by Mark Silva
Sarah Palin, slowly making her way through the rounds of broadcast and cable television networks for interviews, sat down with CNN on Tuesday.
The interviewer, Drew Griffin, asked Palin about the mockery she has faced in the press, including the National Review's depiction of her as "stupid.'' And Griffin asked the governor of Alaska about that case involving her former brother-in-law on the state police force, in which a legislative investigation concluded that she abused her power.
"Tasergate,'' Palin replied....
"Governor, you've been mocked in the press,'' Griffin asked Palin. "The press has been pretty hard on you, the Democrats have been pretty hard on you, but also some conservatives have been pretty hard on you as well. The National Review had a story saying that, you know, I can't tell if Sarah Palin is incompetent, stupid, unqualified, corrupt or all of the above.
Palin: "Who wrote that one?"
CNN: "That was in the National Review, I don't, have the author."
Palin: "I'd like to talk to that person."
See the Republican vice presidential nominee's responses on Palin's image in the media and on that case she calls Tasergate here:
CNN: Do you feel trapped in this campaign, that your message is not getting out, and if so who do you blame?
Palin: No, I'm getting my message out right now, through you and with you, Drew, to the American people who are watching CNN, and I appreciate this opportunity. No, you know that, I am obviously an outsider of the Washington elite and of the conventional, I think, media, targets or media characters that have been a part of this for years and, I think that is fine, that is good for the American electorate to understand. They have a choice here in our ticket of having the experience and the reputation that comes with John McCain as being the patriot and the maverick in the Senate, you take that and you combine it with a team member who is new and fresh with new ideas, new vision, new energy that needs to be infused into Washington, D.C., with that commitment to clean it up in D.C. Put government on the side of the people and fight hard for Americans. You have that, that combination and I think that some in the media, maybe in The National Review, they don't know what to make of that, they're like, gee, she's, you know, where'd she come from, surely, you know, it should be our job I think they assume is to, pick and, and be negative and, and find things to mock and, that's just I guess part of the political game, I guess. But we're very committed and focused and moving forward between now and November 4, getting that message out to the American people that our plan to get this economy back on the right track, and to win the wars, put government on the side of the people. It's the right thing to do, and, I think we have the right message, despite the mocking that comes our way.
CNN: Governor, our time is very short and I must ask you just two questions, one is on [Palin's former brother-in-law, Alaska State Trooper Mike] Wooten, if there's one thing that's followed you negatively --
Palin: Tasergate, right, right,
CNN: You call it Tasergate,
Palin: We sure do.
CNN: Troopergate, whatever. The Branchflower Report said you were perfectly in your right, to fire [Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt] Monegan.
Palin: Right.
CNN: But also found out that you violated the ethics. Was it a mistake to allow your husband to use your office to try to pressure the troopers to fire Mr. Wooten.
Palin: Not at all because A, that, the trooper who had Tasered his kid and had, you know, made death threats against my family and said he was gonna bring the governor down and all that. My husband did exactly, I think, what any sensible, reasonable father, husband would do who was concerned about their family's safety.
CNN: But was it a mistake to allow him to use the governor's office to that extent?
Palin: Not when you look at other governors' track records when they had their spouse as for instance [former Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski] had his spouse as his top adviser, and she was in meetings, she was in the office so, you know, kinda, of a double standard here. But what Todd was what any reasonable husband and father would do. He followed the instruction of the Department of Public Safety's own personal security detail that is our personal protection. They asked Todd, you have a problem with this state trooper, he is a threat, you need to take that to the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. Todd did exactly that and then of course, he got clobbered for it, now in the media because there's a misunderstanding of what he's done. Our Department of Law in Alaska has right there on its Web site -- it said, if you have a problem with an Alaska state trooper, the paragraph says, you go to the Commissioner of Department of Public Safety and you share that concern with him. That's what Todd did. So no, I don't think that it was an abuse of power of my office at all. And I was very thankful that that report cleared me of any illegal dealings or anything else. I replaced the commissioner because he was not doing the job that I expect of my cabinet members. That is, you serve the Alaskan population up there. Of course he's a cabinet member who was assigned to do that, to the best of our team's ability and you have a lotta energy, you fulfill the vision that we have laid out for you, and he wasn't doing that and that's why he was replaced.
Comments
Sarah Palin isn't ready to be president/vice-president of the USA. My head started spinning after reading her comments from CNN interview. I visualized her talking with other world leaders, and my brain shut down.
Carmen...Indianapolis, Indiana
Posted by: Carmen M. Bailey | October 22, 2008 10:25 AM
The real question is why CNN allowed the Palin campaign to cherry pick Drew Griffin - to do the interview
Griffin is not an anchor, he is not a political reporter - he is way down the list on CNN of the appropriate person to be interviewing a potential VP.
He was obviously "picked" because of his sympathy toward Gov Palin as exhibited in the Troopergate investigative and Acorn (excuse me while I laugh) investigative pieces he did for CNN
The network should not have been so hungry for any interview with Palin as to compromise themselves this much and allow Griffin to interview Palin
Wolf Blitzer?
Anderson Cooper?
John King?
Gloria Borger?
David Gergen?
Candy Crowley?
Dana Bash?
Suzanne Malveiux?
Soledad O'Brien?
John Roberts?
any many many more who have politics as their pervue --
Shame on you CNN
Posted by: alison | October 22, 2008 10:31 AM
"You Betcha" she is a big mistake for the RNC and McCain.
Posted by: MJ Towne | October 22, 2008 10:36 AM
Palin has done more work than Boom Boom Obama has ever done...he's all talk and no action.
Posted by: pat sharpe | October 22, 2008 10:40 AM
The dems are scared and will do anything to win. GO PALIN and MCCAIN!! We need a clean sweep of Washington, and Obama won't do anything for the people of this country other than try to be a little dictator.
Posted by: Road King | October 22, 2008 11:10 AM
Why don't they interview her about her ideas for change. I mean come up with some good questions, or does the media not want to know what the people want maybe.
Posted by: Steve Bornack | October 22, 2008 11:10 AM
she has strouble answering questions with a direct answer.
what did she say in that interview.
a bunch of broken sentences and unorganized thought.
the straight talk express if she is on it may be a joke
Posted by: localdairyfarmer | October 22, 2008 11:29 AM
GO SARA PALIN YOU ARE DOWING A GOOD JOB AND OBAMA IS JUST LIKE ACORN THAT ARE INDORSING HEM COROPT
FROM ILL.
Posted by: antoneta | October 22, 2008 11:33 AM
Thank God Palin will end up just a footnote in out country's political history. We simply cannot afford such nonsense in our leadership.
Posted by: Ed McGuinness | October 22, 2008 11:35 AM
I'm still looking for the article about Obama charging the media for admission to his "presumptive victory bash" in Central Park. Anyone seen it? This is just another opportunity for all you Biden not Hillary fans to blast off without cause.
Posted by: Ruth | October 22, 2008 11:39 AM
Posted by: Ed McGuinness | October 22, 2008 11:35 AM
Agree 100%.....2 days after she loses....no one will hear of her again.
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | October 22, 2008 11:46 AM
Wow! Amazing reading these posts to this already. It's just amazing how blind people can be. So many people view Palin as the RNC mistake. But I see a Democratic VP choice (Biden) who during the primaries worked hard and strongly spoke against many of the policies of Obama and is now all for everything Obama says. So, weighing things out, I am now tossed between a strong Govenor who has her flaws and mistakes but has hard, on the job decision making experience and a Senator who flows wherever the wind blows and has the earmarks to prove it. Hmmm . . . I'll take the Govenor Palin over the Butt Kisser Biden anyday.
Posted by: dan1132b | October 22, 2008 11:50 AM
Anyone seen it? This is just another opportunity for all you Biden not Hillary fans to blast off without cause.
Posted by: Ruth | October 22, 2008 11:39 AM
Wow...you mean the press will have to pay a whopping $900 to get in. Isn't that what Palin charged the state of Alaska "per diem" a day for living in her own house?
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | October 22, 2008 11:52 AM
FINALLY a member of CNN who does a respectful, accurate interview of Sarah Palin. He EVEN admitted that SHE is the only candidate who has executive experience. Which is quite correct! NICE, NICE interview. Asked her the really tough questions about the issues and not the "stupid" ones like Katie Couric did. Katie Couric made a fool of herself and her network. GOOD JOB!
Posted by: Trish | October 22, 2008 11:59 AM
Troopergate was a witch hunt against Sarah Palin. I just want to ease everyone's mind, Sarah Palin is super person and super Governor. My question is why are we focusing on Sarah Palin, instead of Obama and Bill Ayers. I would think that the U/IL of Chicago with all that has come out about Bill Ayers, that the Univ would fire him for teaching Marxist and anracist theories to our children. That really concerns me more than how much Governor Palin spent on clothes.
Posted by: Alaska Man | October 22, 2008 12:08 PM
The love affair that the media has for Obama continues. Joe Biden talks about manufactured crises to test Barack's mettle and he gets a free pass. Obama sets fees for the media to cover his "victory" celebration and the media bends backwards to come up with the "unobstructed view" seats. The primary concerns of our country are being obstructed by tons of cash flowing Obama's way as he waltzes into the Presidency just like any Chicago politician with enough clout to buy his way into whatever office he wants.
America will get a taste of Chicago politics on the national level soon enough and Palin may become a footnote in this election, but in hindsight will look a helluva lot better than the man who will be "king" and his plagiarizing, non-stop talking sidekick who literally stuck around long enough to find the right horse with which to ride into the White House.
Posted by: Roland | October 22, 2008 12:35 PM
The National Review had a story saying that, you know, I can't tell if Sarah Palin is incompetent, stupid, unqualified, corrupt or all of the above.
Mr Griffin, if you would have done your research, Byron York who wrote that did not say that about Sarah Palin, He was talking the News Media is saying about her. Once again the MSM gets it wrong, Just lazy reporting.
(Mr. Griffin)
Posted by: Alaska Man | October 22, 2008 12:43 PM
Carmen M. Bailey
you need to get your facts straight before you make such statements. I am from Alaska and if not for Sarah Palin, the Good old Boys would still be in charge with the Oil companies. She broke that up. If your not from Alaska you don't have a clue as to what your talking about
Posted by: Alaska Man | October 22, 2008 2:32 PM
I am impressed about how Sarah Palen is handling all the negative press and negative comments about her. Being Vice President will be a breeze for her after dealing with such a biased press.
Posted by: Danielle McDonald | October 22, 2008 4:54 PM
Alaska man was dead right. York was positing that if you listened to the media hacks who are obama lovers, you are saying or implying those things about Sarah Palin. I still haven't heard any bright ideas from Obama. 6 months after he as elected to the congress, I was at a wedding reception where Axelrod employees were pushing for him to be the Democratic nominee. Now thats a man of real character!!!. If you believe that I have a bridge for sale
Posted by: Dino Gius | October 22, 2008 5:59 PM
Carmen M. Bailey in Indiana was made dizzy by the transcript of Palin's comments on CNN. Not surprising -- transcripts are like that. For some more fun, listen to Obama at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1s6ld271Dk&feature=related. Or, just go to YouTube.com and search for clips of the new orator stammering and emitting absolutely senseless utterances. Public speaking is an art form. Scripted, Palin can hold her own, unscripted, Obama shows that he's just another verbal fumbler.
Posted by: AJohnston | October 22, 2008 6:31 PM
Sorry, Governor Palin, the taser didn't abuse its power: YOU DID! YOU BROKE THE LAW!
Posted by: athena | October 22, 2008 6:53 PM
athena
You have no idea what you are talking about. Governor Palin did not abuse her power, she had every right to fire the commissioner. Unless you live in Alaska and know the facts, please do not input your what ever remarks. Do not believe any the bogus stories you been reading, and if you got if from the Anchorage Daily News, that paper is in the tank for Obama. So don't believe what you read.
Posted by: Alaska Man | October 22, 2008 7:49 PM
To bad Mr. Griffin didn't read the article before he chose to quote it out of context.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MjEyMzk3MWU4Yzk1NGQyMWYwZjk0OTcyNmEzYTM5N2E=&w=MA==
McCain/Palin have already received my vote via early voting. Go Vote!
Posted by: mary | October 22, 2008 8:33 PM
To Alaska Man:
Since you feel that anyone who doesn't live in Alaska doesn't know what is going on up there, what makes you think that Sarah Palin knows anything about what's going on in the lower 48!! She is completely unqualified to be President, should anything happen to McCain, and he is 72 years old....
Posted by: Florida Woman | October 22, 2008 9:00 PM
Florida Woman
Just don't place your faith in the hands of the Media who is in the tank for Obama. Governor Palin took on the Republican establishment and brought them down and in the process gained enemies on both side. Sarah is a tough lady, and she can stand up to anyone, especially Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. Unless you know all the facts and the witch hunt that engulfed our state with the help of the Media. They took a situation that if she wasn't running for VP would have been over months ago. They wanted to hurt McCain and they knew that Governor Palin was an easy target. Why else would they attack her and her family, why else would they send 30 or 40 lawyers to Alaska to dig up dirty information. Which are not true. Why attack Governor Palin's family if not to do her harm. Yea Lady I know exactly what going on and unless you lived up here, all you get is what the Obama news Media whats to give you.
Posted by: Alaska Man | October 22, 2008 9:32 PM
Florida Woman, you said She is completely unqualified to be President, She is still more qualified than Obama and Biden combined
Posted by: Alaska Man | October 22, 2008 9:46 PM
Does not anyone care that Drew misquoted the National Review? The National Review (York) was speaking AGAINST the mainstream media not against Palin!
What has happen to journalism when a interviewer can't even that their facts right? Drew Griffin owes his listeners a apology for misquoting another journalist.
The key question is.. Did he mean to do it to smear Palin or is he just a bad reader? Either case Griffin is NOT good at his job.
Posted by: dave price | October 22, 2008 9:51 PM
Posted by: Florida Woman |
Sarah Palin is more qualified than Obama and Biden combined. She is the CEO of a state that has 11 Bi dollars, what has Obama and Biden managed
Posted by: Alaska Man | October 22, 2008 11:07 PM
CNN made a huge mistake with the framing of that question. Go read the article and the context will surprise you. Alaska Man has it dead right, the quote was about the media, not Mrs Palin. This distortion is really concerning. Did he know that? Did he read the article himself? I doubt it, that is irresponsible. I think CNN should make an official apology and the reporter should set the record straight.
Posted by: Oregon Man | October 22, 2008 11:16 PM
It is odd that the screener seems to post biased reviews on this, much like the interview where the quote was taken completely out of context.
What happened to fair and accurate journalism? Is journalism dying... is it already dead?
Where was CNN during the primaries and why didnt they report on Hillary then like these attacks on Palin now?
Drew Griffin and CNN owe Palin, the McCain campaig, as well as all CNN subscribers and advertisers an apology for blatently taking this quote out of context. Specifically, the quote given by Drew was: "the Democrats have been pretty hard on you, but also some conservatives have been pretty hard on you as well. The National Review had a story saying that, you know, I can't tell if Sarah Palin is incompetent, stupid, unqualified, corrupt or all of the above." The National Review did not publish the comment Drew uses in the same context. The quote used from the national review was addressing the bias of the national media, the same bias shown through this piece. This seems utterly incompetent for what is supposed to be the Most Trusted Name in News. Is the context of that claim to mean this is the most trusted name in news by the democratic campaign?
CNN has now shown their organization is incompetent, stupid, unqualified, corrupt or all of the above. CNN - do what is right and apologize, then make it right by giving Palin time on the air without your biased opinions.
This piece is a new low for CNN. Congrats!
Posted by: Tom | October 22, 2008 11:57 PM
Drew Griffin's misleading depiction of the National Review article was obviously intended to hijack Sarah Palin by portraying her as stupid and unready to serve. Rather, Griffin turned the tables upon himself by revealing his own lack of readiness to act responsibly as a news reporter. This interview was an embarassment for CNN , and further errodes the confidence America has in the Liberal News Media. CNN should act immediately to correct this.
Posted by: Beverly Langley | October 23, 2008 12:35 AM
The line from the article by Byron York that Drew Griffin used was taken totally out of context. The article was actually criticizing the MEDIA, not Sarah Palin. Drew Griffin and CNN owe her an apology and a public correction. They did this deliberately and viciously, in my opinion.
Posted by: Beverly A Hammons | October 23, 2008 2:15 AM
To Florida woman,
Do you know how pathetically irrational and arrogantly elitist your rant sounds? The blind bias of the "change to marxism" crowd against a very strong and intelligent conservative woman is astounding. What are you afraid of? Perhaps it's that Sarah has more leadership experience, more backbone, and more character than the Obama/Biden ticket combined!
Posted by: Dennis | October 23, 2008 4:21 AM
I am tired of Sarah Palin this and Sarah Palin that in regards to her being ready to be the President. Do you really think Obama is qualified? Really and truly? He has never had a real leadership role. Don't give me this crap about community organizer... He associations with a pro-communist radical as well as a racist church leader do not qualify him for the largest office in the USA. Once the real tax increases come out if Obama is elected, (and they will...) what are you going to say then? He lied? The Messiah lied? Can't be so... Neither Obama or McCain are good choices..but however that is what mainstream America is voting on unfortunately.
Posted by: CT | October 23, 2008 7:18 AM
The Sarah Palin fan club excuses her lack of qualifications, lies, crimes and obvious hypocisy because she says what they want to hear, regardless of the truth. She is a modern day Joe McCarthy who also had a fan club and who like him lies without conscience, and like him a dangerous rabble rouser spouting hatred and division. Fortunately she has been exposed to a majority of Americans who polls now show reject her just as McCarthy was. She was only a "reformer" until she got her turn at the trough. Let her go back to Alaska, a state rolling in oil wealth which gets more federal dollars per capita than any other, and a state known for its boondoggles and high level political corruption. The people of Alaska are not so happy with her now, and they need to clean their own house before they foist someone like Palin with exaggerated 80% popularity ratings based on misreading another McCarthy, on the rest of us.
Posted by: Ed | October 23, 2008 8:05 PM
Isn't it quite interesting that Palin calls it "Tasergate?" She argues that she fired Walt Monegan over some sort of policy issue and not because he refused to fire Trooper Wooten for the things he allegedly did to Palin's sister, which supposedly included the tasering of her son.
So if Monegan was fired over a policy issue, why does she refer to it as "Tasergate," which puts the emphasis on Trooper Wooten's actions and not Walt Monegan's policy issue?
Posted by: NP | October 25, 2008 9:52 PM