Palin Decries 'Unfair Attacks' On McCain's "Verbiage"

MSNBC peeped a preview of tonight's tete-a-tete between vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Fox "pundint" (to use Palin's term) Sean Hannity, which is sure to be the Frost/Nixon of mutual candy-foam fawnery. Here's the exchange they shared:

HANNITY: Senator Barack Obama yesterday was attacking Senator McCain for saying that the fundamentals of the economy are strong. Do you believe that the fundamentals of our economy are strong?

PALIN: Well, it was an unfair attack on the verbiage that Senator McCain chose to use. The fundamentals that he was having to explain afterwards, he means the work force, he means ingenuity of the American people. And of course, that is strong, that is the foundation of our economy. So that was an unfair attack based on verbiage that John McCain used. Certainly, it is a mess, though.

Yes! How dare Barack Obama use the things that John McCain says to prove some sort of point, even when that very "attack on verbiage" directly led to McCain's "by 'fundamentals' I meant 'American workers'" clarification that Palin recites in this exchange.

In other news, I can't help but notice that Palin answers Hannity's question two different ways. If "fundamentals" means "the work force, ingenuity of the American people," then "of course, that is strong." Otherwise, "certainly, it is a mess." No doubt Sean will make sure Palin clarifies her platitudes.

Comments

[Holgaman]

Oh, come on, it was just a gaffe by the Palinista. She really meant to say garbage instead of "verbage".

[ThePublicRecord]

http://www.pubrecord.org/politics/304.html?task=view

Palin's Office Scrubs Documents From Governor's Website

On July 18, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made the unusual decision of posting two documents on her website, accompanied by a harshly worded statement, denying reports that her husband, Todd Palin, and officials in her office illegally accessed her ex-brother-in-law’s confidential personnel files.

The documents: a release signed by Wooten in February giving his ex-wife's attorney access to his "entire employment file including but not limited to any and all disciplinary action(s) and complaints, and personnel records," and a letter from her attorney addressed "To whom it may concern," stating that any records obtained were done through proper channels.

“The governor's office, and particularly Governor Sarah Palin, has at no time had any involvement in this litigation. All records relevant to the litigation were obtained through the standard discovery process involved in every court case, as governed by the Alaska Rules of the Court," the attorney’s letter said.

On Thursday afternoon, Palin’s office removed the two documents from the governor’s official website following a news report that the law enforcement union representing her ex-brother, Mike Wooten, filed a formal complaint alleging the documents were accessed illegally and leaked. (PDF files of those documents can be found here and here,).

[thirdeyeview]

May I suggest this web site to McCain/Palin to learn what the Fundamentals of Economy are ?
http://www.chforum.org/library/xc12.html

America deserves better than that duo, she has suffered enough in the last seven years.

[Thomas54]

For McCain to say that the fundamentals of the American economy are strong; and then say ,"no, what I was really talking about was the hard work of the American workers...­. is just plain ludirious. Also I want to add something , in talking about the brilliant , hardworking American workers. Truth is, they are no different from workers anywhere else on the planet. I have worked all over America in various venues and other countries as well. I cant say that American workers are somehow harder working or more innovative or anything else. Some are lazy, some are indeed hardworking. Some are dishonest, while some are honest. Some are innovative, and some some are clueless. Each one is different . It is impossible to lump them into one collective force. Its ridiculous really. But the Republicans are out waving the flag again in hopes of using patiotism to fool Americans once more. And it will probably work again ....Sigh.

[barackobama4prez]

GOP: The party of biiitch-made whiners who can throw a punch but can't take one.

Bunch of glass-jawed freaks!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2008-2016!

[MitTheMan]

I can take a punch... and then, I can take one on the other cheek too.

[bogues]

Since when does McCain refer to the voters as "Fundementals", NEVER, thats when. He was talking about the economy and we all know it. It is insulting to every American when John McCain and Sarah Palin use us as excuses to worm their way out of politically damaging gaffes.

[cmcxx]

I listened to the posted sound track. I didn't hear her say "verbiage". I heard her say "verbals", which I suppose is a plural form of a newly invented noun form of the adjective "verbal". Such choice of words may sound erudite to Valley Trash, but to me it just sounds ignorant.

[neocon666]

Didn't you hear? A secret presidental decree allows all republican elected officials to change the definition of whatever words they use to their liking on the fly. George W. Bush may sound like he just fell off of a turnip truck, but when you see how he defines the words he uses, you'd think he was Daniel Webster.

[PurpleKoolAid]

Call me crazy, but I would really enjoy watching my president on television without having to lower my head when he says "nucular".

A command of the english language would be a great start to being commander in chief!!

[MitTheMan]

Really??? Trying to find a word she misspoke?? Oh, your serious. My fault.

[neocon666]

They've got McCain on 8 previous occasions referring to the "fundamentals" of the economy as being good. He keeps forgetting there's "the Google" out there, and people can look thing up.

The "fundamental" argument is of course, BS -have you ever heard of a country complaining that it's economy was strong, but it's workers were weak?

[new logic]

"Obama must hit Republicans ten times harder. Let's hear about war profiteering, taxpayer-funded mercenary armies and privatizing core functions of state, habeas corpus and warrantless wiretapping and presidential signing statements, and Katrina and justice department politicization, and phony intel and Abu Ghraib, rendition and torture."J­OHN CUSACK"

[wedgie]

Do I note some WHINING from the McCain/Palin campaign?

Sounding a little whiny there, Sarah...

**

[JonW]

Whining and attacking is all they have left. THEY WILL NOT BE MISSED come January!!!!

[SimJack]

I protest! I've been a verbiage farmer all my life, like my daddy before me. We work hard, aren't rich but do OK. It's a good wholesome living - pure American if you know what I mean. First she denigrates community organizers, now this 'attack on verbiage' nonsense. Verbiage is healthy and good for you, it keeps you regular and has been shown in scientific studies to keep your synapses active and firing at a rate that makes you an acceptable human being.

SP, don't go breaking that 3 syllable per word speed limit without some head protection, OK?

[iyamchazz]

A note in passing: Verbiage..­. Noun... needless accumulation of words, verbosity. Poor sarah, she belittles in her defense.

[Agathena]

It was on her index card referring to Obama's rhetoric but being unfamiliar with the new word, she switched it in her mind to McCain.

What about "construction bonds?"
That phrase made Kevin Drum really angry:

"Construction bonds? What is she talking about? Maybe performance bonds? Not that that makes any more sense. What's more, I'm pretty sure that AIG's consumer and commercial insurance business wasn't in any danger. So why focus on that? I mean, if you're only going to give the press a single sentence, why not spit out something about counterparty risk and leave their jaws hanging?"

[MitTheMan]

The main reason Democrats hater Sarah Palin is because she has upset their apple cart. This was supposed to be Obama's election and before that is was supposed to be Hillary's. Even though the economy is failing, even though the President has the lowest approval rating of all time, even though the Republicans have had the White House for eight years, adding Palin to the ticket has caused this election to be closer than ever in the polls.

This is the root of your anger. My Father used to say "I don't care what you say about me as long as you mention my name." I read these blogs and all I see is McCain-Palin, I watch MSNBC and all I hear is McCain-Palin. Keep up the good work because the slander will backlash on you.

[iyamchazz]

Look at where the polls are at today and have your crying towel handy. You're gonna need it.

[MitTheMan]

I haven't heard the weight-challenged Lady sing... have you?

[ldillworth]

Yes, we dislike her ONLY because she was new and diverted attention

We don't care the doesn't know the the Bush Doctrine is.
We don't care that she signed off on charging rape victims for forensic kits.
We don't care she wants to teach her religion in public science classes.
We don't care she wants to deny a woman her right to control her reproduction, even if she's been raped.
We don't care her eithics and methods are questionable.
We don't care her story on Troopergate keeps changing.
We don't care that she requests more earmarks per capita than an anyone else in the nation.
We don't care she couldn't instill the values she wants to legislate into everyone's lives in her own daughter.
We don't care she's a "fiscal hawke" who charges her state for nights at home.
We don't care she is refusing to cooperate with an investigation.
We don't care her state government is more secretive than Bush's.
We don't care her gas pipeline she continues to take credit for is still theoretical, and if by some chance all government (Canada and US) agencies approve construction wouldn't start til 2013
We don't care she left Wasilla in debt by millions and millions..
We don't care she lies about the Bridge to Nowhere over and over and over again.

No we don't care about any of that, we're just mad she took the sppotlight for two weeks and the media obsessed with reporting her foibles.

[MitTheMan]

Oooooooh!

Fear and intolerance. I love it!

[Agathena]

There's the basis of a new American folk song.

[neocon666]

This IS Obama's election -stastics now show that McCain has only solidified the republcican base with Sarah Palin's selection as VP and hasn't made a dent with independent voters, not to mention that Moosegirl's approval rating has dropped by 10 points already. A new poll shows that 60 PERCENT of the American public trusts Barack Obama on economic issues over John McCain.

I'm actually beginning to like Chris Matthews because he's showing that the republicans are trying to run against themselves. There was not one single sign labeled "Republican" at the RNC convention, and John McCain didn't say the word "republican" once during his acceptance speech. In the words of Chris Matthews, they're like an army that runs off the battle field to take off their uniforms and come back in civilian clothes so they can renouncing their own side.

McCain/Palin
Change you can believe isn't.

[MitTheMan]

60% of all polls are made up.

I wouldn't trust Chris Matthews as far as I could throw him. He's been an outspoken liberal since day one. Of course he is going to spin this off with jocularity. Instead of beleiving someone that always sees one side of an issue, you should start making your own opinions.

I watch all the netwroks. I don't trust Fox or MSNBC. I try to read between the lines to get to the truth. And the truth is... if Obama does win this election, this web site will fold like a peice of onion skin paper. What will the Puffington Host talk about then?

[snarkopolitan]

Doing a little research about Alaskans' opinion of SP and I came up with whole new reasons to dislike her: despite her husband (TP) being 1/16 Yupik, she is extremely anti-Native. She has sued, and lost, repeatedly, challenging sovereignty of Indian Nations, tried to keep Yupik language voting material from being distributed, sued to allow mining that endangers salmon populations vital to Native subsistance. She is pro-sport hunting, not subsistance hunting. This is why she challenges Tribal Nations on their sovereignty: can't sport-hunt on their land!

Wonder what Kevin Costner would say if he knew?

[MitTheMan]

Who cares about Kevin "Freakin" Costner???

What's he got to do with the price of eggs in China???

If you're gathering "Facts", or in your own words... "opinions" of Sarah Palin, why don't you read ALL of the blogs about her. Especially this one.

http://forums.student.com/viewtopic.php?t=316921

[stayinsouth1981]

Ewwww taking away from those who were here first? Ewwwwww

[bogues]

I am a Democrat and I don't hate Sarah Palin at all. I am very afraid of her way of Governing. She is much more conservative than any Republican candidate in recent history and with all due respect, she is not being open or honest with the American people. This election should not be about popularity, it should be about the future of our country. This election, just like most in our recent history, was going to be close. We have understood that all along.

[MitTheMan]

So you beleive everything you hear from a Democrat?? Do you think comittee chairmen are being open and honest about their taxes?

Obama said he is only going to raise taxes on people making more than $250 K. What he doesn't tell you is that this includes every small business in the USA. What do you think your local convenience store will do when their taxes go up. What do you think the super markets will do when their taxes go up. And what do you think the big oil comanies will do when their taxes go up? They pass it right along to you and I.

[pb28]

Just like those unfair attacks on Michelle Obama's verbiage right

[neocon666]

I didn't realize Michelle Obama was running for office on November 4th. So Michelle Obama makes up her own words? I defy you to find on other instance in the universe where someone said used the word "fundamental" while referring to people.

[rubberstamp]

BOO HOO