Cindy McCain on ABC Today: Palin Has National Security Experience Because Alaska Is Close To Russia

When a Fox News morning host, Steve Doocy, testified to Sarah Palin's national security experience on Friday by saying that her state, Alaska, was so close to Russia, it drew hoots across the media and blogosphere (and even, no doubt, from a few Fox viewers).

This morning, on ABC in an interview with George Stephanopoulos, Cindy McCain endorsed this very view.

Asked about Palin's national security experience, Cindy McCain could not come up with anything beyond the fact that, after all, her state is right next to Russia. "You know, the experience that she comes from is, what she has done in government -- and remember that Alaska is the closest part of our continent to Russia."

She added that Palin has "way more experience than...." but Stephanopoulos cut her off before she could say, for example, "Barack Obama" or maybe "others give her credit for."

Earlier in the interview, she said that Palin was "heavily experienced" in general, citing her going from the PTA to mayor to governor -- and having a son headed for Iraq. She actually said that she started her political career at the PTA "like everybody else."

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Meanwhile, Palin's mother-in-law, Faye Palin, told a New York Daily News reporter that she didn't agree with Sarah on everything and hadn't yet decided how she would vote. She added: "I'm not sure what she brings to the ticket other than she's a woman and a conservative. Well, she's a better speaker than McCain," Faye Palin said with a laugh.

But this actually isn't as appalling as a phone interview Palin herself gave yesterday to reporter back home, at the Anchorage Daily News.

The reporter, Kyle Hopkins, asked, according to the transcript posted today, "Are you ready to be President Palin if necessary?"

"I am ... I am up to the task, of course, of focusing on the challenges that face America," she answered, and that was all she could say on her behalf on this question. Then she abruptly shifted to how her candidacy would help Alaska. "And I am very pleased with the situation that I am in, when, when you consider the situation now that Alaska will be in.

"And that is Alaska, and Alaskans will be allowed to contribute more to our great country and they'll be allowed to do that because I -- if we're elected -- will be in a position of opening the eyes of the country to what it is that Alaska is all about and what Alaska has to offer. So, I am happy to and very honored to be asked to do this. I know it's going to be great for Alaska."

Who said the woman was against earmarks? Actually, it seems like she sees herself as an Alaska earmark.

The early returns are not good, with most in the media still stepping lightly around the issue of John McCain's hypocrisy in asserting, for months, that Barack Obama is "dangerously" inexperienced in facing international threats -- and then appointing Palin as his running mate. See below for photo of Wasilla City Hall-- where she reigned less than two years ago.
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Greg Mitchell's new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq. It has been hailed by Bill Moyers, Arianna Huffington and others and features a preface by Bruce Springsteen. His email is: [e-mail]

Comments

[janvier28]

Unfortunately most Republicans are spewing this ridiculous talking point now.

I myself am strongly considering throwing my hat into the ring in 2012. I have great foreign policy credentials. I have lived in California, Minnesota and I've visited Florida with makes me an expert on Mexico, Canada and Cuba.

Oh yeah, I also have a vagina!

[littlemurraysparkles]

My Pitbull has more foreign policy experience than Palin. It's sniffed the butts of a Welsh Corgi, an Italian Greyhound, and an English Bulldog.

[gedihel]

so i have heard this before. "some people in are nation don't have maps! such as the south africa and the Iraq". Thank god Cindy is there for us those who don't have maps to explain were the Alaska is to the Russia. now I kn are.ow thanks to Cindy how close they really

[Mozart123]

How could Cindy McCain forget to mention Alaska"s 1,538 mile shared border with its other foreign neighbor, Canada?

Nor was it mentioned as governor, Sarah gave a $500m subsidy to Calgary based TransCanada Corp. as part of the reward to build a $30 billion natural gas pipeline on Alaskan soil. I guess Americans don"t know how to build a cross-country pipeline.

Nor her "Onward Christian Soldiers" approach to Iraq foreign policy.

When it comes to Sarah"s foreign policy experience, those naysayers better do their research.

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

I just hope this Palin stuff is not a prelude to another Stupidity Fest like the one we had in 2004 when the types of people came out of the woodwork, in a lather against gay and lesbian people, to give Ohio to Bush -- Palin might have a bigger army of ignoramuses than we think.

[redhed67]

Well heck I drove by a hospital last... I guess that makes me doctor. :-P

Oh, good Lord! This is what those idiots are running on???? LMAO McCain's entire campaign has so freaking laughable 20 of the greatest comedians of all time could not write it... but this takes the cake! :-)

{applause} Congratulations. McCain. You have proven once and for all that your butt belongs in a nursing home. You have completely lost your mind. You can take your twit wife with you when you go.

Oh, by the way... have you and Cindy gotten your story straight yet on how you acquired Bridget since we all know now that YOU EVEN LIED ABOUT THAT??

[Swazichild]

Where do you get your gossip from? The worst is that you believe all the trash you read. Maybe you should drive by a smart person , that might help since what you read and believe is holding you back.

The truth about Bridget McCain she is the adopted daughter of John McCain and Cindy McCain.
Not the courage you have to adopt a child from Bangladesh with a severe cleft palate.

The best you can do is spreading lies!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do some driving.

[Otaku1031]

Regarding Palin becoming POTUS in the event of McCain being out of action, given the GOP's track record in their treatment of and attitudes toward women in power, do you really think that the Repubs are going to let a woman anywhere NEAR the Oval Office? This fiasco is simply another transparent attempt to get women to vote against their better judgement. Do not think for one minute that McCain et al have had an epiphany and decided that an untested greenhorn would be an effective President. She's going to get some bones broken in the VP debate, and afterwards McCain will convince her that she really needs to be back in Alaska taking care of her family (yet another example of the condescending mindset of the GOP). She'll make her excuses, go home, and McCain will get someone else (a man) to fill the slot. I hope that the Dems demand a second debate should this scenario come to pass. And hopefully, the women who actually believed that the GOP leopard had changed it's spots will realize how shamelessly they have been played. Think it through, folks - would anyone with such a lack of experience have been asked to be McCain's VP if said person were a man?

[PurplePhase]

The scenario you depicted may come to fruition but I don't agree with your treatment of Palin's selection and subsequent release as a ploy to successfully fool women to vote for McCain and other Republicans.

People can easily change their minds between the day Palin is dropped and Election Day. A fair amount of time is needed to let the voters think about Palin's replacement. The new candidate will have to go on a whirlwind tour around the country and a media blitz. Paper and electronic ballots at voting stations can't be changed everywhere on a short notice.

The downside and it's a significant downside to this ploy you propose is that if Palin is replaced, confidence in McCain will dramatically drop. He will be viewed as someone who has a hard time making rational choices when selecting team members and staff. That's quite a stigma for someone called on to rule our country, the only superpower left in a world less friendly towards America.

In the end, the number of votes McCain might gain from women voters will be thwarted by the number of votes he loses from those who think he is dithery, indecisive, and ill prepared on crucial matters.

[vd1946]

I've enjoyed the chuckles over the Sara-hair debate & her less-than-melifluous voice, not to mention the expertise & lack-thereof arguments & the questions of family, but let's not forget to soon get very serious here once again.
I'm a native Floridian all-too-conversant with hanging "chads," so let's not get overly confident with a possibly hangling "Trig," or we'll once again be left with a chief executive confirmed by fewer than 400 votes to "lead" us through the next four years!
Sorry, but we've put up with a Shrub in the White House AND in our state house all at the same time & I, for one, want to redo the landscape!!

[GhettoGrapevine]

I would be keenly interested to know upon exactly what criteria the world-renowned intellectual Cindy McCain bases her assessment of Palin's "great mind."

[GhettoGrapevine]

I know how to say "new-klee-er," which I believe makes me an excellent choice for Secretary of Energy.

[Mozart123]

Defense, too.

[Mattjoe]

Well, Mrs. McCain certainly put the question of Palin"s National Security to rest with that ironclad assessment.

Cindy also went on to explain to George Stephanopoulos that the earth is in fact not flat and that water goes down the drain the other way in Australia.

[Vivbabe]

I am qualified to be Chairwoman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. My dad served in the Army, my brother served in the Navy. I've also dated a Marine and a member of the Coast Guard. Give me some more time on finding a date who served in the Airforce, I'm sure I can find him soon. Since my mother is Brazilian and of Portugeese decent, I could also be appointed ambassador to both Brazil & Portugal, even though I don't speak Portugeese fluently. I'm sure I can find a nice gentleman who can teach me.

[GregbeingFrank]

Going to tick some people off here..LOL.. and I'm not too happy with EITHER Candidate..but don't you at least agree that Palin has more experience than Obama? Alaska to me is like Louisiana with Snow. Corruption - Republicans in Alaska - Democrats in Louisiana - junk on both sides. With that stated: Question: Which Presidential Candidate do you think the enemies of the U.S. want as President?-----Greg-----http://us.imdb.com/name/nm2734923/

[crushinator]

If you want to play semantics, then Yes, she has more EXECUTIVE experience than Obama, but also more than McCain for that matter. Neither one has held an executive position.

By that rationale, only people who have been Governors or Mayors are qualified to be President.

This choice says more about McCain than Palin.

Would you really trust someone who claims that :
A. His opponent is dangerously inexperienced, yet has traveled the world, met with leaders, formulated policies on numerous foreign and domestic issues, worked with congressional and senate leaders, and has a full grasp of the duties and responsibilities of the office for which he campaigning,

BUT THEN chooses as his running mate someone he believes is qualified enough to be VP (and by extension, President) based on a 15 minute meeting and a 5 minute phone call.

He couldn't even be bothered to have her vetted properly. Even if only half the things we're hearing about her now are true, it only took reporters a few days to learn this stuff. The McCain campaign couldn't be bothered to make a few phone calls at the very least when deciding on who would possibly be the next POTUS if McCain couldn't?

That's not "Country First" or someone I want making decisions on my behalf.

[Steamboater]

Cindy should also qualify Palin's foreign policy experience because Palin at one time might have eaten Borscht or eats Chinese food several times a year. What a farce.

[BadgersBite]

I once stood near Bill Gates at a MSDN event...but I'm not richer...I'm not a better sofware engineer...Maybe I'm doing it wrong? Cindy please help me!!

[Shanti]

You were next to Bill Gates, but Sarah Palin was about a thousand miles from the Russian border, in Wasilla, Alaska and if this makes her an expert on foreign policy, then you should very rich!!