WASHINGTON - Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has been widely criticized for citing Alaska’s proximity to Russia as foreign policy experience. But she is not backing down.
The Alaska governor, running mate to Republican presidential nominee John McCain in the Nov. 4 election, defended her position on Thursday in a rare one-on-one session with a reporter.
In only her third nationally televised interview since she was nominated earlier this month — this one on CBS with anchor Katie Couric — Palin was asked what she meant.
“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. It– it’s funny that a comment like that was — kind of made to — I don’t know, you know? Reporters,” Palin said, explaining that she had been mocked.
Asked to explain why living near Russia enhances her foreign policy credentials, Palin responded: “Well, it certainly does because our — our next-door neighbors are foreign countries. They’re in the state that I am the executive of.”
Asked whether she had ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians, Palin answered: “We have trade missions back and forth. We — 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 — 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 — to our state.”
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder - Republican vice-presidential nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York on Sept. 25.
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My one-year old makes more sense than her. I feel a little dumber after reading that article….
- Posted by VeraSarah Palin may not have the experience or the elitist education of HARVARD and reminder!!! she isn’t going to be the PRESIDENT. I don’t know why so many are afraid of her marching us off to a war. She can’t declare a war and even if should get that power REMINDER!!!!!She DOES unlike many Commander in Chiefs have a child that just went off to IRAQ to serve our country. I am confident that there will be no more missteps in our foreign policies when there is a personal interest you want to protect besides the citizens of the great USA.
- Posted by PattibooAnd I live in between an old Italian couple and an Egyptian family… so I have loads of foreign experience and should be the next VP! hahaha
- Posted by shockedI initially had a lot respect for McCain but no longer. Sarah Palin is an insult to all of us who endured and finally earned respect and credibility in a world filled with good old boys. McCain’s choice of this token female speaks to his lack of judgement and the fact that he is not only an out of touch old man but also a dirty old man.
- Posted by AFGuardMumVice Presidency is Sarah’s Clinque bonus
- Posted by elmer fuddok so the only defense for Ms. Palin seems to be “Obama and Biden have made stupid remarks” we all have made stupid remarks at one time or another, but let us consider the election like a job interview.
Would you hire her?
- Posted by willieWhat a joke.
She claims the geographical proximity as experience and said that she has never met with the leader of another nation.
Unless she has a different definition of the word “experience” she has none.
But, she has sat down and discussed matters of national concern with the leader of another nation… she just forgot.
She has discussed the matters of energy with the president of Iceland. It pertained to the issue of geothermal energy (Iceland leads the development and use of that particular source of energy). This is one of the most eco-friendly and powerful sources there exists… if not THE best option we have for the future.
She just forgot?
Being bright doesn’t mean that one is qualified an expert in fields… peoples mind works in various ways to capture various, yet limited, aspects our complicated world.
My take is that she’s just not bright enough to light the enormous hall of international politics and foreign relations. It is tough subject to master, let alone lead!
Her mind is for something quite different than the V to POTUS.
- Posted by cluelessIt is sad what politics in the U.S. have become. Imagine a VP choice with a weaker background than half the women in my neighborhood. A Presidential candidate that expounds change yet has been party of the problem for over 20 years, is unpredictable (off the wall) and old. A guy who for his own self interest has his whole party creating misleading events and news to influence voters. Shame on the Republican party for the mess now and through the last eight years. I have voted for you as often as the Democrats… but definitely not this time!
- Posted by Brian LeithIt must have been a pretty awkward moment when someone had to inform McCain that Sarah was dumb as a stone. Wonder if they got fired for that? On the other hand, they seem like the perfect couple…
After the interview with Katie Couric, I hear the morons got real upset because they were being unfairly compared to Ms. Palin. This in turn infuriated the conservative base of the Republican Party which retaliated by saying, “Hey, she’s one of us”.
The debate with Joe Biden should be a classic.
- Posted by Big BillThis woman is a joke, but I’m not laughing.
- Posted by BarbaraRelax, everyone. Palin’s got a full 40 days to become an expert in foreign affairs and policy.
- Posted by JJWho knew I had such relevance? Who knew I had such power? As a former 2nd runner up to Miss California, I call on the 2nd runner up to Miss Alaska and all former beauty queens to unite! Hold up your heads! Shame on those who made fun of us when we declared in our bathing suits that we would end poverty and create world peace! Unite all you baton twilers and girls who have mastered smiling! First stop…Miss Downey, next stop, world domination!! There WILL be world peace or you’re all dead! There’s no stopping us now! Oh dear… where are my smelling salts? I’m feeling giddy and dizzy all at the same time.
- Posted by JonelleWhat difference does it make that this bubblehead makes us cringe with embarrassment at her public vacuity? What really matters is that she believes in Intelligent Design creationism, and that every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. That’s the only thing that matters. The “permanent Republican majority” of Rove and Limbaugh is absolutely guaranteed if this dummy can only get enough national network airtime to allow her brilliance to shine like it did with Couric.
- Posted by ShelamaHey I can see a convenience store across the street from my house that is run by two Arabs, maybe I can be Secretary of Defense! where do I apply? Palin, do yourself a favor, GO HOME, your family needs you, before you further embarrass yourself.
- Posted by Democrats 08What a double standard. No doubt that Palin has stumbled a few times in interviews specifically crafted to trip her up; but Obama and Biden have made much more significant gaffes (reference Biden’s FDR quote and his insistence that a wheelchair bound legislator ’stand-up’. If McCain or Palin had made those two absolutely stupid remarks, there would be an endless loop on every media outlet in the US - but Fox is branded ‘conservative’ because it dares to present the screw-ups from the democratic ticket. Its not about who does best on TV (though that is what they want us to believe); it is about whether the candidates views on major issues square with your views. If they do, vote for them; if they don’t, vote for the other team. Its really that simple. Stop being influenced by the media and stick with the issues.
- Posted by JohnLOL, OMG, where ever did they find this woman, no wait, that’s right, she’s from the state where you can see Russia from her house! We’ll be safe now with her in charge! LMAO! NEXT!
- Posted by Democrats 08She’s speaking in tongues therefore she is always right.
- Posted by John SmallDon’t let Oops Cheney near shotguns
- Posted by billnor Sarah near microphones.
Outcome’s the same.
Stunning.
At least, lacking practical experience, one would desperately hope that a VP candidate would at least have A BASIC HIGH SCHOOL CIVICS CLASS UNDERSTANDING of, well anything about which she has been asked. She has charisma. Big whoop. She cannot grasp what her own running mate supports…and has only a few canned and memorized points. If she were one of my Introduction to Speech students, she would fail for being so ill-prepared.
- Posted by TracyI can’t believe that any of you people criticizing her actually watched the interview with an open mind - she was perfect in the way she answered Couric’s ignorance about Alaska. Of course living next to a country will give you insight into the relations between your country and it, and insight into what type of regime runs that country. Her scornful tone was perfect.
- Posted by Kevin