SAN FRANCISCO - Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin called Afghanistan “our neighboring country” on Sunday in a speech that could revive questions over her tendency to stumble into linguistic knots.
Three days after a mostly gaffe-free debate performance, the Alaska governor fumbled during a speech in which she praised U.S. soldiers for “fighting terrorism and protecting us and our democratic values”.
“They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan,” she told several hundred supporters at a fundraising event in San Francisco.
The gaffe could add fuel to comedians and late-night talk show hosts who have seized on her linguistic infelicities to portray her as someone not to be taken seriously.
Later in a speech in Omaha, Neb., Palin poked a little fun at herself when talking about one comedian in particular — actress Tina Fey whose dead-on impression of Palin’s looks, voice and body language has been a hit.
Fey, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Palin, has parodied her as a rambling, perky politician unfamiliar with world issues for three straight weeks on the comedy show “Saturday Night Live”.
“I was just trying to give Tina Fey more material — job security for Saturday Night Live,” Palin said.
The skits have become a sensation since an awkward interview with CBS News anchor Katie Couric in which Palin failed to coherently express her views about Russia, the U.S. government’s $700 billion financial bailout package, and the newspapers or magazines she reads.
In recent days, the 44-year-old self-described “hockey mom” has described the Couric interview as “less than successful”, and apologized to crowds of supporters for her shaky performance, saying she was “annoyed” and “impatient” because she wanted to talk about other issues like energy independence.
Palin’s opponent, Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, has also committed high-profile gaffes, including claiming in a recent interview that President Franklin D. Roosevelt calmed fears in a TV address at the beginning of the Great Depression. There was no TV in 1929 — Roosevelt wasn’t president at the time.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder (A Palin supporter at a rally in Denver last week.)
Trackback
383 comments so far
Previous | 20 … | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Next
A TIME reporter’s story even funnier than Fey’s immatation of Palin is that she has had sex with Jeff Zucker of NBC. Now, I there is no proof that she did, but then again, there is no proof that she did not.
- Posted by Bob ImmPalin’s total resume – baccalaureate degree in communication – 6 years and 6 universities (no she was not married, did not have children and was not working) – academic record not public; local weather reporter, 4 years in the city council, 6 years as a Mayor of Wasilla (meth capital of AK, population <7000) where her main responsibility was to hire a city manager, 20 months as governor of Alaska (population 650,000), foreign policy experience she ‘can see Russia from Alaska”. Of course, remember she was also Miss Wasilla.
The most extraordinary thing about chosing Britney Spea… I mean, Sarah Palin as a running mate is that the Republicans have managed to do the impossible. That is– find someone less intelligent, less interested in the world and less qualified to lead than G.W. Bush. Amazing! You guys should really pat yourself on the back. Well done.
- Posted by James DEveryone should ask themselves a question about hatchet men… and women. Would you put your name and face on television and talk sh*t about someone you don’t know personally, someone you barely truly know anything about? What kind of person does that? What kind of person is Sarah Palin? She probably deserves everything she gets in the media and on the Internet.
- Posted by HenryGov. Palin is or was my Governor, I feel the same as a lot of Alaskans, I hope she never returns to Alaska. She has made a fool of herself and Alaska. Dont be fooled by her either the debate was exactly like her debate for Governor, when she didn’t want to answer a question she changes the subject. That is how she is on everything. Wasilla used to be a great town pre Palin now everyone knows its the place to go to get all your drugs, she knows cuz her kids are the worse. So don’t fall for the Palin act you will regret it.
- Posted by Kristin[...] While the pundits reckon she performed well during the recent televised debate, you’ve really got to call into question the intellect of someone that considers the USA to be a neighboring country of Afghanistan. [...]
- Posted by Palin into significance « BlogocratsI am tired hearing things that Senator Biden never said.
And I think that people signing off checks for our journalists would hate with darkest hatred if our next president is to revive policies FDR unveiled in the 30th of the previous century.
And I can very well understand their apprehension. There will be no rescues, no bailouts. They will go belly up while the Joe from main street will pay of his mortgage, re - build his shop, and go off to earn decent living.
So, putting words in Biden’s mouth today is cheap way to attack a dangerous opponent who will not hesitate to turn our treasury to the advantage of the majority of this country. And I do not expect any better. In the end Joe spoken his mind, in his mind there are no gloves and parachutes for those who gambled away their customer and stakeholder money on pleasures unknown to the most of the Earth population.
And now, after so - called “rescue plan” was voted in very well supplied with money from our children future to keep the pleasure trip continued with no end in sight.
- Posted by Miron[...] October 6, 2008 by jr Palin calls Afghanistan “our neighboring country” [...]
- Posted by Rich Lowry’s fantasy girlfriend Sarah Palin calls Afghanistan “our neighboring country” « McComboverI have been voting since Goldwater (voted for Goldwater) and I have NEVER see anyone as flat stupid as Sarah Palin who was running for publica office. The only individuals more stupid than this preening moron are those who would sell out America and vote for her. She is horrid and no Patriot.
- Posted by ScyFDR…Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first president to appear on….tv…
- Posted by jasan[...] Szep of Reuters Blogs writes Palin said Sunday at a fund-raising event in San Francisco “They are also building [...]
- Posted by Current must reads « One Choice: Obama“her shaky performance, saying she was “annoyed” and “impatient””
She wasn’t “annoyed” or “impatient”, she was incompetent - just like she was in her interview with Gibson. Anyone watching the interviews can easily see that.
She was able to muddle through the debate because she was basically reading index cards or reciting well-rehearsed scripts. There were several points, if you watch, where she completely ignores the question asked of her because she didn’t have a memorized talking point for it. Instead she just ignored the question and recited a talking point on something completely different.
The idea of this woman being next in line to be President, especially with a 72-year old running mate, is nothing short of scary.
- Posted by McCain is a liarThe Harvard psychologist forget his name called the Palin gibberish word salad.
That’s an interesting choice of phrase because it is a symptom describing a person who is mentally disoriented to a degree considered pathological. Course the Harvard guy was probably just being metaphorical. Psychologists do that, right?
This whole month coming up reminds me of fireworks, there’s going to be all this exploding and light and noise and smoke and then it will stop. It will seem very quiet then and everybody who has worked so hard and lost so much sleep and neglected their families can step back and reorient.
- Posted by Gaias ChildCalling Afghanistan a neighboring country speaks volumes about Palin’s Freudian slip: her blind demagoguery, irrational fanaticism, and stark hypocrisy remind me of the Talibans.
- Posted by Saddam McCainWell, at least Palin knows that Afghanistan IS a country. That’s better than most Americans.
As for Obama and terrorists…well, he did meet an ex-terrorist at an event. But Palin is associated with the Alaska Independence Party, which advocates seceding from the USA. Isn’t that the definition of “treason”?
Palin belongs in prison, not in Washington.
- Posted by D NicolShe’s an idiot. No self respecting American would cast their vote for this ticket! She should be arrested and thrown under the jail for her stupidity.
- Posted by J. TaylorOh Gosh donit, I pressed the wrong button again and looky there, all those rockets going off are just so prettttty. It’s the white one isn’t it John, I should’ve pressed the white one right? Oh gee whiz, of course John wouldn’t be here, I keep forgetting…I’m President now.
- Posted by AyceeWow!
- Posted by DavidWow! So this is the headline of the story: Palin’s little gaffe, not the crowd that came out to see her. Boy when they say “leftwing media,” they ought to be saying Communist/Marxist/Fascist America-hating media. You all are beyond hope. It’s now 24 hours a day Hate Sarah Palin, 7 days a week.
How about equal coverage to Obama’s ties to Radical Islamo-Fascist Terrorists like Raila Odinga?
- Posted by Eric DonderoI like Sarah because she portrays herself as a real person. That’s what kind of politicians we need. So she’s not quick with answers…which the press seems to be jumping on. So what. She’s managing a state that one has to be physically & mentally aware–to live in. That’s smart.
- Posted by Connie MalfaI haven’t heard alot of complaints from Alaska about
political blunders by their politicians. Coming from Alaska to the mainland of the U.S. is enough to make most anyone slow their speech down and look surprised.
The U.S. rates pretty high on the BEST PLACE TO LIVE chart. Let’s listen to her.
She is such an evil person.
- Posted by hottopics