Palin Stumped On McCain's History Of Supporting Regulation (VIDEO)

Gov. Sarah Palin could not name a single instance in which Sen. John McCain has advocated for more regulation of the market -- a position that, in the wake of crisis in the housing and financial markets, the Arizona Senator has adopted as his own.

Appearing on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Palin briefly discussed McCain's call for greater oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- the two beleaguered mortgage houses - as evidence that McCain doesn't always shy from a firmer government role in the economy. But when pressed, she could not name an actual instance where McCain supported regulation.

"I'm just going to ask you one more time, not to belabor the point," Couric said. "Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation."

"I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you," Palin responded.

The reason she was stumped is somewhat simple: McCain, in his 26 years in Congress has been a strict champion of deregulation. As my colleague, Nico Pitney reported: Back in October 1999, when Senate Republicans led by Phil Gramm were deep in negotiations on key legislation to deregulate the banking industry, McCain was at a primary debate in New Hampshire touting the benefits of such a measure.

"There's a number of reasons why we are experiencing this almost unprecedented prosperity," McCain said back then. "Among them are a lack of regulation, free trade, and most importantly, we are going through a revolution the likes of which the world has seldom seen."

Here is the entirety of Couric's interview with Palin.

COURIC: You've said, quote, "John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business." Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

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PALIN: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie--that, that's paramount. That's more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.

COURIC: But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

PALIN: He's also known as the maverick though. Taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about--the need to reform government.

COURIC: I'm just going to ask you one more time, not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation?

PALIN: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.

Comments

[yankeeinoxford]

I think it is a bit dangerous to dismiss her out of hand as dumb. She is not at all knowledgeable, I will agree with everyone on that. She cannot comprehend the complexity of the presidency and the fact that it took her five years to finish a degree probably speaks to the fact that she is not well read or intellectual. However, I would say she is politically shrewd. If you think about it, how can someone who sounds like she is vaguely qualified to run the PTA have gotten to be governor. I find it sad that this is what America has come to. We used to pick presidential and vice presidential candidates that one would not be embarrassed or ashamed of. It would seem that the Republican party has settled for mediocrity on more than one occasion. Sadly, it seems that most republicans like that because they find mediocre people to be "accessible" or some such nonsense. I think the last eight years have more than demonstrated that intellect should be part of the rubric for presidential and vice presidential vetting!

[EuroAmerican]

Palin has so much rope left to hang herself on.

And they know that it's also around McCain's neck.

[smark]

Now seriously, it doesn't take much to stump Ms Clueless Moose Queen!

[ImForLogic]

This reminds me of that movie "Trading Places" I am really beginning to believe that this election is just some bet between a group of rich people behind the scenes whom are all just laughing at us.

[TheloniousThinks]

One thing about intelligence is that bright people can take in and process large amounts of information, and draw good quality conclusions very quickly... you have to be able to do that to get a law degree from Harvard with honors. You have to be able to do that to run a huge government and command the most powerful millitary on the planet... Please please please look at Caribou Barbie's college transcipts.... Before you vote...

[musselmanm]

She said recently that we could play stump the VP. It didn't take long did it?
I have more respect for Joan Rivers than this Jr High schooler.
At least Joan can deliver a funny line.
Perhaps if the Crocodille Hunter would have prayed and touched her instead of her Witch Hunter, she could answer some unscripted questions.
I can see that her VP debate will rquire all of the questions to be scripted beforehand.
Now this morning there are calls in Alaska for an investigation into jury tampering.
We must finally put this joke of a Republican ticket to bed.
We cannot even blame this on conservatives. This is a Republican crime against America.

[2cntswrth]

Sarah Palin isn't really dumb. She is just a gutsy person who is unprepared to be the Vice President and possible President. How could she be? Her background isn't really a big secret. John McCain is to blame for asking her in the first place. I don't recall anyone ever refusing the offer (please refresh my memory if I am wrong). So she was sadly put in this "deer in the headlights" position.

We expect Presidential candidates to fully vet the VP choices, assure they have some basic working knowledge of policies, and issues; and can articulate with some degree of confidence what is being offered the public. But that's not at all what McCain did. Therefore, we do need to see her current level of understanding of these issues in case John McCain wins the election, and if for some reason he is unable to fulfill his role as President at some point over the next 4 years---and we end up with a "President Sarah Palin." As a Democratic woman, in no way do I identify ideologically with the Republican agenda. But, if McCain was attempting to reach out to women voters by selecting one to be his running mate, then why on earth would he not pick another more prepared Republican woman? If Sarah Palin becomes the President, it looks like we would be S.O.L.... at least until she could "go and find ya some and bring it to ya."

[OkieIntellectual]

I disagree... she actually is really dumb, not gutsy. Sometimes courage and stupidity look remarkably similar.

[Scarllatti]

Remember GWB? Covers up his ineptitude with a lot of gusto.

[Scarllatti]

This chic has her brains between her l-e-g-s.

[OkieIntellectual]

I believew that her head and her colon share the same filler material.

[OneOleMan]

I respectfully disagree with those who say Sarah Palin is stupid IMHO she's a very intelligent woman who is currently way out of her league. Now, for those who say that she is scary I will agree completely, both she and her husband Todd are scary as hell.

[Tomlastliberalleft]

Every so often I find myself asking why it is we have to suffer through people like Sarah Palin? Well, the press and the informed public needs to be reminded that there is a good reason why the press must be firm in asking important questions and not giving any politicians a free ride on the issues. That freedom of the press means more than chasing ambulances and reporting on “American Idol” as though it is news. Freedom of the press is the central mechanism in the creation of an informed electorate and that is our only defense against someone like Palin slipping through the cracks and making our entire country look silly on the world stage, endangering us in times of war and allowing for a corrupt individual or party to bring our country to ruin.

[ImForLogic]

In the immortal words of Mr. Arnold Jackson.....

What-choo talkin' about Palin???

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

On a lighter side, check out the faces of intelligent women when they listen to that drek. Even KatieC looks like she has a hard time not rolling her eyes.

[andban]

This is absolutely scary.... having someone this dumb running for VP... but than again... McCain nor Palin will be actually running any but their mouths.. same people who tell W what to do are already telling these two jokes what to do...

[OkieIntellectual]

The Rethugs will just downplay this as the "liberal media" picking on their "candidate" with badgering questions that they would never ask of Senator Biden.

[ankae]

SEXISM! SEXISM!

[Scarllatti]

Go to blazes!!

[MikeGuy]

Yeah, and I'll bet Biden can't cite any examples of McCain touting greater regulation, either!

[theblueAmerican]

To keep quoting Tom Smothers " Ignorance in action".

[elcojonu]

Sarah, who's Brad Hanson ?