Video: Palin on Supreme Court decisions she disagrees with
posted at 7:35 pm on October 1, 2008 by Allahpundit
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A bad answer not because it’s so awkward but because she lacks the knack for spinning tough questions to her advantage in a way politicians ought to be able to. E.g., “Any decision is a bad decision, Katie, where the Court arrogates to itself the right to decide difficult questions which, in a democracy, should be left to the public.” An answer like that would have gone a long way towards countering Biden’s dopey point about the virtue of Roe v. Wade lying in its expression of consensus. Hey, Joe? Consensus is best determined at the ballot box. If Biden disagrees with that, I encourage him to let the Supreme Court decide who should be the next president.
It sounds from WaPo at this point like Palin’s going to try to bait Biden into a fatal gaffe tomorrow night to cover any missteps she might commit. Not a bad idea in light of the new CBS poll: “Women’s perception of Palin has become increasingly negative. On Sept. 8th, Palin had a 47 percent favorable rating among women and a 19 percent unfavorable; now her favorable rating among the group is down to 30 percent, while her unfavorable has risen to 34 percent.” Exit question: She’s on record as opposing the Supreme Court’s ruling on punitive damages in the Exxon Valdez case. Why didn’t she just mention that?
Update: Karl e-mails, “Biden’s a senior member of the Judiciary Committee. Try asking him about the Alaskan pipeline and see how he does.”
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It’s over
tomas on October 1, 2008 at 7:38 PM
Eagleton mania?
blatantblue on October 1, 2008 at 7:39 PM
… but also a bad answer because its awkward.
e-pirate on October 1, 2008 at 7:39 PM
Biden was one of 5 Senators to vote against the Alaska pipeline. Palin should club him with this like a baby seal
Valiant on October 1, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Geez, what a BLOVIATOR. But he has been on the judiciary committee, with STAFF …
originalpechanga on October 1, 2008 at 7:41 PM
Thats not a question a real question, I would select Judges not by Any sort of litmus test and judges should should be strict constructionist and interpret the constitution and not legislate from the bench.. I’m not going to get into every single case law.
Chakra Hammer on October 1, 2008 at 7:42 PM
Rove, you magnificent bastard. (Not the same one?)
amerpundit on October 1, 2008 at 7:43 PM
Stand by for 200+ posts and some humorous mental gymnastics as we spin this to a well played strategy to set a trap. Maybe she can drive a red pickup truck up to the stage? Oh never mind…
Bradky on October 1, 2008 at 7:43 PM
Mitt Romney looks pretty good right now.
kevinkristy on October 1, 2008 at 7:43 PM
How long do I have to keep seeing Katie Couric asking Palin questions? How long did she have her around to interview? Did she start pre-Trig or something? Enough!
Cardiganfox on October 1, 2008 at 7:43 PM
I’m certainly not going to give Palin a pass, but Biden’s roe v. wade answer was a lot of words that didn’t add up to much, in my opinion. Oy.
Btw, anyone notice Katie’s smile at the end whilst Joe was talking?
Pasalubong on October 1, 2008 at 7:44 PM
Thats not a question a real question, I would select Judges not by Any sort of litmus test and judges should be strict constructionist and interpret the constitution and not legislate from the bench.. I’m not going to get into every single case law, you can ask me about a specific case if you feel so obliged.
Chakra Hammer on October 1, 2008 at 7:44 PM
You win.
e-pirate on October 1, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Biden gets interviewed. Palin gets quizzed.
Ridiculous.
Ronnie on October 1, 2008 at 7:45 PM
shut it.
Who is ROmney?
Chakra Hammer on October 1, 2008 at 7:45 PM
They got asked the exact same question.
terryannonline on October 1, 2008 at 7:47 PM
who in the hell agreed to have palin interviewed by two of the biggest twits in network news?
wryteacher on October 1, 2008 at 7:47 PM
That might make sense if Joey B were running to be in a position where he had to appoint members to the Alaska Pipeline committee for life, but hes the vice presidential nominee.
“Sarah might not know much about the Supreme Court but she’s an expert on Alaska” is a pretty lousy argument.
e-pirate on October 1, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Katie should ask Biden why a woman’s right to choose doesn’t apply right up to the moment of birth. If it’s just a lump of lifeless goo, who cares when you rip it out and flush it? He should be forced to be consistent.
Ronnie on October 1, 2008 at 7:48 PM
It’s a gotcha question. A fair question would have been to name a few controversial cases with a one or two line summary and ask for basic analysis or agreement. If you read the transcript, Biden’s answer to that question was about a piece of legislation he wrote that the SC ruled on.
SAZMD on October 1, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Ask that to Palin… She might blank.
kevinkristy on October 1, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Katie Couric is, quite obviously, possessed by the devil.
wildweasel on October 1, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Well, we’ll see how Biden does too. Couric got him gaffing with killer questions like: “So, how’s you preparation for the debate coming along?”
forest on October 1, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Governor Palin’s answer wasn’t as bad as it was painted. She couldn’t think of any other cases that she disagreed with off-hand but there was no ‘deer in the headlights’ moment. The characterization was exaggerated. She just reiterated her federalist stand. Moreover, she got the number states right, which still puts her ahead of Obama.
scrubjay on October 1, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Biden, Of Roe V Wade was a Good Decision why not Pass a Constitutional Amendment and just lkeave it as a wrongly decided court case?
Biden should the right to have an Abortion be a Constitutional amendment?
If Abortion, it an issue like this why not Repeal Roe V Wade and let the Sates fassion their own abortion laws, and then States that Favor Abortion can have it and State that are against it can limit it..
Chakra Hammer on October 1, 2008 at 7:49 PM
I am a lawyer. I couldn’t give a quick answer on that topic most days because I don’t think about those topics. Neither do mayors, governors, or Vice-Presidents.
I thought she gave an okay answer unless you were expecting her to be deep thinker on constitutional law like Obama. I was expecting a cringe inducing answer but I never cringed.
Also, it is obvious why he graduated at the bottom of his law school class if he thinks making wife beating a federal issue is a good idea. What a dummy!
dKap on October 1, 2008 at 7:50 PM
Sarah missed a great opportunity to ram the SCOTUS D.C. Gun Ban decision up Katie’s butt. You shoulda’ done that one Moose Hunter…
Fletch54 on October 1, 2008 at 7:50 PM
That’s not as bad as I thought it was. People made it out that she just sat there silent, staring like deer in the headlights.
She gave a reasonable answer.
Enoxo on October 1, 2008 at 7:51 PM
Pop Quiz: Name the first president of Cuba?
When was Justice Scalia born?
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootise Pop?
What the hell is this? Ask about relevant things.
The MSM want to paint her as a dumb hick. Sure Palin does not come off well here. I guess it is all that cramming. But enough with the quizzes.
jencab on October 1, 2008 at 7:51 PM
In the back of my mind, I’m replaying Tina Fey’s request for “a lifeline” in last Saturday night’s SNL skit.
BuckeyeSam on October 1, 2008 at 7:51 PM
The problem is that people think that Biden sounds intelligent when he talks about trying to make wife beating a federal issue under the interstate commerce clause. To a lawyer like me he sounds like a clown.
Any other lawyers out there snickering when you heard Biden say that?
dKap on October 1, 2008 at 7:52 PM
THANK you. This death-by-a-thousand-cuts thing (that conservatives are now continually participating in) is getting very tiresome.
capitalist piglet on October 1, 2008 at 7:52 PM
The VP does not appoint anyone to the Supreme Court. And a President who does, does not do so without researching candidates and consulting advisors.
SAZMD on October 1, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Made me think of the scene from “The Running Man” when Jesse Ventura playing Capt Freedom was in the waiting area and finally got the call…
Bradky on October 1, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Yeah, why would a president need to know anything about energy sources in Alaska? Ridiculous. With gas down to 18¢ a gallon, it’s simply a non-issue.
Ronnie on October 1, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Katie was looking for something to get Palin on so that she could then go after on her Superme Court picks.. see..
It’s Same thing that Gibson did with the “Bush Doctrine” Question..
Chakra Hammer on October 1, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Funny, imaginative and decisive. I salute you, Sir.
Note to Sarah Palin: Play to your strengths and stop wasting time becoming a “typical politician” who must always present herself to be so damned ‘articulate and clean’.
This is the crux of Palin’s appeal: that she isn’t an inside-the-beltway-spinmeister. Most folks appreciate this, I think.
James OK on October 1, 2008 at 7:53 PM
All of this hand wringing is friggin moronic. How many people, that are actually thinking about voting for McCain, actually watch the alphabet networks? You wimps need to realize that the networks are just trying to play to their moronic viewers. These idiots aren’t picking up any new viewers so just shut up.
MobileVideoEngineer on October 1, 2008 at 7:53 PM
i can’t bear to look.
i am so nervous for her for tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!
unmeritedfavor on October 1, 2008 at 7:54 PM
I was afraid to click, but I did and it wasn’t soooo bad.
She could have just said “I disagree with any rulings that seek to limit our 2nd amendment rights”. That would have worked.
BadgerHawk on October 1, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Katie Couric is on a mission to make Sarah Palin look bad. And she is succeeding.
SoulGlo on October 1, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Now for the funny part.
Now we get to read 300 posts of Hot Air regulars trying to rationalize those cartoon-like answers that Palin just gave to Couric.
Dan Quayle is looking pretty good right now. I think if dumbass had chosen Romney, he would be about tied right now instead of down about 9 points.
President Obama….so not glad to see you.
Roger Waters on October 1, 2008 at 7:54 PM
I am way too nervous to watch it tomorrow…I am going to rely on all you people to give me the “dope”…way toooo nervous….
Static21 on October 1, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Though I’m a musician, I’m thinking what you’re thinking. Earlier today I posted that I’d be afraid of Biden, but only if I had coulrophobia.
capitalist piglet on October 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
she is so stupid. dumb, dumb, dumb. honestly. would anyone really want her as vp or president ever? not me. yet im still voting mccain. why? i dont know. obama is also stupid.
venicesurfer on October 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Biden and Obama REALLY love to hear themselves. I noticed he called the baby “the fetus”. He should get hammered for that tomorrow night.
What good would it do to name cases where she disagreed? She can’t change the decisions, so why bother? She could have rattled off any number of cases, but I’m sure most of us wouldn’t have been able to recall them.
Forgive me, but I like that she’s not a blowhard. Sue me.
SouthernGent on October 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Joe Biden
Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Chakra Hammer on October 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Don’t give Couric too much credit. The mission she is on is not all that hard.
Mark1971 on October 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Biden is going to counter by posting the video on youtube of FDR calming the nation on tv in 1929 when the Stock Market crashed.
The bias in favor of Team Obumble is risible.
profitsbeard on October 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
When Katie asked what other SC decisions you disagree with, how many of you were ticking them off in your head? I thought about it when she asked it and I couldn’t come up with one right quick either.
pappy on October 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Shouldn’t be too tough.
“So, Senator Biden, how are you this evening?” And then just let him talk…
malclave on October 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Joe Biden
Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Hypocrite?
YES!!!!!!!!!
Chakra Hammer on October 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
I really think if she tanks, McCain goes to the party and says “Hey, I only met her once, you know how those things go”, and asks to cut her loose. The party says, “only if you agree to suck it up and call Romney”. McCain will take it because it’s Mr. Campaign First’s last best shot at winning.
sanguine4 on October 1, 2008 at 7:57 PM
I note Biden said the founders themselves had gone through “several hundred years of religious wars.”
CanadianGuy on October 1, 2008 at 7:57 PM
The good thing is after tomorrow we probably won’t be hearing so much about Palin. There’s no need for so much media attention about the Vice Presidential pick. I don’t think I’ve seen Dick Cheney on television as much as I’ve seen Palin and he’s the ACTUAL Vice President.
terryannonline on October 1, 2008 at 7:57 PM
I think knowledge of energy policy is more important than knowledge of supreme court precedents, but others may disagree.
Let’s not forget one important fact: Obama and Biden are lawyers and McCain and Palin aren’t.
forest on October 1, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Joe Biden
Accepts Catholic church view that life begins at conception. (Apr 2007)
Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Chakra Hammer on October 1, 2008 at 7:57 PM
If she didn’t have that break and “lets see”, no one would’ve cared. Look, getting angry about this interview is pointless. Both Biden/Obama are lawyers. Let’s ask them some tough energy questions and see how they hold up. Really, the Palin meme will be defined tomorrow by Sarah’s debate performance.
IR-MN on October 1, 2008 at 7:57 PM
It was a bad moment for Sarah. As much as I would like to spin it for her, I can’t. She obviously had a brain fart trying to decide if it was a gotcha question. She knows how SC decisions have affected decisions in Alaska. She needs to stop worrying so much about gotchas and just answer the damn questions. Her worrying over the answer and its implication is making her look stupid, and she isn’t.
Sue on October 1, 2008 at 7:57 PM
We still have the e.e. cummings vote! Yay!!
capitalist piglet on October 1, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Ahh yeah, you’re totally right. The Alaska Pipeline is just like SCOTUS. My bad.
e-pirate on October 1, 2008 at 7:59 PM
I have the perfect way to spin this: THIS PROVES SHE DIDN’T ATTEND LAW SCHOOL.
That’s a plus as far as I’m concerned.
Metro on October 1, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Sue, quick, name 3 SC decisions you disagree with.
pappy on October 1, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Brace for socialism.
p40tiger on October 1, 2008 at 7:59 PM
She was perfect in the beginning.
Republican landslide is near!
Obama ’s bounce is over and now everyone is waking up!
JellyToast on October 1, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Palin is causing a condition among some groups of voters called “Post Convention Selection Depression” which is very similar to the condition many Kerry supporters reported in the aftermath of the 2004 election.
Capt Freedom report to the studio
Bradky on October 1, 2008 at 8:00 PM
well, not as bad as advertised. playing right into the libs hands who played this up all week. Palin didn’t give a good answer obviously, but she didn’t flunk either.
jp on October 1, 2008 at 8:01 PM
because she’s dumb. she got nervous and lost track of her focus. as soon as she was asked, she had a “hmmm…you got me there” moment.
venicesurfer on October 1, 2008 at 8:01 PM
This is important because…? Was someone under the impression that Gov Palin was selected for her legal acumen? For her knowledge of history? Anyway, maybe she also had an uncle who liberated Auschwitz, in which case I’m sure everything’s ok.
CK MacLeod on October 1, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Joe Biden on the Issues
Accepts Catholic church view that life begins at conception. (Apr 2007)
Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008) (Why not? If life begins at Conception.. )
Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Voted NO on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)
Chakra Hammer on October 1, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Yep.
nickj116 on October 1, 2008 at 8:01 PM
I don’t recall Couric asking biden “Can ya think of a decision you weren’t involved in?” There was no challenge or disapproval of his answers. He answered as he saw fit and Couric left it at that.
Biden got interviewed. Palin got quizzed and graded.
Ronnie on October 1, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Palin should have been able to answer the question about bad Supreme Court decisions. Heck, how about the Court’s decision just last term in Kennedy v. Louisiana?
I like Sarah Palin. But watching these interviews is painful.
paul006 on October 1, 2008 at 8:02 PM
This wonderful Kamchatka buzz gives me a supernatural instinct… Sarah has been intentionally feeding fluff and answering twitterly. She is being saved for the coup-de-main tomorrow evening when the sword will be plunged. Biden hasn’t changed for 26 years. He’ll be the same tomorrow. They have studied how and where to make the attack. Watch!!! (but keep the Kamchatka close).
PaCadle on October 1, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Quick, anybody? Name SC decisions you disagree with other than RvW
pappy on October 1, 2008 at 8:03 PM
I think this is a strategy to make people underestimate her.
Yep,, just wait until the gloves come off tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
There’s always, tomorrow!
It’s only a day away!
JellyToast on October 1, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Exactly. Look, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. It will be forgotten by most after the debate tomorrow.
Now the debate, yes, I’m a little nervous…
BadgerHawk on October 1, 2008 at 8:03 PM
wait, wait, wait, I just watched it. Not that big of a deal. Why is everybody having a meltdown over this?
Metro on October 1, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Wow, the more I read the idiotic posts on this site, the more I am starting to think it really is over. And people wonder why we lost in 2006. AH, morons all of you.
MobileVideoEngineer on October 1, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Me? I just hope someone asks Barry how many states are in the union in the next debate. Then, when or if he gets the answer right, to name them…
I agree with AP, it would have been nice if the Cuda came out with some way to spin the question to her advantage as a true politician…but then, is a true politician what we desire here? So she is not a slick willy…good.
javamartini on October 1, 2008 at 8:04 PM
pappy:
Bakke
Plessy
Marbury
Chisolm
Gregg
Metro on October 1, 2008 at 8:04 PM
She’s farked nine ways to Sunday. Plugs will carve her up like a side of
beefmoose. It’s over, folks. Start preparing for the Obama Regime.Remember to practice your chants and don’t forget the “O” salute to the One.
Our future Dear Leader is counting on you. So are Michelle’s children,
Uday and QusayMalia and Natasha.ManlyRash on October 1, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Because there’s a virus on HotAir, and it’s now infected a large percentage of people here. I’m not sure where it started. [COUGH.]
capitalist piglet on October 1, 2008 at 8:05 PM
It’s a wonder the SNL folks haven’t revived the Great White North characters for a skit yet.
Couric: Name three SC decisions.
Palin: Eh, Don’t make me steamroll you ya hoser
Bradky on October 1, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Thanks, but that took over a minute – It would have made an awful impression in an interview. That’s my point.
pappy on October 1, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Meh. No melt down here. Like I commented earlier she will probably be out of the headlines after tomorrow’s VP debate. The media has a short attention span. No big deal.
terryannonline on October 1, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Like dkap, i’m a lawyer. Even though I went to law school for 3 years, went another year for a masters of law, and have practiced for 13 years, I probably couldn’t have answered that question with any degree of specificity. I just don’t think about Brown, Scott, etc. and they don’t have much application to my practice. Not a big deal to me.
uncalheels on October 1, 2008 at 8:06 PM
I picked the wrong day to give up kamchatka
Bradky on October 1, 2008 at 8:07 PM
Any talk of Eagleton is premature until after the debate. It is too close to the debate to do anything before then, anyway, so people need to see how it goes. I think it is still possible that she does fine – you can see that she really can come across as very competent, not just in her earlier interviews (pre-August 29), but also in every part of the clip here, except when she is dodging the gotcha – she gives a fine discussion of Roe v. Wade and later of the separation of church and state.
She just needs to learn to give answers such as “No, Katie, that’s the main court decision that I have a personal opposition too. And I want to re-iterate my strong opposition because…”
That way she shows the interviewer that she will not tolerate gotchas – you have to acknowledge that you aren’t going to answer the question or you look obtuse, but then you change the subject so that you can talk about something you know about, so you don’t sound uninformed. Palin just needs to master this skill. I think she is bad at it because rather then spending time honing her rhetorical skills in the Senate, she has been actually doing things as Governor.
Still, that won’t help her if she comes across as uinprepared, so I hope she has good coaches.
RINO in Name Only on October 1, 2008 at 8:07 PM
I honestly don’t think her answer was that bad.
MedSchoolCatholic on October 1, 2008 at 8:07 PM
no big deal.
even if you think this is bad, it will all be forgotten after tomorrow’s debate (good or bad).
get over it.
darkegop on October 1, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Joe Biden:, “I authored the Violence against Women act”
Follow up question:, “Then Why did you vote against, a bill for criminal penalties for people that harm an unborn fetus during another crime in 2004 against a woman? you do believe that life beings at conception, is human rights also above your pay grade? Just like Barack Obama”
—————-
Joe Biden
Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Chakra Hammer on October 1, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Roe v. Wade, Kennedy v. Louisiana, and Boumediene v. Bush.
amerpundit on October 1, 2008 at 8:08 PM
pappy:Bakke
Plessy
Marbury
Chisolm
Gregg
Metro on October 1, 2008 at 8:04 PM
And 90% of Americans have no idea what all of those are. No one remembers Supreme Court decisions except RvW and Gore v Bush (or whatever it was)…and maybe Brown v Board of Education. That’s it.
SouthernGent on October 1, 2008 at 8:08 PM
I disagree, Terryann. McCain needs the Palin that we thought we had at Dayton and the Convention. The ticket works as a combo. As McCain/Mistake ‘08 it make overcoming Obama’s other advantages inordinately more difficult. That doesn’t mean she has to score 800 on the Media Elite SATs, but she has to project a self-confident, aggressive persona.
The mistake she made with Gibson and Couric was trying to meet and beat them on their own terms, something she’s apparently not equipped to do. In retrospect, it looks like she should have warmed up with right wing talk radio for a week or two, and let the mainstream media cry its eyes out while she was getting up to speed. As others have noted, she probably DOES have a good answer on something like the Supreme Court follow-up, but she needed to be a lot more relaxed to get to it.
CK MacLeod on October 1, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Why is it that these schnooks never pass a wife beating or killing their husband Bill? It’s always in one direction.
According to FBI reports for the last 10 years it’s about 50/50 on that violence issue. I lived it for about 7 years.
Huhhhhhhhhmmmmmm.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on October 1, 2008 at 8:08 PM
When she gets out of politics she could fill in on SNL as the church lady.
Bradky on October 1, 2008 at 8:08 PM
ManlyRash on October 1, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Christ, they have school kids singing homage songs to the ONE, like some communist exercise-I am willing to hold off all criticism of Palin until after the debate….
Static21 on October 1, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Joe Biden:, “I authored the Violence against Women act”
Follow up question:, “Then Why did you vote against, a bill for criminal penalties for people that harm an unborn fetus during another crime in 2004 against a woman? you do believe that life beings at conception, is human rights also above your pay grade? Just like Barack Obama?”
—————-
Joe Biden
Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Chakra Hammer on October 1, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Okay, I will just assume that you negative posters could do a better job in the same situation?
Who cares? Name another VP candidate that has been under so much scrutiny than Governor Palin?
Oh, the election is so over! Gov. Palin blanked out! Meanwhile, Obama and Biden are gaffing at the rate of one per day and get a complete pass.
carbon_footprint on October 1, 2008 at 8:09 PM
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