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| Palin makes US TV interview debut | Palin makes US TV interview debut |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The US Republican vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, has rejected criticism that she is not experienced enough, in her first US TV interview. | The US Republican vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, has rejected criticism that she is not experienced enough, in her first US TV interview. |
| Speaking to ABC News, Mrs Palin said she was "ready" to serve the US as deputy to John McCain. | Speaking to ABC News, Mrs Palin said she was "ready" to serve the US as deputy to John McCain. |
| On foreign affairs, the 44-year-old Alaska governor said she backed Nato membership for Ukraine and Georgia. | On foreign affairs, the 44-year-old Alaska governor said she backed Nato membership for Ukraine and Georgia. |
| Mrs Palin was also quizzed on previous comments she made describing the war in Iraq as being a "task from God". | Mrs Palin was also quizzed on previous comments she made describing the war in Iraq as being a "task from God". |
| She said she was quoting the words of Abraham Lincoln: "I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words. | She said she was quoting the words of Abraham Lincoln: "I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words. |
| "But what Abraham Lincoln had said... was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God's side." | "But what Abraham Lincoln had said... was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God's side." |
| 'Lack of experience' | 'Lack of experience' |
| Observers were surprised when Republican presidential candidate John McCain picked Mrs Palin to be his running mate. When you are a Nato ally, if another country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and help Sarah PalinUS vice-presidential candidate A little of the real Palin revealed | Observers were surprised when Republican presidential candidate John McCain picked Mrs Palin to be his running mate. When you are a Nato ally, if another country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and help Sarah PalinUS vice-presidential candidate A little of the real Palin revealed |
| Mrs Palin has been governor of Alaska for less than two years, and many commentators said she lacked the necessary experience to be vice-president, especially in the foreign policy arena. | Mrs Palin has been governor of Alaska for less than two years, and many commentators said she lacked the necessary experience to be vice-president, especially in the foreign policy arena. |
| Nevertheless, the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Washington says, most American voters are likely to take away from the interview the same impressions they took into it. | Nevertheless, the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Washington says, most American voters are likely to take away from the interview the same impressions they took into it. |
| Mrs Palin was strong and confident enough to please her Republican supporters, our correspondent says, but her sketchiness on some details will have given her Democratic opponents plenty of ammunition as well. | Mrs Palin was strong and confident enough to please her Republican supporters, our correspondent says, but her sketchiness on some details will have given her Democratic opponents plenty of ammunition as well. |
| 'Proud' | 'Proud' |
| Asked whether her support for Georgian membership of Nato meant that the US would have to go to war if Russia again invaded Georgia, Mrs Palin said that was a possibility. | Asked whether her support for Georgian membership of Nato meant that the US would have to go to war if Russia again invaded Georgia, Mrs Palin said that was a possibility. |
| "Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a Nato ally, if another country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and help." | "Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a Nato ally, if another country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and help." |
| But she insisted that the US and Russia "cannot repeat the Cold War". | But she insisted that the US and Russia "cannot repeat the Cold War". |
| The interview was recorded in Fairbanks, Alaska, where Mrs Palin was attending an army ceremony to send her 19-year-old son Track to serve in Iraq. | The interview was recorded in Fairbanks, Alaska, where Mrs Palin was attending an army ceremony to send her 19-year-old son Track to serve in Iraq. |
| "I am so proud of his independent and strong decision he has made, what he decided to do and serving for the right reasons and serving something greater than himself and not choosing a really easy path where he could be more comfortable and certainly safer," Mrs Palin said. | "I am so proud of his independent and strong decision he has made, what he decided to do and serving for the right reasons and serving something greater than himself and not choosing a really easy path where he could be more comfortable and certainly safer," Mrs Palin said. |
| Track Palin is being sent to Iraq to serve in the Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division. | Track Palin is being sent to Iraq to serve in the Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division. |
| Your comments in reaction to the interview: | |
| FOR | |
| We love Governor Palin! What a breath of fresh air for this political season! She interviews beautifully, doesn't she? She also has a firm grasp on the United States' responsibilities so far as NATO are concerned. We have high hopes that Senator McCain and Governor Palin will be elected to serve as our President and Vice President.Diana, Chicago, USA | |
| Excellent. Would prefer that she were running for president! Maybe ina few years depending upon her participation as VPWilliam H Kichline Jr, Bel Air USA | |
| I was pleased with Palin's responses. It was a difficult interview, but she handled it well. She and McCain are good examples of leaders that take the firm stances against Russia that are needed. NATO needs to be more responsive when its members are attacked, as Georgia was. This interview is a step in the right direction.Alex, Berkeley, CA USA | |
| Overall the interview proved two things (1) Gibson is a light weight he is not up to the task of being a news anchor & (2) Palin is up to the task of being US VP. The hockey mom Sara brushed aside Charlie Gibson and scored at least three goals. James Taylor, Haymarket VA USA | |
| I think she was using her brain. Thinking also with her heart. I'm 100% behind her!! I think she is an asset to McCain. Both make a good team.Norma Forbush, Salisbury U.S.A | |
| Absolutely positive. She is strong and brilliant.Gregory Gendelev, United States | |
| She sounds honest, confident and truthful. Let's hope we learn to trust each other.Mahmood Akhter, Plainfield, IL,USA | |
| AGAINST | |
| I am so scared that she has gotten this far! She couldn't be less qualified. The thought of her as PRESIDENT is terrifying. This is a very serious threat to our already shattered international reputation.Billy Erb, New York, NY USA | |
| Palin is unqualified in every way. Compared to Obama, Biden and McCain she is a preschooler at the grown up's table. She is no where near as qualified as Hillary Clinton, whom she is often compared. And that bit about her son serving in Iraq: how dare she use that sacrifice to build political power. She should be ashamed.Patrick, Annapolis, Maryland, USA | |
| She was embarrassing as is John McCain for selecting her. There are many more qualified individuals McCain could have picked. This is a nightmare but as politics go in the US, they may win...Michelle hunt, Atlanta, Georgia | |
| She seems like the kind of lady I'd probably enjoy going fishing with, but it's clear her understanding of constitutional law and US foreign policy just isn't there. It feels like the GOP picked her as a mascot (A Miss Congeniality who can gut a moose) rather than as a serious running mate. I'm not ready to risk having a mascot running my country.Lorraine Casazza, CA, USA | |
| Palin appears to change her perspectives and opinions as regularly as McCain. No wonder he chose her as a running mate. The two certainly will make change in Washington, "today yes, tomorrow no, the next day maybe." Timm DiStefano, Bellingham, WA USA | |
| I believe Mr. Gibson's questions revealed some weaknesses in Gov. Palin's knowledge base on important issues - such as her not understanding what he meant by the Bush Doctrine (of pre-emptive strike/war). Her answers to other questions seemed rehearsed and when he tried to get her to clarify some responses she just repeated her original response with slightly different wording. It wasn't a disaster for her but it wasn't a strong showing either.Deborah Mason, Waldorf, MD | |
| When McCain won the primaries I was on the fence--I liked Obama but have always admired McCain for saying what he really thought. But since the summer he's a changed man and Palin is the latest evidence that he'll use any ploy to win. Palin is underqualified and guided by extreme beliefs (Alaska is intended by God as a refuge in the 'end times'; the only good sex education is to teach teens abstinence only) and a dishonest heart (she keeps repeating her claims to be against the "Bridge to Nowhere" after it's been proven by MANY journalists, even the right-leaning Wall Street Journal, that this is not true. People like her are who McCain USED to stand up to. Now he is one of them.B Horrigan, Massachusetts, USA | |
| Choosing this mediocre, inept person as a vice presidential running mate was a sign of desperation on McCain's part. As a woman I am insulted by his hasty and frightening choice. Palin is a common bag-person for the Republicans. She belongs in a trashy chick-lit novel not on the world stage.Marlene Matthews, La Jolla Ca., USA | |
| She didn't know what the Bush Doctrine was after days of serious coaching? And she wants to be the Vice President? If we had Amy Goodman do this interview I'm sure better questions would have been asked. Such as, "Why did you joke about reading people their rights at the convention?"Sarah Palin has no idea what is going on. She says Russia was unprovoked? Where was she when the Georgians shelled the capital of S. Ossetia? At her home charging the Alaskan citizens money to stay there?Finch, Tampa FL |