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."

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

[Tobiasism]

How aboaut her domestic experience?
Mayoral performance. Palin, who portrays herself as a fiscal conservative, racked up nearly $20 million in long-term debt as mayor of the tiny town of Wasilla — that amounts to $3,000 per resident. She argues that the debt was needed to fund improvements.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12987.html

Toward the very bottom.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Looks like she would fit right in with the current administration.

[seriouslySD]

I'd be PO'd if I were Cindy Mac, for being sent out to do the impossible. Palin's lack of substantive experience is indefensible, and McCain shouldn't send out his poor wife to try to gloss it over for him.

[Ivar]

seriouslySD, kinda makes you wonder how much more Cindy will put up with doesn't it? She (Cindy) sure as hell does not need him. Especially now since he has found his "soul mate". How sickening.

[jdfast]

I think that they have about the same intellegence level only Cindy has more money.

[rock2casbah]

She probably wanted to start talking to the press. After alll she saw how Michelle blew everyone away at the DNC. Using her logic watching Michelle on TV now gives her the qualifications to speak on camera.

[VOTER]

I only wish the OLD MAN had looked at my resume before he selected Ya,Ya.

Not only are my credentials better than Ya, Ya's , as a mother I had the common sense
not to take a 12 hour flight when I was 7 months pregnant.

Then Ya, Ya compounded things by taking another 12 hour flight home while in labor.
Her labor was a month too soon yet she sought no medical help. She didn't visit
the hospitals in Houston, Texas or the ones in Seattle during her layover, nor
the ones in Anchorage when she arrived in Alaska. Once in Alaska she drove for
an hour to have a C-section at a small local hospital.

John, you should have called me. I do have Common Sense.

[geneva1923]

Has anyone noticed Sarah Palins uncanny resemblence to another cartoon character Peggy Hill ?

[PioneerKing]

Why is anyone paying attention to cindy McCain? Cindy McCain needs to be asked on a daily basis why she stole from a children's charity and why her drug use and theft are not an accurate reflection of her personal depravity?

[Tobiasism]

— Mayoral performance. Palin, who portrays herself as a fiscal conservative, racked up nearly $20 million in long-term debt as mayor of the tiny town of Wasilla — that amounts to $3,000 per resident. She argues that the debt was needed to fund improvements.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12987.html

Toward the very bottom.

[ssezer62]

Hawaii is close to china, and North Korea. Here is the RNC schedule
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/09/01/opinion/20080901_opart.html

[MilwaukeeMike]

I can fly military aircraft because I live near an airport where they visit every year.

I can also perform surgery because I live near a hospital.

I can assemble automobiles because there is an auto factory nearby.

I can engineer bridges because I drive over them every day.

I can ....

[IANADHUH]

Doesn't say much for what McCain thinks of women does it? but then if he needs Barr voters and conservative men (and women), guess it's just the ticket!

[joycehelene]

Well McCain sure knows how to pick women, first Cindy and now Sarah, former beauty with money, beauty queen, what they have in common is no brains. He would have been better with Paris Hilton, she has money and beauty and a great energy plan.

[JimMan35]

Then I should be able to perform surgery and be a concert violinist. And here I thought I was a mere fundraiser. Man, my career options just busted wide open. And I don't mean flat-busted!

[DaveRhodeIsland]

Hey I live in New England, which borders Canada. That gives me National Security experience since New England is close to Canada! In fact, I've been to Canada several times, so I could even be an ambassador. Hell, why not make ME vice-president?

[BertrandRussell]

Whew! What a relief. I was seriously concerned about Sarah's lack of foreign policy education but Cindy has cleared that up nicely. Nothing to worry about. At their closest point, Alaska and Russia are... what?... like 100 miles apart... just mere 100 miles of some of the roughest seas on the planet. Why, Alaskans and Russians probably visit each other every day. Sarah probably even knows a few phrases of Russian.

And just think, thanks to Cindy now all we have to do to figure out how well a person understands another country and its culture is look at a map and see how close they live to that country. The more I think about it... it really does seem to hold true. I live in Michigan and I can speak fluent Canadian.

[Hedonist88]

I don't care whether she has foreign policy experience or not.

But I do care that this candidate for VP sounds extraordinarily stupid. I care because she could end up being this country's VP, next to an aged, sick President.

Could that be why the egoistical McCain selected her over more deserving and qualified Republicans (both men and many, many smart women) ?

[FarrenBalanced]

"Her state is right next to Russia"....spoken like a true beauty queen.