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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This is another typical example of Couric playing the “Gotcha” game with anybody with an R behind their name. WHO CARES where Palin gets her news? WHY would Couric even bother with such a stupid, insignificant, unrelated/unimportant question?? Riddle me this……give me the date and location when Couric asked Biden where he gets his news. Oh, that’s right….SHE DIDN’T ASK HIM! At least Palin knows who the PRESIDENT WAS in 1929!!
- Posted by DougI think Mr McCain is a totally irresponsible person to have chosen Palin. It´s not her fault, she is being used.
- Posted by UlrikeAnn-Sorry but repeating a lie four times doesn’t make it true. You should try researching somewhere besides the John McCain website.
1)Under Obama’s plan 95.5% of families with children, and 81.3% of American households would see a tax cut.
2)Obama’s plan mandates coverage for children, but not for adults, and it does not require anyone to be covered by a nationalized system. Obama’s plan expands the insurance coverage offered by the government, but allows people to keep their own plans or choose from private plans as well.
3)As far as chatting with our enemies. What was it that McCain’s close friend of 35 years said?
Kissinger Sept. 20: Well, I am in favor of negotiating with Iran. And one utility of negotiation is to put before Iran our vision of a Middle East, of a stable Middle East, and our notion on nuclear proliferation at a high enough level so that they have to study it. And, therefore, I actually have preferred doing it at the secretary of state level so that we — we know we’re dealing with authentic…
CNN’s Frank Sesno: Put at a very high level right out of the box?
Kissinger: Initially, yes.But I do not believe that we can make conditions for the opening of negotiations.
- Posted by WC DuganI thought it was very clever not to give the old hag “couric” a bone,
… answer about her favorite reads..
why should she?
It really is no-ones business…….I bet the congress in capital hill in Washington reads hustler or playboy, would any good ole boys admit to ALL they read and that SPECIFICALLY ??
- Posted by CLINTON VOTER VOTES PALINSO GREAT ANSWER PALIN very coy
KEEP THE STUPID DEM’S GUESSING!!!!!
> 0 < ?????? ^ v ^ ????????
As a New Zealander I am reasonably objective here, or hope I am. But even I cringe when I see the Couric interviews. Almost too painful to watch. Sarah Palin must step down NOW. I have no love for McCain’s political position, but he is obviously an intelligent man who loves his country, and at the moment his choice of potential VP is making Americas a laughing stock internationally. That, and sowing fear. The world doesn’t always see your politics finally (even those billions of us who READ) - it sees the potential of added disaster should this woman get anywhere near the Presidency. That is scary beyond words. Would your top politicians and your top soldiers really take orders from her? Think about it. Sorry guys, I admire your people, but this theatre of the absurd needs to stop today.
Cheers
- Posted by Rosalene BradburyOK, sure, take this one response (or lack thereof) about reading materials by itself, and it is not necessarily a cause for concern. However, for those of us paying attention to the growing stream of Palin’s unscripted responses to straightforward questions, the picture is no less than alarming. She has shown a less than a firm grasp of (high school level) American history, let alone 21st century geopolitics. Her responses to her own beliefs about abortion and global warming are incoherent. This communications major cannot even form a sentence without getting lost in it. She may look darling when she wrinkles her nose, but people, are you joking? This is not a beauty contest. The U.S. is far too complex and precarious to be put in the hands of Gov. Palin. Stop kidding yourselves.
- Posted by AmyThere are two questions I’d like to see put to Ms. Palin during Thursday’s V.P. debate, or in her next interview (if she ever has another).
Actually, Gibson or Couric (let’s forget Murdoch’s “hired-hand Hannity”) should have already asked these questions:
1.) Why did you as mayor of Wasilla force female rape-victims reporting the crime to pay out of their own pocket for the forensic-kit and exam needed in the work-up (see NYT 9/26/08)?
2.) Was your policy of requiring rape-victims to pay for their own forensic exams a result of your publicly stated belief that even women who become pregnant as a result of rape should be required to carry that pregnancy to full term and birth?
I see no reason why Palin, as candidate for the office of Vice President of the USA, and with a 1 in 3 chance of taking over as President in the next 4 years, should continue to be shielded from answering these questions publicly.
- Posted by fbla1805Lynn - Obama has been scutinized?? Are you living under a rock? You are kidding, right? The liberal media has handled him with kid gloves from the start of his campaign. Why do you think Hillary, the most qualified candidate, did not get the Democratic nomination? Maybe Palin should have used a teleprompter to assist her like OBAMA does for all of his appearances. I like the fact that she is down to earth and understands the middle class. Do you think Obama and Biden relate better to the middle class? Will help the middle class? Two Senators that are multi millionaires! Yes, Obama is great at public speaking, but that is ALL. You are willing to vote for an inexperienced Commander and Chief, but it bothers you that Palin is inexperienced. Before you vote, review the facts on Obama. If he wins the election this country will definitely hit rock bottom.
- Posted by JimEight years ago, no one expected the “regular guy we wanted to have a beer with” to hold his own during his debates with Al Gore. The bar was set so low that Bush’s performance was declared a triumph simply because he hadn’t humiliated himself. He had been coached to deliver a few simple messages over and over.
Beware of a repeat of this perverse dynamic concerning Palin’s upcoming “performance” during Thursday’s debate. She will be coached to the strengths we saw during her convention address — well-delivered, sarcastic barbs that pitch the Republican base’s rallying cries (say “I believe,” wrap yourself in the flag, and incite fear). Never mind her glaring incompetence for the Vice Presidency. If she doesn’t totally humiliate herself, the pundits will once again say, “Gee, she didn’t fall on her face. What a winner!”
- Posted by Mary AnnDon’t fall for it.
You are all forgetting that we are electing a president. This election is about making a choice for McCain or Obama. Please do your homework before you make a decision. If you want an inexperienced president, higher taxes, government run health care, higher taxes, big government, higher taxes, someone that will sit down with our enemies and chat, higher taxes,… You will see the best choice is MCCAIN.
- Posted by AnnThe scary part is that some people have conditioned themselves to expect so little from Palin now. We’re talking about the Vice President of this great country. We’re not talking about the Vice President of the high school student government. We should expect more from someone who aspires to hold this position. Obama, Biden and McCain have all been scrutinized, interviewed, checked out using a fine tooth comb, etc. If she wants to run with the big boys she’s got to be able to get out there and hold her own. So far she’s not doing that and seems to be hinting that her portrayed weaknesses are because the media and anybody else who has a negative opinion about her “performances” are sexist. Well, I’m a female…can I be sexist toward another female? Sorry Sarah, I simply expect more. What happened to the “Governor Palin of Alaska” who was introduced at the Republican convention just a few weeks ago?? McCain-Palin…Thanks, But No Thanks!
- Posted by LynnThe Republicans are getting what they deserve…an airhead!!
- Posted by BrianGovern with integrity? That is a joke! McCrazy gave that away when he picked her… Give her a chance? Why? Give me a break. As a veteran, I can not stand to listen to this. Some of you never served a day and you think you know what it like to be at war? Obama needs work but he said he will surround himself with the right ppl. Palin scares me to death.
- Posted by DudeMaybe she wasn’t prepared to answer that question. Maybe her mind went blank, maybe she read a paper she doesn’t want to endorse. Do you think the woman who ran Alaska and butchered the oil guys is dumb? Are you calling all govenor’s dumb? Maybe she doesn’t answer stupid trivia questions quickly……….but, she knows her morals and her values and she’s not going to stand for people who don’t watch your backs. Or maybe you should vote for someone who is so well trained on telling you what you want to hear. Man, you people are harsh. Couric was relentless…….the interview made her look like a nagging brat. Another interiewer trying to make her look bad, it’s so obvious it’s incredible. I wouldn’t care if it was Obama or Houdini, she hounds people to make them look bad. It’s repulsive. But, Palin didn’t flinch.
- Posted by joanneWe only have one paper here in Anchorage and that is the Anchorage Daily News; it even has a nation and world section right behind the Alaska section. The Mat-Su valley, which is the area where Wasilla is located even has a newspaper called the frontiersman and the strange thing is she couldn’t even think of that.
- Posted by Joe CaseyShe does not sound well-traveled, well-informed or well-read. She is not worldly. This might not be a concern for an Alaskan governor. It is a concern for a VP.
- Posted by Marcoor perhaps she could have just said ‘Google’,
- Posted by Societybefore returning ‘Into the Wild’
She’s read “all” the magazines?
Even “Honcho”?
Wow. She’s much better read than I had thought.
- Posted by michaelSarah!! Time, Newsweek, US news and world report, COSMO!!! WTF just name anything. Is that she wants to show the world how she will not answer any question straight?
- Posted by EdgyoneSarah Palin is being patronized and cornered by Couric when she asks her these questions. The media and you guys seem to not be able to think past the initial answer. She names a newspaper….then the media jumps on the credentials of the newspaper and ties them to Palin. She names the McCain vote record example….and that will fuel a media frenzy centered on that one vote. I think that is the problem with democracts along with you guys, you cant see past your own nose.
- Posted by Stephen