< Back to Front Page Text size +

Palin with Couric, a reprise

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 2, 2008 03:29 PM

Though Republican partisans are railing about Gwen Ifill moderating tonight's vice presidential debate, it could be worse for Sarah Palin.

The referee could be Katie Couric instead.

Conservative bloggers and other critics are questioning Ifill's objectivity because she is writing a book featuring Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama that is to be published on inauguration day in January. If Obama doesn't win, they say, Ifill's book is far less likely to be a lucrative best-seller.

But it has been Couric who has elicited from Palin a series of non-answers that have raised questions about the Alaska governor's readiness for prime time. Voters' confidence in Palin has been plummeting in concert with the series of interviews that started last week.

Last Thursday, Palin had a difficult time explaining why Alaska's proximity to Russia made her qualified on foreign policy.

Asked by Couric what she meant, Palin replied, "That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and, on our other side, the land-boundary that we have with Canada....Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of."

Pressed by Couric, Palin said, "We have trade missions back and forth, we do. It's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia. As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state."

Then in an interview aired Tuesday evening, Palin could not name a newspaper or magazine she had read regularly before McCain picked her as his running mate.

"I've read most of them, again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media," Palin said.

Pressed by Couric for a specific example, Palin said, "I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news, too. Alaska isn't a foreign country, where it's kind of suggested, 'Wow, how could you keep in touch with what the rest of Washington, D.C., may be thinking when you live up there in Alaska?' Believe me, Alaska is like a microcosm of America."

And then Wednesday night, Palin could not name a Supreme Court decision she opposed, other than Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide.

"Well, let’s see. There’s, of course, in the great history of America rulings there have been rulings, that’s never going to be absolute consensus by every American. And there are those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade, where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but...."

"Can you think of any?" Couric interjected.

"Well, I could think of... of any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level, maybe I would take issue with. But you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a vice president, if I’m so privileged to serve, wouldn’t be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today," Palin answered.

UPDATE: Asked today about those apparent flubs, a spokeswoman said Palin knows the specifics but is "always jumping ahead" anticipating the next question while she is answering the current question.

"This is a governor who is a great communicator," spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said on MSNBC.

  • CommentComment
  • EmailEmail
.

Someone else we know doesn't read newspapers......................

Posted by Sam October 2, 08 12:35 PM
.

Someone else who doesn't read newspapers............................yeah, right. She's dumb as a doorknob when it comes to foreign affairs - heck, she makes up answers that make absolutely NO SENSE AT ALL. We've had enough of that with Dubya. No more!

Tell me again why she's on the republican ticket? Oh yeah, she's a woman. Bad move McCain. You totally handed the presidency over to the Democrats when you picked her. Thanks John.

Posted by Teri October 2, 08 01:23 PM
.

"This is a governor who is a great communicator" . . .
And yet she constantly fails to communicate effectively when asked questions by the press. Hmm . . . Anyone else see a disconnect here?
I think Sarah Palin needs drop out of the race to spend more time with her family.

Posted by bob1959 October 3, 08 01:58 PM
.

Palin basically took Biden, Foon and the rest of you to the woodshed last night..
When does Katie ask Barry about his relationships with domestic terrorists, racist liberation theologians like Wright and radical marxist groups like acorn (getting quite a pass with the sub-prime disaster)..The press is in the tank for Obama and anyone who is honest and has a brain knows it..

Posted by srgt. slaughter October 3, 08 04:17 PM
.

Hi Teri and Bob.
My prediction Mccain/Palin will win the White House.


Posted by Beatrice October 5, 08 10:35 AM
.

When is Katie going to ask the questions to Barak that the media is trying SO hard to avoid? Like why he would align himself with radical american pastors who when even reading his sermon and website are obviously anti white America; or relationships with other very questionable individual. Are we really ready for that kind of change!
Im tired of the medias slanted coverage.
Palin may not have all the answers yet but at least she has character and is friends with people the average American would be happy to call friend.

Posted by N.H. October 5, 08 10:06 PM
.

teri and bob said it best......palin, simply put has absolutely NO idea wat she doing..n fails to recognize that! shes TRYING to grasp foreign affairs..but shes screwed! and, frankly put, i feel that if SHE and Mccain are ELECTED there will be no way that this great nation will EVER get out of the slump THEY put it into...and..WHO KNOWS? by the end of it might only BE PALIN!

Posted by Anna October 27, 08 10:39 PM
add your comment *(If you put a URL in your comment, it must be relevant )
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.

News from the Washington Bureau

Declassification of secret documents to be delayed

WASHINGTON - President Obama will maintain a lid of secrecy on millions of pages of military and intelligence documents that were scheduled to be declassified by the end of the year, according to administration officials. (Globe Staff, 12:25 a.m.)

Tax break on profits again in jeopardy

An effort in Congress to eliminate a generous tax break for hedge fund managers, private-equity specialists, and venture capitalists, which could be taken up next week in the House Ways and Means Committee, is being met with resistance by opponents who say the move would weaken the economy. (Globe Staff, 11/26/09)

In N.E. governors’ races, GOP sees a chance to build on gains

Invigorated by state house victories earlier this month in Virginia and New Jersey, Republicans are turning their attention to governorships in New England, where they believe the retirement of four incumbents and a competitive race in Massachusetts has created wide-open opportunities. (Globe Correspondent, 11/25/09)

Senators voice optimism on public option

WASHINGTON - Buoyed by their weekend victory on a vote beginning the health care debate, several Senate Democrats expressed optimism yesterday they could find a way to keep a government-run insurance plan in the sweeping bill. (Globe Staff, 11/23/09)

Health overhaul narrowly advances

The Senate narrowly overcame the first of two critical hurdles to passing sweeping health care legislation last night, mustering the minimum of 60 votes required to begin debate on the bill and opening a volatile floor fight likely to last weeks. (Globe Staff 11/22/09)

Latinos, blacks take harder hit amid recession

Latinos and African-Americans in Massachusetts and across the country are facing high unemployment rates that could spiral to levels not seen in decades as the jobless economic recovery drags on, analysts and urban community advocates say. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Some lawmakers push back Catholic church on health care bill

Representative Louise Slaughter has a consistent record advocating abortion rights. So the New York Democrat was stunned recently to receive, for the first time, a letter from a Catholic diocese in western New York, demanding that she explain her vote this month against a health care amendment prohibiting insurance companies from paying for abortions. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Support wanes for curbs on credit-card interest rates

Efforts in Congress to cap credit-card interest rates are faltering because of opposition from Democrats and a lack of specific support from the White House, despite growing consumer outrage over a rush by banks to impose rates as high as 30 percent. (Globe Staff, 11/19/09)

Obama domestic agenda largely a one-party effort

Despite early pleas for bipartisanship, President Obama is forging ahead with his domestic agenda with a largely single-party strategy, unable to corral more than a handful of Republicans on a wide range of major legislation before Congress. (Globe Staff, 11/17/09)

Beirut attack victims’ families face new hurdle

On Veterans Day, Christine Devlin stood in the cold in Westwood for the unveiling of a new memorial to local soldiers lost overseas, including her son Michael, one of the 241 servicemen killed in the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983. (Globe Staff, 11/14/09)
archives