Eagleburger Tries To Walk Back "Stupid" Palin Criticism

Appearing on Fox News on Friday, former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger awkwardly fell on his sword, entirely taking back his previously critical assessment of Sarah Palin's readiness to serve as president, which was given to NPR on Thursday night.

As the Huffington Post noted earlier, Eagleburger's endorsement of McCain is frequently cited by the Republican nominee. But clearly, the opinions of President George H.W. Bush's Secretary of State were less welcome on the subject of Palin, whom Eagleburger had said was "of course" not "prepared to take over the reins of the presidency." Later, in his NPR interview, Eagleburger said, "Give her some time in the office and I think the answer would be, she will be [pause] adequate."

By Friday afternoon, however, Eagleburger was more eager to chastise himself than Palin.

"You are witnessing something quite unique: a man who is about to talk to you while he has his foot in his mouth," Eagleburger said when asked if his NPR quotes had been taken out of context.

"I made a serious mistake yesterday. I was quoted correctly," Eagleburger said. "I wasn't thinking when i said it -- in fact, I was discussing foreign policy, and this was in that context, and I was just plain stupid, and if I had given the flim-flam artist Barack Obama some success with this I am deeply apologetic."

It was a fine performance, but the Fox News host proceeded to take Eagleburger's retraction too far, resulting in another moment in which Eagleburger belittled Palin. Host Stuart Varney asked, "You do feel that she's a quick learner and would be good as vice president given a few days?"

To which Eagleburger paused and said, "A few days? No." Later, however, he did argue that Palin has "made it clear she's a quick learner," despite the fact that "she didn't know anything about foreign affairs, nor should she have on the basis of what she had done."

Winding up his extended apology, Eagleburger made clear, "I have done my best and I apologized to the McCain people."

Watch:

Also of interest is the fact that Eagleburger wasn't the only conservative to call Palin unprepared on Thursday. As Think Progress noted, Nevada Sen. John Ensign told a local reporter: "Well, I do not think that Barack Obama or her are experienced enough to be President of the United States -- neither one of them, and Hillary Clinton was much more qualified to be President than Barack Obama was, but that who the nominee is. John McCain is much more qualified than Barack Obama and certainly Joe Biden is much more qualified than Sarah Palin is. I'd rather have the most qualified person at the top of the ticket, not number two."

Comments

[Erin7373]

Its amazing how controlled people can be..

[Zofomofo]

Regarding experience, George W. Bush is the most experienced person in the country and the worst possible choice. So, please give the "I want the most experienced person to be president" argument a rest.

[luvienne]

To late. We already know the truth.

[JustCommonSense]

He obviously has no credibility.

[ohioan73]

They threatened to terminate his country club membership and revoke his pass on the mothership they are all gonna escape on when they destroy the planet.

[MBLADY]

He said what he meant and meant what he said. Then, he got a phone call from ??????

[Freedomfest]

Why McCain Will Be Defeated – New From New Sarah Palin For Pres in 2012 Website

Start Today For Real Conservative Victory Within the GOP in 2010/12
Read the short essay at http://www.palin4pres2012.com/

[beauregard62]

GOP victory? NOT A CHANCE IN HELL!!!!

[jobecky20]

All this retraction does is put the story back in the media again...is that really what the McCain campaign wants? To draw further attention to Palin's qualifications? Their best bet was to ignore his initial remarks and let the short term memory voters forget all about it. Now they're just reminded. Stupid move.

[trucap]

i really can't imagine a man his status changes his mind so quick one hundred eighty degrees.the only thing comes to mind he was threatned in a way made him retracts what he said earlier.well, i don't blame him for doing so. the man too old to think clearly specially under pressure. and so the man he endorsed. good luck .

[realpolitic]

Republicans are so conformist. He spoke the truth the first time. Then he quickly recanted like an intellectual during Mao's time who may have done somehting to offend the party. I mean, the man really humbled himself with his apology. He did everything but kowtow to Palin. Poor guy!

[roshni]

It's really funny - now he's indicated TWICE that she is incompetent and so is he.

[realpolitic]

Exactly, it is a very transparent situation.

[GeoLee]

Methinks what came out of his mouth spontaneously is what he really thought and all else is CYA once caught.

[thepianodiva]

Pathetic old dude-I wonder how they threatened him to make him recant like that.

And p.s. that thing about Palin being a quick learner-IXNAY. Didn't we all witness Biden correct her in the v.p. debate by quoting what the Constitution says about the job of v.p.? So why then, in an interview a couple weeks later, did she make the SAME ridiculous, incorrect statements it.

[jobecky20]

They threatened him with a men's room visit from Larry Craig.

[bluecatz]

Better to have let the sleeping gaffe lie ..........­..........­.....
Besides, no one will ever believe he meant anything other than he said.
HE doesn't, or he wouldn't be having such a hard time backpeddling.

[leaningIndy]

Don't be too hard on yourself Eaglebaby.
As a general rule Republicans come out on the short end in the smarts contest. (Average the education rank of the red states and compare your answer to the rank of the blue states. Hoo - weee !!!