Was Palin properly vetted to be McCain’s V.P.?
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
There's a growing sense that John McCain may not have done all his homework before making his V.P. pick.
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is now grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons: her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is pregnant.Palin has hired a private lawyer in the trooper probe ethics investigation. She was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it. Palin appeared at a convention of the Alaska Independence Party - which tried to get votes on whether the state should secede from the union. Her husband was arrested 22 years ago on a DUI. And, although Palin is now railing against earmarks, she got hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for local projects as both governor and as mayor of Wasilla.
Watch: Cafferty: Palin vetting?
There's more. What about her foreign policy credentials? CNN's Campbell Brown repeatedly asked McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds last night why Palin is ready to be commander-in-chief, what qualifications she has, and to name one foreign policy decision Palin has made – Campbell never got an answer. It's reported that Palin may have only traveled overseas once, last year to Germany and Kuwait.
This has all led many to wonder how thorough of a vetting the Alaska governor got. McCain only met with Palin once and had one phone conversation with her before offering her the job. It raises serious questions about the kind of judgment McCain would use as president to make other big decisions.
Here’s my question to you: Was Governor Sarah Palin properly vetted before being named John McCain’s V.P.?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Tom from Huntington, New York writes:
The operative word here is properly. It is obvious that they gave her a quick once over and McCain decided she was it. There will be more information forthcoming about Gov. Palin. I think that by this time next week she will step down due to "family considerations".
Jennifer writes:
McCain's decision to put Palin on the ticket shows that he makes decisions based on what's good for him (without thinking or checking) and not good for the country. How could he put someone like that one melanoma away from the presidency? He went with his gut? That makes sense, because it surely wasn't a decision made with his brain.
Lyn from Petoskey, Michigan writes:
Let's see: he met her for a full fifteen minutes, no one in Alaska can remember being approached during the "process", her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant and she's under investigation for improperly using gubernatorial power? YA THINK?
Rick from Simi Valley, California writes:
Sarah Palin is looking more and more like one of those people you see on the Jerry Springer Show. I can't wait to see what future revelations come out regarding Palin and her past.
Wendy from North Carolina writes:
Good grief, I am more qualified to be V.P. if this is McCain's version of vetting! If you really want to get the Palin picture, have her debate Hillary! Now that would be fun to watch.
Mary from Baltimore writes:
If this is the judgment he used in selecting a vice president, good luck to all of us if he gets to the White House. An elderly gentleman with a history of a serious medical problem has chosen an inexperienced person from a remote village and state to be his back-up and perhaps president of the country. This is Katrina for the rest of us.
Kevin from Massachusetts writes:
I believe her name was picked from a hat. Does that count as vetted?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Of course she was. But that also depends on what you mean by vett. That's how it is with republicans. Experience means one thing when they criticize Obama but when they salivate about the prospect of getting a legitimate wingnut on the ticket experience means something completely different and unimportant.
My guess is that a couple of dozen others turned McCain down and she was the first one to say "yes". That was the full extent of the "vetting" process.
You can't vet a candidate from a remote hillbilly state via the internet, you have to go there.
but more important that that:
When you have a five month old child with special needs, a five month pregnant 17 year old daughter you don't run for Vice President of the United States, your family needs you.
How self centered can someone be?
Dear jack vetted may be she was and McCain saw use for daughter to shore up Evangelical vote:
I was wondering about Palins pregnant daughter, If by her keeping the baby it becomes a private matter,,, but if she didn't want to then gray hair men from the 1800s then say it should be a public matter in fact public policy, and once again the gray hair men than will continue to tell women what they can and can not do to their own bodies. Just a thought how private matters should remain private regardless of the women's decision
well back to the 3.00 am phone call....do i really want ms palin in a position to answer the call???lord whats next...oh well i guess britney wasn t available....we can only imagine who sec of state will be...paris are u there
It was widely reported yesterday that McCain knew about the daughter's pregnancy, AND your nominee has declared the subject off limits, so what is the point? This alone will not sway the crucial swing voters. Only time will tell – if more comes out then she obviously was not sufficienty screened.
However, having seen the thorough preparedness that the State of Louisiana exhibited before and during the storm, I think that McCain should have gone with Bobby Jindal for VP. Too late now.
Sarah Palin is looking more and more like one of those people you see on the Jerry Springer Show. I can't wait to see what future revelations come out regrding Palin and her past.
I believe her name was picked from a hat. Does that count as vetted?
Let's see. She's currently under investigation for improperly using the powers of her office. That alone should have been enough for McCain and his supposed advisers to run away. And although I realize this is supposed to be a taboo subject, her 17 yo daughter is pregnant which should question the morals of her, not to mention her family (which, hypocritically, the "religious" right is over looking since she is a staunch pro-lifer). And the only reasons we get from vetting people are that they are satisfied. Yeah! Right!
McCain does not want to win this election. McCain is tiered, and can not believe he has gotten this far. He has been beating himself all the way to the convention, he was hoping Gustav would have forced a cancellation.
You can't vet a candidate from a remote hillbilly state via the internet, you have to go there.
but more important that that:
When you have a five month old child with special needs, a five month pregnant 17 year old daughter you don't run for Vice President of the United States, your family needs you.
How self centered can someone be?
CP........in Fla
If she was, it must have been a corvette!
Are You Kidding? Properly vetted? No!
Yes she was.
She's clearly a "lead by example" person and between her and her family, is demonstrating all the scenarios that an abortion may be considered as an option and not selected.
I hope she stops soon though because any future scenraios would start getting very creepy and unseemly.
Palin obviously was not vetted thoroughly, if at all. The problems surfacing – especially the association with a group that wanted to secede from the United States – are astonishing. If this lady is qualified to be Vice President, sign me up for Secretary of the Treasury. The McCain campaign is turning into a sitcom episode. We might be laughing if the consequences weren't so serious.
To all the media that said Obama was not patriotic enought how about Sarah Palin and her husband being Member for years of the Alaska Indepence Party. Who's slogan is "Alaska always , Alaska First"
and the purpose of the party is to be t's own country away from U.S.A.
now thats a real issue not her daugther.
Jack, you don’t put the 6th string quarterback into the Super Bowl. Now is not the time to put someone so woefully inexperienced into the Vice President’s office.
Jack: no, if they had, they would have looked at boyfriend's Myspace opage and had some questions about the company she kept. and also the McCainnites would have taken down all the webimages before, NOT after the $#*T hit the fan.
TANX SAM
NO Jack, Macain thought it was a slum-dunk, this makes me worry about Macain and Palin when it comes to a potential cold war comeback.
What kind of vetting are you talking about? I hear that Mac was seen looking her up and down at a press conference. However, me thinks he should have taken a much 'broader' look at her other attributes-or the lack thereof.
Milt, Minneapolis
i think this choice for vp was a very bad choice and an insult to all women. What kind of mother would put her child through this publicity at such a tough time in her life. Is she punishing her for her mistake? Also I just read that she was a member of the Alaska independent party that wanted to become independent from the usa. To think that women would vote for someone just because of their sex makes me sick. This shows how bad his jugement is! I now have to change my vote for I wouldn't vote for such an idiot.
What the selection of Palin does say about McCain’s judgement is that he will do or say just about anything to get elected. It is a fair question to ask, how well did he vet the Palin selection. Not very well by the way his spin machine seems to prefer to attack the media rather than answer legitimate questions about her qualifications and family issues.
It seems clear that McCain made a snap decision with his selection for vice-president – a decision seemingly based on Obama’s success at the Democratic convention. Perhaps this shows that John McCain cannot stand and fight on the issues. Perhaps it shows that he is truly a maverick and makes snap irresponsible decisions without thinking things through. Hmm? Just something for people to think about.
Jack:
Since when is the "vetting" of Sarah so important? Obviously, not many Americans have "vetted" the other parties' candidate at the top of the ticket. If they had, they wouldn't find much (substance) there.
Don't worry, as Campbell Brown showed on her interview of the McCain aid last night, she will do all the venting (I mean vetting) that Miss Palin will need. Your liberal legs are showing CNN and Campbell!
McCain's decision to put Palin on the ticket shows that he makes decisions based on what's good for him (without thinking or checking) and not good for the country. How could he put someone like that one melanoma away from the Presidency? He went with his gut? That makes sense, because it surely wasn't a decision made with his brain. And now, I just love the fact that McCain is not getting all the wonderful press he had hoped to steal away from Obama. All the headlines I read all talk about Palin's daughter instead. Haha John McCain, the kids are stealing the show, but that's what you chose!
Let's see, he met her for a full fifteen minutes, no-one in Alaska can remember being approached during the "process" , her 17 year old daughter is pregnant and she's under investigation for improperly using gubernatorial power? YA THINK?
If this is the best John McCain can do for a VP pick then we are really in trouble. He only met her once and spoke on the phone once. Is this the kind of decision maker we want? This says everything about John McCain's judment.
Wait for the investgation she is under regarding her mis use of her excetuive powers for personal gain. She's perfect for our country if god forbid ;72 year old (4 time cancer survivor) dies. Think about it. HELP!
If by "vetted" you mean made up to look like Cindy McCain with brunette hair and glasses, then yes, she was properly "vetted."
Well Jack,
If she has been vetted then J. McCain is more of a maverick than anyone realized. If he wins this roll we should all learn and go to Vegas with him so we can own 7 houses. The man will be know as the luckiest man on the planet. There will probably be a lot more surprises in store for us as this rolls along. Maybe this is one way of recruiting new voters. Better than a boring speech.
Brenda,
Iowa City, Iowa
It has become apparent to me that the VP candidate was not properly vetted and raises questions as to Senator's McCain's judgement. The pregnancy of the teenage daughter also raises questions, especially regarding the age of the boyfriend [18 yrs old] to the daughter's [17 yrs old]. It sure seems like a possibility of statutory rape, an adult-minor situation. I can't believe the top lawmaker would not have examined that possibility or taken legal action against this person.
Jack,
A VERY interesting question in light of the situation with her daughter. Her daughter's pregnancy is not a campaing issue, but the candor of the ticket IS an issue. IF McCain knew about it (as his campaign says he did) and kept it a secret, what does it say after 8 years of the most secretive administration in American History? Will a McCain/Palin administration shame the KGB at their height? If he didn't know about it, and is now covering up, so much for the "Straight Talk Express" And if "Trooper-Gate" goes where I suspect it will, no one will be talking about her daughter any further.
Well Jack , If my resume' , under the heading "things you don't want anyone to know", had several subjects in it , would you consider me for one of the most important jobs in the world ?
It has the feel of a rush job. If Senator McCain wanted Senator Lieberman to be his running mate so badly, what does it say about the Republican nominee that he let his advisers talk him into Governor Palin. Perhaps John McCain is not the maverick he purports to be?
as much as McCain was properly vetted
Jack,
I think it's clear that some rocks were not turned over to see what lay beneath. McCain appears to be hoping that "maverick" traits in his VP pick will cancel out her inexperience and his impulsive decision making. Alarming!
Sallye
Topeka
No she wasn't vetted.... This was a political move to draw attention away from Obama's outstanding speech. No way in the world can you have a personal understanding about a someone after two short meetings and one phone call. Have you noticed no republican has answered the question as to her being the "most" qualified person for the job?
Given McCain's age and health issues, his VP choice is probably the most important decsion he will make. The fact that he made it with such haste and after only meeting Palin on one occassion shows he is more about the sizzle than the steak. He does not care if she is qualified or not, just that she will grab headlines. Very telling indeed.
NOPE!!
It’s not looking that way. ”Any woman will do, get a young and attractive one while you are at it,” seems to be the thinking of these male specimens. Rush Limbaugh even called her “a babe”. Is that all that matters to these guys? The majority of the population, and the majority of those who vote are both women. Try, at least, to fake a little respect, fellas.
As Whitney Houston would say, hell to the nawl. This man is embarrassing us in front of the whole world, not just here in America.
Jack
You and Campbell are the only trying to get real answers all others are scared to ask real questions. No she was not vetted at all and if she was who ever vetted her should fire now. She is been in the office less time than Obama's campaing for president Com' on guys and girls get real because this could be our next president
He only talked to her once or twice before picking her. Is this the type of leadership McCain will give us? I talked to the Russians once or twice, I read over their proposal once or twice, I thought about the nuclear button once or twice and then I acted.
God help this country.
Apparently not. I heard he met her once months ago and extended the VP offer by phone. Seems a hairbrained way of doing things.
I don't think so. I don't believe the party of "family values" could have possibly been aware of daughter Bristol's bun in the oven, because if they had...no way, Jose!
Even McCain himself had to read her name from a notes page when announcing her as his V.P. He didn't want to accidentally say somebody else's name. And did you notice, after he read it aloud, he kind of jerked his head as if to say, "Did I say that?"
Susan in Ohio
Obviously she was not. They should quit pretending that she was. This 'gimmick' and all of the Republican Spin Machine lies are very transparent and can be seen clearly through that 'glass ceiling' we have been hearing so much about lately.
I don't know, Jack. Obviously, McCain got from this pick what Obama didn't...a LOT of talk. The conservatives are brooding over the pick but with an ethics scandal and a teenage pregnancy, I don't see how this was a very safe pick. McCain is being awfully reckless by choosing this person.
Of course she has been properly vetted. McCain was losing ground based on real issues; so he has created the 'mother of all smokescreens'.
The Republican VP candidate is female, unknown, a mother, has a new child, has a pregnant daughter, is being investigated etc.... The Repulicans can keep this going for months, and the press and media will follow.
Stop asking about Pregnacies. State Troopers, Experience, the Bridge to nowhere, etc... ; and start asking questions about issues:
Lets have McCain, Palin, Obama, and Biden give 5 mins on the key issues. Then we can decide.
It seems to me that Sara Palin is sacrificing her family's well being on the alter of her own political ambitions. If she really wants to show off her "family values" she should quite politics and be a full time mother. She has a 4 month old with Downes syndrom, other school age children and a daughter who is pregnant out of wedlock. Who is going to be a mom for them while she is off being vice president? How can we expect her to give her full attention to the vice presidency? If this is an example of John McCain's judgement, I am very disappointed in him. I am also amazed that the conservative, moral police crowd is endorsing and encouragin Palin's vice presidency candidacy. Where are family values???
Jack, I can not honestly believe that she was- according to all of the reports that I have read about this issue. That is the very reason that McCain as president scares me. He is to quick to action without thinking of the consequence's.
Thats a big no Jack.
The idea behind vetting is to make sure that the person is capable of stepping into the role of pres. This women is far from that. Again I am so embaressed as an American that such a obvious gimmick can be called a smart move. Just goes to show a significant portion of our population is a dumb a posts.
If so, it just goes to prove the senility of McCain and pandering to the Evangelicals, Limbaugh, Pat Robertson, etc. It is not the point that her daughter is pregnant. The point is the double standard that the Republicans often use. For years, they went after the Clintons including Chelsea. If this inexperienced woman wants to be Vice President and possibly President of this country, she needs to explain her baggage including the police investigation. I took a look at the 700 club today to get their spin and they love the woman and think she is one of them...morally superior. If the Clinton's had these 2 issues facing them before even be nominated, the Christian base, Fox, and Starr would have burned them at the stake. Hypocrisy and double standards!!!
Wildwood Crest, NJ
Isn't the answer obvious Jack? Of course not. You don't offer the 2nd highest position in the country to a person you've spoken to only twice in your entire life. How are we, the American people, expected to have confidence in electing an individual who has made such a decision? Forget about Gov. Palin, McCain's judgement should be the focus of the spotlight here.
Palin wasn't vetted. Her $40 billion natural gas pipeline deal was arranged by her lieutenant governor and her deputy commissioner for natural resources, who had been a paid lobbyist for the company that won the contract. Reformer? Are you kidding?
How do I spell Enron? P-A-L-I-N.
Despite the assurances of the McCain "vetting" crew, it seems apparent that this was a committee in name only, McCain's impulsive nature over-riding any pre-determined process.
And the pregnancy scandal goes so much deeper than the ever-so restrained MSM is reporting (any amateur journalist can search the archives of any mainstream Alaskan newspapers to see the obvious cover-up).
My concern for the pregnant daughter aside, this is the best soap opera scheme to hit politics since Lewinski. Bristol may not deserve this but Sarah–who has clearly put her political aspirations above the best interest of her children–has it coming. Given her inevitable self-elected removal later this week, I will miss her and her Alaskan brand of Payton Place .
Jack , McCain either drew names from a hat or he played a game of rock/paper/scissor to decide his running mate. he saw how successful the democratic convention was and he decided to get a woman running mate. And any old woman at that!
I honestly believe his pick was a knee-jerk reaction to shake up this campaign and try to win over some of the "disenfranchised" Hillary supporters. Had Obama picked her for the VP slot, most of us would have no idea who Sarah Palin is, nor care if her 17 year old daughter is pregnant. As a woman I am infuriated by this gimmick and no, I don't think she was vetted at all. The fact that they met once and talked once before he offered her the most important role in his campaign shows me it was a desperate move that his advisors are now trying to justify by making the media as well as the American people look like a bunch of jerks for questioning her experience and her values. I have no problem with the fact her daughter is pregnant, but when she tries to instill her values on the American people, inlcuding the question of choice and abstinence-only sex education, I do have a problem with her.
Apparently not. I can't imagine the GOP thinking this woman is even remotely qualified to be VP even before her past performance and family issues were revealed. This does not make me feel that John McCain and his organization are capable or running a country.
Of course not. She's not acceptable. He wanted a female, with conservative views. I'll bet she's the only female he could find who is conservative, anti-abortion and pro-gun.
Look into this Alaskan Independence Party - she has a connection to them and spoke at a meeting encouraging their mission to succede (sp?) from the Union.
And the state-trooper, ex husband of her sister. She had a guy fired for refusing to fire the ex-husband. Now she suddenly found money to hire a new lawyer. I wonder who's helping her get out of that mess?
I'm going to go with NO!, and if I could type and be more emphatic about this I would be. Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney were both absolutely played like little Republican puppets. She couldn't get through one day without her first flip-flop about her opinion on the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" and earmark spending, not to mention her own investigation on abuse of power as Governer. I am seriously just begging and waiting for one more ball to drop. I was never for McCain, and this is just another thing he can add to his list of mistakes in this campaign. This is one thing he can't use the "well I was a former P.O.W., fell bad for me" card on.
Jack,
I don't think she was vetted at all ! I think he just took her to pick up the Hillary Clinton female voters. As a huge Clinton supporter I refuse to vote for NOBAMA so I will hold my nose and vote for McSame – McBush – McCain.
Who are we, the public, or you the Media, or the high and mighty Democrats to pass judgement on how she was vetted. I got the feeling form the Media during the first 48 hours after the announcement, that they hadbeen scooped and therefore were miffed. The questions they kept asking, all networks, were all negatively based. Then along came Dems shouting and screaming, and James Carville's cutesy little holding up the picture of the mayor's office in Alaska showed just how out of touch he is with realty. Not all Mayor's offices have four white or marble columns especially those where the real Americans live.
Then the Media is doing its best or worst to highlight the 17 yr olds pregnancy, and as I'm seeing and hearing, "Who cares?" The harder they and the Dems highlight non-issues the stronger Sarah looks. I quess she really scares the old power brokers.
Sarah Palin was probably well vetted and I'd bet that the campaign knew of her daughter's pregnancy. Bristol's baby may be a non-issue, but every one I know is talking about it.
If McCain's campain is about experience and leadership, how can he be trusted to demonstrate presidential leadership qualities with this pick. While Gov. Palin may be a wonderful candidate in 2020, the two years of executive experience in a state of 700,000 hardly qualifies her as sufficiently "experienced" to become Commander in Chief. That McCain vetted her, even slightly as it may turn out, is a true indication of his judgement.
This is very clearly a political choice, one meant to make him President first. America first? Along with the difference between Shia and Sunni, how many houses he owns, and vetting his VP, he either forgot or has truly shown that his real value is in becomming President of the US first.
She was vetted as much as a beauty contestant during the bikini phase of the contest. Did you see McCain checking her assets out up on stage the other day?
Obviously not, Jack. It turns out that the McCain advisors didn't even look at back issues of the local Wasilla newspapers for stories about their hometown girl.
All I can say is that if she steps down or is forced to step down, voters need to remember McCain's horrendous judgment with this pick. If this is the sort of low-information, knee-jerk reaction we can expect from this guy if he were to become POTUS, we should all be very very afraid.
Whats funny is republicans call barak obama a muslim,but now hockey mom palin is going to force her daughter and this boy to get married.That sounds like a arraigned wedding in which only muslims do when they get married in which is part of their tradition!!!
In my estimation and to be honest with you Jack, NO….Not in the typical “political manner”.
(This is to say, she was not scrutinized or evaluated for a willingness to cater to special interests and lobbyists, accept bribes, seek self interests and gains or put party goals over the needs of our Nation.)
This is probably why there are so many efforts being made to discredit her from the get-go. My guess is the opposition and political factions, we the people are so disgusted with, are making so much noise about McCain’s choice.
The change I see that Sarah Palin offers is to restore some dignity and integrity in the political process that will end “business as usual” for so many.
She is not a dummy and seems very intelligent as well as capable. Let’s see what she’s got instead of being so negative and cynical!
GO-SARAH!!
I don't think it really mattered to John McCain whether she was vetted properly or not. Once he zoomed in on that pretty smile and a way to bring conservatives on board, and a way to siphon hillary supporters, he was sold. There's no stopping to his loose-cannon- roll-of-the-dice, ways of doing things.
Jack, I have to assume that she was properly vetted, however, one of the things that makes her selection odd is how well they actually knew each other. If John McCain is such a maverick and if he puts "Country First" as his campaign suggests, then why didn't he choose Tom Ridge, Joe Lieberman or any other other more qualified person. His choice smacks of pandering to women and conservatives, not making the right choice for the country. John McCain a maverick – I don't think so.
Well if she was then it says alot about John McCain's decision making. My understanding was that she had a fifteen minute phone conversation with McCain before he decided on adding her to the ticket. Hillary it was said opened the doors for women. Now any woman can become president. I think though maybe she ought to have better qualifications than just attending the PTA meetings......But I really love how the Republicans defend her credentials......they never answer the questions asked of them, but instead offer some canned line about how she's really tough and she took on this guy and that guy. They compare her use of the National Guard in Alaska with foreign affairs.......I shudder to think what happens if she gets that three AM call.......and she has a whiney voice
Jack,
All you have to do is listen to news and read the blogs. Hell to the Nawww!!! She was at a Gubantorial Breakfast and sat with John. Thus the GOP ticket was born. Funny, she should have been very pregnant during that meeting. Ya think??!!
It's not to late to get a new date, Johnnie!!
I don't think she was properly vetted before naming her has his running mate. Isn't that why he's sending in 2 dozen communications people now to try and do that now? Either way, this leaves McCain not looking as though he's presidential material. If he did vet her and chose her anyway, he looks stupid, and if he didn't vet her, he still looks stupid. He put himself between a rock and a hard place here and it seems that he's playing games with this whole process. Either that or he simply does not have very good judgement.
Yes. She brings home the social conservatives. She helps shore up the west. A woman with baggage will draw some of the female vote regardless of her stance on abortion and guns. There are few voters who will not vote for McCain because of Palin and many will now enter his fold. In a close election a couple points in his favor could determine the outcome.
I seriously doubt it. McCain made a choice based upon Obama's choice, based upon the Christian far-right choice, based upon trying to gain traction by appeasing to one issue voter's choice, based upon an attempt at wooing the disgruntled Hillary voter's choice, and so on.
The Maverick, a self-serving title, is really about conforming to win an election.
And now the Republican's will do everything in their power to spin McCain's first poor executive decision such as claiming she has foreign policy experience based upon Alaska's proximity to Russia, talking her up as a reformer who was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it, with ties to Ted Stevens, with Trooper Gate, with executive experience for a population that amounts to a mid-size state-side city, and Alaskans who worked with her who are saying more should be exposed. With all of this, why is the media focusing on her daughter being pregnant, a not-so-tragic loving family affair? This diverts deserved attention from the meat of the matter.
As regards McCain vetting her – Country First? My A##
My estimate is that this was whole pregnancy issue was vetted and it was decided that to use her 'pregnancy keep the baby get married' as an enabler to secure the evangelical vote. That this is a cold, political move shows you how Rovian and slimy McCain has become. They didn't trust him before, but he sure has gotten them all in the barn over the baby deal.
Jack it may too early to tell. So far there seem to be some gaps in what the McCain Campaign says they knew and when. It would seem to me that if a possible candidate has issues that come up this fast then there is a high probabilty that there will be more. The whole issue for me is the process that was used by McCain and his team in making this decision. It appears to me it was flawed. That doesn't bode well for a possible President.
Just like in every other campaign, the presidential nominee listened to his advisors and they were wrong. Look at Hillary's history with her advisor who cost her the nomination. These people are so out of touch with the masses that they are useless. For McCain to think that women would automatically follow Palin because they lost Hillary is insane. Palin has shown her true colors if anyone is willing to look and be honest. Her career is more important than bonding with her down syndrome baby or caring how she has put her daughter in the spotlight with her pregnancy. How sad for her children and how sad for this nation. Teen pregnancy is a real threat in our nation today and McCain and Palin should have thought about the messages they are sending to teens and their poor parents before accepting the VP nomination. I will bet you anything that they only vetting she got was on her energy policy.
HI Jack i see I'm the first. Well to answer it i say NO. I mean a women who has a teenage daughter pregnant and is under investigation I'd say it was a irresponsible pick for McCain. Now I have to add all the people saying the daughter is off limits is a joke. A mother teaches abstinence and not sex education shows me that Palin is well lets say out of the loop on that. Her and McCain have that in common out of the loop syndrome and to add McCain just sent a team to Alaska to LOOK into more stuff he should have done this before. But thank McCain for the irresponsible decision Obama should use this to his advantage and blow this election out of the water right her right now. Obama Biden 08
what a goof !!
Jack,
It really does appear that Senator McCain did not fully vet Gov. Palin. This thought is disturbing on many fronts. I do not doubt that Gov. Palin is a decent person but I, as well as most Americans, do not know much about her. Since Friday, we have had a steady drip, drip of news about her. It has been reported that Senator McCain is a gambler with craps being his risky game of choice. I hope Americans realize that a man who pretends to put "Country First" then comes up with this unexplainable pick is wrong for us. Otherwise, we are the gamblers that end up with more "crap."
Absolutely not! This was so fast, so secretive, so desparate. Where in the world is this man's judgment??? If he had properly vetted her he would see that she earmarked $23,000,000.00 for a little town of 6,700 people when she was mayor, she has used her powers illegally it seems to get rid of people she doesn't like, her teenager is pregnant and now we're going to have children raising children, and Palin's only issue on birth control is complete abstinence! No sex ed, no protection, no information at all! She is an airhead.
Mccain gave as much thought to Sarah Palin as his VP pick as he did to the gas tax holiday, voting for the Iraq war and the success of the surge....
There is a seriousness behind having Sara Palin as Vice President. It is all a big game for Republicans now, but imagine really being unqualified to do something and all of a sudden "your up." I think you and the people who voted for you get exactly what you deserve. If Republicans want to play on people without an education, well it's fair game. But, they will get what they are asking for one day, as will the Evangelicals who are against fornication, baby's daddies and all that manipulating the poor.
They vetted Palin carelessly, but she had switched her stand on policies and principles to make her acceptable to the new McCain, who had abandoned his. The picture looked better than the story behind it.
For argument's sake, let's just say that Sarah Palin is qualified to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. I would never deny a mother her right to achieve the highest office; however, as a mother myself, I would never want a job such as president or vice president if I had pre-school children at home. When you are in such positions, your family comes second-not the country! I was in the Air Force, and it was emotionally difficult to leave my newborn son and go back to work after maternity leave. I would never want to be in the position Sarah Palin is in! What an emotional battle! Is this the right time for Gov. Palin to have the next highest (and God forbid, the highest) office in the land?
Well Jack this question is kind of redundant since it doesn't matter if the answer is honestly yes or no.
If yes then McCain's sanity has to come into question as well as his judgement. With all the baggage McCain himself brings to the ticket why would he pick someone with more of the same?
If the answer is no then McCain's judgement really comes into question as it would indicate he would start a war before he knew how to win it or how to get out of it. Oh I guess he's already been there and done that!
Anyway just for the record I think it is just another lie showing McCain panicked over the results of the Democratic Convention and caved into to his increasing state of confusion and delusion.
Jack,
Yes.
Sarah Palin in many people's minds has more executive experience, better values and a more humble family experience. She connects with people and will make a great executive politician on the federal level.
Biden isn't without his shortcomings, like say 28 years of failed federal policies to put on his scorecard.
Obama on the other hand just talks about change-change-change; while he supports the old-old-old democratic party platform of the Carter administration.
Palin comparibly not only preaches reform but she performs it. She'll do a great job in Washinton.
My question for you is, do you think the republicans properly vetted McCain before putting him on the ticket?
Absolutely NOT!!! All McCain cared about was getting someone on the ticket that he thought Hillary supporters would be dumb enough to accept as a cheap knock-off.... and now even CNN is buying into it... I'm so disappointed... they are running an obviously bias story at cnn.com. It says pregnancy news stirs emotions. It's about how one female feels for Palin's family, because she too had a child at an early age (read she got knocked up by accident) then it's all about how other voters could feel the same. Yeah, sure, because I don't vote based on my personal beliefs, I vote on who has a similar experience as me. Jack, I went to Disney World when I was 9 yrs old... I wonder if either Obama or Mccain did that??? I could really get behind a guy that's seen the Country Bears Stage Show. While I originally supported Clinton's political beliefs, maybe I should have been supporting the fact that she has breasts. Which candidate is most like that.... well neither, but Mccain hired somebody that has breasts, so I think I'll vote for him.
Josh in NC
in the days leading up to senator obamas acceptance speach in denver, colorado, some republicans were calling on their flock to pray for rain in hopes that it would disrupt the dnc program. well, they got their rain, and it was not the democrats who were interrupted. the lord does work in myserious ways.
It doesn't seem like she was, but I think there is a more important point to be made. A lot has been said about Gov. Palin's decision to have a Down Syndrome baby and her unmarried seventeen-year-old daughter's decision to have her baby. What's at issue is who should make these difficult decisions. Democrats believe families should make these decisions. Republicans believe the government should make these decisions for them.
Ed Reed
Port Aransas, TX
It's not the vetting that is important, it's the woman's qualifications for the position of Vice-President that matter. Gosh, she can't even pronounce 'nuclear' properly and believes that global warming is not man-made. Can this person really lead the world's most militarily powerful nation? As a woman I am insulted by John McCain's choice and now have a very deep suspicion of his judgment.
Mrs. Palin was properly vetted;" The John McCain way" I'm an Obama supporter, but I really feel sad for the Palin family.
It makes you wonder when McCain is now sending a delegation of 12 to Alaska, doesn't it. And if his decision was knee jerk and desperate, it calls into question his judgment on so many levels it's frightening.
Wirh all the " Baggage " she has I would wonder. She is needed at home, and this is not sexist. It is just realism. Even being Governor is too distracting to the problems she has at home.
i don't care about there problems, we all have them,' the problem is with the baby, who going to take care of the baby, there no better person them mon. the baby should come first not the country, she would not get my vote for mother of the year, that is the only problem i have with her,
mccain pro life is he??? what about the war you can't be pro life and want to go to war
Jack, she may have a few skeletons in her closet, but at least she knows how many closets she owns! Hint: it's not seven.
Was she properly vetted before being selected by John McCain? The better question is whether or not the American people, and the so called American Media, will properly vet the Democratic Presidential Candidate for President before casting their vote in November. I am deeply troubled by the "spell" that has been cast over this country by the Democratic Party with a healthy assist from the stargazed media. Of the last 20 educated professionals that I have asked to explain why they are planning to vote for Obama in November, none of them have given me any concrete policy, position or direction they are convinced the Messiah will take us if elected. What do they say? All the same one liners that have been fed to them by the Obama campaign and repeated over and over by the liberal media lap dogs, "He will bring change", "Anything is better than George Bush", "He will get the world to like us again". Sarah Palin is an open book and someone whose life matches her political positions. She has a record of doing the right thing, no matter who is standing in her way. Before her selection I was sitting out this election, but now my vote will be confidently cast for John McCain. We do need change in this country but let us be careful that we get the right change.
What do you think? Today’s National Polls:
Gallup: OBAMA 50% – McCain 42% (First time O has hit 50%)
Rasmussen: OBAMA 48% – McCain 43% (with ‘leaners’ it’s 51% – 45%)
Hotline/FD Poll: OBAMA 48% – McCain 39%
American Research Group: OBAMA 49% – McCain 43%
No Jack she was'nt. Look at all the things that are coming out about her. The pregnancy of her daughter, not that it matters, but If they could have kept this a secret, they would have which is why they gave her the baby to hold and the blanket to cover up with. John McCain has showed poor judgement, again, in recklessly selecting Palin as his vice president running mate, who has absolutely no experience to be the President if something happens to him. If McCain was 10 years younger, his pick of Sarah Palin wouldn't matter at all and also the fact that they have the audacity to say she has more experience than Obama, 18 million people picked Obama to be the Democratic Nominee one person pick her and that was John McCain.
I don't believe so. How can you vet someone who has all this dirt under their carpet. If she was properly vetted, why are we finding out about these issues now and not when she was first introduced. It makes me question John McCain's judgement, which is starting to become completely evident that it is bad. On top of that, George Bush likes her. That only makes me despise her even more.
OBAMA/BIDEN 08
The Republicans think single mom's will join them and vote for Palin. Well the only ting she has in common with single moms is the albatross around their knecks.... unwanted pregnancy. They are trying to make fornication and unwanted pregnancy a badge of honor and use Democratic reaction as a catalyst to anger women into voting against their interests. Democrats don't pass laws against women. Republicans have a list of controls they want passed to keep women in line.
Heck no! Lets play up the fact that not only is her character and family dysfuncitonal but that she belongs to the Alaskan Independence Party which want to secede from the United States. What a Traitor and dimwit but then they under the Republican flag and it is to be expected.
Probably not, if the Republican's are sending a team up to AK now. It seems they missed a few small details in the process.
I guess McCain thought a fifteen minute meeting in Feb., 2008, a breif cell phone conversation, and a nice backside (which he seemed quite taken with, as he fiddled with his wedding ring, during her first speech) qualified her.
This first presidential decision was made on a dime. McCain picked her because of her plumbing, and her ideologically correct resume, with no regard for our country; just his personal success.
Remember: Katrina was brought to you by a Reap party ideolouge with "executive experience." Experience and smarts do count.
I think the selection of Gov. Palin was a Republican ruse. Mr Mcgoo knows he is going to loose the election. So, he takes on a VP that he (and the Repubs) can blame for the loss.
Not that Mr Mcgoo will run again, but it will provide talking points and deflection for the next old guy in line.
The Republicans are primarily a bunch of old, well to do, hateful, fearful, folks watching from the sidelines as history and passes them by.
I personally think the McCain campaign thought they could pull the wool over the American peoples' eyes. For so long the Bush administration has played the American people like fools. I say ENOUGH! We are tired of the divide and conquer look out for your lobbyist politics. Change in the form of Obama/Biden is coming.
Jack I never really agree with you, but on this one McCain has nailed
his foot to the floor with his choice of Palin. What would posess this
man to choose someone with so many skeltons in her closet, plus
how does being a soccer mom and a PTA member qualify her to be a
VP pick. She voted for the bridge to now where, until all hell broke
loose and then she flip flopped, ordered mass killing if Alaskan Polor
bears and woves against the will of her people.ANd she's supposed to be pro choice. This time Jack your on the money.
Apparently not. For the party that has been hammering away on abstinence-only sex ed, aligned itself against equal pay for women, and claims to have the corner on international affairs (laughable), the Republican party seems to have approached this pick with the pensiveness of a nervous boy asking out his first prom date.
She was properly vetted for the purpose she serves on the ticket – to please the far right wing of the party. She is what they wanted – far right. Much more so than is Mccain. He wants to leave abortion rights to the states; she wants to make abortion illegal. She even wants to make contraception illegal. I never heard McCain supporting that position. And she belonged to the Independance Party which sought to have Alaska secede from the union. McCain says that he knew all this. So the question is not was she vetted properly, but how far will McCain go from his principles to win an election.
Well if you believe the old saying that there's no such thing as "bad press", then McCain did all the vetting he needed. She's got the base fired up.
If, on the other hand, you were looking for someone to balance out McCain's weaknesses, potentially be commander-in-chief and keep us focused on the key issues of the day, then, no, she was not properly vetted.
McCain's just flying by the seat of his pants because it's his style and because it was his only hope of getting some exciting press.
Boise, ID
Heck no! Lets play up the fact that not only is her character and family dysfuncitonal but that she belongs to the Alaskan Independence Party which want to secede from the United States. What a Traitor and dimwit but then they are under the Republican flag and it is to be expected.
Even though they say they checked her background and what-not, I find that hard to believe. What was his process? Did McCain hang up a map of the states and and had target practice? Wherever his shot landed was where he would narrow his search to? If so, his aim is WAY OFF!
The fact that there was an ongoing investigation on her should have put up a red flag, even if she claimed that she was innocent. I've heard the good and bad from "the Best Political Team" 😉 and the fact that the McCain crew can't really give a clear example of how and what Palin has really done to show her so-called experience is saying something. Was this the best he could come up with? What a joke.
If she was, that is just further proof of Mccains irresponsibility
in making decisions.
Can you imagine Palin possibly running our country?
How terrifying. How total lack of disregard for us
and the future of the United States of America.
Jack, he even calls her his "soul mate". Thought
something that personal was for loved ones, very
dear friends.
The man just doesn't and is incapable of getting it.
Hmm, we may see a "graceful" decline by Palin
(entirely her own decision, of course} after all
this.
Palin was a post Biden knee jerk reaction on McCain's part. There was minimal vetting, and no doubt there are more surprises looming.
The search for Palin's replacement is now underway.
Extremely bad judgement on McCain's part. He should have sought Obama's advice.
I am not sure what "properly vetted" means. Palin is pretty & she is young....younger than Obama even....she is female, she is "pentecostal" (is that the same as a born again Christian)? Palin is also more of a "maverick" than McCain could hope to be and she is a "right to life" believer. Well....I'm not sure what "right to life" and a war monger have in common, so I'll accept she is more of a "right to birth" believer. She is under investigation for firing a commisioner for not firing her ex-brother in law, she knows little about federal politics, foreign policy, how to get along with the Alaskan Republican party. She has a down syndrome baby and obviously someone to care for the baby while she & her husband are working. If in McCain's White House, the VP position holds little "real" responsibility, Palin would probably fit right in. However, if Palin should through critical happenstance become president, what does she have to offer? McCain hasn't answered that question, Palin hasn't answered the question. I don't care what her qualifications are for VP, I want to know what qualifications she has to govern a country......that should be (in my opinion) the most important question that should be asked and answered. Has the Republication machine vetted her life enought to give us an answer? I DON"T think so.....!
Was Palin vetted?
She was checked up on by McCain, was it a good job, maybe not. She has personnal problems just like anybody else. If her daughter wants to get pregnant that is her daughters deal, Palin should not hold up her life for her daughter. Her daughter and her bed buddy need to care for their child.
Palin needs to run for vp and for McCain.
Thank you
David
Vetted? McCain acts like he doesn't even know what that means. It doesn't matter because Republicans don't lose votes over personal scandals. They get votes by spreading lies and by spewing dogmatic ideology that just gives them a teflon defense against personal attacks whether they are true or not. Anybody who personally attacks McCain or Palin is anti-god according to the far right-wing part of the Republican't party.
No.
If Palin were properly vetted, I doubt she would have become McCain's pick. I scratched my head over this pick, and I am still scratching.
Was Governor Sarah Palin properly vetted before being named John McCain’s V.P.?
Obviously not. She has ISSUES.
1. Pregnant 17 year old daughter
2. She tried to have brother in law fired
3. When brother in laws boss wouldn't fire him, she had him fired
4. She paid for 527 with lobbyists to support corrupt senator Ted Stevens
5. She asked for $27 MILLION in FEDERAL earmarks for her town of 6700
And this only scratches the surface.
Jack, could you just imagine if Chelsea Clinton was 17 and pregnant? The "righties" would have crusified her, Hillary and Bill.
Jenna
Roseville CA
How in the heck do I know Jack? According to McCain she was. According to McCain, he's right on everything. Take it for what it's worth, which coming from McCain is worthless.
I think it's becoming increasingly apparent that Sarah Palin was not properly vetted. The fact alone that she's being investigated for abuse of power and that the investigation was approved just days before she was announced as the running mate proves that. Not to mention her voracious seeking of 'pork' money for Wasilla. 27 million dollars to her home town of 6700 people. This is McCain's signature issue and he's picked someone who's nearly the poster child for why he's supposedly against it.
Is she really the best person they had? Or was she just the prettiest most extreme conservative they could find?
I find it laughable that McCain says her measly 18 months in office qualifies her as someone a breath away from the most important job in the world. Ahmadinejad and Putin will eat her for lunch.
Im so tired of your partisan journalism. Its obvious you and your network are left leaning. To say the republican brand is irrelevant and has lost its integrity is merely wishful thinking on your part. The only candidate that has not been properly vetted in this race is Sen. Obama. He is the top of the democratic ticket, and he is the one who has numerous associations with shady/America hating characters. Maybe you, Mr. Cafferty, should be a journalist and look into these associations and stop attacking one party and not the other.
Nope.
McCain was sweating bullets after Obama's speech at the Democratic convention and decided to try to play dirty (imagine that) and pick a woman to try to rally the Clinton supporters into his Camp.
Palin is NO Hillary and she definately wasn't vetted or McCain would have never picked her. There are way too many strikes against her and the media has just started digging around.
My prediction is that she will site "family issues" and "that family must come first" to withdraw from the race.
But the damage is already done. McCain's policies have always been in question.....and this Palin pick just puts the icing on the cake as far as his judgement goes.
Jack, I wonder if YOU care about one viewer's input? Seems no one else at CNN does! And, perhaps you might think this is very miniscul and insignificant, but to a viewer like me, it's not.
Here's the issue: It's the over-used, abused and trite phrase "Right now". Yes that's it! It's so distracting and annoying, to wonder when the report will be redundant once again, and show their poor journalism habits. It's distracting from the story and turns me off bigtime! Biggest offender on your network; Wolf Blitzer, whom I've crowned as "The King of Right nows". Disgusting. Most of CNN's reporters, not unlike other networks, are guilty of this. It bugs me greatly, and again, does anyone at CNN care? I don't think so.
Mac Magee
Cane Beds, AZ
Yes , I think he did and for those who seemed to wanna bring up things that have nothing to do with running a country (like how many houses someone owns ) should go to a deserted island and shut up. Sarah Palin will make a great VP why is there so much sexism in this world. women can do all kinds of great things and do it even better then a man sometimes .
She was properly vetted, Jack. But that's precisely the problem – instead of selecting Tom Ridge or another, more moderate candidate reflective of America's true views and values, McCain skewed to the far right in hopes of stirring up support from the ultra-religious right wing whacko element of the party.
Sadly, in doing so he's picked a Vice Presidential running mate who, potential personal issues aside, is staggeringly unqualified to serve the American people as Vice President, let alone President.
everyone knows that john mccain is beholding to the big oil companies. its all he talks about. so why would he pick a v.p. that is reputed to be against big oil? it has been said that she is against drilling in anwr. she claims to have taken on the big oil companies in alaska. the oil companies do not like her. the answer is obvious. the real goal here is to remove her from the political theatre in alaska so that the oil companies can come in with their big money and influence. mark my words, once this goal has been achieved, they will discard her like a used candy bar wrapper.
Probably not, if the Republican’s are just now sending a team up to AK. It seems they missed a few small details in the process.
I guess McCain thought a fifteen minute meeting in Feb., 2008, a brief cell phone conversation, and a nice backside (which he seemed quite taken with, as he fiddled with his wedding ring, during her first speech) qualified her.
His first presidential decision was made on a dime. McCain picked her because of her plumbing, and her ideologically correct resume, with no regard for our country; just his personal success.
Remember: Katrina was brought to you by a Reap party ideologue with “executive experience.” Experience and smarts do count.
Yes, Jack. McCain had a 15 minute phone call with her.
Jack, I don't see how. I don't think they would have choose her had they known all that they do now. If McCain would have picked Liberman or Pawlenty or even Romney, I think I would have been able to respect him more. He knows these guys, and have worked or debated with them before. He knows much more about them. But to have only met someone 1 time in person for and think they are ready to be second in command for the country, to me shows poor judgment. It's funny how the whole party now loves her and act like this is the best choice he made, Ask Pawlenty and Romney if this is the best choice McCain. If you talk to republicans about Palin, it sounds like they all have been abducted by the Borg.
I doubt she was...and why should the Republicans do that. They sold GW to the majority twice.
Sure she was, didn't you hear McCain say she was just what he needed: A mother of 5 with a 4 month old again I say a 4 month old special needs baby, a teenage mother to be daughter, anti-abortion views, pro gun stance, oil man husband and lets not forget the earmarks she procured for Alaska but of course she doesn't believe in them now. McCain himself said she has never requested one earmark dollar, really John you might just want to review that section of the vetting process. PS. CNN Please don't fall asleep on this story like you and the rest of the media did during the run up to war.
Bill
Bealeton VA
Evidently she meets all of McCain's criteria. That said, we need to question McCain's standards. Remember, though a war hero, his morals have been questionable for years (bopping the Beer Bimbo while still married to 1st wife). Until now I didn't find this offensive because McCain wasn't forcing his religious beliefs down our throats.
I'm happy that Palin and her daughter had the freedom to choose to carry both children to term. Palin's 5th child will be a burden on society, but it is a burden blessed with personal freedom. Her daughter's child will also bring added costs, but again, I support her right to choose. Freedom means we get to choose our own moral and ethical standards. Personnally, I may not condone abortion, but to force a woman to give up her freedom to choose is anti-American. Conservatives respect the right of freedom. Those who choose to dictate morality are anti-freedom.
Probably the most important decision a candidate makes during the campaign–I can't imagine the McCain campaign not having a frank discussion about it with Governor Palin. The fact they chose her anyway gives me the feeling that she is a very tough woman who can take it and dish it out too. I think Senator Biden might have a tough time in the debates. The race is wide open and suddenly very interesting again.
Yes, can you guys prove she wasn't? When McCain started the Vetting? palin better hold on tight-she about to get Master to Slave walking Orders-As my Ex used to tell in between the hitting-Better asked first- I will be the one making the decisions- Get permission- The Clinton's Forgot to do that themselves through you guys.JACK
No, I do not think that she was properly vetted. If the republicans say she was, then be honest with the voters, reveal the facts that they used to determine she had no improper involvement in "troppergate".
Tell us when they were informed of her daughter's pregnancy and the standards that they used to still justify her VP selection. It was just months ago that a principle in a Mass. town resigned or quit his job based on the overwhelming negative response due to a number of girls in his high school becoming pregnant out of wedlock. Now McCain spokespersons and media pundits are saying that this makes Ms. Palin even more attractive to "Middle Class America". What a bunch of double standard hypocrites!
Jack,
No, she was not. It is clear that by nominating a woman with whom he only met once, who happens to be in the midst of a controversial investigation, and who has a mere 2 years in the not-so-national spotlight, McCain did not thoroughly vet Mrs. Palin. What's more, by picking a "token" (and clearly inexperienced) woman as his mate, McCain has effectively erased any significance from the vice presidency, and instead has turned it into a mere pawn in this game called the election. Does any woman suffice to replace the likes of Mrs. Clinton? How low a bar can he set?
Orlando,
Boston, MA
Jack: In the eyes of the republicans she was vetted. I continue to be mystified in the middle of our current American crisis that no one sees how bad things are and how much worse they will get unless we make change. And I do not mean a fishing hole on the front lawn at the White House.That the polls only show the democratic party up by 5 points. I am astounded at the pick when so many more qualified women represent us throughout this great country....but that is John McCains choice in Women...after all Cindy has matching cloth to wrap around her cast to match her dresses...I think that is all that matters. Go figure.
Anne/Netcong New Jersey
No she was not. It's that simple. John McCain met her once, selected her as a last resort and chose her not based on any so called credentials but in a vain and selfish attempt to appease the Republican base and court Hillary Clinton supporters who would not vote for him anyway. John McCain did not even check to see if she was under investigation for ethics violations. In hindsight it seems the campaign failed to vet Sarah Palin to see if she was qualified enough to be a parent, let alone Vice President of the United States.
Nick, New York City
No way, now how. But what choice does he have? He can't possibly acknowledge now that he really didn't know. The republicans have go to put on their game face.
I agree – family should be off limits, but if the shoe were on the other foot the hypocritical republican right would be making a major issue of this for sure. That's what really disgusts me about this particular issue.
She was not vetted . Mccain had a senior moment when he picked her. The next day he looked as surprised as everyone else we he was introducing her.
That is not MCain's decision. I beleive he has been hihacked and he does not speak for his campaign. i am going out on limb and say I finally think Mcain is too old to be president. He does not control anything around him.
Let's say for the sake of argument that his VP pick WAS properly vetted. Than what does THAT say about McCain? We have 2 major wars, an economic depression and SOOO much more and instead what is the Republican party's new mantra? How great that Palin's daughter is having the baby?! Snap out of it America! Our sons and daughters are dying on foreign lands far from the people who love them! McCain (just like Bush) sure knows about the power of Deflection!
I find it very interesting that when I was investigated for a top secret clearance while in the Air Force, it took over a month and just about everyone that knew me was questioned about my character and background. I could have saved the taxpayers a lot of time and money if only I had run for the office of Vice President.
John (in Florida)
It's painfully obvious (for the GOP) that she was not vetted properly. This was a gimmic selection, plainly. A horrible misjudgement by McCain and it will be the biggest factor in the GOP loss this November. It seems that there are new scandalous information being released hourly. Do Republican voters think they can win with just about anyone or hasn't the truth sunk in yet (it HAS been a long weekend)?
It doesn't appear that they fully vetted her. It was a knee jerk reaction to the success of the DNC. McCain knew he was behind and tried a holy mary throw at Palin except she's wasn't the best choice. I don't believe this will go away. And its getting worst the more we learn about her. She should resign. I don't want her possibly being the President. The stress of McCains campaign might kill him. She's not qualified to run the country.
She was not Jack. The campaign may deny all they want but the whole world knows it. The maverick image may seem appealing to John McSame but what we now see is that there is a very dangerous tendency to this image. He seems to me to be like someone, who would in time of crisis, secretly press the war button even after his cabinet votes for diplomacy.
My English bulldog was vetted better by the AKC. Is there room on the White House lawn for a double wide?
Absolutely not. Evidently Senator McCain had met Governor Palin twice in the past (likely through Cindy McCain while they were exchanging Moose Burger and Cookie recipes and discussing their respective monthly PTA meeting's themes...).
90% of the American public had never even heard of this individual before last Friday morning. The deeper the investigators dig, however, it becomes pretty clear that she has all of the hypocritical personality components that would make her a perfect compliment to John McCain's in his ridiculous fantasy run at the White House.
It's a last-ditch effort by McCain to attract Hillary supporters based on gender and a foolish one. It's also one that he will, in true egotistical McCain style, defend to the finish. Arizona has had to contend with this bumbling, bullying criminal for the past three decades. I can assure the rest of your viewers, you do NOT want him and his gang in the oval office.
Thanks for all your great work, Jack. Stay intelligent!!
No. If she had been vetted thoroughly, you wouldn't be seeing teams now going ot Alaska to vet as well as try to suppress the report on Troopergate that is to come out at the end of October.
Personally, I couldn't believe that she would throw her daughter under the bus to protect her political career. As a mother, I was disgusted.
Instead of trying to suppress the rumors about her 5-month-child and who was the mother by saying "Bristol is 5-months' pregnant so she couldn't be the mother", she should have done the decent thing and pulled out of the race so that Bristol would not have to undergo this kind of media attention. Instead she focused full media attention on this vulnerable 17-year-old.
My heart goes out to Bristol. Sadly, her mother seems to have little heart.
Of course. She is the perfect compliment to a candidate who wants to keep the Bush strategy. Palin outed her ex brother-in-law just the same way Cheney outed Valerie Plane. The McCain candidacy is right on course.
I think so. Maybe. I don't remember, I'll someone on my staff look into that.
John McCain
How to you spell NO. Gov Palin was a strong advocate for Abstinance Only forced into every Junior and Senior High School in Alaska. Yet this Abstinance Only stance doesn't even work in a well adjusted family of two smart people. This entire situation is a joke. This is only to appease the Religious Conservatives to have an anti-abortion people.
Alaskan moose are more thoroughly vetted than Palin was. John McCain admits to one fifteen minute visit with Sarah Palin before considering her as a running mate. While a lot of pundits say this is indicative of McCain's lack of judgment(which is arguable), what it says to me is that John McCain isn't the person making the decisions in his campaign. In short, he's just a soldier following orders. The GOP is punting this election, which is fine by me, but they're not admitting to this simple fact. If, god forbid, McCain manages to eek out a victory (paging the Supreme Court and Diebold), it won't be because of anything he or his campaign have done right.
Vetted? If she was vetted you would think they would have looked in the archives of the Anchorage newspaper. And saw things like the continuing feud she's having with the Alaska legislature's other Republicans.
We've only seen the tip of this Alaskan iceberg.
Hey Jack,
Of course they properly vetted her but this is McCain. He doesn't care about the disconnect between Palin's values, lifestyle, and parenting skills. Since Obama appeals to our highest aspirations, McCain figured he'd capture the other end of the spectrum, the "do as I say and not as I do" crowd, the underbelly of American society.
Get real Jack, of coarse she was. The oil in Alaska and the fact that she is into guns are nothing compared to the air time they are getting for her daughter not knowing how to use contraception. McCain had nothing to talk about but the vietnam war thing, now he can point to Palin and ask "Isn't she everything you want in an American woman? " He is going after the fair weather Hillary supporters and it's so blatant it's a shame.
From Ft Lauderdale, FL. If Palin was properly vetted then why are McCains people on the ground in AK researching her backround now. Doesnt sound like she was vetted to me. On a side note I dont understand how people can say she has the same amount or more experience the Obama just because she has been a govenor and has executive experience, does that mean she is more experience than McCain, who also has no executive experience? She is barely surviving her first 96 hours as a candidate. Obama has been doing this for 19 months, I think that should count for experience.
Anyone who tries to claim that Sarah Palin was vetted properly is living in dream land. After almost 2 years of campaigning I still hear people questioning what skeletons are in Barack Obama’s closet, so how am I supposed to trust that a Governor whom I’ve never heard of, and has only met John McCain one time, has been investigated thoroughly?
In less then a week of being announced several stories about Mrs. Palin have surfaced and it really makes you think about what else might be out there.
I know she wants to drill in Alaska, which she can push for as Governor of that state. I know she wants to throw out Roe vs. Wade, which I assume every person running on a Republican platform wants to do. So what does she bring with her to the White House other than 5 children?
Jack I also want to add that I worry about a potential Vice President having a new born baby. I have never met a mother who didn’t occupy 90% of their time worrying about their newborn children and I don’t want her mind to be elsewhere if she’s sitting across the table having negotitions with Vladimir Putin. Having children is one thing, having a fairly newborn baby is something else. I can think of many other women McCain’s staff could’ve chosen, if that was the way they wanted to go, that would be so much better for the job. Why not Elizabeth Dole or Kay Bailey Hutchison? If this is putting country first, I don’t want to see what John McCain puts second.
Ed
New Jersey
Let's assume Palin is fit and would make a stellar VP. More important than the VP, this entire process by which McCain made this choice is remarkably revealing about the presidential candidate and how he would make critical decisions:
1. He met the future VP only twice before handing her the job. Apparently, like Bush, he looks into their eyes and finds "his soulmate".
2. He was rushed into a decision by Republican party leaders. A true maverick?
3. He made a quick choice when he knew he couldn't get what he really wanted. Thus, plan A consumes McCain and plan B is a rapid afterthought. Skills acquired from Rumsfeld and Bush, I'm sure.
4. He claims (despite all evidence to the contrary) that he had gathered enough evidence to make his choice. Who was vetting for him? George Tenet and Bush's CIA? Iraq Part II... at least this won't cost trillions of dollars and human lives... at least not yet.
5. Finally, when the decision appears spurious and raises questions, McCain just touts the Talking Points, none of which are based on reality: (a) Palin did not object to Bridge to Nowhere until it was politically correct to do so (b) Palin ran after earmarks as mayor of W* (I can't remember the name, sorry), (c) Palin and Stevens are joined at the hip, and (d) Palin is currently under investigation for her own ethics.
These observations lead us to question McCain's judgment, and given the remarkable parallels to George W. Bush, raise the question whether all leaders of the Republican Party share these qualities.
Jack,
McCain wants to be called "a maverick", but the religious right wing of the party told him Lieberman and Ridge were unacceptable pro-choicers, and McCain proved he was afraid to take this part of his own party. That's no maverick. Then he takes short-cuts in vetting Palin. Guess he cares more about spin than vetting.
Thanks,
Tim M.
Chicago
Jack, Are you kidding me..All it took for McCain was to see her radical and unbelieveable ideas on abortion, global warming, and offshore drilling; oh and of course she's a woman...
With Palin's beliefs in anti-abortion (even rapes and incest), humans aren't responsible for global warming (over 95% of experts say it's true), she didn't like the idea of polar bears being put on the endangered list because it would affect oil drilling in Alaska (total lack of protecting nature), she makes a perfect candidate for this silly ticket of fools..
McCain's choice of Sarah Palin is not only irresponsible (does anyone think she'd make a good President??), it's insulting to women. Imagine if he chose an inexperienced black man just because he was black? As for her daughter....oh, please! The only good thing to come out of her public pregnancy is the hope that parents will FINALLY accept the fact that "Just Say No" doesn't work for birth control any more than it worked for drugs.
My question is, how in the heck is she going to do V.P. work while having to raise her daughter's daughter? Let's face it, all grandparents end up having to raise their pregnant teen's kid.
We want someone who can devote huge amounts of time when doing our country's business...not "Mom." We can't take that chance!
He certainly vetted her butt during the roll-out speech! Does that count?
Obviously she was not properly vetted or all this negative "stuff" would not be coming out about Gov. Palin now. Unless... this was the McCain campaign's plan all along. Choose Palin the week the Republican convention was to start, to consolidate the Christian conservative base. Then once the base was in love with her, let all the negative stuff come out, and the base would blame the liberal media, the democrats and the Obama campaign. Now, Gov. Palin resigns (looking like a martyr) and McCain gets to pick Liberman, who he wanted all along.
Gov. Palin is a "red herring", and this herring stinks!
How could she have been vetted with the things coming out about her? Now, I see there's a video of her proclaiming before her lifelong church that the war in Iraq was a "task from God". What? You want an example of a running mate who will not only assure four more years of the same, how about one hoping to give us 16 more years of the same?
There is a gossamer separating maverick from reckless. McCain's choice of Palin as Vice President confirms he was, is and will continue to be the latter. May God save the U.S.A.
Who cares? She's a former beauty queen, Cindy McCain looks like a model and Carol McCain, was a model and dumped by John after a terrible accident and she didn't look like a model anymore. That shows where John McCain places his priorities. I guess he picked her to be the pretty girl in the republican Alpo commercials
Was she vetted sufficiently?? Of course she was.. at least by Republican standards. The pregnant daughter is a personal matter and that should be left to their family to sort out. ALA the Clintons. But the investigation for abuse of power is a much different thing. When the McCain crowd heard about this one, they jumped all over her to be the VP.. Why?? She is a "natural".. We all know that McCain is a Bush clone..BUT to come up with a Veep who can abuse power with the greats like Bush and Cheney!!!! Hey.. exactly what they needed a Chency clone... I just wonder when she is going to shoot someone??
Jack,
Stop picking on McCain! You know full well he just learned how to use the internets! When he gets introduced to "google", I'm sure he'll do a proper vetting!
B.C. Canada
If the Evangelists recind their McCain endorsement then Sarah Palin was not properly vetted otherwise a notarized note from John McCain's physician guaranteeing that if he should be elected he will remain in perfect health throughout his 4 year term it will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Palin was indeed vetted adequately to be sequestered to an unknown location for the duration of her term in office.
Let's see now:
She fired the chief of law enforcement because he wouldn't fire her brother in law
Her 17 year old daughter is pregnant and as governor she advocates the teaching of abstinence and opposes sex education
As governor she hired a lobby group to get her millions in the so called earmarks that McCain says he totally opposes
And what else?
If Governor Sarah Palin properly vetted I cant figure out what she was being vetted for. The only thing that seems to fit is he was vetting her to get some controversy going about his own competence?
There is a gossamer separating maverick from reckless. McCain’s choice of Palin as Vice President confirms he was, is and will continue to be the latter. May God save the U.S.A.
That's hard to say Jack, If i knew that her husband was once arrested for drunken driving, her 17 year old daughter is now 5 months pregnant out of wedlock, and their is sometype of ethic investigation going on, i would not accept her to the Second highest position in the land. If the V.P. nominee can't manage her own house, how could she manage the American People's House?
Of course Governor Palin was properly vetted, After all, McCain was a POW.
Jack,
I'd like to ask 1 question to McCain and his microphones who praise his selection that no-ones seems to ask. Would he have asked her to be his VP nomination if she was a he?
Jack, I think this is a good example of how McCain would run the government. He would totally relay on advice( political on everything) from his political cronies, and never check anything out himself. He thinks winning at any cost or manuveur is OK, regardless of the ethics or outcome for the American people. He thinks this thing is about him, and him only. We have already had eight years of this and its led us to disaster. Meeting with and speaking with his VP choice ( essentially choosing who will be a heart beat away from leader of the free world)just twice is incompetence in spades. I would say something about this being as important as choosing a spouse, but we all know how little importance he places on that. Mark- Republican in PA
Jack,
It is obvious that in McCain's mistaken haste to get some woman who he thought would be a fill in for Hilary, he indeed did not vet Palin(fallin) properly. He and his staff are trying to put a positive spin on what is definitely a losing proposition.
This is another demonstration of poor judgement from someone who was 894 out of 899 in his class(can you believe that). Obama has shown very good judgement in the issues that mean most to this nation. He demonstrates why he(Obama) graduated "magna cum laude". We did not need another idiot(McCain) in the white house; we have two there now.
Obviously she was not properly vetted! This is the most ridiculous selection in American history. The woman doesn't even know what a Vice President's role is. She is far right wing. Those women who may be swayed by her outdated views better think twice. She may say she is pro-life but her boss John McCain is ready to get us into all kinds of new wars. If that is pro-life, leave me out.
Also, a woman with 5 children has no business in Washington politics–she should be home taking care of the children and their needs. Most importantly, she needs to be teaching them the morality of abstinence and put them in school! I think home schooling is a joke! Wake up America and vote for the EXPERIENCED TEAM – OBAMA/BIDEN.
NO.......
Jack, I would answer that with an affirmative no. Had they spent the time in Alaska properly vetting her it would have definitely come out in Alaska. Everyone knows everyone's business out here. no secret is safe. Do you really believe John Mccain would make a decision to hire a woman who has all of these important motherly duties ahead her. He also, said he knew about the her daughter's pregnancy. What a lie. Jack, I thought i grew up in the ghetto. But just think of the possibilities. V.P. under serious investigation for Firing the boss of her former brother-in law because he wouldn't fire him, Moma Palin flying all the way across the country while her water has broken and is in Labor then goes back to work after three days eventhough she has a special needs kid, Daughter of the V.P calling the cops to come to the white house to put a restraining order on her baby's daddy because he is a self proclaimed redneck and he just wants to chill with his bros(bros before hoes is what the youth say) and he didnt want to get married anyway. And they tried to link Obama to Bristol I mean Britanny Spears. Are you Kidding Me! Anchorage
Of course she was properly vetted. She was vetted as much as McCain was prepped on his real esate holdings. This is the Grande Old Party, they do their homework when it comes selecting its leaders. Look at the White House, FEMA experts and DA's were carefully chosen too. The sad thing is the Hillbillies in the Midwest who voted against Gay Marriage in '04 may actually vote for this ticket because of her. We are a world wide joke!
No. It seems to me that McCain was much more interested in the "surprise" factor (his campaign's words) than in "putting our country first" by doing a full blown out vetting of someone that, God forbid, may have to assume the helm of President of the United States. It truly shows McCain's lack of judgement that "surprising" the MSM (and taking away from the likely bounce that Obama would have received from the Democratic convention) was more important to McCain than having taken the time to send his operatives to Alaska to do a full vetting of the person who will be "one heartbeat away" from being President. With today's difficult economic and geopolitical times, I believe that McCain put himself first, not our Country first.
NO... Vetting aside, McCain made this choice purely from the groins...not just his but that of all those conflicted (white) male Hillary supporters who like the idea of a "hot" and sassy woman toting a gun! Hopefully, they will all wake up from this temporary intoxication and and vote responsibly.
Jack, McCain choosing Palin may be the most recent in a long list of reckless behavior. Several major cable networks recently aired biographical sketches of Obama and McCain. What ALL of those showed about McCain was a LONG history of reckless behavior. From his days in Anapolis, son / grandson of Admirals, he was so busy engaging in reckless behaviors he graduated 5th from the bottom in his Anapolis graduating class of 800. To his more recent stump comments: "Bomb-bomb-bomb Iran ..." And now this! I'm a lifelong republican, female over 50, but I will NOT vote for McCain.
Obama's actions speak volumes about Obama's good judgement, by consistently!! putting community and country ahead of self interest. McCain on the other hand, continues to show us by his actions he is still the petulant little cowboy-run-amuck that he was at Anapolis - by consistently doing whatever HE chooses – no matter how reckless.
America cannot afford to have a Commander In Chief, who disrespects the good of the people, the protection of 'process', always choosing what satisfies 'self' FIRST. Country First McCain says? What a joke! McCain obviously did NOT follow the tried and true system of vetting national ticket VP candidates as he pursued a 'skirt' for his ticket. He would have looked much more careful, and more 'presidential' and perhaps even seen to put country first if he had chosen ANY of the other nominees: Romney, even Lieberman -heck Kay Bailey Hutchinson or other 'women' in the Republican party are more prepared at every level to be VP than Palin is this year.
We cannot afford a reckless character defect in our next President. The world is much too dangerous, and the US economy is much too broken to take such a risk. Obama get's my vote !!
John McCain's pick of Gov. sarah palin as his vice presidential choice is another reason to believe McCain makes decisions without really giving serious consideration to the subjects at hand. To say that this choice would get the Clinton diehards to vote for him is to say that those wemen were voting for Clinton because she is a woman and what she stands for is not as important as just being a woman. And, while we are at it, why are all the republicans trying to clean up this decision that McCain has made and McCain is not speaking for himself. They are really looking clumsey trying to explain this decision. Fred Livingston, AL.
I doubt it. However, if she was properly vetted, ...the McCain campaign must be absolutely brilliant! They've created a great sideshow!!!
McCain says he knew about all this stuff including picking someone currently under an ethics investigation to be his partner in cleaning up Washington. He knew her Evangelical Christian values had not extended to every member of her family. He probably knew she was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it. And he still chose the two term mayor of Wasilla Alaska to be second in line for the leadership of the free world. I believe him That's why you'd have to be a moron to vote for him. cy gardner arlington va
I hope she was. Because I would hate to think John McCain would select her to represent the entire U.S. and do it only to get " One Up" on Obama. This is more a question of judgement rather than vetting. If she was vetted & McCain STILL chose her after everyone knows he really wanted Lieberman leads me to believe he either caved in to the right or someone else made the decision. Either way is this who we want to be president? I think not!!!!
When is someone going to stand up and call McCain's VP pick the insult that it is: a token pick selected under the presumption that women do not analyze and weight politics, they simply vote for other women for the sheer fact that they are voting for another woman! As a woman, it is extremely insulting that McCain chose a women to "steal" Hillary voters. Did it ever occur to him that maybe women voted for Hillary because she was a qualified canidate, irrespective of gender and that women are not all going to aliegn behind McCain simply because he chose some no-name former Alaskan mayor that happens to be a woman! Give us some credit, McCain
How is Palin prepared to run as vice president or possibly president when she has a very young child with down syndrome to take care of? She would not devote enough time in serving our nation. Will she rather put her country first over her child?
Having gotten my girlfriend pregnant in high school and now being the father of two sons and three teenage daughters myself, I think the media needs to leave this issue alone now. When I was a teenager I was scared and confused enough with the situation, criticism and jokes that I endured at home and in school. I can't imagine what it would have been like if it had been plastered in the newspapers and TV. Times have changed. Please leave this family alone with regard to this issue so they can address it their own way. Everyone now knows all they need to now, let it go, move on and stop beating it to death. Let people make up there own mind and keep the media opinion to yourselves. In your liberal attempts to bring down what I consider a wise selection of Gov. Palin as a running mate you may also bring down a vulnerable 17 year old. The media has no conscience. By the way, I married my girlfriend and can't imagine life without my children.
Of course she wasn't vetted. Just another rash and reckless McCain decision. It's laughable that the rep. campaign says she is more qualified to handle a natural disaster than Obama. Well, we just had a cat. 2 hurricane hit our shores and what was Palin doing? Hunkered away out of sight to avoid media coverage about her pregnant daughter. Yeah, she was REAL helpful to the citizens of La. this time around. Really, America-wake up!!!!
I guess so. One thing she didn't need was a bimbo eruption squad to discredit old peccadillo partners. As you will recall, such a squad was once operated by a previous two term president, who lied about or denied his escapades repeatedly. Was he properly vetted?
She (Palin) should have said "thanks, but no thanks" to the bridge to the vice presidency. Speak about tough love! She's made her daughter the international poster child for unwed pregnancy! Take that, daughter! Getting pregnant when you should have been studying creationism and abstaining... Mrs. Palin is the one who made this an issue.. if she didn't want it to become one, she should have declined the offer. That's judgement?
No, Jack she was not properly vetted. McCain made a STUPID decision. He could have picked a better woman nominee like Olympia Snow or Kay Hutchinson. I wonder why her daughter was holding her little brother? Because she was hiding the fact that she was five months pregnant
Jack,
Senator McCain met with Palin once, and then in the second meeting he offered her the VP nomination. Foreign policy – I understand that she received her passport two years ago and she has visited two countries. Well....McCain's reckless judgment process in selecting Palin tells me that McCain fails the Commander-in-Chief pre-requisite. Hillary was right..."no way, no how, no McCain".
If you think that fifteen minutes is enough to do it, then is a YES!
She has just as much foreign policy experience as President Clinton had when he was first elected. If you discount his overseas Rhodes Scholar trip–she may have more.
This was a knee jerk reaction by McCain. If he really thinks she is the best candidate then I question his ability to lead this country. Obama gets it...McCain, doesn't have a clue!
Irresponsibility, poor judgement, These are the words that hit me inl ight of McCain's decision to choose a woman with serious family responsibilities. When a woman choose pro life, she also choose being a responsibile mother to her children and when a woman has serious child problemslike Down's Syndrome and a pregnant teenanger, she has even more responsibilities.
I don't want a VP who is a step away form a 72 year old president with those kinds of problems. I don't care what kind of politician she is, she is a poor mother who is not doing a very good job and is a poor role model to others. She needs to resign and take care of her family. She needs to stop saying her country needs her. Her family needs her. She needs to talk to her daughters and sons abuot sexual responsible and not abstinance.Obviously it doesn't work. Her ego is in the way of her role as a mother, so step down now.
McCain ,make a better choice. I am not even planning to vote for McCain but I am troubled that of all the leaders in America, we have this doddering old man and irresponsible woman running for the highest office in the country.
Thank G-d for Obama.All power to him. He is not perfect but he is a hell of a lot better as a leader than McCain and his poor choise of a VP
St. Petersburg, FL
Yet another example of Senator McCain's judgement process,
Ready, FIRE, Aim. Maybe this time his "advisors" may recomment
a second choice.
Who's working for McCain's campaign? Obamanites? Within a week of announcing Palin as a running mate, controversy is already swirling and these are issues that are on the surface. Can you imagine what will be dug up once the media really starts digging? Way to go McCain! Just give it away!!
I believe Sarah Palin was selected as nothing more than some sort of sick symbol that mccain thought would project an image of him as a real sort of with it guy. Personally I feel sorry for her as she is simply being used. There were a number of other much more qualified women out there that would have been much better choices for him. Maybe they were asked and turned him down..... can't really blame them.
Jack,
No!
Jack,
If we elect McCain and Palin....We deserve what we will get!!!
This pick was pandering to the Social Conservatives and Rush Limbaugh. She is not Hilary Clinton and Clinton supporters (I am one) will not vote for this so-called team. This is an insult to hard working women. My wife is insulted. My daughters are insulted...everyone I talk to is insulted....McCain does not deserve to the leader of the great country!!!
Would you ask that question if she were a man and not a woman, housewife, mother of 4 or 5, potential grandmother and a reformist? Like it or not, her family is the typical American family. Leave Sarah Palin alone.
McCain will continue Bush's suppression of information, disreguard for the Constitution, blind commitment to war . . . oh yeah, Palin passed the vetting test.
All the Republicans wanted was a woman – thinking that could pull in Clinton supporters. However the woman they selected is so far removed from reality it is very frightening. She is in labor with a child that she knows will be born with a problem and yet she travels from Texas to Alaska to give birth. She only supports abstinence sex education and her 17 year old daughter is pregnant(what damage will be done to her daughter by placing her in the national spotlight). She is under investigation in Alaska and has hired a lawyer. She has acquired millions from the federal government for her tiny town but says she is against pork barrel spending. Yet according to the partyline she raised 5 kids and was presdient of the PTA so she is more qualified then Obama and Biden to run the country. If that is the case I want to be on the Supreme Court – I raised 4 kids while dealing with 2 ex-husbands and working full time. McCain and the Republicans need to check themselves into assisted living – they are suffering from severe dementia.
For someone who tries to play the judgment and experience card, this is very worrisome. John McCain's aides confirm he only met her twice before choosing her as his running mate and on one occasion, very briefly. If John McCain can make a huge decision with such disregard for America's national security and a deep underlying selfish interest. Does that not raise a red flag on how hastily and selfish he makes his decisions if he becomes president?
She was vetted as much as OBOMA-MANIA was and didn't attend a church for 20 years where they God Damed America. Why don't you ask the people if they think the gay reports or forged birth certificate are true about Obama? You always ask questions to put the Republican Party down don't you? You and your CNN affiliates are so bias with the exception of Lou Dobbs that it's sickening. You have your head so far up Obama's rear that you'll never get it out. Oh by the way, I know this won't go on the air!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, her vetting was right up there with Thomas Eagleton....and hopefully with the same results!
No she was not at all vetted......This is the action of a desperate candidate who will do anything to get elected at the expense of demonstrating weak judgement...I cannot see this barbie doll a heart beat from the presidency...but again perhaps the republican candidate likes barbie dolls
McCain only met her once, how could he tell from that how well they could work together? Now it turns out she is in the middle of an investigation. Obviously she was not vetted properly and is not the best candidate for the job. She does not have the experience or more importantly, the knowledge to step in as President if anything were to happen to 72 year old John McCain. McCain put his campaign ahead of his country, and that is not acceptable.
And I quote, "Only in Republican America would a black man with a law degree from Harvard, 12 years in politics, four years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and manager of one of the most impressively flawless and forward thinking presidential campaigns ever not be ready for the presidency while a white female evangelical with 19 months in national politics and a bachelors in journalism is considered 'ready on day one'."
Obviously not because McCain just found out about the pregnancy recently.He only met Palin once or twice. Sounds to me that this process was more about betting on a VP candidate than vetting one.
BAHAMAS
It is really amazing reading the posted comments. They are not only extremely partisan, but downright mean and nasty. And this is coming from those ardent Obama supporters who want change to end all the partisan bickering – what a (sad) joke. Everyone should be reminded of several realities: Obama's mother was 18 years old when she gave birth to Obama, married a man already married, and then left him simply because he was "moving away". Experience wise, Palin has more experience than Obama, Obama sole experience is 2 years as a state senator, and just 145 days in the US Senate before hitting the campaign trail for the presidency. And what is more shocking, Obama was given the sub-committee on Afganistan, and never held one hearing! This nothing but the pot calling the kettle black. What total hypocrisy!
Roy – Jacksonville, Fl
The GOP rarely cares about the "FACTS".
I'm sure McCain and his handlers implicitly said, "damn the facts, we can spin anything, anyway we need to". Isn't that the way they have behaved for years?
Sebastian (Carlsbad, CA)
Yes, I believe she was thoroughly vetted. Even with all the negative information coming out about Palin and her experience and track records as Mayor and Governor. McCain felt that she was the best pick for VP and a person who was ready to be President on day one. Even though it is clear that she has no foreign policy experience. This tells us more about McCain than about Palin.
I know McCain didnt choose Sarah Palin,he wanted Lieberman.Karl Rove chose Palin, especially after his comments today that Palin was the right choice because they wanted to appeal to the soft republican base and the swing voters who would love her as a "gun toting,hockey-playing mom." These are the qualities looked for in a person a heartbeat from the presidency?.Please.Plus,McCain's advisors never answer the questions they are asked by the media, they always change the subject.
Hi Jack, my name is Greg and I am from Valdosta, Ga. I just wanted to give you, Wolf, and the rest of CNN crew a that a boy. I watch you all a lot. You'll lean your story one way or the other. You also give both sides. I like that. Well keepit up and be safe.
Wow!!!! Surely, McCain is shocked that is pick for V.P. is being examined this closely. You can hardly blame him. After watching the media (especially Mr. Cafferty) glaze over the complete lack of foreign policy of Mr. Obama, can you really fault Mr. McCain for thinking it wasn't really that big a concern? I have to presume that Cafferty's next on-air question will revolve around Obama's lack of ANY kind of substantive experience... right?
Jack, the choice of Palin as McCain's running mate revitalized the GOP and given them more hope for the future campaign and Presidential Election. Her value to the Republican Party and her abilities as Governor and as a future Vice President are the only factors that should have determined McCain's choice.
Hey Jack, The bunch from Little House On the Prairie are having a "SHOTGUN WEDDING". I just wondered if you guys are invited, I know Fox News will be there.
Al Lucas, Leesburg , Fl
With all the issues that have come up since Palin was supposedly vetted, she should change her name to Shirley Youcantbeserious.
McCain got his soul mate maverick sidekck and then some. Almost every hour a new "scandal" drips out. McCain who is a known to enjoy playing craps is putting the country at risk with his reckless judgment. For all the happy talk from GOP land regarding Palin I doubt they are willing to stake their bets on McCain/Palin come November. She'll be removed from the ticket by the end of the week. Obama/Biden is looking better all the time.
I suppose she was vetted, I hope she was before that decision by McShame!
To me, as soon as I saw what the vetting should show, I would have said, "No thanks to that one".
He picked her to pander for votes, but, it seems it might not have been such a good idea.
Just my thoughts.
I think she was vetted all right, but not by McCain. She was plucked from Alaska by Karl Rove to use as a prop at the convention. Her image is being carefully crafted in order to appeal to evangelical women - the group largely responsible for electing George Bush. Let's hope the American people learned their lesson last time.
No Jack, but she is fresh to the areana as the Democratic President Nominee, Barack Hussian Obama is. He has 1 term in Senate and the Alaska Governor is in her current term. Oh, is Barack in his orginal first four years!! Well, there you go, lets be picky now!!
It was a rushed vetted process. Mccain was forced to accept her at the last minute by the moral conservative base or see his financial backing and party go down the toilet, Well for all of their holier than thou moral platitudes, this party has been disrupted by a hurricane, has an abuse of power investigative scandal going on, web sites revealing that they are lying about her position on the bridge to know where and, now a family crisis. By the way Why did Palin elope? Was her moral values compromised those 19 years ago?.
N, she was a rush job. However, from McCain's point of view, she is much easier on the eyes than Romney.
America would be much safer in the hands of Obama than McCain Palin ticket. I respect her accomplishments, but I don't think that ticket is ready for the oval office.
No way! It's so apparent that McCain didn't vet her before hand. If he did and he still choose her to be his running mate then his judgement is really bad. It's hysterical watching all of the McCain supporters trying to spin these events positive on the news. It's laughable and they don't even sound like they believe what their saying. Bay Buchannan during a question about Palin's lack of National Security experience even went so far as to say "Her son is getting ready to go to Iraq that's a start for her National Experience".
Now, we have Trooper Gate and a pregnant teen. It's all so ridiculous.
Palin was vetted by the republicans. Obama was allowed to slide in on his own, by the democrats and the media.
John McCain has shown his true colors as to his judgment for the good of this country he so verociously calls his first concern in Life.
He wanted Joe Lieberman, his campaign said, "No", he showed them. It's that simple.
Palin was not properly vetted, but that's not the issue. He chose her to spite his not-beloved republican party. He's not a republican. He's a one-man show, and he either gets his way or he will make you pay.
The republicans are showing support because they are expected to do that, but they are not stupid. John McCain takes that badge and he wears it with honor.
Donna Sherman, Scott City, Missouri
If she was vetted, they didn't do a good job. I think it is astonishing that McCain picked someone he only met once. How good he possibly judge her character that quickly?
My prediction, she bows out soon and it is all over for the GOP in '08.
Jack: she was about as vetted as McCain vetted the decission to go to war in Iraq...
that is to say....not very much
Jack – Senator McCain's pick of Sarah Palin speaks volumes about his judgment – this pick becomes a major gift to the Obama campaign.
Heck no. They vetted her the way the Bush Adminstration checked to see if anybody was qualified for a government job. They made sure her positions fit the approved Republican ideology, and that was all they had to know.
Course, what really happened was that McCain had hoped Obama would pick Hillary, and then he was going to pick Ridge or Lieberman. But Obama didn't, so McCain decided to fly off the handle and tap a little-known woman. He could have grabbed Huckabee, who has identical views to Palin without all the baggage, or he could have picked Olympia Snowe or Kay B. Hutchinson to try to grab Clinton women, but he decided to try for both, and he failed at both.
John in Columbus Ohio
There is no way that Palin could have been properly vetted. Either John McCain is really wreckless or he WANTS Obama to win. Bristol is 5 months pregnant and Palin is under ethics investigation. I give McCain more credit than to think he would risk the election by choosing a running mate with so many red-flags in exchange for one thing, her gender. This is absurd!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2008!!
Hmm, let’s see. Mayor of a town with less people than NYC has cab drivers, under investigation for official misconduct at the state level, shared a lobbyist with Jack Abramoff's firm, was a member of a party advocating secession from the union, book burner, and strong advocate for all the pork her little town could consume. I’d say the Repub vetting machine was working fine.
Mike Sutter
Piffard, NY
If McCain and his staff properly vetted Gov. Sarah Palin, I sure don't want this senator to be an airport security guard, let alone... a president of "Country First."
I don't believe she was vetted by the McCain camp at all. I cannot believe that John McCain would knowingly and purposely make such a mockery of his campaign, this election, and the American people by selecting Gov. Palin as his running mate unless he was under pressure; under pressure from someone who failed to even skim their copy of "Proper Vice Presidential Candidate Vetting for Dummies". This whole scenario is playing across our tv screens like a Saturday Night Live sketch, minus the humor.
This is what happens when a 72 year old decides not to listen to his advisors and make his own choice. I feel sorry for the Palin family most of all, did either of them stop to think what this will do to them? Guess he had better not try the age-experience-judgement relationship argument.
I find this entire "vetting" nonsense to be just that. If we believe the media (even CNN, and you guys should know better) , McCain will be sworn into office with 8 EMT's and 5 surgeons from Walter Reed in attendance; get a grip, life expenctancy for a 72 year old man is 10 years these days; now add a few since he will obvioulsy recieve excellent attention.
The "vetting" smacks of gender bias beyond belief; again, get a grip, anyone of you 100 year old white guys ever see "Juno"? A pregnant teen daughter doesn't disqualify you from high office; neither does having a gay daughter, or a husband who needs some Salt Peter in his morning coffee.
I'm more than a tad disapointed in CNN's response to this, and I say that as an Obamma supporter.
No, she was not and Mr. McCain show very poor judgement in making her his running mate. It's amazing to me how the republicans wants to compare her executive experience to that of Mr. Obama but I don't hear them comparing it to Mr. McCain. This woman is not ready for prime time much less the presidency and you can't switch skirts in this case. This is nothing more than obvious pandering to women. Again, Mr. McCain does not get it because the women that are attracted Hillary Clinton will not vote for a gun toting, moose eating, pro lifer.
What I am most concerned about is not that a teen is pregnant and unwed, but McCain and Palin's insensitivity to the girls predicament.
Before last week, Bristol was a young girl that made the choice to have her baby. She was comfortable with her choice and her life in a small town. No doubt, it would be a difficult time for her and an emotional one.
Her mother and John McCain changed all that Monday. Rather than weathering the storm with her daughter, Palin has put her on the front page of every newspapaer in the world. Anyone with any sense could imagine that the type of media exposure poor Bristol will endure is not good for her emotionally or for her child.
As usual, politicians like Sarah Palin put her ambition ahead of her obligations to her daughter. And obviously, John McCain is using the situtation.
While the McCain camp has called the media coverage "offensive," it was McCain's and Palin's amibition that has caused this poor girl to suffer.
He was looking at the package, not the details. Someone that would appeal to the religious right...check. Someone that would appeal to the gun lobby...check. Someone without the Mormon issue...check. A woman who (he thought) would appeal to disenfranchised Clinton supporters...check. I don't think they vetted her beyond that.
No way! No way!
The spokespeople are stumbling around Punch-Drunk, while the Obama campaign hasn't even thrown a punch!
I say again, Obama campaign has been silent and the McCain camp is punch-drunk! So no she wasn't properly vetted....
Jack, my thoughts are that although she was vetted for the VP candidacy it was not very thorough. If I was a Republican I would be outraged on what was supposed to be a vetting process. All of these allegations about Troopergate and the newest one about the daughter being 5 months pregnant has nothing to do with the vetting process. It has everything to do with decision making. I want a President that will make good decisions not someone who is reckless and irresponsible trying to prove their a maverick.
I hire all my company's managers after a 15 minute conversation...
This is a nightmare that has to stop. The republicans have been doing this kind of nonsense for the past eight years. Our country can do a lot better than these bums. I think John McCain is losing his bearing. Sarah Palin is too reckless of a choice for VP.
Republican voting Obama/Biden 08
Obviously not. This was a knee jerk reaction and not a well thought out decision. If she was being seriously considered earlier McCain would have put her out there to answer questions with the media just like he did with Lieberman and Romney. She never campaigned for him. Had she done a little of this maybe all these news stories would have faded before he nominated her. Instead, they are all the news.
McCain simply has no idea how she will help him other than to add more cheerleaders from the religious right. He needs to win the middle and he just lost them.
I used to believe that in January this country would get a fresh start no matter who won the Presidency. Now, I'm terrified.
McCain obviously vetted Sara Pavin thoroughly and you can expect that he will be equally as thorough and inciteful in his performance as president. Take my word for it, his administration will be as smooth as as his campaign.
Uh oh Jack, She is being vetted as we speak. The earmarks the fireings, the 20 million dollar debt she left as mayor, flip flopping, and her church. Another judgement issue against McCain. Don't be surprised if she withdraws from the nomination.
No Jack, Palin was not vetted. When you have to pull out Karl Rove to defend your VP choice, isn’t it obvious. John McCain tried to pull a fast one and was too smart for his own good. It seems that the maverick went from Bush’s side kick to way out in left field. It is insane to pick someone who is unknown, two months from the Presidential election, and then spend the whole time trying to defend your choice. But you know that it’s like his stance on Iraq, he can’t admit he is wrong in this choice either.
It shows Senator McCain disregard to the office of Presidency. He's a 72-year old with health issues and he selects an inexperience person to be his 2nd in command! His VP selection makes it clear that McCain is not fit to become the President of the United States of America. His total disregard to the country is made crystal clear by his VP selection. He just want to be President and doesn't care how to get there.
I can't imagine that she was properly vetted - surely a person willing to submit her 17-year old daughter to nation-wide public humiliation for the sake of her own ambition would be eliminated from consideration.
Jack,
I found it hilarious that the Republicans prayed for it to rain on Obama's speech night and then Gustav has nearly ruined all their plans for the RNC! Be careful what you pray for! God is always on time!
Photo's? One picture is worth a thousand words. All Palin and family photo's have been suddenly removed from the internet-even the famous Vogue ones. Why have they disappeared?? Interested in Texas
Clearly he did not. Sen. McCain's campaign is now driving in reverse. He wants to keep families out of public scrutiny, but has no qualms about his VP candidate using her youngest child as the poster boy for the anti-abortion wing of his party. She put that little boy in the arms of her daughter with a blanket large enough to cover up an obvious pregnancy during her introduction in Ohio by Sen. McCain. Under the cloud of a well-publicized ethics inquiry, this parent chose, for her obviously selfish reasons, to put her daughter's situation in front of 300 million Americans. Wasn't it bad enough that this young woman had to deal with this stress in a small town of 9000 where her Mom was once the part-time mayor? I am appalled that Sen. McCain would be that careless, and she so cruel.
What kind of presidential candidate and campaign staff would even consider her given her lack of foreign policy experience and currently being under an ethics investigation. It doesn't matter what the outcome of the ethics investigation- that's the kind of baggage a previously unknown candidate does not need to be bringing into anyone's campaign. No way McCain. She makes Obama look like an elder statesman.
Now Kay Bailey Hutchison would have been good for the ticket I think – as an Independent female voter – but we have party here who can only think one way – pro-life – that's the litmus test and it trumps everything... foreign policy experience, domestic policy experience, political experience. Good grief. I guess they could just run a rock for VP – as long as it was stenciled – pro-life.
Someone has to tell McCain that vetting a candidate is more than driving a candidate around in a Corvette.
McCain's lack of sanity sure has cost us all our own sanity!
I agree and disagree with Obama, family should be off limits, because usually family has no effect on one's duty to be president or vp....But I do think that this is revalent when it affects the American people. We all need to admit that women are much closer to their children and the matters of those children whether the fathers are present or not. So if you have a child whos having a child and you have one of your own thats 4 months with down syndrome, how can you be an effective mother or vice president or president if McCain crokes! One thing i have learned is that yes we can be a jack of all trades but only a master of one! And thats only if all other things fall to the waist side. Not to mention, that im offended highly on not only Mccain's choice but the reason he chose Palin, everyone knows that he wanted Clinton voters, does he think we are that dumb and superficial to vote for him because the vp has boobs? Pleas McCain, dont test our intelligence! Clinton was my choice and others because what she stands for not because she is a woman! And how can Palin allow herself to be used as a bait to lure woman votors. She should have told him "choose me because what i stand for. Not because I am a woman". Even Palin knows why she was chosen. Not to mention shes an ex beauty pageant. which all of the women he surround himself around....even his ex-wife he cheated on!
Jack,
Of course she wasn't vetted!! John McCain gave himself a little present-the evangelicals. As it turns out, Governor Palin is the gift that just keeps on giving.
I wonder how his famous temper is holding up?
Claire in Vermont
Properly vetted? You've got to be joking, Jack. This was a decision made in complete haste. McCain will do anything to win. Let's also talk about "her pastor" and how her beliefs will influence her political view. I am sure there will be more on this subject in the days to come. Anyone on the right that is even contemplating bringing up Reverend Wright against O'Bama, had better do some thinking now.
McCain has a beauty queen fetish-just ask Carol and Cindi. This is very scary, Jack. I hope people really do their research and get the word out there about Palin.
Cindi, Omaha, NE
No, it's obvious that she wasn't properly vetted. I simply could never vote for someone who has thrown her child to the dogs. Is refuting rumors about yourself by pointing to your child REALLY the thing to do? By the way, is it just me or is the woman shrill?
Yes jack, here is how it went, PTA member, check, Moose hunter, check, woman, check! We've found our veep!
Jack, if she was it was done very poorly. However, I believe she is only on the ticket to try to win the womens vote. She is not my ideal role model of a parent or a politician and she certainly is no Hillary Clinton.
I think John McCain wanted to appear different so bad that he went for anyone who would take him out of the box. I don't think he cared to properly investigate Palin's past or experience. I think it is incredibly disrespectful to all US citizens when you potentially risk our future for selfish reasons.
Sure, if you think John McCain wanted the first two days of the convention to be dominated by this question.
I don't think John McCain took sufficient care to insure that a person capable of stepping into the presidency was chosen. I also think it was an insult to women if it was assumed that women who supported someone with the qualifications of Hillary Clinton would automatically vote for the Republican ticket just because Palin is a woman.
I am shocked, with all the qualified Republicians for VP I cannot fathom Mr. McCain's choice, he must have been having a "senior moment."
She was vetted by a guy who stood, watched and laughed at the campaign trail as Hillary was reffered to with the B word. Something in common Palin Laughed as a radio talk show host refered to her political rival (a cancer survivor) with the same B word while mocking her as a cancer. Call it going for the female vote while basing their heads.
Palin? Family values? I guess she didn't care about the Bear sitting on the back of her couch and his/ or her family? Oh, I guess people are the only family values Sarah Palin has, and we now are seeing that those are pretty messed up too. Bad choice John McCain. My vote is sealed with Obama.
It's just more of the same. Can the Republicans be any more reactionary? This attempt to rally the female vote while appealing to Christian conservatives is @ best laughable. Let's see what Palin is really made of – Put her on stage to debate Biden and she'll want to take her dog sled of dogma and rhetoric on a fast track to Juneau.
regards,
Brian
In Chicago
Well this should let you know what kind of President McCain would turned out to be, he can't even make a sound judgement on his V.P let a lone trying to past judgement on Obama, who really did his homework. I just became a Democrat from this mess of Vice President stuff. I think she is uncapable of even being a sensible mother to monitor her kids affairs, can you imagine the type of policies should would suggest for us on foreign policies, what a joke
Absolutely not! I truthfully think that John McCain had someone else in mind; but decided the last minute about putting Sarah Palin on the ticket. He is so desperate. I sure don't want someone like McCain to run our country if he makes such quick choices without thinking it thoroughly through.
McCain's pedestrian investigation of Sarah Palin clearly shows a lack of judgment on his part. Perhaps he should have picked someone as boring as Joe Biden.
Absolutey not! I have nothing against her as person. The problem is John McCain and his maverick attitude. He didn't consider the Country First!
When I first heard the news that John McCain chose Sarah Palin, I admit I was kind of upset. If John McCain keeps telling voters that Obama is inexperienced, why did he choose a governor of only 2 years? John McCain is making himself look like a hypocrite. I think a more eligible candidate such as Tim Pawlenty or Romney would've been a better choice. I maybe only 13, but I'm still aware.
She was vetted to the satisfaction of John McCain – and that, in a nutshell, is the problem!
ALASKAN INDEPENDENT PARTY!
Ask McCain if patriotism is still an issue. The Alaskan Independent Party wants total seperation from the USA.She and her husband were members. No she was not vetted properly.
Of course not Jack, the republicans and John McCain dont care about the relevance of Sarah Palins experience or her family history. All they wanted her to do was be the Hilary Clinton and Obama of the Republican Party, a woman with some experience who could somehow bring new energy to the party along with her pregnant 17 year old daughter. Sounds like my kinda Veep.
Jack, No and this plays into the reason why no major company in the united states will employ a 72 year old man as CEO, I hope we americans consider the job for president most important when we make our decision to vote
The McCain campaign says they spent 3 hours interviewing Ms. Palin and she answered a 70 item questionaire.
So it was a little tougher than getting phone service - but not a whole lot.
Getting a liqour license would be a lot tougher.
- Les
Woodstock Ga.
Jack, to say that Sarah Palin was properly vetted for the VP position is to declare the earth flat, Santa Claus is real, I drive a Ferrari and other urban myths.
No she wasn't John Mcain is using this women to try and win an election and if i were a women I would be affended that he would think so little of my vote that a cheap trick like this would work, but sence I'm not I'll just say NO, shame on you Mcain
NO, absolutely not. Heck Jack, I'm even more qualified - at least I keep up on foreign affairs and the country by watching you and Wolf every night! But sorry, I'm not available because I'm an Obama supporter.
Debbie
Franklin Furnace, OH
Vetted, by what crack staff? Out of all the qualified woman who truly deserve such an opportunity, are you serious, you lost my vote....you can't make a good decision on a VP, I don't want you running my country.
Yeah, about as much as my pet schnauzer.
You have got to be kidding me – of all the arrogant, presumptuous . . . I think you are missing the point of having Palin on the ticket. The GOP base is absolutely enthralled by Palin – if they weren't motivated to get out the vote before, they are now. And the pregnant teen daughter – even better! If you've got a highly motivated base (which is what Palin brings to the table), nibble slightly at the margins of the working-class, socially conservative Democratic vote, pick up a small portion of women, drain a little off the Libertarian and independent base – the math ends up being really, really scary for Obama. The GOP base sees Palin as a go-to person for concerns about education, gun rights, family business – she reignites the common-man connection which the GOP was seriously alienating. And come on – let's stop the whining about foreign policy and experience. Obama fans aren't really in the position to be lobbing that grenade. The pundits (including you, Cafferty), need to stop jeering. NOTHING is ever what it seems at first blush – if you stop talking long enough to think about it, you will realize this could be a powerful and defining move by the GOP. The game has just changed. Put the little gray cells to work – and try to look beneath the surface, on this one.
here in new mexico we all find sarha not ready. mcain looks old and must be starting demetia vetting her took 1 meeting 1 pone call.!!! tom
I would argue that the vetting is irrelevant. If she's on the ticket, it's up to the voters to decide if she's experienced enough or not. She clearly has little experience. But she has run an organization of 24,000 employees with a $12B budget for about 2 years. Obama has some experience but little in an executive role. Today he is arguing that applying for a job (running for president) gives him the experience for the job. Wow. I'm trying that the next time I'm applying for a job.
As someone said earlier, I suppose McCain vetted Palin adequately with his up and down once-over... After all, this is the man who left his horribly disfigured first wife (a former beauty and model) when he came home from Nam and saw what she looked like. Yep, left her after being adulerous with Cindy, the "beauty queen" heiress. I can only imagine that his vetting of Palin has a lot to do with her runner-up beauty queen status, along with her age, of course... You know, much younger than Cindy, for sure. Obviously, McCain is a man who thinks looks mean a lot... Too bad, his have faded terribly and he's become a shadow of what he once thought he was.
I am not sure how well she was vetted, this is what I do know. McSame decided to continue with the George Bush policies of not telling the whole story. How can anyone be excited about this woman. Yes, things happen in every family, but how could a mother drag their childs name through the media like this? How could anyone look up to someone so despicable?
Sure, if you think a moose-eating, gun-toting, ice-fishing beauty queen is the best person McCain could have selected to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, I guess they did a good job.
What kind of woman choses to put her teenage daughter through this kind of publicity?
I think the Republican Party is trying to cover up the mistake of not properly vetting Sarah Palin. Not too good there are now pictures of her daughter drinking online. She may want to resign early and take care of her children because they need attention from both parents.