McCain: Palin Has Foreign Policy Experience Because ‘Alaska Is Right Next To Russia’
McCain: Palin Has Foreign Policy Experience Because ‘Alaska Is Right Next To Russia’
Today, ABC’s Charles Gibson questioned Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) about Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R-AK) foreign policy experience, noting that she hadn’t traveled overseas until last year. McCain replied by pointing out that “Alaska is right next to Russia“:
GIBSON: But as you know, the questions revolve really around foreign policy experience. Can you honestly say you feel confident having someone who hasn’t traveled outside the United States until last year, dealing with an insurgent Russia, with an Iran with nuclear ambitions, with an unstable Pakistan, not to mention the war on terror?
MCCAIN: Sure. And one of the key elements of America’s national security requirements are energy. She understands the energy issues better than anybody I know in Washington, D.C., and she understands.
Alaska is right next to Russia. She understands that. Look, Sen. Obama’s never visited south of our border. I mean, please.
Watch it:
This argument has quickly become the right wing’s favorite talking point, but today was the first time that McCain himself used it. Fox’s Steve Doocy first used it last Friday, Cindy McCain used it on Sunday, and on Monday, Karl Rove tried to argue that President Bush also had foreign policy experience because Texas was next to Mexico. Yesterday, neocon activist Frank Gaffney summed up the argument, saying that Alaska’s geographical location meant that Palin could grasp foreign policy through “osmosis.”
More on what we know about Palin in The Sarah Palin Digest.
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The GOP INVENTED Kool-Aid. Keee-rist.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:11 pmWhatever it is, it's contagious as hell... quarantine them all now, for the sake of the country...
Seriously... this is astonishing and incredibly cynical... they must think we're all as stupid as they are...
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:15 pmwho cares if Palin is qualified to be president or not. Mccain isn't qualified.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:18 pmThat clinches it. The GOP somehow found someone even dumber than Chimpy to run for Preznint.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 pmWow, the Stupid just doesn't stop dripping out of his mouth does it?
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:21 pmI simply can't believe that they're really trying to pawn off Steve Doocy's mouth-vomit as a foreign policy qualification.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:21 pmI know this is O/T, but I'm watching MR noun-verb-9/11 spew crap right now and I feel like hurling something at the TV. Grrrr.
Ok. Rant off. Sorry folks. Just HAD to get it out.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:22 pmTRoS, Wayne, what's horrifying is that there are even stupider people out there who will furrow their brows, nod, and say, "Hey, he's right." Aaaarrggghhh!
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:23 pmPinto, is Ruby, er, Rudy at the RNC? They let the pro-choice devil speak? Wow!
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:25 pmAfter getting to "know" her She is ready to be the GOP VP.
Make secret deals with big oil. Check
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:26 pmUse office to "go after" adversaries. Check
Shoot people in the face. Check "yep" "yep"
Pinto, is Ruby, er, Rudy at the RNC? They let the pro-choice devil speak? Wow!
Hi Jane,
They'd let Satan speak if he's willing to trash anyone who's more intelligent than them. What a bunch of asshats.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 pmSpeaking of trash--how do Republicans think they can dig us out of the avalanche of Republican garbage they've heaped upon us all these years?
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:29 pmTo paraphrase a popular saying from the 1980's:
Where's the Proof?
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:32 pm"They’d let Satan speak..."
Even Cheney?
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:34 pmYep, Caribou Barbie and her tuned out husband sure have my vote!
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:35 pmJane E. Schneider Says:
“They’d let Satan speak…”
Even Cheney?
LOL!
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:38 pmWell, Illinois is kind of close to Canada so I guess Obama has experience with that as opposed to Mexico.
It's not as though Palin ever actually went to Russia. If being close is enough to cite this as a skill of hers, how about someone ask her questions about Russia's current situation?
I'd have to imagine like most of her previous comments she'll just show a complete lack of interest if anything outside of her neighborhood.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:39 pmLOVE how tuned out hubby handed the baby off to the five year old..... classic.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 pmmargerine Says:
Well, Illinois is kind of close to Canada so I guess Obama has experience with that as opposed to Mexico.
_______
I love good nachos... so that qualifies me as an expert on Mexico, right?
And vodka... don't get me started... so therefore, I know all about Russia...
Shi'ite... this is easy... mebbe I should run fer office...
"Remember folks... a vote for Stupidity is... a vote for Stupidity!!!"
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:42 pm"She understands the energy issues better than anybody I know in Washington, D.C., and she understands." WTF,he met her only twice before nominating her and now she knows more then anyone he know;s on energy? What a damn liar, he will say anything. All the republicans are are all liars and deceivers. Every last one of them. The once so called maverick is right there drinking the koolade with all the other GOP zombies.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:42 pm...and by living in the same house as three cats, I have magically gained the ability to see in the dark.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:44 pmYesterday, neocon activist Frank Gaffney summed up the argument, saying that Alaska’s geographical location meant that Palin could grasp foreign policy through “osmosis.”
That's why I kept putting a copy of Halliday and Resnick under my pillow in my undergraduate days. I didn't do that with my biology texts, though; biologists know that such an idea is preposterous, and wouldn't let their wisdom leak out in such a manner.....
Cheers,
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:48 pmMaybe Rove is crafting this talking point to suggest that McCain's "experience" is based in his having been a POW in Vietnam and then lived in AZ which is right next to Mexico. One would think that they might try to remember that Canada is also next to Alaska so that the Governor has two (two two) foreign countries to deal with. But then Biden is from a state that borders the Atlantic Ocean so that must mean........
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:49 pmIs anyone else getting this funny little laugh, deep down with this Sarah Palin speech? It's almost like finding humor in watching a simpleton in high school get in waaaaaay over their head and having the new "cool friends" urging them on, up until they fall flat on their face and have everyone laughing at their failure. You know you should do something, but you know the person won't listen due to the new group they're surrounded by with and the attention they're getting.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:53 pmAnd I'm qualified to be Secretary of Treasury because I live next to a bank. Pleeze.
-AF
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:53 pmAndrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
pintosahab Says:
Jane E. Schneider Says:
“They’d let Satan speak…”
Even Cheney?
LOL!
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Thanks...but seriously, I'm guessing that Satan/Cheney probably isn't going to speak at the RNC--anyone know if he was even invited to speak? Or do even Republiskunks admit that he's scare people away?
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:54 pmI didnt get pregnant when I was seventeen. Of course, I am a male, but I did sleep next to a female.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:57 pmLOL! this is soooo f*$king stupid! and anybody who is stupid enough to repeat or even believe this should be laughed out of town.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:57 pmUnbelievable how incredibly dumb these lying wingnut extremists are.
I also once lived next to the gulf. Texas borders it. I am now qualified to be an oil drilling expert.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:58 pmShara is blowing smoke about "drill baby drill" but what she doesn't seem to know is that even if we started drilling
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:59 pmtoday it would be years before we started pumping and OPEC
would just smile and reduce production keeping the price high.
Y'know, as a democrat, I have been witness to some epic meltdowns by my party in my time. McGovern/Eagleton(replaced by Shriver), Mondale/Ferraro(who broke that glass ceiling Sarah?) and of course Dukakis. But this one by McCain/Palin just takes the Cake. I have never seen anything even this remotley embarrasing like this. And like the Democratic Party in the 70s and 80s, it will be a long time before the GOP is relevant again.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:00 pmHow, how!!! can anyone with a brain buy into this Sh*t! Hubby & I OWN a small business, we've seen our business go down under the current regime. Please Caribou Barbie, tell me how we'll do so much better in the next eight years.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:01 pmI worked in Alaska, Anchorage. I am also qualified in foreign policy with Russia because, you know, osmosis, so what if our entanglements are in the middle east.
Elect me, raise the bar.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:02 pmAt least McCain and his wife agree on one thing.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:02 pmSarah Plain and Dumb doesn't care about when we get the oil, just that the thought that we will drill is what she wants to put out there...timetables and real facts don't mean diddly to the GOP. It's like saying you have family values, then...oops!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:03 pmAlaska is right next to Russia. She understands that. Look, Sen. Obama’s never visited south of our border. I mean, please.
But John, America is right next to Mexico!! You understand that? Sarah has visited Russia? I mean, please.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:05 pmSo Xis, since I live in northern Minnesota, does that make me an expert on Canadian relations? Woo hoo! I'm qualified for national office baby! Oh, btw, I run a for profit and non-profit business......I must be in!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:08 pmAnd exactly how many Russians has she talked to?
Alaska is right next to Russia, Russian Siberia where the population density is 3 people per square kilometer. Alaska has a population density of only 2.6 people per square kilometer.
It's amazing that Palin ever got to talk to anyone, much less a Siberian.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 pmSo Xis, since I live in northern Minnesota, does that make me an expert on Canadian relations?
Yes, you understand that Canada is right next to Minnesota!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 pmOh goody!! I'm in, I'm in!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 pmPut Bush back on TV. We want Bush at the convention, we want Bush, we want Bush. I want to see another manhug with Bush and McSame as Bush spread across the front pages tomorrow.
I want to see Darth Cheney handing the deathray over to the GOP Bling lady.
I want to see them all! Put Bush, McSame as Bush, Cheney and the GOP Bling all on stage at the same time. I want pictures for everyone to see. Don't hide the leaders of you party, bring them out on stage.
Repuglicans, making a mockery of our government since 1981!
For more of the same,
Vote Wrinkly old white haired dude and GOP Bling!
McSame as Bush / Palin '08"
McCain, just like Bush, but older!
Repuglicans, economic conservative, strong on national secur..... ooooh look, something pretty and shiny!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 pmAnd I am a woman, therefore I believe she is a vindictive, religious extremist who hates me for my beliefs, and who (by the way) doesn't take care of her children. I am a liberal and believe every American deserves health insurance. I am a liberal who believes that polar bears will soon be extinct because of Sarah Palin and her mentors. I didn't make a penny last year from BP or EXXON. I believe they are sucking us dry. Right now I am so mad I could spit at this colossal insult to me or any other educated woman in America. Yes, she can smile and speak into a microphone, but she does not speak for me.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:25 pmI guess this means that Sarah is one of the fortunate few in America who has a map. I wonder if Sarah and Miss South Carolina are related, or just beauty-queen-sisters?
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:39 pmIt's over.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:46 pmMcCain is freaking moron with horrible judgment.
First thing President Obama needs to do is send the GOP back to school and this time they have to pay attention!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:49 pmSuch argument is a hollow one ,because if we follow this logic that means any candidate from the other 48 states(excluding Hawaii) is more closer to Latin America, Europe,Middle East, Africa, and half of Asia than a candidate from Alaska,as a result he or she will be more qualified than Sarah Palin in foreign policy.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:51 pmForeign policy does not mean Siberian Russia alone.
After all Moscow is thousands of miles far away from Siberia.
Good lord -- how can so many people of the same political party be so amazingly stupid?
First Doocy on Fox, then Cindy McCain, and now John McCain declares Palin a foreign policy expert because Alaska is right "next door" to Russia.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 pmJim Wolf359, OT, did you watch the STNG marathon on SciFi the other day? I thought of you when Wayne and I were enjoying it.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:01 amOMG,,he said it too? I blogged Cindy McCain said the exact same thing, do they think Americans are dumb? Must to they keep saying it and by the way I lived next to Y 12 plant in Oak Ridge so therefore I know quite a lot about Nuclear Physics.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:07 amhttp://withinreason.blogspot.com/2008/08/palin-has-security-experience-because.html
This is not about convincing rational people. This is a thin justification for the Republican right-wing. This is a talking point to be used by supporters of Palin so when they are asked by their Democratic friends what foreign policy experience Palin has they can respond with the Alaska next to Russia reason.
They have to say something, otherwise all the can do is just stare stupidly at the person asking the question.
To save the Palin supporters the embarrassment of not saying anything the Republicans are supplying this "justification" for her experience.
Of course, the person asking the question will likely burst out laughing, but then the Palin supporter has the easy come-back "Why to you hate America?"
It really makes sense when you think about it....
September 4th, 2008 at 12:13 amThanks sluggo I knew there had to be some reason behind it.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:17 amJon Stewart said it best:
September 4th, 2008 at 12:18 am“Alaska is also near the North Pole, so... she must also be friends with Santa..”
http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/john-mccain-chooses-a-running-mate/
Could these people be any more ridiculous? Using their logic - I live on an island, so I guess that makes me a marine biologist. Or maybe a whale.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:22 amYesterday, neocon activist Frank Gaffney summed up the argument, saying that Alaska’s geographical location meant that Palin could grasp foreign policy through “osmosis.”
Wonder how long before Pat Buchanan claims McDepends and Caribou Barbie will fix the economy by way of The Force ........
September 4th, 2008 at 12:26 amHow many times are they going to make this ridiculous argument? It doesn't make any more sense the last time they said it than it did the first time they said it. All it does is make them look desperate.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:28 am#lurker Says:
Shara is blowing smoke about “drill baby drill” but what she doesn’t seem to know is that even if we started drilling
today it would be years before we started pumping and OPEC
would just smile and reduce production keeping the price high.
I think you are wrong there. She knows very well that if we started drilling today it wouldn't make any difference for years. All she cares about is the same thing that her "friends" care about, making more money for big oil.
But, can you blame her. She's governor of a state that has no money problems because they rake it in from the oil companies.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:33 amI used to live in Utah. Can I be Secretary of State?
September 4th, 2008 at 12:46 am.
I'm a qualified expert on Natural Gas...
... because I fart!
.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:56 am.
Johnny McGeography says that Sarah "book banning" Palin knows that Alaska is next to Russia...
... So does every 6th grader.
.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:00 am.
Q U E S T I O N:
What does Sarah "book banning" Palin's failure of experience in foreign policy have to do with Obama's travels beyond the Southern border?
When Obama goes there, will the GOP chide him about that too, like they did on Obama's European tour?
Funny that no one is questioning McHypocisy's non-European tour. How many people would show up to see Johnny McComelately?
.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:04 amDang, I must be an oceanology expert---I live near the ocean.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:04 amOver the next few weeks we will get an inside view of Alaskan politics and it won’t be pretty. Isolated from the lower forty-eight Alaska is a culture based on Wild West individualism and heavily addicted to oil revenues. Alaska has become a center for corruption and inbreeding. Nepotism, religious extremism, oil money, gossip and threats are the main ingredients of their cultural and political system. What can we expect from Sarah Palin a product of this environment?
September 4th, 2008 at 1:05 amGee, John, does my having traveled in Alaska for a couple of weeks mean that some of "the good old GOP foreign policy experience by proximity" has rubbed off on me?
Mr.McCain you are an idiot, a first-class idiot.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:14 amWhen I said Sara Palin had gained foreign policy experience through osmosis, I was being sarcastic.
That the reichwingers are serious about pushing this talking point, shows how little they think of their base IMO.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:27 amThe Republicans suffer from massive ignorance.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:56 amI have veins and arteries so I'm a vascular doctor.
weather women do a better job casing hope than dropped-in-palin.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:39 amWTH is morning slow talking about? It wasn't a good night for the repugs. Listen to them fools. Unbelievable! All of them are talking out their 20%er neck.
Look how phony they are.
Why aren't these "popular contest winners" (repug s)talk about our troubles instead of their bios? This is all wrong!
Obama\Biden 08
September 4th, 2008 at 6:13 amI can't believe people are actually buying this.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:11 amI can't believe people are actually going to vote for these two.
The only way it makes sense is what I heard on the radio yesterday.
The Reps are trying to lose.
The Dems will take over and clean up the country, get it back on the right track and the sheeple will become complacent.
The Reps will try to sweet talk their way back in and take credit for it.
It's bad enough to imagine McCain waving his short little arms around for the next four years saying POW! POW! POW!, but when I imagine that Sarah P hairdo and glasses sitting at the Presidential desk I become genuinely queasy. Hillary Clinton has worked for years and paid her dues and here comes the up-start from Alaska, out of literally nowhere and she could be in the White House soon. This county has been held in low esteem by the rest of the world for nearly eight years. Wonder what they're thinking of us now.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:52 amI believe that the entire civilized world is laughing at us now.
Governor Palin and her family (in spite of her charisma) remind me of sloppy soap opera or worse.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:15 amThe only thing that matters to me is that her church is Pentecostal. PENTECOSTAL!!!!
With the speaking in tongues and exorcism and faith healing. We really need to find some video of her writhing on the floor of the church.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:22 amHey, I must have foreign policy experience because I live in a foreign country! Woohoo! Idiots.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:52 amApparently, in the Republic party, there is NO substitute for stupid.
GOP motto: Stupid and proud of it.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:21 ami heard someone say she was an energy expert, too. and how did a small town mayor and short time state worker become an energy expert?
September 4th, 2008 at 11:00 amGosh. I knew this campaign would be a farce but it's starting to exceed my fondest hopes. Rock on with your bad selves McBush and Co.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:12 pmThis is another example that the "old world jounalism of Murrow, Cronkite and Rather is dead and buried. In the case of the Time Magazine reporter Ms Tumulty, she seems to think the finding out the who, what, where, when and how have been replaced with a steno pad, which she records what ABC said in rebuttle to the complaint of Congressman Kucinich. There is a great disconnect with what happened and the points made by ABC. She asks little of no questions to ABC. She takes what is handed to her and repeats it vebatim and then calls that reporting. I call is stenography. Lida Sohbet sohbet sesli chat Gelinlik Modelleri
January 11th, 2009 at 11:05 amSorry, Pry. Your arguments are strictly Republican talking points. My best friend is a native of NOLA - and you’re full of it.
Next thing you know, you’ll be bringing up Nagin and the freaking buses just like that colossal ASS Sean Insannity.
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Alaska is right next to Russia. She understands that. Look, Sen. Obama’s never visited south of our border. I mean, please.
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