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

[conniedogs]

JMC should've chosen Gena Davis, at least she has CIC experience.

[dadw5boys]

The Oil Companies want PALIN out of Alaska because she taxes Oil Companies to help the Citizens of Alaska.

Now every Governor has to answer why their state won't taxes businesses to help their citizens keep property taxes low and gas taxes low!!!!!!

[doctorwang]

Palin is going to have to explain why she imposed a windfall profit tax on the oil companies in her state.....­.and why that wouldn't be a good idea on a national level.

[steeler5]

This VP "heartbeat" drama is laughable if not stupid. When Big O passed on the most qualified VP candidate (Hillary) the Obama media chimed in how the TOP of the ticket was what people voted for. Never mind the fact that Obama is NOT qualified to be on top of the ticket. The VP spot was removed as vital because Hillary was off the team. Paul "gumby" Begala now is "gravely concerned" about the choice of Palin and considers this dangerous to the country. Palin was considered a dark horse, long shot and had her name in the hat. Carville said he was shocked even though he predicted a surprise? I am sure his wife tipped him off. SInce she was listed as a possibility where were all the voices opposing her. The concerned Americans that are frightened that Palin is a "heartbeat" away from the Presidency never said a word. The buzz about Kane never raised these questions. Kane has been a governor for how long? Some have even said this is an insult to women. Insult to women? Oh, that's right, in order to be a tribute to women you must be pro-choice, anti-gun, anti-oil, pro-Al Gore. No wonder the party with the big tent loves the idea of cloning!

[SweetAngie]

The girl we love to hate . . . he has got to be kidding!

[Campeador]

It is clear to me that McCain is no longer in charge of his campaign. Karl Rove made the point of publicly vetoing Joe Lieberman and it is clear to me that the choice of Gov. Palin was forced on him. He is old and of declining mind, and I think he is going to be a puppet like GW. and if he dies in office? when then cute Sarah with step in and do as she is told.

[BlueOnBlue]

This is a sign McCain's gambling addiction will affect his actions as President. In his first major decision, he has rolled he dice and bet on an outside longshot because she might attract attention. She really has no other qualification for the job except as an attention-getter.

Dice is a game favored by gamblers who need ego gratification. In the long run, the gambler always loses money, but he keeps coming back for the excitement of being the center of attention as the 'shooter." It's a game for the reckless and foolish.

This time, McCain is placing a bet by putting his country on the line in return for the rush that comes with the wager. We can only hope he loses and not the country.

[InformedVoter08]

Obama still has an eight point lead in gallup and a four point lead rasmussen post Palin announcement

[lornejl]

I would buy girl scout cookies from her but that's about it.

[blueshield]

The facts will start trickling through the Repub media blitz - how in 2006 she was in full support of the "Bridge to Nowhere" and only reversed her position when the heat was on, her actual present approval rating in Alaska (65% and falling), and her ignorance (not inexperience, ignorance) about issues of foreign policy, law, and other extreme issues facing America.

Will she generate respect for America abroad, restore American influence, be a credible negotiator with Iran, Russia, North Korea, Hamas?

She has turned the media spotlight away from Sen O, but in so doing Mc.C has put her in the path of a buzzsaw for his own political gain.

[lornejl]

Yes. She will flame out like Harriet did.

[Agent420]

Have you ever ate any of those girl scout cookies. I think they were made for the troops in the civil war.

[gintheb]

The right has owned the MSM since the early '90's and gingrich's Contract "ON" America. Since then the MSM has cowered in the corners, afraid of being called the "liberal media" by the conservatives. This only intensified after 9/11. Only now are a few commentators - Olbermann, Maddow and Cafferty - man enough (sorry ladies, just speaking figuratively) to challenge what they say.
That Sarah Palin is being given any serious consideration by the MSM is only further proof. This selection is a joke and was only done in a misguided attempt to pander to Hillary's disaffected women voters. She has absolutely no qualifocations to be one heartbeat away from the presidency. Even as recently as July she self-admittedly didn't even know the duties of the Veep.

Get real!

[crablover]

Someone please tell me that this is all just a dream and that I'll wake up to world ruled by logic and intelligence.

[Larry of Corrales]

This is America where vast numbers of our population wouldn't know logic and intelligence if it hit them in the face. They would, however, be able to tell you who is in first place on American Idol.

[HamletsMill]

"Someone please tell me that this is all just a dream and that I'll wake up to world ruled by logic and intelligen­ce."
- crablover

My exact thoughts. This entire country has gone completely down the Republican rabbit hole since 2000. We are in some strange parallel universe where everything looks normal but all logic, reason, and intelligence has been completely removed from the world. What has been done to us is absolutely criminal. We have been humiliated as citizens. And it just keeps going on and on. How many more days of this can we take? I will be at my local polling places at 7AM on November 4th, 2008. I will be first in line. Inwardly I will have war paint on my face in my mind.

[WisconsinLiberal]

It is a fundamentalist universe where they are fed stupidity and they eat it up. Just like "drinking the kool-aid".

[ivanafort]

I’ve been mulling over this decision by McCain to choose Governor Palin as his running mate. Everybody seems to think that it’s a crazy decision and some think that it might work. I’m primarily shocked because I think it seriously brings McCain’s judgement into question. This person who was mayor of a town in Alaska with a population of 8,000 (akin to being student council president of a community college) less than two years ago could be president of the United States of America if, God forbid, John McCain wins the election and dies. Then I remembered when my Grandpa got a bit dotty in his old age and showed a renewed interest in young ladies. John McCain was known as a hell-raiser and ladies man in his younger days. According to the stories I’ve read, the first time McCain saw his future wife at a party, he zeroed in on her and wouldn’t leave her side, despite the fact that he was married and about twenty years older than her. Now, apparently he had met Mrs. Palin just once before seriously considering this clearly unqualified lady for his vice-president. Could it be that he’s smitten by her (did anybody else notice him leering at her butt when she went forward to make her acceptance speech)? So my question is this: has anybody considered the possibility that John McCain is going insane? Maybe this decision is even crazier than we all think.

[hmmmmmer]

We all know Republicans can get as hateful and disgusting as possible with any politician that doesn't believe what they believe. We also know that when a Democratic candidate does the same thing they Republicans holler foul, foul, and hateful liberal.

This pick of McCain's will be doomed on their own merit without liberals going bonkers on her. She is a radical nut case.

[Avembe]

Oh man!!!they just met once!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!
this is........­....
And andrea is masterpiece ofdishonesty ...I just heard her on CNN again and all the sudden she knew everything about her when discussing about that choice on Larry KING show...thi­s is just disgusting!!!!!!!!!
Sorry this is politics..­.In fact many Republicans DON'T know her and i'm pretty sure that many of them will express their consternation and disagreement progressively!I'm sure about that!!!!!!!
Why didn't he pick Megan Wiithman or another more experienced woman would could help him to get women votes and counterbalance his ignorance for the economy ...

[ReportThis]

Bill Clinton must be eating his liver: "Damn, I could have picked one of those?!?!!"

[nootrope]

It's really a disgrace of the first order that mccain would be so crass and self-serving as to select this woman to be our vice president -- possibly even our president, given his advanced age and medical history -- when he hadn't even met with her more than literally a few hours. Electing the hockey mom would be an embarrassment to all Americans even worse than gw bush has been. She doesn't even deserve to be vice president on her own merits -- or lack thereof -- let alone picked over all the other more qualified people.

And her selection is not only a disgrace, but is potentially deadly, as well, as she has no foreign relations or national security experience whatsoever, and international affairs have a habit of escalating in the most unpredictable and rapid ways. This woman is nowhere near in the same league as Barack Obama or Joe Biden. To suggest otherwise -- as mccain indeed has done through her very selection -- is as blatantly ridiculous and absurd as it is potentially gravely dangerous. Palin is simply not presidential or vice presidential material. Her lack of any credibility on the world stage or in foreign affairs whatsoever puts our very country in jeopardy. This woman is simply not fit for the office.