Palin Can't Name Supreme Court Case She Disagrees With Other Than Roe (VIDEO)

For days, word has been spreading that CBS Evening News was sitting on an embarrassing clip of Sarah Palin not being able to name a Supreme Court case other than Roe v. Wade. On Wednesday night, it was aired. And it could be just as devastating as imagined.

Interviewed by Katie Couric for the station's vice presidential question series, the Alaska Governor does, indeed, draw a blank. The topic was a bit more complex than simply naming another case. Asked which decisions, other that Roe, she disagreed with, her responses went as follows:

PALIN: Well, let's see. There's --of course --in the great history of America rulings there have been rulings, there's never going to be absolute consensus by every American. And there are -- those issues, again, like Roe v Wade where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know -- going through the history of America, there would be others but--"

COURIC: Can you think of any?

PALIN: Well, I could think of -- of any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level. Maybe I would take issue with. But you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a Vice President, if I'm so privileged to serve, wouldn't be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today.

WATCH: (Palin starts 2 minutes in, after Biden)

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Several days ago, the McCain campaign leaked word to Jonathan Martin of Politico that this segment was going to become public, topping off a series of shaky segments that the Republican vice presidential nominee had taped with Couric. And while Palin's answer certainly doesn't help her standing among voters already worried about her capacity to take over the job at a moment's notice, it's hard to imagine that the bar can move much lower than it already is.

The expectations are at a minimum for the vice presidential debate on Thursday night. Palin should be able to do better in Missouri than she has done on CBS.

UPDATE: Several readers have pointed out an equally telling statement Palin made during Wednesday night's Couric interview. Asked specifically if she believed the Constitution afforded a right to privacy, the Alaska Governor responded in the affirmative, even after reminded that it was the legal basis for Roe.

COURIC (to Palin): Do you think there's an inherent right to privacy in the Constitution?

PALIN: I do. Yeah, I do.

COURIC: The cornerstone of Roe v Wade.

PALIN: I do. And I believe that --individual states can handle what the people within the different constituencies in the 50 states would like to see their will ushered in in an issue like that.

COMPLETE VP DEBATE COVERAGE: BIDEN PALIN VIDEO, HIGHLIGHTS

Comments

[Amennyc]

Beauty pageant contestant responses to questions asked. That is where she got her training.

[poster1122]

There flubs and then there are flubs. The question regarding case names does come out of left field in my view--the stuff of trivial pursuit and pub quizzes.

It's great if you or I happen to know this. But, a person who's been out of school for two decades, who's last class that covered con law was maybe two and half to three decades ago? I find a question like that of a non-lawyer/historian is on par with a question like the chemical symbol for iron, or the atomic weight of carbon. Something she might've known once upon a time, but not something that rolls off the tongue. Honestly, I probably do think about Fe more often than I do about fugitive slave rights.

For me, it's more important that she knows the topics. That's my objection to her. It's not whether she can name some historical cases. It's that she wants to spend 700 billion dollars but can't explain what it's for. That's the grievous sin. Not that she might get tripped up on a pub-quiz caliber question.

[duchessdorleans]

"I find a question like that of a non-lawyer/historian..."

EXACTLY my friend! She is a non-lawyer and a non-historian. She does not have depth of knowledge about the law or about history, therefore she needs to be a non- Vice President as well. It's not just random trivia like "name to the Seven Dwarves." It is stuff that anyone who wants to hold the second highest office in the federal goverment should be very familiar with in order to be qualified for the job.

[Benfeing]

The irony is that this was supposed to be a softball for Palin and was suggested by her people. She opposed the Exxon case, she opposes SC decisions on National Parks, she has spoken out on gun rights, although the current decision would please her, she wants no SC involvement in executions etc. Her people thought it was a chance for her to shine as an expert and she blew it.

[goplayrabbit]

new slogan! "Durrrrr. McCain/Palin 08!"

[ajaye]

I'm not a constitutional scholar, but took con law in college and law school. I have a strong grasp of the role and significance of the SCOTUS, the important cases that have shaped our history, civil rights, the powers and limits of congress and the president.

I say, without equivocation, this woman has zero grasp of the "fundamentals" of constitutional law, landmark cases, even the function of the SCOTUS. True, most people are not that sophisticated in this area, but our expectations and requirements for VP MUST be higher than for Joe Six Pack.

It would be difficult for most people to answer Couric's question off the cuff in 5 seconds. But, instead of admitting she would need more time to think about it, redirecting the question, or talking about general principles even without citing cases, she went to la la land. She could have fudged without sounding so ill informed.

Obviously comparing Palin to two lawyers on this, one a con law scholar, is unfair.

The problem is, this is not the only question she's flubbed. She's equally ill informed on almost everything from the economy to foreign policy.

There are troubling things about her record as mayor and governor, but the worst thing about her is her cluelessness. Voters who love her are either ignorant themselves or don't care that she is. They are knee jerk Republicans, one issue voters, personality/relatability voters. Thoughtful conservatives/moderates who like McCain have legitimate qualms about Palin.

[duchessdorleans]

Are you speaking of those thoughtful conservatives who seem, inexplicably, to spend all their time at Georgetown cocktail parties?

[songman]

Check out song/video parody of Sarah at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqUv0jq8QIs
"The Lady is a Sham"
And pass it on!

[Amennyc]

Couric is sooo mean. Should be asking her, what she likes on a moose burger, what brand of eyeliner she uses, and should the jelly go on the bread first or peanut butter. Those other questions are just down right unimportant.

[pineapplegal]

She is full of crap...pure crap. Can't believe SHE isn't embarrassed enough by all this to want to run back to Alaska and crawl under a boulder! Who is actually ENCOURAGING her to keep this up???

[Dissident Dexter]

"...AND U.S. AMERICANS ... AND SUCH AS..."

[EdStanton]

You think that's scary? Check out this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abZLjIpHzj8

[Amennyc]

Yeppers, just like joe six pack, the average American, dumber than dumb. Palin's idea of a great weekend is a marathon of Will Farrel movies.

[duchessdorleans]

I don't think you are being fair to Will Farrel.

[FaceYourFears]

I give Sarah credit for giving it a try but for the love of everything rosy.....WHY? Is she that arrogant or overly confident. I honestly don't think she knows her own limitations.

[2876]

In order to be censored, she'd actually have to state some of her opinions. She's only given a handful of interviews, I'm not sure how she can claim that the media "censor" her.

[Ulysse]

She is as good as republican strategist Leslie Sanchez which is to talk about nothing all the time. You could put a beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep sound over most of her answers because in the end, you will have learned about nothing, which is approximately all the knowledge she as. Pull the cord in her back and see what McCain will have her say :

1 - As a mayor and even as a governor
2 - With my executive experience
3 - beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

Oh sorry, the third one is in her head when she was not taught how to answer a question.

[ron071]

Is the Sarah saga an idication of the dumbing down of America? Not too long ago this type of individual could NEVER have been selected as a VP nominee. Considering John McCain's secret health condition and his advanced age, her election would be the ULTIMATE AMERICAN TRAGEDY!