Rove "Wrong" About Palin, Steve Schmidt Says

In an interview with CBS' Katie Couric last night, John McCain chief strategist Steve Schmidt takes Karl Rove to task:

COURIC: I want to get your reaction to something Karl Rove told the Washington Post today. He said Sarah Palin was, quote, "not a governing decision but a campaign decision." What's your reaction.

Mr. SCHMIDT: Karl's wrong. She's an exceptional governor, a reform governor in Alaska. Fifty states in this country, she is the most popular governor of any governor of any state. Her approval ratings are 80 percent. When you look at the fact that Congress's approval rating is 9 percent, and 85 percent of the country thinks we're going in the wrong direction, she's doing something right up there.

She's fought the oil companies. She's building a huge natural gas pipeline. She's taken on the corrupt special interests. She's returned taxpayer money back to families in Alaska. She is the future of the Republican Party. She's going to be an outstanding vice president.

The simple fact here is that this is a mom of five children. There's been a private family matter and she's been under viscous assault and attack from the angry left. And we've seen that today. There's a lot of allegations and rumors, almost all of them untrue. The other side is throwing everything but the kitchen sink at her to see what sticks.

American people are going to love her when they meet her. She's an exceptional woman, an accomplished woman; and by any objective measurement, Katie, she is more experienced and more accomplished than Senator Obama. She's a woman who manages billion dollar budgets. She makes decisions every day. One of the most exceptional governors in the country.

COURIC: So you don't think pre--that Barack Obama's experience as a state senator for eight years and then a US senator for four years, how can you compare those two?

Mr. SCHMIDT: Well, Barack Obama was in the United States Senate for one year before he took off, and Senator Graham will talk about that, to run for president full time. When he was a state senator, he had no executive decisions. At 130 times tough votes, he took a pass and voted present. Leaders have to make decisions. Governor Palin makes decisions.

Couric also challenged Schmidt and Sen. Lindsey Graham on Palin's opposition to the "Bridge to Nowhere" project:

COURIC: So do you think Senator Graham, governors are better leaders than senators?

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Sen. GRAHAM: I think governors--having been in the Senate, probably. Governor Palin, I think, really compliments what John wants to do. John has looked at Washington as broken, and it's not nothing--something new to him. I was one of 14 senators who voted against "a bridge to nowhere." I was scared because I knew what was going to come my way. The governor of Alaska said no to the project.

COURIC: But didn't she initially say yes to the project?

Sen. GRAHAM: Yeah.

COURIC: So doesn't that kind of drive a hole into that argument?

Sen. GRAHAM: I think--I have earmarked. I confess on national TV. This has been a journey for Alaska and the country. She's seen what's happened in Alaska. John's seen what has happened in Washington. If you wanted to pick somebody that had a record of change and would tell their own party things they didn't want to hear, she's the best pick John could have made. She's a lot like John.

COURIC: But she did have a change of heart of that bridge to nowhere, correct? I mean, let's just set the record straight.

Mr. SCHMIDT: She did. And let's be clear. She killed it at the end of the day. It's OK.

COURIC: After initially supporting it, that's all. I think we should set the record straight on that.

Mr. SCHMIDT: There's no--there's no--there's no question that that's--that that's the case.

Sen. GRAHAM: Yeah.

Comments

[Diogenis]

FOCUS should be on McCain. This distraction with Palin is clouding the political process.

It's become a Media Circus. Intentionally

Rove, is milking this for every drop.

[frappe]

With the economy in a shambles, global warming crisis, loss of jobs, tight credit, globalization, outsourcing, high gas prices, high food prices, home foreclosures, illegal warrantless spying on Americans, loss of Habeas Corpus, torture, the shocking disregard for our Constitution, the war that we were LIED INTO in Iraq, the $10 billion/mo. to pay for that war, the increase in hatred for America around the world because of that war and the necessary war in Afghanistan that Bush and Cheney so quickly left behind to chase the oil and money in Iraq, and more privatization schemes -- all of this will only get WORSE should Republicans succeed in November. We mustn't let this happen.

Let's stay focused on the REAL ISSUES impacting our lives today. Constantly remind voters WHY the last thing that they should do is to reward the Republicans for their record of unmitigated failures and disasters that they have burdened us with.

It's time to hold the Republicans ACCOUNTABLE for what they have done to our country. They are the party of Lobbyists and Special Interests. Your needs are secondary, at best, to them. Let's keep THEIR feet in the fire and make THEM feel the pain of our judgment by giving them a boatload of PINK SLIPS come this Fall.

[justobserve]

Alaskans ALWAYS, not only under Palin's governorship, received cash divident due to their oil rich state. it's ALWAYS easier to be popular when you only need to elected by only half a million voters. These spin are at it worse because people don't know the truth to recognize the LIES.
They spin to beef up Palin's resume as if she is ready but the reality is: from a mayor of a town of 5,000 resident to governor of a 670,000 resident state, Palin who has "excutive experience" by name only. Governor of 670,000 must be very different from a state of , say, Illinois of 14 millions. While McCain attacked Obama for being inexperienced, even though Obama had won against the most experienced couple, the Clintons, and was elected by more than 18 million voters, he made a joke of himself by selecting Palin, elected by half a million voters. Even for senators, a state of 14 millions has many diverse issues, so they need to be more knowledgeable to be elected, and of course by much more than half a million voters. What ISSUES a governor of a 670,000 resident state have? When a governor of a 670,000 resident state jumps to VP, a REAL HEARTBEAT AWAY FROM PRESIDENCY, of a country of 301 millions that is confronting very complex national and international issues that Palin admitted she doesn't know, the Republican VP nomination is a very DANGEROUS act .
VOTE FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE. VOTE FOR WOMEN'S CHOICE.

[DFutureIsNow]

For once I agree with Karl Rove. Palin is a political gimmick that so far has only backfired on McSame

[silverball]

....sadly, once again it's about the culture wars...not issues important to ALL americans...these guys are pathetic...and what did mccainasauras say about campaigning on the issues?....and running a respectful campaign?...just more of the same....

[Beninn]

Republicans & Palin have put her personal life & parenting front & center.

Questions need to be asked of Palin & answered. Like, why did she wait until she was allegedly in her 7th month before announcing that she was pregnant? It's important on a professional level. Because at 44, while she may have thought she would go right back to work, you really never know & others need to be notified in case you can't go back to work right away. It reflects on her executive decision-making process, & putting yourself first instead of your state or corporation, or the people of Alaska.

[Beninn]

This is a treasure trove of new stories for US journalists willing to cover them. The mysteries of childbirth, unveiled, with straight talk to readers about the facts of labor & delivery. Like, "When your water breaks -- What Doctors Say To Do".

Once those stories are published, the public will start scratching their heads & wonder why Palin's doctor didn't tell her to get to a hospital. Or how Palin's doctor, who said that they were in close & frequent contact, could say that she didn't know Palin was going to get on a plane (two, actually) -- Did they talk with Palin in the air during those 8-11 hours? Are there phone records?

How come Palin's daughter, out of school for 8 months with a highly contagious case of mononucleosis, was out driving in February? Her daughter's pregnancy is license to delve into the question of competence, both as a politician who wants laws telling people what they can & can't do as parents & as a chief executive whose decisions don't get the desired results.

If Republicans want to make it about culture and values, then let's make it about culture and values.

[playsindirt]

You go, Katie.

[TroubleNYC]

She NEVER had a change of heart about the bridge. These people in the MSM do NOT know how to read. She lamented that the bridge could not be built because the FUNDS WERE NOT THERE. In other words, had the funds been available THE BRIDGE WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT! Not only that but she didn't return the money!

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

TroubleNYC, I co-sign. However, it should also be noted that along with what you said that she did not have a change of heart. The change was that the state of Alaska would be required to pay a large portion out of pocket/taxes of their own money to build the bridge. That is what she was against. She never changed her stance on the bridge. She just wanted it to be funded totally with federal funds. Which I find interesting considering this "little" matter regarding succession.

[ABCD]

You have got to see this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KjsEs46C70

POW!

[ignrnthllblly]

"almost" all of the rumors and allegations are false....

Which is why we must continue to be "viscous"

[Okieborn]

NO word Republican seen at the RNC no visual at all !!!!

[ignrnthllblly]

"...and she's been under viscous assault..."

The better to 'stick' it to her?

[honeydiva]

the people that believe in this ticket are as dumb as ....naw rocks are smarter.

[myangeldog1]

I don't know what to think anymore. On the one hand we've got Bush Aides tutoring her and on the other we've got Karl Rove saying she's not ready. I don't trust either side.

[ibsteve2u]

I HOPE she is just "sequestered" for "tutoring".

The X-Files part of my mind remembers McCain of 2000, sees what Bush has done, and wonders if she's not off getting a PNAC chip put in her head...

[Jaid]

Only in America does a person with a bachelor's degree in journalism is given more weight than a person with a degree in law from Harvard with a focus on constitutional law. Only in America is it okay to smear Michelle Obama as being unpatriotic while the VP nominee for the Rethuglican Party actively support the Alaska Independence Party which vociferously calls for secession from the United States, and only in American can a husband and wife with two children who are quite centered be considered not in touch with American values while a 16 year old pregnant female marrying her avowed redneck boyfriend is upheld as a role model. Only in America is this kind of lunacy allowed.

[SuzyQ08]

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[marymansour]

Thanks Jade, you're a winner. Ditto!

[zendem1]

You're right. Which shows how powerful the Republican BS machine really is. Up is down,black is white, etc. They can market and sell anything to anybody. It's truly frightening and pathetic, because it indicates the american people are becoming more and more stupid.

[Soothsayer08]

Only in America is correct. The reason this goes on is the color of the Harvard Law Grad'sand his wife's skin color. This country has been and still is racist society.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Do not underestimate Sarah-Barracuda.
She rises to the occasion.

She is smart, tough and ruthless.
She really DID sitting Governor Murkowski, and she DID beat Big Oil, partly because they thought she would be easy.
She is NOT. THEY LOST.

Watch her tonight. She will hit it out of the park.
Know your enemy.

[ATLiberal]

Do you have another comment, or are you just going to continue to cut and paste this same one over and over and over and over and over?? Please stop.

[jem286]

Except she didn't kill the bridge to nowhere. The Senate did.

[redsongia]

Ha ha ha. Rove threw him under the bus. Karl is the only one that sees sending out all your best GOPers to defend this lady is ruining the credibility of the entire party, what little they have left.

[JackLivigni]

When they say she gave back tax payer money to Alaskans, what they are actually saying is that she took hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks from NON ALASKAN TAX PAYERS to distribute them to her State.

[JiminNC]

Wow Katie - I take back 10% of the things I said about your integrity, now let's go for that other 90%.

[maying]

you could tell that a lot of the women journalists were hillary supporters and were upset that she lost. they were probably leaning towards mccain until he picked palin to be his running mate. since they seem like smart women they probably saw it for was it was -- a ploy and not a sincere attempt on the republicans part to elevate women in their party. seriously, why did he not pick hutchinson??? or better yet why did they not vet her properly. he had many many months to do the vetting since he clinched the nomination early on. sigh. mccain -- what a mess!