KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is happy to discuss her views on social issues like abortion and homosexuality, but reluctant to list what she usually reads to keep up on world events.
That’s the takeout from a series of interviews the Alaska governor did with CBS anchor Katie Couric, which aired on Tuesday night.
Palin, whose opposition to abortion rights has ignited support among social conservatives, some of whom were wary of presidential nominee John McCain, discussed whether rape or incest victims should be allowed to have an abortion.
“Personally, I would counsel the person to choose life, despite horrific, horrific circumstances that this person would find themselves in,” she said. “If you’re asking, though, kind of foundationally here, should anyone end up in jail for having an … abortion, absolutely not.”
When asked about her views on homosexuality, Palin talked about a close friend who is gay.
“One of my absolute best friends for the last 30 years happens to be gay, and I love her dearly,” Palin said. “She is one of my best friends, who happens to have made a choice that isn’t a choice I would have made. But I am not going to judge people.”
Palin has faced criticism for lacking experience in foreign policy. Before becoming governor some two years ago she was the mayor of a small town.
Couric asked Palin what newspapers and magazines she read regularly before becoming McCain’s running mate “to stay informed and to understand the world.”
Here is her response, according to a transcript provided by CBS:
Palin: I’ve read most of them, again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media.
Couric: What, specifically?
Palin: Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years.
Couric: Can you name a few?
Palin: 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.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Stephen Mally
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Wow, people can be so judgemental. She likely didn’t want to get into endorsing and one periodical. She’s a modern women who gets her news from everywhere. I just had to look up now to see what site I’m on, turns out it’s reuters, linked to from Google news. Get with it people, it’s 2008.
- Posted by JoePalin has no intellectual curiosity because she clearly believes she already knows everything she needs to know.
Alaskans should be totally red-faced in having elected such a nitwit as their governor. Likewise, Republicans should be mortified that their presidential candidate picked her as his running mate. Or do I have that backwards…is he the running mate?
- Posted by RozIf McCain really wants a chance to not lose this election, he only has one option. Replace his running mate.
McCain’s political campaign has become a theatre of the absurd.
- Posted by Josephthat’s what i said to a reporter when asked if i’d read, i’d replied: i don’t read… brilliant.
- Posted by chauncey gardnerthis is a bit like “being there”.
Want to know a stunning fact about Palin? She has a degree in communications/journalism. How scary is THAT? If she sucks this bad at something she studied for five years, what the hell is she like on unfamiliar territory?
- Posted by winnie47“What newspapers do you read?” is not a particularly hard question. How the hell could she blow it? Even if she really doesn’t read any papers, she must have at least HEARD of some of them. She could have just named one or two of the local Anchorage papers, maybe some of the national ones like NY Times, Washington Post, WSJ, even USA Today, and that would have been the end of it.
You would think that the ability to lie convincingly is second nature to politicians, but Palin can’t even manage that.
- Posted by ElitistSarah Palin could have at least said that she reads the major Alaska newspapers and cited them by name (assuming she remembers the names of those papers!) Her response — actually, the lack of one — just adds fuels to the fire that she is way out of her league here. And the whole things has gotten pretty embarrasing, to say the least.
Cheers!
- Posted by privatejetriderCan someone really argue that asking someone what magazines they read is a “Got Ya” question. That is not a believable. Instead try this, “vote for McCain.”
- Posted by BradThat’s Sarah throwing back at it at GOTCHA COURIC.
- Posted by JohnSo she reads the National Enquirer! That is the paper/magazine that is all over America and readily available to be in front of her, all these years. Wow, what an informed woman. I may have to rethink my position about her. She is truly, innovative.
It is embarrassing to think that intelligent Americans can really take this candidate for VP seriously. Come on! There isn’t ANYONE else that would have been a better choice for the McCain ticket. You who support this ticket, have lost touch with reality. With little wonder, as most of you Voted to keep this current administration in corruption.
Susan,
- Posted by susanNow living in Australia! And still voting!
My god… Sarah Palin is a mess.
If you can’t handle the “hard ball” questioning from Katie Couric, how the heck are you going to be able to deal with Islamic fundamentalist, Troopergate, the economy, and well, France?
Can you imagine Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Palin trying for common ground? Can somebody say food fight?
- Posted by Dan YahraesHow hard is it to answer a simple question, as to what newspapers she reads on a regular basis, and she can’t name one.
Fits the description of a true airhead.
- Posted by Dale MooreOh. My. God.
She is a moron who doesn’t even read.
- Posted by Matt HummelThis is an outrage! How dare John McCain SPIT on the history of America by selecting this buffoon to be President of the United States should he die in office! She could not give Katie Couric the name of ONE newspaper? Has she ever read the CONSTITUTION? Has she heard of the BILL OF RIGHTS? Someone in the Press better start asking her some basic questions about this country. This is SHOCKING! Any Republican with an OUNCE of SELF RESPECT will NOT vote for this person. John McCain, you have LOST!
- Posted by Dan RainsSHE’S BACK …… and just as Scarrry !!!
- Posted by MichManThe political theater just keeps getting richer and richer. And Palin is the comic relief in a scenario that tends toward tragedy. Don’t ever change, girl!
- Posted by Jim BrownLet me see, she does not understand what it means to say the name of the media you read?
Or she didn’t hear the question twice or three times?
Or she does not want to say because it would be embarrassing?
I don’t think its hard to figure out. Despite her walking around the question and saying the double speak so well. We know what she is doing.
We, unlike what she has been told by the McCainintes, are not stupid.
- Posted by Paul StewartShe is s much more dangerous than the current monkey in DC.
- Posted by TbpmomWhat an idiot. But she can smile so cute and “get back to YA!”
This is not a suprise. What a national tradegy.
- Posted by YvettaOk this joke’s been carried on long enough. You can stop it now McCain.
- Posted by ApplyDirectlyToTheForehead