Palin At Debate Refuses To Answer Question

A strange moment in the debate, where Sarah Palin refuses to answer if her ticket would have to pull back on some campaign promises in light of the financial crisis.

Ifill: "As Vice President, there's nothing you've promised as a candidate that you would take off the table because of this financial issue?"

Palin: "There is not, and how long have I been at this? Like five weeks?"

Comments

[sensiblegal]

Did anyone else feel a bit let down by the moderator? To me she seemed to go out of her way to guide Palin into the answer, she almost spoon fed her at times by framing the question into bullet points, and then she never - for either candidate - picked up on the fact theat the questions were not answered fully? .
What's wrong with saying "With respect Govnr Palin, I think the American people would like to hear what you think your Achilles heel is - evading the question makes you sound just like another same old Washington game politician - a robot run by Karl Rove."?
I'm really sickened that even Gwen Ifill seems to have been cowed by the Republicans blatant attempts to rein her in in advance - just like they did with CNN and NBC when they bullied them into winding back their quite legitimate fact checking on Palin the newcomer.
Anyone who was taken in by last night's parrot performance does not deserve to have the right to vote. If God forbid, McCain gets elected and is incpacitated within four weeks - America will only have itself to blame when President Palin by her very presence in the White House makes America a VERY dangerous place to be.
And even as Vice President she wants to INCREASE Vice Presidential powers? After what Cheney - who is no one's fool - did and continues to try to do?
Think hard Americans. This is not

[myna]

Yes, I was disappointed in Ifill. But she nearly always disappoints me and I watch her on PBS often. She was not in command of the debate last night, not at all. It was frustrating. One thing about her that always bugs me is her lack of speech articulation. She sounds like her mouth is full. Brokaw too.

[politicalminded]

I totally agree with you. I also feel that she changed her questions following criticisms from the McCain Camp. Either she did this of her own volition or she was pressured by pbs which makes her less credible. I think people should learn to stand their ground and not just crumble under pressure.

[Revelation]

I think all that so called "controversy" got to Gwen Ifill. I was very disappointed in the way she moderated the debate. The fact that she let Palin get away without answering her questions. The woman did not even know what an Achilles Heel is!. It was really pathetic the charade that passed for a debate.

[i approve this message]

I've never watched Ifill before, but I was disappointed that she didn't insist that Palin answer questions.

[JerCee]

Well said!

Also, What is "That Massive Oversight That Americans Are Expecting and Deserving?"

[jeannah]

Sarah, somehow I can believe you've only been at this gig for five weeks. Please go home and monitor Alaskan air space or whatever other duties you have.

Did the winking and the corny comments give undecided voters confidence that she could step in to be president? Hopefully not. And I will scream if I hear her, McCain or any commentator say that word again (maverick).

[dengal]

I totally agree. I find the folksy thing insulting. She was trying to make sure we know she is a Washington outsider, she is and so she shall remain. (I hope)

[cmp]

Me too. That folksy crap is so condesending and phoney. I CAN'T STAND IT ! And if you wink at me again I'll have to kick the TV set in and I can't afford to buy a new one now.

[enufinfighting]

SP sounded EXTRA folksy last night. She dropped the 'g' off of every gerund (words ending in -ing) like "runnin'" and "fightin." She said "ya" instead of "you." She kept psudo-cursing (gosh darnit, dangit, hueckuva). She kept winking and smiling at inappropriate times. I felt like she had no respect for the importance of the event and I was insulted for two reasons:

1. I tell my students that there is a time and place for everything. There is a time that you use abbreviations and non-sentences when texting with friends. But that is not appropriate at the time for written communications with professors. Likewise, I tell my students that they may speak a certain way with their friends in their dorm rooms, but they must adjust accordingly for classroom discussions. Knowing when and how to do that is important.

2. SP’s speaking all "cute" and "folksy" is insulting. It suggests a familiarity, a relationship that doesn't exist and that must be earned. How dare she feel like she doesn't have to use her best speaking skills to address us? Does not the American voter deserve that respect? Does she think we wouldn't/couldn't understand her unless she speaks in that way?

We should clear this up for the governor: We don't want Joe Six-Pack in the Whitehouse. We want a dignified, accomplished, educated LEADER in the Whitehouse who will do his or her very best to make America better for Joe Six-Pack.

[solarflares]

I really strongly agree with you, particularly on that 2nd point. Spot on!

[chroma]

Beautifully stated. I enthusiastically agree.

[Femi]

I couldn't agree with you more!!!

[2876]

the folksy persona is a farce. i doubt that she speaks that way at home.

[2bsure]

AAAAW! Doggonnit! >wink< She did AWESOME!!! She has a GREAT future ahead of her...
as a game show host.

[comacoma]

Used snowmobile salesman is more likely....­.

[LuckyLady6367]

Can someone please explain to Sarah Palin what Achilles' Heel means? After all she is one!

Obama/Biden!

[solarflares]

I can see Greece from my backyard!

[i approve this message]

"how long have I been at this? Like five weeks?"

"this" means learning about what's going on with the rest of America and the rest of the world.

[mema01]

I actually hear a radio talk show host on Cnn this am saying that Palin had done her job, "she could actually put a sentance together, a noun, and a verb." America, how stupid have we become. So she can put a sentance together (she memorized it) she should now be Vice President? The dumbing down of America.

[Jeff1958]

It's spelled "sentence.­"

[GhostNyc]

EXACTLY WHAT WARS HAS McCain WON?

[BuckeyeGal]

The way he talks now, he could have whupped the VC singlehandedly, if he hadn't so gallantly insisted on being broken by them.

[whoajack]

Yeah, why does he always get away with saying, "I know how to fight and win wars?" I wish somebody would ask him why and how he makes that a true statement.

Which Was was it again where he fought and won? Being in the Navy, in prison camp for 5 years, not an admiral, ranking commander or any sort, makes him know how to fight and win wars?

Also, if all he knows how to fight and win wars, and he is unshakable about that assertion, then if there are no wars to fight and win, what else can he do but ride wild horses....­... Isn't that what Mavericks do? oh, no, that's what they are

hehehe

[FrictionSoul]

I know. He was out of commission for 5+ years and that qualifies him to be...

The cockroach whisperer.

[Harpseal60]

Sarah didn't answer a lot of questions. It's like she was following a script that her teachers had given her and when Gwen would ask a question that was on the next page of her script and she couldn't see how to answer it, she would just change the subject.

Also Sarah needs to knock off the winking thing. That gesture to me says "just kidding" or its acting flirty, both of which are not appropriate behaviors if she were to ever become VP or worse President.­.

We don't need another folksy in the white house. We need someone that doesn't sound and act like an idiot. (can you say George W. Bush)

I also think that Gwen (the moderator) was not biased and was fair to both candidates, so McCain you were wrong...ag­ain.

[chroma]

I wonder how many undecided independent voters were turned off by the winking? Who would want a flirty airhead one heartbeat away?

[cowtippor]

people tend to blink more when they lie or are not sure of what they're saying

[Harpseal60]

Sarah didn't answer a lot of questions. It's like she was following a script that her teachers had given her and when Gwen would ask a question that was on the next page of her script and she couldn't see how to answer it, she would just change the subject.

Also Sarah needs to knock off the winking thing. That gesture to me says "just kidding" or its acting flirty, both of which are not appropriate behaviors if she were to ever become VP or worse President.­.

We don't need another folksy in the white house. We need someone that doesn't sound and act like an idiot. (can you say George W. Bush)

I also think that Gwen (the moderator) was not biased and was fair to both candidates, so McCain you were wrong...ag­ain.

[tlgeiger62]

For some reason , there are pundits this morning saying that Palin will now be released to the Press. I believe we will NOT see her giving ANY more interviews or answering questions. Her role in this campaign was over as of last night. Mark my words.

[cittykat2]

After last night's poor performance, Sarah, (can I call you Sarah) will not being during any interviews. She did not answer the questions and when she attempted to, she was not factual.

All of the winking and little remarks proved that she is out of her league. I think it is time for her to go back to Alaska and raise her family.

[OneAngryDwarf]

Why would she. This was stagecraft of the highest order last night. She said nothing of substance and probably had no idea what she was reading off of her cue cards. They taught her at debate camp how to change the subject to something she had a cue card for and then she aped a bunch of stuff from a Reagan debate.

She gets in trouble when people ask her follow-up questions, there were no follow-ups last night and she didn't have to explain her answers. She will never do another interview, unless it is with a sycophant like Hannity, and she will basically continue to do the stump speech for partisan crowds.

She proved last night once and for all that she is a pit bull, or at least they share an IQ. She can be trained like a dog, she can be coached like a dog, but she can't think for herself in even the most simplistic situations. In essence she is the perfect Republican candidate.

[tlgeiger62]

Well said!

[pomawg]

DONATE NOW:

http://www.barackobama.com

[RDJay]

Thanks for the reminder..­.

[Ulysse]

Palin read the books :

Vice-Presidency for dummies

and

How to become a VP in 21 days

With that, she is qualified to become the VP of the country, is she not?

I mean, if something happens to McCain she can always read :

How to become President of the USA in one night

Then she would be ready on day one, would she?

[WasteNJ]

The translation: "I haven't been around long enough to promise you anything yet, so therefore I can't break a promise I never made"

[MJJM]

As a Black Man, my thoughts about some white women have changed. I did not know you all thought just like black women. You make decisions based on how a women looks when saying something and not what she is saying.

Palin was a disaster!! Biden destroyed her!! However, because she looked energetic when saying NOTHING, some white women actually think she gave great answers!!

[obamasOHangel]

First paragraph: What? Could you expound on that please?

[CitizenKane16]

As a black woman, I am insulted by your generalization. I'm afraid I don't know any black women who think the way you describe, you may need to start dealing with a better level of women, IF they'll deal with you.

[DaretoHOPE]

MJJM please don't lump me in with "some white women".

I am a white woman and I find Sarah Palin to be a total parrot for the right, she didn't debate senator Biden last night she gave stump speech answers and one liners against her competion in between totally ignoring the actual questions that where posed.

Again I am a white woman and I DO CARE about the answers not the looks or the smiling at the camera or the winking (yuck). Senator Biden was clearly the winner and stronger candidate on all the issues as he actually knows about and deals with the issues.

Unlike Sarah who had to have all this stuff crammed into her head over the past few weeks, and I would say it showed in how she answered (but not really) she was totally just spouting out all this stuff that had been crammed in there before she forgot it all, kinda like how you cram for a test and keep the answers in your head just long enough to get the answers out on paper and pass the test. Thats the way I see it. Sarah Parrot, Sarah Parrot, Polly (Sarah) want a cracker?


PROUD WHITE FEMALE for OBAMA/BIDEN!!!!

[CocoGrrrl]

Wow. You managed to insult ALL women - black and white - in one post. I totally understand the point you are attempting to make, but you did it in a very offensive way.

And, FYI, I think there are a lot more men who are judging her with their little heads and paying attention to how she looks and not to what is coming out of her mouth, which is pure, idiotic drivel.

She is an embarrassment to all Americans, men and women, black and white.

And - just a hunch - you're single, right? ;-)

[Cakey4814]

So what you're really saying is that in your experience Black women are superficial and you thought White women would be different but you see they're not after they gave props to Palin after last nights debate? Your words speak volumes and as a Black woman I'm just shaking my head in disbelief.

PS: What sista messed up your head??