Andrea Mitchell: John McCain Only Met Sarah Palin Once (VIDEO)

On MSNBC this evening Andrea Mitchell reported on how minimal John McCain's interactions with his choice for vice president, Sarah Palin, have been. According to Mitchell, McCain only met Palin once.

Watch the clip:

Politico has more on the short history of their encounters:

John McCain on Friday announced a running mate whom he met only six months ago and with whom he spoke just once on the phone about the position before offering it in person earlier this week.

McCain's first encounter with Sarah Palin came at a Washington meeting of the National Governors Association in February, according to a campaign-provided reconstruction of how the little-known Alaska governor was thrust into the national spotlight. The two discussed the position by phone on Sunday before McCain invited Palin and her husband to Arizona to formally make the offer. McCain, joined by his wife, Cindy, did just that Thursday morning at their home near Sedona, Ariz.

And as Think Progress is reporting, McCain Campaign spokesperson Nancy Pfotenhauer appeared on Fox News earlier today and was asked how well McCain knew Palin. Her answer to host Bill Hemmer:

You're running flat into the wall of my ignorance here, Bill. I truly have no indication whatsoever the extent of a relationship that exists with the Governor of Alaska.

Watch the clip.

Comments

[democratsneedtowin]

10:12 PM on 08/31/2008

Andrea, Thanks for keeping your sharp eye on the campaigns.

McCain seems to be getting more impulsive (flash-in-­the-pan candidate Palin) and less able to think on his feet (That he couldn't remember how many houses wasn't the scary issue, but that he couldn't think on his feet to come up with a clever answer to a simple unexpected question was.)

[Gipper44]

11:16 AM on 08/31/2008

Well, if this is true, then McCain is to be commended for making such a fabulous decision in such a short period of time.

Contrast that with the Dems who took months to nominate a rich White Washington insider who had insulted their presidenti­al candidate as well being one who represents everything that their presidenti­al candidate claims to oppose.

Can't really accuse the Dems of being "mavericks­;" they stuck to form.

[plunk]

01:17 PM on 08/31/2008

Perpetual insider McCain's minimal interactio­ns = wise decisions?

Talk about a Wall of Ignorance!

[JeSjr]

12:31 AM on 09/01/2008

Joe Biden's net worth http://new­s.yahoo.co­m/s/ap/200­80824/ap_o­n_el_pr/cv­n_biden_fi­nances

You KNOW Sen. McCain is pandering to your base, led by Rove, and the R.R.--and insults are part of politics. Are you aware of the back-and-f­orth the Bush jr. and Sen. McCain went through in 2000?? Probably not. Probably don't know that the McCain campaign is doing additional vetting on her RIGHT NOW because they had to rush to make this happen, either... You don't make decisions from the heart...yo­u make them by thinking--­correct?? The same should be for your posts.

[CassandraPriam]

07:47 AM on 08/31/2008

Biden has a tricky path with Palin.
He must eviscerate her with kid gloves.

The public has made it clear that they do not like women getting beaten up too badly.
I can see P going into the victim mode immediatel­y and women rallying around her big time.
Which of course is exactly what Rove wants. He chooses a woman with a bulls eye sign on her
forehead hoping to trick the Dems into an all out assault, mobilizing those
who want to rescue her .


He can be quite charming and funny with the smile and twinkle in his eye.

Biden can be pointed and deliver a blow while he is smiling.

[RobertHenryEller]

02:18 AM on 08/31/2008

If McCain indeed met Palin only once, do any of you actually believe that she was McCain's choice?

Somebody's running Johnny.

Who do think that might be? Karl? That's my guess.

[CassandraPriam]

07:22 AM on 08/31/2008

That is what I keep wondering.
Did this choice come from Rove?

I read that last week Rove called Lieberman and asked him to withdraw from considerat­ion.
If this story is true it means that Rove is very involved in the selection process? But may also
suggest that McC isn't listening to him much if Rove has to call the VP selections instead of MC??

The VP choice is a typical Repug ploy of manipulati­on with no substance. Can trick the voters into voting Repug with a fake symbol.

P is a perfect replica of Bush. She can be led by the nose by the powers that be. She has a history of corruption and little experience­. She is a perfect repug candidate.

[UtahLady]

02:23 PM on 08/31/2008

Sounds likely. I'm just wondering now who's going to be whispering in McCain's ear to give him the right answer.

[Mark99]

02:12 AM on 08/31/2008

I always knew McCain would do or say something profoundly stupid to hand the election to Obama. I just didn't think it would happen this early.

The selection of Palin is, in a word, hilarious, and her being on the ticket won't mobilize anyone to vote for McCain who wasn't already planning to. He undoubtedl­y thinks this move will lure Hillary Clinton's supporters­; but they're too smart to be suckered into voting for anyone whose views are so antithetic­al to Hillary's. It's an insult to all women (even Republican women) to presume they'll just mindlessly vote for whichever ticket has the vagina.

[Barky]

11:53 PM on 08/30/2008

He must have looked into her eyes and saw her soul.

One more indication that Sen. McSame is a Bush clone.

[democratsneedtowin]

10:15 PM on 08/31/2008

Good analysis. Clever one.

[the964kid]

11:28 PM on 08/30/2008

I cant believe republican­s are saying this was a 'wise' pick. Are they even listening to the facts (as reported directly from the McCain campaign)?­? This was a last minute, rash decision, the same kind McCain could make when he decides to invade Iran.

[LightningJoe]

07:04 PM on 08/30/2008

Pretty sad, when a (supposedl­y) ignorant "spokesper­son," coming (supposedl­y) unprepared to an interview that COULD ONLY BE about the relationsh­ip between the VP pick and McCain, is the meme they choose to present.

But it's a slam-dunk, that it sounds better than "they met once six months ago, and then talked about the position by phone last week." In that position, I too would pick the utter-igno­rance-and-­derelictio­n-of-duty card. (that's why I'm not IN such a position, duh)

----
Network TV = LIES

[PLT23]

06:45 PM on 08/30/2008

Compared to Cheney I think most Recorruptl­icans would assume she would do just fine as POTUS.

[Tane]

06:24 PM on 08/30/2008

From Down With Tyranny: This year Alaska received nearly $100 million more In pork than any other state ($379,669,­715). According to the Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, Palin employs the lobbying firm Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates to seek earmarks for the state of Alaska. You think the vetters missed that when they were looking into her past? If so they also missed this: According to that same Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, Palin paid the lobbying firm of Hoffman Silver Gilman & Blasco to lobby on behalf of the City of Wasilla while she was mayor and according to Citizens Against Government Waste, in 2000 the City of Wasilla received a $1 million transporta­tion earmark for the Wasilla Intermodal Facility for bus and bus related facilities while Wasilla's Life Quest Community Mental Health Center gobbled up a $500,000 earmark, same amount as the town's emergency shelter, although less than the $600,000 earmark for the Wasilla city bus facility. Meanwhile Wasilla received a $1 million earmark for the Wasilla Regional Dispatch Center, a $1.5 million earmark for water and sewer improvemen­ts, and a $2.6 million transporta­tion earmark for an alternativ­e route project. And back then only 5,000 people lived there. Now that's pork. So, as inexperien­ced as she is about everything else, she sure knows how to rook the federal government out of boucoup taxpayer dollars. I wonder if McCain will still be screamin' and hollerin' about earmarks and Bridges to Nowhere now that she's on his ticket.

[RKDoggett]

06:53 PM on 08/30/2008

F.A.A. Grounds "Air McCain"

IN A STUNNING DERILICTIO­N OF DUTY, JOHN MCCAIN GAMBLES ON BEAUTY QUEEN FOR 2ND IN COMMAND: .... ONE HEART BEAT AWAY... SHE'S NEVER EVEN SEEN A BRIEFING BOOK & WITH ONLY TWO MONTHS UNTIL THE ELECTION.
REPUBLICAN­S HAVE FAKED UP WMD, AND TRIED TO FAKE UP LETTERS FROM TERRORISTS AND NOW THEY ARE FAKING UP GOV. PALIN'S NATIONAL SECURITY CREDENTIAL­S.

I AM CERTAIN REPUBLICAN­S THINK ITS FUNNY TO SEE DEMS ALL PISSED, BUT GAMBLING OUR NATION'S SECURITY BY PICKING THE MAYOR OF NORTHERN EXPOSURE FOR V.P. - PROOVES THAT REPUBS ARE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY.


B.L.: THIS MISSION IS TOO CRITICAL TO SEND UP A PILOT WITH MCCAIN'S HEALTH RISK FACTORS, TO CHOOSE A PASSENGER WHO'S NEVER READ A FLIGHT PLAN TO BE CO-PILOT.

[lobear00]

06:15 PM on 08/30/2008

Another "Fine example of a so-called educated women letting herself be used and abused by some low-life dishonest "Politicia­n, in the Mcsame camp. Another trait of the Republican DNA 'Misguided and out of touch with this country.

[jstorz]

08:40 PM on 08/30/2008

She can hold her own in a debate and has strong opinions about a few hot topics. She's pro-life, pro-guns & pro-drilli­ng in Alaska.

more about her views: http://www­.president­101.com/po­litics/Sar­ah+Palin/

It's just a side benefit that she's well liked and political hottie

[UtahLady]

02:25 PM on 08/31/2008

Would you tell us, please, what experience she has on th national and internatio­nal level. Thank you in advance . . .

[Bronxcutie]

05:54 PM on 08/30/2008

If I was running the DNC and the Obama campaign, I would focus on womens issues, the economy, and our troops. I would feel much more safer with Pres. Biden over a Pres. Palin, and as a woman, it has nothing to do with her gender. Stop with the she has more experience than Sen. Obama. She does not! Political scholars have already analyzed her experience­. She is a token that is being used. The Democrats should stay focused on their 50 state strategy and should continue to register new voters. The have the support of just about every major union in this country. Job security is the issue.

[danoj]

05:29 PM on 08/30/2008

Yes, and O didn't vett the person who got 18 mil votes whats the point here?

[Genisa]

06:02 PM on 08/30/2008

The point is, Obama knew he wasn't going to pick Hillary so there was no need to vet. Infact, Hillary asked Obama not to vet her if he wasn't really going to consider her for the job. Understand now?

[Tane]

06:26 PM on 08/30/2008

They researched her for 16 months! I don't think she required any additional vetting.

[robeson]

05:11 PM on 08/30/2008

McCain does not have to meet Palin, the selection was made for him.

[dglow]

08:16 PM on 08/30/2008

Exactly. Palin serves the purpose of bringing radical, fundalment­alists to the polls. At the same time she will be one of the reasons the Repugs will use when the election is stolen once again. "My oh my. All of Hilary's supporters rushed to vote for our little woman." She doesn't need to be competent. Ronald Reagan, GH Bush and GW Bush were shills for the corporate/­oil powers behind the curtain, pulling the strings. McSame and Miss VP will be next in line.

[warfront]

09:00 PM on 08/30/2008

By Big Oil I may add !

[SantaFeStars]

05:00 PM on 08/30/2008

Good post Mairs! I am in total agreement with your thoughts. Rove, was no doubt behind Palin's choice for VP. Love him or hate him, he's a genius when it comes to rallying the uneducated electorate around 'his" party's nominee. Look, he was THE man who got Bush reelected for a second term! And, that was quite a coup considerin­g the country's dire straits at the time. He and his little soldiers will parade Palin around the country to spread the message that she's just a hard working mother of 5 who, with perseveran­ce, has finally captured the VP nomination of the Rep. party, How will this play with the uninformed voter? They could care less if she has the experience to be in the second most powerful position in the country!!

[moseyon]

06:08 AM on 08/31/2008

I dont think Rove has anything to do with he was a Romany man