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

[mysterygirl18]

Quit feeling sorry for Sarah Palin...she's loving this and this kid is smart, very gutsy as well.

http://www.myspace.com/wakeupnowpeople

[RStone]

Very ditsy!

http://www.boppoll.com

Obama '08

[afgail]

Pay attention tonight. Palin's debating tactic is that if she can't answer a question she talks about one or more of the nouns in the question. This tactic works Jim Dandy in Alaska where 90% of the adult population only have a 10th grade education. Not so much in the lower 48. My hunch is that nobody reads newspapers in Alaska. One has to wonder if she is a high functioning illiterate. That would explain 6 colleges in 4 years. The frequent moves was necessary to escape detection as a functioning illiterate.

[Roll451]

I don't think "Not as bad as I thought" will cut it for Palin tonight. In times of crisis, people are looking for more than that.

[peacegurl48]

Her record is Cheney-esque so "not as bad as I thought" becomes irrelevant. It is about what she HAS done and all that she has NOT learned or thought about.
She is an insult and a danger to the country.

[shubes61]

'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."

YES! EXACTLY! that's why it's so dishonest that they're keeping her tucked away... we have a right to know.

[SuppersReady]

I hope Gwen asks her about the press. She go on and on how they are attacking her etc. and then I hope Biden explains that all politicians must stand before the press. This is why we have a democracy. Without a free press we have nothing. Biden has been cornered by the press many times. He takes it like a pro. McCain's camp wants to play up the whole sexist thing. Everyone can see through all this crap except for the fringe.

[janinei]

This kid has probably only gone to one college and reads news from the media elite. What an elitist!!

[LegalProf]

And how can a steak be made out of cheese--that is a whole other part from the cow.

[IForgotMyName]

That student should stop it. He has no right to ask her questions. Even John McCain had only 15 minutes to interview her, so how can you expect a voter to be allowed to vet her mor thoroughly than John McCain ever did.

[portchester]

We as citizens of the USA have all the right to ask all of our politicians any questions. We the people are the ones that vote them into office. REMEMBER THAT...

[TrooAmerican]

I really dont think it was their plan to have Palin earn low expectations prior to the debate.
lol

[qtpi410]

I guess if she has been listening to Bidens speeches since she was in 2nd grade then she should be very knowlegeable. When I was in 2nd grade I was still playing with dolls not listening to political speeches.

[gtpeds]

Do they have C-Span or Cable TV in Alaska during that time?

[ominous]

they didn't have it when i was in second grade and she's older than me.

[respectingothers]

yea I imagine kinda like all of those papers she reads. you know "all of them""!

[eden4barack08]

And she wasn't even in 2nd grade, she was "LIKE, in 2nd grade".

http://palinquotes.sillycloud.com/

[Teeninchee]

What are we supposed to think if she does real well tonight after bombing so badly for weeks??? If she gets in some good points in the debate, whoopee! She still has the lies about her record that will NOT vanish. NOTHING in her record changes. She is still the governor who is under investigation in AK. (BTW, there is a report of a witness who DID testify...

http://www.pubrecord.org/politics/359.html?task=view

She has been less than candid about her behavior in her home state. Her record in AK is abominable. The oinker is still in lipstick and still squealing.

[sleek]

McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.

McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.

McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.

McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.

McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.

[Roanoke3]

I know you are, but what are McCain-Palin ?

[martymartymarty]

Oooooo, paraphrasing Pee Wee Herman! I'm so scared!!!

[jon-mullen]

Was that Pat's Steaks?

[trollsbwild]

Probably, but we all know Geno's is better!

[jon-mullen]

Yeah, but they had a sign up that said "When running for office, please have a f$&@ing clue"

[cheeriogirl]

Michael, as a citizen I commend you for asking Gov. Palin that question, something our MSM refused to do.

They should be out there, following her and asking her questions daily, just like they do all the other candidates ( except Biden of course, who at this point almost seems like the political Maytag repairman).

That being said, they weren't out there and you were.

I am grateful to you for asking her a deep question, and for following up on her non answer. I think the McCain campaign and the press have forgotten that the POTUS and the VP are hired by we the people.


You did us all proud, and we are grateful!

[Teeninchee]

Ditto and KUDOS!

[sandman23]

Hate to break it to McSane and six pack ----------------------They are answerable to the American people. The American people should demand it. It is our right to know where they stand and how they govern our country. The job of the president is to protect the American people................................

[Teeninchee]

I just want to go on the record... I do not care what SP does tonight. She has had ample opportunity to show what she does and does not know. She has failed in the simple challenges. I will NEVER trust her with my country, my life, my kids in the military. She is the weakest link. STILL.

[Indieguy]

here, here...

[roshni]

Absolutely - and McCain has shown he is unstable by picking her, so he needs to be booted out too.

[bilbo8]

Teeninchee/Sandman23, et al:

I think the majoriy of the American People are with you!

I know I am.

[Indieguy]

John McCain to Sarah Palin: STOP IT , YOU'RE F...ING KILLING ME.