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Published Thursday, October 02, 2008 in Nation
Palin stands her ground in VP debate with Biden
By JIM KUHNHENN
Associated Press Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Under intense scrutiny, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin stood her ground Thursday night against a vastly more experienced Joe Biden, debating the economy, energy and global warming, then challenging him on Iraq, “especially with your son in the National Guard.”
The Alaska governor also noted that Biden had once said Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wasn’t ready to be commander in chief, “and I know again that you opposed the move that he made to try to cut off funding for the troops and I respect you for that.”
Biden responded that John McCain, too, had voted against funding, and said the Republican presidential candidate had been “dead wrong on the fundamental issues relating to the conduct of the war.”
The clash over Iraq was the most personal, and pointed, of the 90-minute debate in which Palin repeatedly cast herself as a non-Washington politician, part of a “team of mavericks” that she said was ready to bring change to a country demanding it.
From the opening moments of the debate, Biden sought to make McCain out as a straight-ahead successor to an unpopular President Bush. “He voted four out of five times for George Bush’s budget, which put us a half-trillion dollars in debt and over $4 trillion in debt since he got here,” he said of McCain.
Palin merely accused Biden of reciting the past rather than looking to the future. “Americans are cravin’ that straight talk” that McCain offers, she said.
The two running mates debated for 90 minutes on a stage at Washington University, their only encounter of a campaign with little more than one month to go.
Recent polls show Obama with a small but perceptible lead, and Republican officials said earlier in the day that McCain had decided to pull out of Michigan, conceding the state to the Democrats. At the same time, his own aides said the campaign may soon begin to advertise in Indiana — a state that has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1968.
Palin faced enormous challenges of her own, though. After five weeks as McCain’s ticket-mate, her poll ratings had begun dropping and even some conservatives have questioned her readiness for high public office.
Her solo campaign events are few, and she has drawn ridicule for some of her answers in the few interviews she has granted — including her claim that Alaska’s proximity to Russia gives her an insight into foreign policy.
After intense preparation — including two days at McCain’s home in Sedona, Ariz., there was only one obvious stumble, when she twice referred to the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan as “Gen. McClellan.” His name is David McKiernan.
Biden’s burden was not nearly as fundamental. Although he has long had a reputation for long-windedness, he is a veteran of more than 35 years in the Senate, with a strong knowledge of foreign policy as well as domestic issues.
For much of the evening, the debate unfolded in traditional vice presidential fashion — the running mates praising their own presidential candidate and denigrating the other.
Palin said Obama had voted to raise taxes 94 times — an allegation that Biden disputed and then countered. By the same reckoning, he said, McCain voted “477 times to raise taxes.”
They clashed over energy policy, as well, when Palin said Obama’s vote for a Bush administration-backed bill granted breaks to the oil industry. By contrast, she said that as governor, she had stood up to the same industry, and noted that McCain had voted against the bill Obama supported.
Biden said that in the past decade, McCain had voted “20 times against funding alternative energy sources and thinks, I guess, the only answer is drill, drill, drill.”
“The chant is, ‘drill, baby drill,” Palin countered quickly, unwilling to yield to Biden on that issue — or any other.
On the environment, Palin declined to attribute the cause of climate change to man-made activities alone. “There is something to be said also for man’s activities, but also for the cyclical temperature changes on our planet,” she said, adding that she didn’t want to argue about the causes.
Biden said the cause was clearly man-made, and added, “If you don’t understand what the cause is, it’s virtually impossible to come up with a solution.”
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Not everyone has a clear mind like you. Some people buy into this, I fought for this and that. A lot of people are doing it to feed to families. When I see McCain, he doesn't show me his vet side. He only shows me that rich man side. Which is what he cares about most.
Posted by Dj at 11:26 PM
Being a vet doesnt make me informed. Reviewing the voting records ot the two senators and clearly seeing that Senator Obama has a better record of standing up for vets does.
Posted by Adam-Sharpsburg at 3:08 PM
If Palin cried, it would not be bad. She has to be a normal woman. You got the game twisted player. Just because you are in love with her, and that she looks like a Lenscrafters Model. Does not justify her being treated badly.
Posted by DJ at 9:44 AM
She just seems like a computer or a broken record. She says the same thing over and over again. She looks into the camera as if she's a news reporter. Can we get real? The only decent republican that could run this country right now is Ron Paul. As for you military heads. Just because you are a vet, does not mean you know what's going on.
Posted by DJ at 12:17 AM
Biden cried!! If Palin had cried the press would have been all over it!
Posted by Ooomph at 11:57 PM
I am sure that some of you really like this ticket, but for the rest. Let's be honest. You are not voting for Obama for a reason, and it's not his experience. Just remember this. "You can pay for school, but you can't buy class:.
Posted by Purple Label at 8:07 PM
People, people, people. Please stop. Republicans will argue that Gov. Palin did a great job and won the debate. Democrats will argue that Sen. Biden did a great job and won the debate. Me? I'm proud that Sen. Obama is just as white as he is black.
Posted by What would Reagan do? at 5:45 PM
I think it's mean to talk about the people on government assistance. I will be the first to admit that half of them should get off their sorry behinds and get a job, but it doesn't make it right for us to judge one another. There are some that have unfortunate circumstances surrounding them. Now, I am ready for change. And I am ready to see Obama in office. It's not based on color either. I am extremely proud of his accomplishments as a black man, but that is not what I base my decision on. I wish certain people wouldn't be judgemental to others because they don't agree with what you do.
Posted by Hershey at 3:33 PM
Your talking points seem to be running together. First the reason people have compared Palin to Obama is because she is on the ticket with a 72 year old man with horrific injuries that has been battling cancer for many years. That is why. There is a real possibility that she could become the president. Second, you can have all the experience in the world but if you are wrong on the issues it doesnt matter. Third, Senator Obama has not voted 'present' in the United States Senate. I think that you are refering to when he was in the state senate, and even then it is a procedural vote. Im a white guy, im voting for Obama. Not because he is black but because im a combat disabled Veteran of the War in Iraq and he is better on the issues facing our soldiers and our vets.
Posted by Adam-Sharpsburg at 2:57 PM
Sarah hit it out of the park. I was not sure who i was voing for but she confirmed it for me. Also, why are readers comparing Obama versus Palin? Let's compare Apples to Apples and the fact is, John McCain has more experience in his jockey shorts than Obama does in his 2 years in the Senate voting "Present". Let's stop voting for a color and vote for the best person for the job
Posted by movin on up at 2:12 PM
Palin only succeeded in the sense that she didnt run off the stage crying. I felt bad for Biedn though, having to restrain himself so people wouldnt think he was 'picking' on her.
Posted by Adam Sharpsburg at 2:03 PM
I feel sorry for anyone who is voting for Obama/Biden!!!
Posted by Voting for Mcain/Palin at 10:48 AM
McCain-Palin is the ticket I will vote for. It is very evident that neither of them are the self serving politicians that are so dominating in Washington. I agree with their ideas on all the issues. The tax issue is a big issue for me. Obama wants to give tax breaks to 95% of American families and tax the heck out of business. This is so deceiving. Look people, if you tax the heck out of business, the ones that can afford it will move their operations out of the country. The ones that can't will close up. Now, if people have no where to work and get a paycheck, what good is a tax break to you???? If I make $18.00 an hour and then my job goes away, I would gladly pay a little more tax to keep the company I work for in business. A little pay cut and a steady job is way better than unemployment. I mean, you sit at home for a while with no pay and then you would be glad to get your job back and pay a little more tax. They have the right idea to keep American businesses in business so we all can have a job.
Posted by Jimmy at 9:30 AM
I am shocked by the number of people who would even consider Obama as our next President. Can you not see through his ridiculous promises? Change? Give me a break. Joe Biden would not even look directly in the camera last night when he was answering his quesitons...there's something to say about shifty eyes. Sarah Palin will be an excellent VP standing behind an excellent President. John McCain is NOT George Bush. If you idiots vote for Obama and he gets elected...this country will be headed into a tailspin from which it will possibly never recover...why would anyone want to pay more taxes - unless of course they won't be working anyway to earn money to pay taxes on? Ever heard the phrase "supported by the government"? Oh by the way, does anyone know why more folks show up for the Obama rallys than do for the McCain rallys? I'll tell you - the folks that support McCain have jobs and are working during the day - not living off of the government!!! VOTE MCCAIN/PALIN!
Posted by NKJ at 9:15 AM
She did change my mind. I have decided to vote for OBama because of Palin's remarks regarding the VP having more power. She lost my republican vote because I think that she's wrongly interpretating the constitution on that idea and it scares me to think what she might do with "more" power. I want the president to lead, not the vp.
Posted by ray at 8:46 AM
In my opinion Sarah Palin did what she has been coached to do in the past few days. However, I am still not comfortable with her as VP. I question the fact that people were so quick to jump down Obama's throat for his lack of experience. Yet, these same people have sympathy for Sarah's lack of experience. I just think there is still a lot of racial profiling around.
Posted by Hershey at 8:17 AM
Senator Biden showed a lot of class in not absolutely smashing the Mayor of Wasilla. She did not respond to questions, she gave prepared responses fed to her by her handlers. She is an embarrassment to the party of Lincoln and her selection makes me question McCain's judgment. But, McCain's a Maverick. Did I mention that he is a Maverick? We're both Mavericks! Yep, three speed, shift on the column, with bench seats. Please, THINK before you vote. How have the past 8 years treated you?
Posted by Drago at 7:47 AM
First, thanks to NTH to enabling comments again!! Sarah did such a fantastic job against Biden. Don't believe the 'polls' people, they are taken by the very liberal media. I firmly believe McCain will win and we will begin working towards a better future than with the very Socialist Obama. Please do your research before you vote!!!
Posted by SP-ournext-VP at 12:08 AM
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Re:DJ
10/5/2008
Link To This Comment
That makes sense. I guess thats why McCain only thinks someone is rich if they make over $5,000,000 a year.
Posted by Adam-Sharpsburg at 12:15 PM