Posted on 11/08/2008 11:51:32 PM PST by mathwhizz
I talked to Steve Biegun, the former Bush NSC aid who briefed Sarah Palin on foreign policy, and he considers the leaks against her on the international stuff "absurd."
He says there's no way she didn't know Africa was a continent, and whoever is saying she didn't must be distorting "a fumble of words." He talked to her about all manner of issues relating to Africa, from failed states to the Sudan. She was aware from the beginning of the conflict in Darfur, which is followed closely in evangelical churches, and was aware of Clinton's AIDS initiative. That basically makes it impossible that she thought all of Africa was a country.
On not knowing what countries are in NAFTA, Biegun was part of the conversation that led to that accusation and it convinces him "somebody is acting with a high degree of maliciousness." He was briefing Palin before a Univision interview, and talking to her about trade issues. He rolled through NAFTA, CAFTA, and the Colombia FTA. As he talked, people were coming in and out of the room, handing Palin things, etc. She was distracted from what Biegun was saying, and said, roughly, "Ok, who's in NAFTA, what's the deal with CAFTA, what's up the FTA?"—her way, Biegun says, of saying "rack them and stack them," begin again from the start. "Somebody is taking a conversation and twisting it maliciously," he says.
In general, according to Beigun, Palin had a steep learning curve on foreign issues, about what you would expect from a governor. But she has "great instincts and great core values," and is "an instinctive internationalist." The stories against her are being "fed by an unnamed source who is allowed by the press to make ad hominem attacks on background." Biegun, who spent dozens and dozens of hours briefing Palin on these issues, is happy to defend her, on the record, under his own name.
Thanks for posting this.
...and a ‘shout out’ to Steve Biegun!
Thank you Steve for stepping up! It’s more than Senator McCain has done....
The other day I lambasted 2 liberal colleagues who were discussing this very topic.
“You are more intelligent than that. This is sourgrapes from an underling who JUST Cost his boss a job.”
I’m glad to see my instincts can be trusted, and that I now have links for the IDIOTS if they wanna start Whining again.
Thanks for the post. Keep in on top
I love it when a man acts like a man. Fesses up the truth to stand up for someone. Way to go Steve. Now keep telling it publicly and continue to work with Sarah over the course of the next 4 years.
Africa was once a country. Around AD 435, the Roman province of Africa, located in modern Tunisia and Algeria, was conquered by the Vandals, who made it an independent kingdom whose capital was Carthage, now a suburb of Tunis. When the Romans reconquered Africa in 534, they made it an exarchy—a semi-independent province, which might technically be called a country—which endured until the Arab conquest of 698.
If I were Palin, after the coronation, I would be all over the place, Leno, SNL again, interviews, conferences for governors abroad for any reason, writing articles, giving speeches etc. Unfortunately not much you can do until the coronation since after that our President will officially no longer be the first Afrian American President but a mutt instead.
What really gave this gossip legs was Carl Cameron on Fox. He could have reported what people were saying, but he had an obligation to name them, and also quiz them directly on camera or microphone. Hemmer said about the fourth time around Fox broadcast this tripe, you can trust Cameron. No you can’t, not on gossip that impacts on a person’s reputation. I’d say the same if it was Obama. Cameron should be fired.
Who didn’t have bloopers on camera? McCain with al-Quada coming from Iran? Biden with FDR watching TV in 1929. Hillary getting shot at in Bosnia. I’m sure there was lots of chatter off camera about these subjects we never heard. What was worse in the campaign that Obama was never pinned to the wall on his relationships with Wright, Ayers, Dohrn, Farrakhan, Khalidi — he just brushed everything aside and everyone gave him a pass.
You can just make up a story, get it published as truth, and not even give your name.
Our country sure has some serious problems.
I agree - I haven’t heard peep from McCain on this!
McCain remains a coward for not defending his running mate.
Write his office!
Original article has an update... click on it.
A lot of the aides are sticking up for Palin — the truth has come out.
Now, I want the NAMES of the idiots who lambasted her.
Want ‘em real bad.
They deserve to be dragged through the mud of their own making.
RINO TARDS.
Bump for the truth!
Good; the truth is out! Where is McCain to defend Sarah?
Greta will have Sarah on FoxNews next Monday.
I want to know who did this and why. Then I want them tarred and feathered.
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