted democrat you say you are, let your voice be heard. Why are you strangely silent. Do you want to let McCain/Palin have the next four years so that you will be in the best position to be nominated in the next election cycle? Clever strategy.
Sarah answered the questions and did well I think.
Did Obama get the same questions of why is he prepared to be president?
She has more experience then he does to be qualified to be President.
I respect Gov. Palin but after watching her interview she seemed overly rehearsed, nervous, and at times like a moose caught in someone's headlights.
I applaud Charlie Gibson. I thought his interview was fair and he did a great job at asking tough but questions that any candidate at this level should be able to answer.
The more I read about Gov. Palin's record the less I like about her. Definitely not ready for the second most powerful position in the world in my opinion.
"God's plan huh?
Thou shalt not kill."
Hummm... Didn't David Kill Goliath?
I'd rather fight them In Iraq than fight'em on our turf.
Way to go Sarah, good answer.
I've lost all respect for Mr. Gibson. He's a jerk!
McCain has been answering questions about the prospects of war with Iran if he were elected by dancing and singing: "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran," on his podium. His warmongering mentality has been definitely established, and
Sarah Palin's strong beliefs that war is an act of God put her ahead of the other
VP candidates hands down! I guess that is why God didn't give Saddam Hussein a stroke or a heart attack to die, so the U.S. could act to fulfil God's wish. Sure, the McCain - Palin ticket seem to be under a mission from God to wage war with Iran because it is the "Axis of Evil" according to right wing republicans. But if war is an act of God, the human race had better start worshipping "Evil" before they become extinct.
I watched Charles Gibson interview with Sarah Palin, and I was impressed by her
ignorance, and her attitude to drag her answer on peripheral issues - rather than answer it directly on the core of the question. And Charles Gibson certainly
look desperate on her evasive antics when he told her if "it was a 'yes' on the
question of U.S. forces entering Pakistan. She again gave him the run around, but no answer.
Sarah Palin reminds me the movie "The Spy who Came from the Cold." She
does come from the Alaskan cold with a Cold War attitude, with a lot of lipstick and ready to be the pit bull of the Republican ticket, but she is clueless on what the world is outside the U.S. Nikos Retsos, retired academic.
To #39, "rj"... you say "Liberals are so dumb. You all actually think the "Bush Doctrine" is something official for the text books."
Actually, "rj" much of what is considered "Bush Doctrine" such as "preemptive war" which holds "that the United States should depose foreign regimes that represent a threat to the security of the United States, even if that threat is not immediate" is official policy and is outlined in our Country's "National Security Strategy" (on whitehouse.gov).
It's probably even in a few textbooks.
This is frightening. To mention War or military action concerning Russia shows her lack of knowledge of world affairs. For the Republican Party to say that because Alaska is close to Russia Palin has some kind of foreign policy experience is so cynical . Washington DC to Moscow is 4890 miles and Anchorage to Moscow is 4360...... Does Palin think the Russians make foreign policy from Siberia?? The rehersed comments about Lincoln made me sad.
I like to keep my mind open until the day before the election , but it is closing fast.
God does not take sides.
It is astonishing the number of people in this loony state who go after Palin because she's a conservative Christian. Thankfully, this state is not representative of the country in terms of its liberal loonies and the disproportionate number of gay people who who assassinate the character and twist and distort the words of anyone who doesn't believe in gay marriage, and in the number of miserable, physically unattractive feminists who dislike a down to earth, conservative, Christian woman. You are all SO shocked that Sarah Palin has become so popular - and you're angry because she is one of us and not one of you. Get over it! The country is going with McCain/Palin, whether the loony libs in this state like it or not!
Those with absolutist and moralist persuasion are probably just as fond of Palin as you were of Bush. You like to see things in terms of well-defined good and evil. I wonder if you have tried a reality check.
To cite just one example, Palin says she will take us to war if necessary against Russia over Georgia. At least she thinks that sabre rattling with influence Russia. With fires in Iraq and Afghanistan far from being put out, with virtually no possibility of massive troop deployment, tell me how you are going to embolden Georgia--for sure you are not going to get NATO cooperation. And if Ahmedinijad does not feel threatened by US since we are bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, what makes you think that a resurgent Russia sitting on top of the world' biggest energy reserve and with vast Nuclear capabilities will blink just because President McCain does not like it. What if the cost of deteriorating US-Russian relationship means that Russia enables a Nuclear Iran. Is this an outcome you are willing to risk ?
Let's be real! Even though I will not vote for her ticket, who even knew there was a "Bush Doctrine"?
I don't think Bush knows he has one. It keeps changing--pre-emptive strikes to protect U.S. interests--big deal. What U.S. president has not threatened to do that?
Palin was "deer in the headlights" about the Bush Doctrine.
And, exasperated. Look at the video.
She avoided almost all the questions, sidestepping them. She could NEVER get away with that on Sun. talk shows.
There is no amount of coaching that will change this.
I love Palin but I have to admit that the neocon tendencies of McCain - whose camp will push them on Palin - is not a good thing. Trying to be neutral, yes, she does in fact lack foreign policy experience and I don't think McCain's views on Russia and Georgia mirror reality. So I think S. Tanveer makes some good points. That said, there's alot I like about Palin, and McCain, and I know that Obama/Biden would be liberal on judges and many other issues, so I'm going with McCain mainly because of Palin - she's down to earth, a good person, fairly conservative, an overall attractive candidate even though lacking in certain areas. But, you know what, Obama is also lacking in those same areas.
When are people going to realize that God is an imaginary being that exists only in words?
Sarah is a blind ideologue. And no Christian. The lies and crap that come out of her mouth would not be spoken by a Christian. Her voice is shrill, her comments are daggers, and like her runningmate, she does not speak of plans or ideas, only jabs at the opposition. And her son's "independent and strong decision" was in lieu of jailtime for "serious" vandalism to school buses. She is simple trash. Send her back to her little town where she belongs.
This woman belongs in a cave with Bin Laden! There's nothing remotely Christian or decent about Sarah Palin and the "Christian" right. These dangerous, vile people use God as a weapon and Jesus as a shield in a fight to control the public and private lives of others. They're not merely the agents of intolerance, as McCain once noted, they are the agents of destruction, they are the tyrants from which the US Constitution was designed to protect this republic. They are the true terrorists in our midst and in our government.
It's time to stop cowering before anyone who claims to be a Christian or a person of faith. Faith is a personal state of grace it is not a public state of siege.
There is no "Bush Doctrine" as such. This was a typically high-blown phrase from Karl Rove's office in the white house - it originally referred to the ides that any state harboring or supporting terrorists would be regarded as being at war with us. In 2002, contrary to what Gibson sais President Bush wasn't even taking about preemptive war. The phrase later came to be applied to anything Bush did to responsd to the islamist threat - from invading Iraq to supporting democrats in the Middle east, and by this point it's just a phrase that means whatever the person using it wants it to mean. I think Gov. Palin did well, and Charlie Gibson showed his ignorance.
You should hope the 2nd most powerful person would at least be aware of the Bush Doctrine. Sarah's right though, we should pray that God's will includes war and oil pipelines! That would be an awesome God!
It is truly amazing to me that the Republicans couldn't come up with a better ticket. I am a Viet Nam era veteran and admire McCain for his service and his survival in the Hanoi Hilton. I question his psychological stability and that of anyone who has endured such an experience. In addition, I have real concerns about his physical health. This, of course, is in addition to his political views.
Palin is just not qualified, period. It's great that some admire her for her conservative "Christian" values. It's nice that she was a cheerleader, a beauty queen, a hockey mom, the mayor of Wasilla (population of less than 10K) and governor of Alaska for a couple of years. It's nice that she's a woman. Do we really want this kind of person a heartbeat away from being President. Come on. Stop and think about it. REALLY think about it. We can do better than this.
Palin is parroting Joe LIEberman's word! Most of her prepared statement induced by Joe. So does McCain! No wonder Joe is so friendly to McCain to keep "Likud First", he is wrapped in that mashup - great American politician.
Does anybody HONESTLY think Palin even knew the Lincoln quote BEFORE somebody in the MaCain camp came up with for her it and she then memorized her confusing answer as a way for her to cover-up for her comments on the Assembly of God Church video? If so, I've got a "bridge to nowhere" to sell you! LOL
McCain to Sarah: "Remember, if you can't dazzle 'em with your brilliance, baffle 'em with you bull s**t!. If that doesn't work then it's "noun, verb and 9-11" or "noun, verb, POW."
David Peterson said:
"Palin's quote from the church was "and we have to keep praying that there is a plan, and it is God’s plan." Watch it on youtube. Gibson botched it (leaving out the prefatory "we have to keep praying that", and now people are suggesting her quote was that "there is a plan, and it is God's plan" (i.e., that Palin knows what God's plan is, ala Obama being "the One"). "
Typical Obama type strategy, whether willful by Gibson or not. Nevertheless, Palin handled it with aplomb. I have confidence in the woman. Honesty is a difficult thing to put down, and it's on her side.
Right-wing talk radio host Michael Smerconish writes for Salon: "Where the hell are Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri? And why does virtually no one ask anymore? What's changed since the days when any suburban soccer mom would have strangled either of them with her bare hands if given the chance? And what happened to President Bush's declaration to a joint session of Congress nine days after 9/11 that 'any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime.' Doesn't that apply to Pakistan?
Bush/McCain - more of the same BS
Palin said, "I believe that there is great hope and great potential for every country to be able to live and be protected with inalienable rights that I believe are God-given, Charlie, and I believe that those are the rights to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Tell me, just how will people do that if the US decides they want to kill them by invading their sovereign nations?
George Bush says that God is talking to him and through prayer, he believes he's doing God's will - in all his actions.
Funny how the Republicans love to tout Christianity but they forget the commandments to not kill, not covet, not steal, etc....etc.....
How about no more God talk?
Hummm... Didn't David Kill Goliath?
You're right.
Everybody: "Maim and kill for Jesus", repeat (chant), etc.
Hey, how about this: Palin is Bush league. Get it, she's aligned with Bush, but it also means she's farm team quality. i was trying to fit in with some posters here and appear as though I speak without thinking.
NOBODY has challenged Barack Obama face-to-face (except O'Reilly) for the last who-knows-how-long. I wish Charlie Gibson would grill Obama and MAKE him answer some questions so he sounds like he actually connects with real folks. Give Palin props- she answers the questions, doesn't get flustered, and makes Gibson look like the doodling fool and puppet he is!
Sounds like Sarah is (wait for it), "Bush league." Get it? She agrees with Bush and...
go palin go
Nutmeg:
"Bush/McCain - more of the same BS"
McCain is not George Bush. It's an argument used as a smoke screen to hide Obama's questionable qualifications due to his background and lack of experience. McCain/Palin - substance and proven abilities.
I can't believe Gibson botched that so badly. Doesn't he speak English?
Obama: "My faith teaches me that I can sit in church and pray all I want, but I won’t be fulfilling God’s will unless I go out and do the Lord’s work."
Obama: "I'll establish a new Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The new name will reflect a new commitment. This Council will not just be another name on the White House organization chart - it will be a critical part of my administration."
Don't act like Palin is the only religious zealot in this race. Obama is way over the line - and he's running for president!
Kevin #66 you write: "There is no "Bush Doctrine" as such. This was a typically high-blown phrase from Karl Rove's office in the white house - it originally referred to the ides that any state harboring or supporting terrorists would be regarded as being at war with us. In 2002, contrary to what Gibson sais President Bush wasn't even taking about preemptive war."
You are very wrong.. This policy is outlined in Bush's 2002 National Security Strategy. You can read it on www.whitehouse.gov... This document is from 2002 and specifically speaks of "preemptive" strikes...
To Michael Santomauro #60, you write "pre-emptive strikes to protect U.S. interests--big deal. What U.S. president has not threatened to do that?"
The difference is that George Bush did not just threaten to do that, he did that... There is a big difference between making a threat and invading a country that is not a threat to our national security...
For number 28, which god fearing men are you referring to? This nation was founded by agnostics, atheists, and deists, and none of them were god fearing.
The "god" mentioned in The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution refers to deist principles of a higher power, and neither is a reference to the christian god.
She said "Our national leaders are sending them out on a task from God"
I saw the video, and people are saying it's out of context? I don't see any connection to Lincoln or praying that we are on God's side.
asd for the following comment:
"Great, another agnostic fruitcake.. Sighhhhhhhhhhhh.... Our founding father's were not agnostic. In God We Trust.
Er.. actually that time period had a lot of Deists and later Unitarians. Ever read Thomas Jeffersons religious thoughts? He and John Adams often exchanged letters on it, they're available and well published. He was a well known Deist in his time. George Washington didn't talk about his religion but never claimed to be a Christian. Thomas Paine, Ben Franklin among others. There was something called the "enlightenment", and it wasn't until afte the civil war that christianity because to solidify itself all the way up the the presidency.
As for "in God we Trust" wasn't added to coins until 1864, and wasn't made the US motto until 1956. Under God wasn't added to the pledge unti 1954. A lot of this.. in my opinion, was a a response to the rise of communism.. which was athiestic. But this is a matter of debate. The point is, In God We Trust was hardly from the founding fathers. So do a little reaseach before you post.
I am a a mainstream protestant myself, but I'm not doing to deny or rewrite history(or science) to protect my belief.
To Andrew Austin #80....
So you are admitting that Sarah Palin is a "religious zealot"? I think there's a pretty big difference between those quotes from Obama and Sarah Palin talking about a war being "a task that is from God". Obama is talking about "Neighborhood Partnerships" and Palin is talking about wars.... You do see the difference, don't you?
Its clear that Palin speaks for God and we need to get used to it. Its settled. She said it and we need to believe it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Mccain is out of his mind!
Let's recap:
Thomas #12. Right, heaven forbid we elect anyone exceptional to office.
Dave #34. Is that Cool Aid available everywhere?
Rob #46, Wonderful, best so far!
Patrick #58, It's clear that tolerance is you middle name.
Tommyz #75 Obama spent 3 years in Chicago working with "real (poor) folks" as communitee organizer...you know the people Palin makes fun of.
Note: For those who claim that some people here are attacking religion, you may be correct. But then, it's a free country, right? The real point is that the framers of the Constitution understood the need for separation of church and state. Those who want religion involved in government, move to Iran. Get back to us in a year or so on how that's working for you.
Reading the comments from the McCain-Palin bots is funnier than watching the comedy channel.
Take heart Obama supporters the McCain/Palin camp (supporters included) are becoming the laughing stock of the nation ... and the world!
What foreign experience do you have Gov. Palin: "I've visited Canada and Mexico and we can even see Russia from here in Alaska!" Now, THAT"S international experience, eh? She forgot Hawaii ... that's so far away it MUST be a foreign county, right Gov. Palin?"
A laugh a minute and the comments here from Republibots add to the humor!
is Palin talking "JIHAD" here?
Americans try too hard to disassociate themselves from Muslims but here is a candidate for VP who says that the war is a task from God.
Only islam fundamentalists consider war as an "act for god."
So is Palin's ideology like theirs? So who's the muslim now?
I for one am very proud to support John McCain and Sarah Palin. And I am very pleased with the path our Republican Party is heading. In 1991, George Bush Sr. attacked Sadam Hussein and forced him out of Kuwait, however he was weak and withdrew our troops before finishing our task from God. That is why God turned his back on us and punished us by letting our Country suffer under Bill Clinton for 8 years. Now, our Great President Bush has finally completed this task from God and defeated Sadam Hussein. However, I believe God has more tasks for us. After all, He did give us nuclear weapons, which we have not yet used. God would not have given us nuclear weapons if he did not intend for us to use them. I have faith in Sarah Palin and John McCain. They are not weak and they will not hesitate to do whatever is necessary to complete God's tasks. I am with you Sarah.
If the iraq war is a Task from God, as Sarah Palin insists upon, then that makes Bush's lies God's words.
.
Sarah Palin is a deluded peson, who "does not even blink" in believing that "she is fit to lead the nation".
.
Please God, keep the deluded away from fools who believe in them.
OMG, did she said this war is God's plan? Does she also think that her minor daughter had sex because it was God's will? Nothing to do with her lack or responsibility? I can hear the whole nation saying that if they kill someone, it was because God approved it.
So, we have a divine messenger? Wondering what we are going to hear next. I don't know who to fear more anymore. The radical Muslims, the messengers from God, btw, which God? The Satan worshipers, or the irrational Americans that think that Sarah Palin is an excellent candidate for the vice-presidency and is a great example of a working mother.
As much as I dislike the McCain/Palin ticket and just about everything that they stand for, she is clearly right and this quotation had been butchered and mis-represented repeatedly. Acknowledging that we are acting on a plan, and praying that the plan of action is the right one, is almost the opposite of saying "our plan is God's plan." It's saying "let's hope that the decisions we have made and the actions we are taking are the right ones."
the more I look at McCain and Palin, the more I realize it is time for a sequel to Dr. Strangelove and have her ride the bomb down to Russia and where else she wants to take it. I get the feeling that the Republicans now realize that they might be better off with Paula Abdul as VP candidate.. at least she admits she is a moron.
Andrew-austin: Obama is religious. But he is no war monger. Obama may be preachy, but that's him from the very start.
Palin - associated with guns, teen pregnancy, abuse of power and then saying things like the war is God's task? This isn't the 16th century anymore. God doesn't ORDER war. It is man's choice. Only fundamentalist islam thinks that killing is God's work. Palin is talking jihad here.
Christians, on the other hand, considers killing as a mortal sin.
It's funny the more I read these message boards the more I realize that it's not our politicians who are the problem, it's us. Everyone is so eager to ram there opinion down each others throats they never stop to think that they are pretty much acting exactly like the candidates they hate so much for (insert a reason). So after that interview were still talking about God this and no God that when the reality is were not touching on the issue that our children will be faced with in the future like terrorism, energy and health care? Instead were here debating on whether so and so is a religious nut etc. Not that any of you would actually do this but I'd suggest looking in the mirror and asking yourself if your part of the problem? But keep defending your party and tow that line.
all the issues
God BLESS AMerica! God BLESS SArah PALIN!!! I KNew from the moment I saw her that JESUS himself HAS BLESSED US Hallelujah!!
I DONT CARE that she has no experience - she has teh experience of GOD!! Gibson must be a JEW!!
It's all a Right-wing conspiracy!
Remembe Clinton?
He never had sexual relations with that woman...
It's all a Right-wing conspiracy!
OH Wait Reality... He DID...
Are We Ready For another...OBAMA !!!
Who thinks we shouldn't Protect Babies After they are born...
Why Don't we make it legal to KILL our children untill they are 18?
We Are legaly Responcable for them,
What right does the government have to stop us? They are our children.
We should have consequence for our mistakes, than we can learn from them...
Not Kill Them so we don't have to deal with them !!!
Go Sarah Palin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOD BLESS YOU !
Sarah,
You depend on our protection,
yet you feed us LIES FROM THE TABLECLOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gotta love a person who gets caught in a lie and has enough money backing her to try and find historical references to support herself. I bet she had no idea about lincoln's speech that night she spoke. Leave it to the speech writers to keep her scripted and hopefully draw out the women Hillary might have brought to the Dems. Look at the cover up now and think what will it be like for another four years of The Reps in office. Can it get any worse?
The interview didn't seem very fair to me. Charlie Gibson's tone seemed rather patronizing. He clearly had his point of view. Rather than trying to honestly get to know her through the interview, he seemed to be trying to prove a point. The American people are smarter than that, and they can see right through his tactics.
Sarah Palin is a smart and classy woman. She has my vote.
Geee, she sounds like someone else I know, mmmm what was his name??? Oh yeah OSAMA BIN LADEN. I am so sick and tired of thses religious whackos we've had enough of them with bush. She is as dangerous if not more than Bin Laden cause she would actually have nuclear weapons. This nut case should go back to the frozen tundra of Alaska and stay there...
Regardless of faith, and Lincoln's 19th century rhetoric, I believe the American people deserve a better person in teh #2 slot than someone who justifies the most complicated aspects of U.S. foreign policy with "The Lord works in mysterious ways."
I'm really irked at Charlie Gibson. He wasted his moderation of the Obama/Clinton debate with his out of touch concerns about capital gains taxes, and now he's trying to play theological gotcha when he should be asking much more worldly questions. Remove God from the discussion and let's see if she has the brains to make calculations on the world stage.
Abraham Lincoln???? Okay I have tried to resist the sarcasm and petty comments that have so thrilled America when Palin made her convention speech and stick to the issues but I guess I am going to give in!! Abraham Lincoln? Do we really believe that someone who majored in communications/journalism and took five years and 6 colleges to do so, really knew she was quoting Abraham Lincoln when referring to sending soldiers to Iraq as "a task that is from God"?
McCain's staffers really coached her well.. good one!
It's amazing how emotional liberals get when they're losing the election.
I'm not a theologian, but as I recall Jesus of Nazareth is called by many "The Prince of Peace". Mars is the god of war. Of course national defense is the right of any people but let's not make this a crusade, ok? Think -- Petrogate, Sarah waving a cop-killer gun at an NRA rally, the Alaskan Independance Party making a mockery of the Pledge of Allegiance, Sen. McCain calling for a permanent occupation of Iraq, then flip-flopping and calling for a timetabled withdrawal, Sarah not knowing what the "Bush Doctrine" even is, no health care reform, no mortgage reform, denying the bridge-to-nowhere earmark conspiracy, your tax money used to teach someone else's religion in public schools, while denying the private sector the right to internationally competitive science education. This is America's future? We already have idots running the executive branch. Why spend all this money just to replace them with the bench squad of the same second-class team? Can we do better? Why, yes. Yes we can.
Seems pretty clear that Charlie was reading a script, too. Obviously she was coached into all those, "Charlie" comments. This is political theater, and we'd all be wise to laugh at it and move on.
Palin is not the issue. McCain is the issue. The Republicant's are orchestrating a brilliant media blitz - easy, since they own all of the media these days - and every day spent on Palin is another day spent not covering McCain's lie machine. We have a man who has been tortured saying torture is OK, a military man who hates veterans but loves to maim them and on and on it goes. It's amazing. I'm not a great big Obama fan, but this guy is both crazy and scary.
McCain was losing the Christian conservative base of the Republican Party. People were disinterested in his candidacy and didn't see him representing any change from Bush. He wanted someone from outside the Beltway and needed an anti-abortion Christian right-winger to galvanize support--a lot of money is donated from that sector as well. Sure, there are MANY people more qualified than Gov. Palin, but he needed a "star" to counter the attention Obama was getting. It's a fact that McCain's staff did not vet Palin with any degree of thoroughness and he barely knew her himself, so it's widely accepted that it was more a political choice on his part to select an unknown governor--people with experience often have taken unpopular positions at some point in their careers, so voters often approve someone when there's less of a record to check; a woman, to prove he's really for change; a Christian conservative, to reinvigorate the base; and her youth and beauty can only help in making the old guy look more appealing--as the newcomer, she draws the crowds, and he rides her coattails. McCain didn't put "country first" in his selection, so it was definitely a calculated strategy to win a campaign. Possibly a good one on his part, but also cynical--she wins votes for him, does not really strengthen the ticket through experience, but does in appeal to the masses. He's not the man he was in 2000. I vote stewardship of the environment and biodiversity conservation as my "family values" so could not consider voting for McCain or Palin, whichever is the top of the ticket.
There is alot of people condeming Sarah Palin for her comments of bringing God into the American political domain. Personally, i think it took alot of guts to say what she said. PALIN IS A "WARRIOR" FOR GOD and therefore alot of people will take her on unfortunately, they simply are ill equiped with spiritual strength and guidance. When you are a "Warrior" of God you have to make tough decisions. People need to understand that they can't have it "Both Ways" in this world. Wars at times can't be avoided they need to be confronted. God gave us alot of wonderful values, skills and a mind. He wants the best for us so we have to honor him. The bible states its far better to make a decision in this world then not to make one. Oh by the way when God does eventually enter this earth once again remember he's the second person on the throne not the first beacause satin would have fooled all the masses prior. You just never know when this moment will happen..!
People say that Sarah Palin is not qualified for the job. Iv'e never seen aperson that is qualified for a job. Only God decides who's right for a job. He's taken a shepard boy and made him an almighty warrior. Not to mention Abraham Linchlon who tried to be the American President on numerous occassions ans failed. But, it was God working behind the scenes in Lincholn's life and repositioning him all the time until the time was right for him to become President. He was simply strenghtening him up emotionally and spiritually for the mammoth task ahead for him
re: "great a bunch of liberal idiots that watch to much CNN. why is it when obama says a whole lot of nothing its great, at least Palin has strong beliefs and morels and for the most part actually says something when she speaks.." If Palin has "morels" she has a bunch of mushrooms. You're either too ignorant or too self-important to spell, punctuate or capitalize first words of sentences, and you mean "too" not "to" about how much CNN we watch. They are clearly playing to people like you who emote rather than think. The world is too complex for half-truths and wishful thinking. Palin clearly had no clue what the Bush Doctrine is, and that is one of many proofs that she's not qualified for the ticket. Creationism is not provable, therefore not fit even to mention in a science class.
Here are her actual words: "Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."
#111, KJR, you left out part of her actual words.... I think the scary part (which you left out) was when she said "Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God." This is an actual quote, which Sarah Palin did not acknowledge in the interview and which you are not acknowledging..
Typical political waffling. Is this the 11th century or the 21st century? I am sure that Pope Urban II made a similar comment at Clermont in 1095 right before the Crusades started. I am sure there are plenty of Iraqis praying that the war end to stop all the mutilation, death and destruction. God's plan, mention of God is always the last assertion of a weak argument and exposes a person's diminished intellect. Sickening, truly sickening. God told me to kill you. When a person talks to God, it's praying. When a person hears God, they are schizophrenic. I think they are equally as insane and irrational. P.S. Kirk, CNN is about as liberal as an SS officer. All the media is conservative, save for maybe NPR b/c they are part of the military industrial complex. Thinking along such narrow monikers such as liberal and conservative is inane and oversimplifies.
I don’t object to people praying to the God of their choice, but I get concerned when God talks to them. I am even more disturbed when the enlightened subsequently portend to speak God’s words. In June 2008, at the Wasilla Bible Church, Sarah Palin described the Iraq War as God's plan. The question that remains to be addressed is, does the enemy have the same or a different God?
Palin did great. Answered some very tough quesions never asked of Obama.
Looking forward to Obama getting real questions now instead of the puff pieces the liberal media does on him.
Warrior? This is indeed a primitive and savage species. Does anyone have any idea of how horrifying and awful war is? How can war be treated so lightly. I think Americans have no idea what a war does b/c there hasn't been a war fought on American soil since the Civil War. War leaves a fantastic wake of devastation. How can Christians "worship" Jesus Christ but advocate war? Isn't that contradictory? Also, you never hear the media mention "Christian" extremists, "Jewish" extermists or "militant" Christians or Jews. Again, the media is not liberal at all. It is the megaphone of the establishment. Palin is an innocuous-looking imbecile and dupe to get suburban housewives to vote Republican. The democrats are virtually identical to the republicans. They are all wealthy and privileged and could care less about the country's average citizen, they own the U.S., they view its people as dispensable chattel (to do grunt work and get killed in wars over "scarce" resources) and do as they wish to enrich themselves politically and economically. If people are stupid enough to eat this crap up, they get what they deserve.
I'm an Obama supporter, but I like an honest race. Govenor Palin's interview was disasterous for her high postion in this presidential race. She had opportunities to be honest and straight forth, but she opted to rattle all around a point blank question. Govenor Palin flat lied about some of the questions and seemed not to be well informed about some. One question in particular; Her response to the question about her meeting heads of state required nothing but a no answer and explanation of what she plans to do about it, she opted to go into an area she knew nothing about. I knew this when she responded, stating, "If you look back at other VPs hopefuls, they would be in the same position, she was in trouble because all of the VP hopefuls, since I've been voting have had this experience until her. She needs to be more honest and straight forward or suffer the consequences. American people can respect and accept honesty and less experience alot easier than lies and less experience. I think she could pull this off in a pinch as VP if she's willing to work hard, but my fear is, McCain is seventy-two years old and if something happened to him, God forbid, she would be president and this position she definitely cannot handle, so we have to look at the big picture. Do the right thing....for our country. Vote sensibly.
I actually never watch CNN. I was replying to the earlier post. I view faith as extremely private matter, and I might write of my experiments, but as an engineer who has built my faith through prayer, I would never expect anyone to take my word for it. ISTM that God wants us each to think and come to our faith based on direct experience. I doubt we're intended to buy the franchise. As a devout atheist I had a few ideas about hands on healing, which I pursued and now I can cure migraine headaches and cracked ribs. When I include the Deity at the top of my imaginary stack of beings helping send the chi into my body, it accelerates the healing. This is why I believe. I am sure that God is very sad about all the dead Iraqi civilians. No war like a holy war, and Bush/McCain/Palin scare me.
Do we know exactly what Ms. Palin believes in her heart as to weather we unknowingly work out Gods will or he directly and clearly guides us? I think in her church she clearly makes a stand for the direct guidance from the hand of God. Her comments are common of people professing their faith in a house of worship. In this house they brim with faith that they are always right and on the side of their God. But faith has no substance to prove to the world, other faiths, or non-believers and therefore we have to have faith in her faith and her promise to know the true path that God has chosen for her and the USA. As a non-believer, if I can not place faith in the belief of a diety how could I place faith in Ms. Palins?
If you choose to go to war for a plan from God then leave me out. As a father of a teenager who has yet to determine weather beliefs, faith, or religion is a necessary part of his life, leave him alone when you start recruiting for the next plan from God.
m ritz, are you for real? Let's fight about religion, blow up the whole world.
Paul, even worse that m ritz. The Bible isn't verbatim, it's a lot of gospels and stories. Do you believe in Mother Goose too?
Religious fanatical brainwashed propaganda. Believe in what you want, don't you DARE put your beliefs onto others. There are 22 major religions in the world and NON are right. Your belief is based on a faith that others 2000 years ago came up with to brainwash you, keep you in line, take others money and get power. KEEP RELIGION OUT OF POLITICS. This is AMERICA, not IRAN!!!!!!
Dear Mike,
when God appears before you one day. Be sure to tell him what you told me. The bible is not true and we have all been brainwashed by it. "So you say."I hope i'm nearby to watch god's reaction.
Wow, amazing flood of liberal nastiness. The so called Bush docrine has taken many forms over the last 8 years and cannot be restricted to just "pre-emptive strikes" so the question from Gibson was unreasonably vague and her response for clarification appropriate. Next, governor Palin prayed that we are doing God's will which is a common thing to pray for among all Christians. All I see posted here are hate notes from people who want so badly to dispise her and other Christians. Everyone to some extent hears only what they want to hear but these posts really take it to a new level.