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

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

http://teachers.net/chatboard/topic232793/8.30.08.07.55.46.html

Interesting... now I'm not the one to gossip here.. but it is interesting this is coming up when she really hasn't been vetted by McCain's team. I think this is a really big gamble -- if everyone starts digging to find out more on her.

[SoCalNick]

McCain saw this and said SHES THE ONE DON'T Bother Vetting!!!!

http://thebruceblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/sarah-palin-sisterhood-of-the-traveling-catsuit/

Now THIS Photo of Palin just SCREAMS "Take me seriously I am woman to be reckoned with and ready to be the President of the United States of America" Or does it just Scream " Take me"?
Yea a leader I want MY Daughter to look up too yeah!

[SpoxLogic]

I dunno. Michelle Obama seems hotter.

[helonias]

http://thebruceblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/sarah-palin-sisterhood-of-the-traveling-catsuit/

[themethod]

x2

[yallkiddn]

But Palin is sluttier!

[KOisGod]

A most telling clue of McCain's judgement is that he could have selected Romney, but he was critical of Mac in the primaries, and ol' prickly didn't like it. So he goes with eye candy.

Barack on the other hand, was assailed by Biden for his lack of "experience", but Barack chose him anyway, because he KNEW Biden was the most QUALIFIED man for the job.

Prickly ol' dude, vs. Wise beyond his years visionary leader.

Yeah, go ahead, make this choice hard for us - - - - - LMAO!!!!

[jupitor]

I'm a old lady, an want to see a woman v.p or prez. But God help us, I like one who resume has a little mor meet an experience than this! This would be like putting Hannity into the v.p slot, because he's a journalist and he interviewed a lot of politicians with foreign policy's and kept up with these campagnes and how they did.

[awcbuddy8]

Well, McCain will probably win now. So.....yeah.

[luckyoldson]

What I can't understand is this: The Republicans constant talking point (even with Palin) is that Obama is not "experienced" enough to be President. Now we hear that he's not even as "experienced" as Palin, because she's been a Governor for almost two years. Do any of the Republican talking heads actually understand what a Senator does? And what in God's name has McCain been doing for three decades?

As for the selection of Palin, based on the following, there have to be many Republicans and Republican supporters who are seething at McCain's bizarre vetting process:

He passed over Tom Ridge, a decorated combat hero, a Cabinet secretary and the former two-term governor of the large, complex state of Pennsylvania (Two term Governor versus two year Governor).

He passed over Mitt Romney, who ran a big state, Massachusetts; a big company, Bain Capital; and a big event, the Olympics. (Yes, McCain obviously dislikes Romney, but this isn't a date, it's the V.P. slot)

He passed over Kay Bailey Hutchison, the Texas senator who is knowledgeable about the military, good on television, and — obviously — a woman. (Right wing as they come, but I thought that's why he picked Palin).

He passed over Joe Lieberman, his best friend in the Senate and fellow Iraq Kool-Aid drinker. ('Nuff said).

He passed over former congressman, trade negotiator and budget director Rob Portman. (Why?)

And he also passed over Mike Huckabee, the governor of Arkansas. (Let's not go there).

[Ismael]

Dear Sarah was asked almost 2 months ago Are you ready to be vice-president? her answer was what do the vice -president do.

2 years ago, What is your position on the Iraq war? I don't pay much attention to the war.

Are you kidding me? You got a women who apparently did not care about national issues and a trigger happy old guy that make decisions after one meeting. Imagine Russia invade a nato country n by the charter the U.S has to fight. This guy, after a meeting with Russian diplomats will declare war n world war 3. I'll die for my country but i won't let idiots get me killed after a senior moment.

[Bozwellian]

It has come off as a rather twsited bizarro sort of VP selection on many levels. THinking perhaps such as ROmney and others as well, KBH and etc...perhaps they kinda' figured McC was TOO FAR a long shot and declined the honor , figuring THEY would live to see something else another day. Think McC too looked NOT really at ease when the intro came yesterday and perhaps this is just his last ditch effort and at same time a bit of a prank in the mix as well..Perhaps even HE plans to actually VOTE OBamaba cuz for sure, too bizarre and dangerous to put him and now tieh Palin, well, perhaps being ULTIMATE US hero, showing us the stupidity of how we allowed votes to be won in the past on ABSURDITIES of "emotional" issues/estimations rather than on who REALLY can do the job and get the best done for the greater common good !! Its sort of too in ALL our faces...and are we really going to allow such wackiness by these right winged idealogues take us over compleately ? The vote in Novemeber is going to be quite telling and we may just get what we deserve in accord with OUR effort displayed in our vote pattern and out come !!!

[Agent420]

It is pretty clear why he passed over Tom Ridge. Remember that McBooosh hates vets. That is why he votes against them.

[moseyon]

He cant control them

[JohnnyRivers]

The odds of the GOP winning did not change. The GOP know's they're sinking no matter who the VP pick is... Why strap a GOP big-hitter to the sinking ship when they can be better used showing up on FOX Snooze in support? The best move is to sacrifice their pawn and depend on the effectiveness of the GOP Hate Media Machine to make the race look close so when they cheat on the vote count... They'll get away with it again. All they need is to make it "look" like a close race.

[awcbuddy8]

Then why are democrats terrified?

[NoMercy]

The word is "dumbfounded"

[MamaBird62]

not so much terrified, more like amused

[kul]

Why does the John McCain pick of Palin seem like the Bush pick of Harriet Meyers? Wrong at every level. What was McCain thinking?

America, be aware that if McCain and Palin win this election, we will have 4 more years of - no real push for an alternative energy plan, a dumbing down of our science programs, bad foreign policy, loss of faith on the world stage, the middle class getting smaller and smaller. The list seems endless.

[mairs]

She's a Creationist for goodness sakes! We are Monica Gooling-izing all the way to the top!!!!

[Ismael]

Dear Sarah was asked almost 2 months ago Are you ready to be vice-president? her answer was what do the vice -president do.

2 years ago, What is your position on the Iraq war? I don't pay much attention to the war.

Are you kidding me? You got a women who apparently did not care about national issues and a trigger happy old guy that make decisions after one meeting. Imagine Russia invade a nato country n by the charter the U.S has to fight. This guy, after a meeting with Russian diplomats will declare war n world war 3. I'll die for my country but i won't let idiots get me killed after a senior moment.

[macintoshsauce]

I guess McCain, like Bush, looked into her eyes and saw her soul. He only needed one meeting...

[thefringecenter]

I don't know about the White House but McCain is puuting together a great PTA.

[KOisGod]

McCreepy has always had an eye for the candy, and when he met Sarah six months ago, he was impressed with her "assets". From that day on, he knew who his VP was.

I'd gladdly entrust our nation to this man, who selects the second highest office in the country based on a bump in his shorts.

[Agent420]

Not without a blue pill.

[arugulaeater4obama]

I hear that when [R]ick [D]avis urged [M]c[D]oofus to vet [P]alin, he replied, "Good God, man! She's not a dog."

[Balloonman]

WHAT A PICK! How bad can SARAH PALIN be? Sure, apparently she figures women have no first or last right over their body after insemination/sperm is egg accepted and a human grows. Automatic GOD'S society fetus beyond reach Mother jurisdiction. CREATIONISM? Should be allowed alongside science EVOLUTION as another view, a possibility? But insists literal interpretation of GENESIS be its own BIG BANG fact of the matter. Changes shaping life evidenced from fossil record from what was, to what is now obvious on the slide of living evidence, may be accurate but MAN came AS IS. EVE from a rib in HIS IMAGE, defined HOLY SPIRIT by chosen prophets scorched brain hot with GOD shouting out! Palin believe that? How about her "strong military and foreign policy?" Meaning "bomb, bomb, bombing" as may be decided preemptive necessary? Privatization of Social Security? Up and down WALL STREET go! VETS are secondary to needed budget cuts? Emphasis corporate insurance medical care or Government Universal Health Care? Jobs shipped overseas, downsized, eliminated, to accomodate insured rising profit graph, okay? UNIONS are they a distracton to benevolent COMPANY STORE profits? Worker pension, wage scales adjusted downward to insure maximum profits? Satisfying needs of subsequent voiceless workers? What she think really? OIL? May EXXON/MOBILE 42% PROFIT BE REGULATED INTO PERPETUITY. DRILL, DRILL, DRILL! Especially her territory. Global warming? Let the benevolent COMPANY STORE pollluters flourish? Wow is SARAH'S unfolding going to be interesting. What a marvelous pick!

[KOisGod]

Gustav

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/gmex/avn-l.jpg

Gulf coast, please get ready

[jazzman]

Imagine that Russia is threatening to attack Poland because Poland has agreed to place our missles in their country. Forces are massing on the border.

President Obama has just died, VP Biden is in charge. How does that make you feel?
President McCain has just died, VP Palin is in charge. How does that make you feel?

The pundits kept saying before Barack's decision to select a VP that this is an important choice because it is the first Presidential type decision a candidate makes and it will demonstrate what kind of judgment he has. Barack chose Joe Biden.

Now it was McCain's turn. McCain has chosen Sarah Paliln. Can we say that it the same about McCain? Let's see he if the pundits are willing to go beyond, novel, maverick, politically daring and ask the question of whether he used good Presidential judgment or not?

Bet they won't.

[KOisGod]

They'll laugh that question off. And shift the subject to drilling.

The republican's are bankrupt - of ideas, nobility, caring, judgement and irony.

[helonias]

How does this make you feel

http://thebruceblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/sarah-palin-sisterhood-of-the-traveling-catsuit/

[JeremyO]

The Republicans really came up with a great ticket this time. It's nice to know that a hockey mom and mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (population 4000) is in line to be president when something happens to John McCardiac. Good job Republicans, they'll be racing to the polls this year.