Sarah Palin Defends Experience, Takes Hard Line Approach on National Security

ABC News ^

[Chet 99]

ABC News

Sarah Palin Defends Experience, Takes Hard Line Approach on National Security

Republican VP Candidate Speaks with ABC News' Charlie Gibson in Exclusive Interview

By RUSSELL GOLDMAN

Sept. 11, 2008—

On the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history, Gov. Sarah Palin took a hard-line approach on national security and said that war with Russia may be necessary if that nation invades another country.

In her first of three interviews with ABC News's Charles Gibson and the only interview since being picked by Sen. John McCain as his Republican vice presidential nominee, Palin categorized the Russian invasion of Georgia as "unacceptable" and warned of the threats from Islamic terrorists and a nuclear Iran.

The Governor advocated the accession of Georgia and Ukraine into NATO.

When asked by Gibson if under the NATO treaty, the U.S. would have to go to war if Russia again invaded Georgia, Palin responded: "Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and help.

"And we've got to keep an eye on Russia. For Russia to have exerted such pressure in terms of invading a smaller democratic country, unprovoked, is unacceptable," she told ABC News' Charles Gibson in an exclusive interview.

[HonestConservative]

First lie: she billed the state for staying at her own home, Not. There was no amount charged the state.

[PhatHead]

I'm not sure why doing an expense report is controversial in the first place. For crying out loud, how much have the taxpayers paid for Biden's $300 a day commuter train?

Bottom line:

[TCats]

What a hit piece! Gibson is rephrasing her answers, posing all sorts of ‘Gotcha’ questions, etc.

She's doing as well as can be expected in these circumstances but Gibson's motives are perfectly clear to me.

Waiting for a similar interview with Biden. . . . . .Still waiting.

[rlmorel]

I don't get it. It sounds like some people are down on her for some reason, and I thought she navigated the minefield laid for her by Charlie Gibson in excellent style. She was assertive. She was engaged. She was concise. She said exactly what she felt, and wasn't parsing out the verbiage like Obama and Clinton would do. She was not going to let that liberal dummy walk all over her. (I don't watch television, so that was the most of Charlie Gibson I have ever seen.) When he was making those smarmy comments about her experience, I really did expect her to say "If my credentials aren't good enough to be Vice President (Never mind President) then Obama's or Biden's are not good enough either." I was very, very impressed. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you view this: Sarah Palin in the Charlie Rose Green Room.

This is nearly four, unscripted, unteleprompted minutes of candid speech, and there are so few "ummm", "uh", "ehh", "errr" or "ahhhh" in this that an article could be taken from a dictation.

[rlmorel]

Good observation.

[ARCADIA]

McCain was asked in several debates his opinion of the Bush Doctrine was - in each case he gave a short and concise answer explaining that he supported the case for pre-emptive war if intelligence indicated there was danger to the United States.

Rather than dwelling on this issue, just move on. If Hillary survived snipergate, Sarah will survive that. It's important to change the subject rather than keep harping on it.

[top 2 toe red]

Who's harping?

You're the one saying Sarah's answer wasn't sufficient to suit you and "others" who pay attention.

And you are the one acting as if it were some sort of major screw up on her part...and why are you comparing hillary's damn out and out lies of phony danger/bravery to this?

That is a nutty comparison.

Charlie Gibson apparently has held more than one description of what he THOUGHT the Bush Doctrine was through the years.

He is a condescending jerk and was condescending toward her.

Now, how about you stop your harping on this and trying to prove your point that YOU think Sarah didn't answer to suit YOU and Gibson?

[ARCADIA]

Whatever

[top 2 toe red]

Yeah...that.

[nw_arizona_granny]

L.R., thanks to you for picking it up and bringing it here, so more folks could read it.

Not all the world is against Sarah.