Student Who Quizzed Palin On Pakistan: Her Handlers Are "Tyrannical"

Surprised (and upset) we missed this one. On Monday, Michael Smerconish, the never under-stated radio talk show host, had on his program the Temple Grad student who got Sarah Palin to say that she supported cross border raids into Pakistan even without that country's consent.

Palin's statement drew a lot of buzz, not simply because it mirrored the position of Barack Obama, but because it flew in the face of the alleged caution that John McCain preaches when it comes to talking about Pakistan. As such, the McCain campaign was quick to denounce the whole episode as "gotcha journalism."

Asked about it all, the student, Michael Rovito, was nearly apoplectic at the notion that questions for a vice presidential candidate were somehow inherently unfair.

"My dad and my uncle are kind of mocking me," he recalled. "My dad is saying 'Shut up, shut up.' I was like, 'No, I'm not going to shut up. If she is the vice presidential candidate I'm going to be paying her salary with my taxes. She needs to answer this question... It wasn't until she pulled away that I was like 'God, she just said what Obama says.'"

At this point, Smerconish jumped in, airing his own displeasure with how the McCain campaign has handled Palin's roll out, vis a vis the media: "This idea that she shouldn't be out there answering questions is insane... they are putting her in such short pants, they are not doing her any favor, meaning the advisers."

"It is tyrannical," replied Rovito. "It is bordering on tyranny, where we can't have these presidential and vice presidential ... candidates now, they aren't accountable, they aren't answering any questions. I think it is tyrannical ... they can't be shielding her, shifting her off to Arizona and some desert just to coach her on what to say on Thursday."

Tyranny may be a bit of an overstatement. In fact, in the end, McCain's sheltering could help Palin during the debate. As Smerconish noted, "The perception is only enhanced that she can't handle it... the expectations will be so low that if she simply hangs in there, people will say: 'Hey not as bad as I thought.'"

Listen to the interview here.

COMPLETE VP DEBATE COVERAGE: BIDEN PALIN VIDEO, HIGHLIGHTS

Comments

[Voting Must Happen]

Youth Vote: The Power of Registration
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=85&ArticleName=Youth+Vote%3a+The+Power+of+Registration

Oct 2 Polling Update
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=84&ArticleName=Poll+Update+

Obama 355, McCain 183
http://voteforamerica.net/electoral.aspx

[StellaRay]

NO, NO, NO! There is only one bar and it is permanently set on just one question. "Would you feel safe with this woman as your president?" That's it, periodinsky. No amount of "not as bad as I thought," is good enough as an answer to this question.

[Rog49Thomas]

May I remind you that only one ticket this presidential election has an anointed witch and devil hunter on it.

Can't get much safer than that.

[RiggsMD]

Sarah Palin was already 'f*cked up' before the devil plucked her for service. Her inability to even identify with issues and common sense makes her come off like a "Cyborg". John McCain needs his *ss whipped real good for absolutely destroying this woman's already f*ucked up life. The Palin's have this "Project People" air about them. Although they are supposed to be professionals (she in politics, him in energy and fishing), I see the sub par lifestyle with yokel beliefs. After this election is over, she will have a very hard time putting the pieces back together after this 'power romp'. Believe it!

[gretchenart]

More like the old show the Beverly Hillbillies, except the Beverly Hillbillies go to Alaska, see Russia from their porch and run for VP because of that.

[nycwerewolf]

If you care about our veterans and this country of ours...

...Don't vote for John McCain.

McCain voted against our troops MANY times in the senate.

John McCain voted AGAINST 20 million dollars for veteran care facilities.

John McCain voted AGAINST $322 million for safety equipment for our troops in Iraq.

John McCain voted AGAINST $1 billion dollars in new equipment for the National Guard.

John McCain voted AGAINST Jim Webb's G.I. Bill.

John McCain voted AGAINST $430 million for veterans outpatient care.

Barack voted FOR all of these troop support initiatives.

They deserve better than McCain.

We deserve better than McCain.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT

Obama VS. McCain: Who Should You Vote For?
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/matthewhencke/gG5tH5

If You Are Thinking About Voting For John McCain/Sarah Palin...
...First Ask Yourselves These Questions:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/matthewhencke/gGxVK9

[grantlingel]

Of course her entourage are insane.. they have to make sure she doesn't say stupid stuff all the time and derail the McCain campaign..­.

http://grantlingel.blogspot.com

[smartWENTcrazy]

Tyrannical is not an overstatem­ent... there is no overstatement when it comes to those two... they are straight up Dark Side of the Force... Sidious/Vader 08!

[HyperInfluential]

YES! THERE it is! THE mock campaign slogan I've been waiting for!! EXCELLENT! It's great because everyone knows who you mean, and yet, you haven't actually said which party you're talking about, which makes the person reading it realize that deep in their heart, they know John McCain IS Emperor Palpatine!!

SIDIOUS/VADER 08!!

[timberdoodle]

I just listened to Pat Robertson on CNN. I consider people like him the scum of the earth. He lied just to further his own warped agenda and shows how these types get so rich from bilking the less informed and disenfranchised. All these religious nuts should not be getting away without being taxed as they are a blight on the world.

[KRayRPh]

Religion Poisons Everything!

[larmarch5]

We should tax that sucker's income. Wonder if he's checked out the size of the eye of a needle lately.

[checkitout]

If you know anyone who is still thinking of voting for McCain have them read this new Rolling Stone article:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain/page/1

[Gericault]

I can't stand it. I have to keep waiting because I subscribe to the magazine and I dont want to read it all before it comes. Matt Taibbi has to be the most cynical reporter I've ever read. I love my Rolling Stone.

[usabroad]

Thanks for posting this. Frightening. And I hope enlightening to some of those still persuaded by his candidacy.

[RobertHewson]

You've GOT TO READ this hilarious parody of McCain talking about Palin to Couric about "gotcha journalism" and about the DEBATE!

Love that good satire, I do.

http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/mccain-and-couric-on-gotcha-journalism.html

[mafina]

Well, this is not a joke. McCain said Palin is more experienced than Obama and Biden put together. Now that is a joke.

[wordvarc]

Experienced at what?

Let's roll out the difference between accomplished, elitist, achievement, and experienced.

The only folks experienced at being president are Carter, Bush Sr., Clinton, and w.

[larmarch5]

I hope Dr. Lipman does one about the NPR interview where McCain said he has gone to Sarah Palin "many times" for advice.

[Katlen]

Post the audio of the interview online! Good for you, Michael Rovito! an American hero.

[08politicaljunkie]

Good job, Temple U!

[somniferum]

McCain's lawyers don't want her talking while Troopergate is still in the air.

[RenoSage]

Palin is a master at talking all around a subject endlessly, and waving the American flag, verbally.
The moderator must insist that her answers be brief and on target.

[larmarch5]

I don't think she's a master at all. She did OK in the AK debates with quips. But she only got 48% of the vote for AK gov in a very red state. Biden has a better sense of humor than she does, better quips, AND knows what he's talking about -- if he keeps it short and on point.

[ricitizen]

I am passing this on from another post. It will make you even more proud of this country.

Andrew Sullivan writes and posts this amazing video. Please watch: A pretty amazing speech by the AFL-CIO's Richard Trumka. To see a white union man take on racism this way is very moving.

Something truly profound could be happening in this election. This could be the most important speech of this election year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QIGJTHdH50

[LiberalBuzz]

Great speech.

[IzzyCA]

Thank you for that. I am passing it on.

[BryantG]

I don't know much about Trumpka but seems like he should be on the short list for labor secretary.

[Skyeblue]

Thank you. Thank you for sharing this wonderful video.

[respectingothers]

does anyone remember the hump on GW's back while he was debating Kerry?

[obamagal]

Yes - and from reading the comments of the last few days, I'm so glad it wasn't only me.

[eden4barack08]

Yup, and indeed as some were suggesting, she came off the plane with her hair down. Let's see how she wears it at the debate.

[Danvanh]

You know the Obama camp will be looking for that... so will the press. It would be ultra stupid if she tries something like that, but then she may not have a choice.

[gretcheno]

Well she is a lady they can put something near the girls!!