Posted on 11/05/2010 11:07:03 PM PDT by Chet 99
South Carolina Gov.-elect Nikki Haley had warm words this morning for Sarah Palin, whose backing was crucial in netting her the Republican primary nomination. But there's one word Haley wouldn't utter about the possible presidential contender: "endorse."
Asked on NBC's Today show this morning whether she would back Palin in a potential 2012 presidential bid, Haley demurred.
"You know, I think the responsibility to the citizens of South Carolina is that I look at the environment, I look at the slate of candidates that are running, and I make the choice that is best for the people of this state," she said. "It's definitely too early to make that sort of decision."
The lukewarm answer immediately followed Haley's response to the question of whether she thought she could have won without Palin's endorsement.
Haley didn't exactly address the query, but did say she was "very grateful" for Palin's support.
"She has gotten the country to realize the power of their voice, and she certainly did that in South Carolina," Haley said of Palin. "We were grateful, we spread our message, and she helped us do that."
It's not the first time one of Palin's chosen candidates has declined to reciprocate support. In September, Alaska Senate candidate and Palin endorsee Joe Miller was asked whether Palin was qualified to be president. His response: that it was not his "role to comment."
Such tepid support illustrates some Republicans' concern that a Palin candidacy could prove disastrous for the party's prospects in 2012. Such reports, it happens, are also sparking anger in the Palin family. Miller's comment drew the ire of Todd Palin, who fired off an e-mail to Miller that was later leaked.
Sarah Palin herself responded harshly to a recent Politico article -- titled "Next for GOP Leaders: Stopping Sarah Palin" -- that quoted anonymous Republican operatives voicing concern about how Palin would fare with voters in a general election.
In an interview on Fox News this weekend, she called the story "crap" and heavily criticized its use of anonymous sources.
"Politico, Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei, they're jokes," she said, referring to the two authors of the piece. "This is a joke to have unnamed sources tearing somebody apart limb by limb."
Yup.
Pointless article. You’ll notice she didn’t endorse Homer Simpson, either.
That’s probable because endorsing people who haven’t declared is typically reserved for the blogs (”West/Bolton in 2012!!!”)
LLS
You nailed it. Wherever the new journolista forum is, it's pretty clear this is one of their new lines to push.
*facepalm* Good job the Today Show of trying to stir up trouble within the Republican Party. George Soros would be proud.
According to whom?? The NY Times, Washington Post, Daily Kos???
You know Ex, they said that very same thing about Reagan. The American voter is a fickle thing -- you really never know which way they will jump.
I cannot seem to recall any article from Nov. of 2006 complaining about a non-endorsement of the _resident.
Correct me if I am wrong.
Well said, Rashputin.
Regarding chet 99’s zot:
I predict you will see more of these zots. As her nomination becomes more and more inevitable, her opponents in ther mGOP Establishment will try to infiltrate sites like FR to demoralize her base. They will say she is unelectable which is, of course, hogwash. The argument will be, as it always is, we have to reach for the center, Romney or Daniels or Pawlenty. They fervently hope that Huckabee will run so they can divide and conquer as McCain did in 2008 against a weak field.
I think they are grooming Pence to challenge her to try to take votes away from her. He will never gain any traction.
When all these ploys fail and she secures the nomination, the Establishment will continue to try to undermine her, as they have for the last two years. They think they have the template for it from DE that they used on Christine O’Donnell. And they are going to pull it out again. Their problems are two fold on this, though:
First, They have fired all their ordinance on Palin. She just gets stronger. The public has tuned them out.
Second, Palin is not Christine O’Donnell. While quintessentially feminine, she has a kind of pioneer toughness that, frankly, makes the male GOP candidates look like sissies. Feminine to be sure, but measured against the rest of the male field, she makes them look effeminate (Romney and a few others) or stodgy and overweight (Barbour).
In 1980, Reagan was the most a masculine of the candidates (measured against the preppy, wimpy Bush and the other dwarfs). In 2012, the most masculine candidate is also the only feminine candidate. It is the best of both worlds. I would dub it the “Tomboy factor”. And it plays to Palin’s advantage when deflecting the misogynistic smears fo the GOP Establishment.
I agree. I wouldn’t expect any candidate to endorse a presidential candidate yet. It’s not like she said she thought Palin wasn’t qualified or anything.
If I were just elected, I certainly wouldn’t want to commit to a particular candidate for an election in 2 years.
And nobody endorses a candidate before they announce, right?
It’s good to see stuff like this to remember that the media will be relentless in their attacks.
On one hand you are stating that Sarah Palin is unelectable due to her inexperience and knowledge of the world. And then you make your case FOR her in stating that she was the Governor of the largest state in the Union and that as Gov of that state, which just so happens to be surrounding by other COUNTRIES (not states), she has no knowledge of the world.
No offense, but I find it laughable that you state she needs to "undergo a major image overhaul" and is "unable to handle a hostile press."
As to the former, you can't tell me that Sarah Palin is ugly. Nor can you say that every facet of her life isn't out in the open, the good, the bad and the ugly, and yet she is still powerful enough to affect the midterms.
As for the hostile press comment, c'mon! I think she is handling them just fine by calling them out every time they make a glaring mistake or misquote. Its a thing of beauty.
Most Americans like and respect someone who has the strength of their convictions and is not afraid to speak them even in the face of terrible assault. Most Americans also just LOVE anyone who speaks plainly, who sees this country as they do, as a great place to live and as a bastion of freedom in the world. To prove this last sentence, think back to the peoples response to Dubya saying he wanted terrorist "dead or alive". The MSM and libs went crazy but average Americans said, "Right on, brother!"
I am not going to get into a debate of whether Sarah runs or not. That is for her to decide. And decide she will based on what is best for her, her family and the country. If she does decide to run, then I will do everything in my power to see she is elected because I do not see ANYONE else out there who represents what I believe or wears his/her love of country on her sleeve like I do.
Yes, because if we cover our eyes and plug our ears, we can pretend that the media isn’t running articles like this on a regular basis.
I hope we can avoid the “LGF syndrome”.
Well, it might be just a temporary suspension, to get him back in line.
I’m thinking it might be helpful at this point to adopt a tag line like yours, as a defensive measure.
Except it would probably get me in trouble.
Interesting take.
Yes, well we could always hope that the sitting president gets an embassy overrun and then sends a failed mission to save them and then gives up on the attempts.
I hope we don't get to the point where posting news articles gets people zotted. If FR were turned into an arm of a particular political campaign, as some here seem to want it to be, it would become pretty much hobbled in pushing the political causes it is dedicated to.
And I don't expect that to happen. Usually there is a good reason when people get suspended, not just because they post a few articles.
This noise about Palin is an attempt to divert attention from the Nov 2 slaughter.
/s
Hell, I don’t know why these Republicans/conservatives go on shows like Good Morning America or Today to begin with.
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