It begins: Palin didn’t know Africa was a continent, claims Fox News
posted at 8:15 pm on November 5, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Via Ace, a tasty pile of shinola straight from the stovetop of disgruntled McCain staffers. It’s too cute by half, as is the detail about NAFTA; they might as well have tossed in a story about her having to guess who’s buried in Grant’s tomb. To believe it, you have to believe she figured out a way to become governor of Alaska while somehow lacking the mental power to piece together which three nations might be involved in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Diehard ‘Cuda-haters like Sullivan will, of course, be more than happy to oblige.
You’ll find another clip from Fox that aired earlier today below the Carl Cameron video. See if you can figure out the thematic link. Exit question: If she’s really this much of an abject imbecile, how did that detail manage to escape the attention of Newsweek? There’s no sign of it in their highlight reel of the dishiest dirt they learned about the campaign, a piece which actually includes a quote from another aide about “Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast” as if to prove that they’re not holding back on the ‘Cuda.
Update: The plot thickens.
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White Trash works for the MSM. ‘Nuff said.
SunSword on November 5, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Complete BS. Look in the mirror if you want to see you why lost, McCain aides.
BadgerHawk on November 5, 2008 at 8:19 PM
I see O’Reilly is going to carry the same trash. He’s ticked that she didn’t pay homage to him so he is out to get her as well. I am disgusted.
msmveritas on November 5, 2008 at 8:20 PM
If the Republican party wants to make her the scapegoat, and is complicit in portraying her to be an idiot, then we don’t deserve to win another election.
Period.
So long, FNC.
Hawkins1701 on November 5, 2008 at 8:20 PM
And holy crap does Shep piss me off.
BadgerHawk on November 5, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Shep is just jealous that she’s prettier than he is.
youngjim on November 5, 2008 at 8:22 PM
I said earlier today that maybe McCain is not the hero that we all thought he was. The only reason this little man got as close as he got to winning was not because of himself or his pathetic staff but because of Sarah Palin. Mr. McCain shut up will you.
Ceroth on November 5, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Thanks, Fox, and McCain staff. The best politician out of the whole bunch, and you’re determined to destroy her once and for all lest she return in four years.
Perhaps Fox has decided to forgoe the need for the Fairness Doctrine and join in with the rest of the MSM as The Voice of The Party.
Vyce on November 5, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Why watch this crap. it is a B.O. love orgy and Palin disembowelment of the highest proportions!
Blah I am going to the Palin Rally tonight for her welcome home.
upinak on November 5, 2008 at 8:22 PM
The civil war begins……..
JVelez on November 5, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Hey, Allah survived the election! I am officially returning to HotAir now, for the two of you that missed me.
As for this garbage, I have to wonder (as Ace did) if these are Mitt guys behind this – and I donated to and voted for Mitt in the primaries.
This is obviously a total hatchetjob and Fox should be ashamed of itself for carrying it.
fiatboomer on November 5, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Wow. I guess the red-headed step-child that is Fox News wants to go down with the rest of the MSM. Oh why can’t I just have internet at a decent price without having to pay for cable!
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Now the Republicans take over the “Dan Quayling” of Palin. Terrific.
I agree with Hawkins. Republicans deserved to lose. I wish there was another home for conservatives.
Cicero43 on November 5, 2008 at 8:23 PM
AP, please check tips email. Not news item. A problem.
Connie on November 5, 2008 at 8:23 PM
knowledgeability?!? Is that a word?
FinallyRight on November 5, 2008 at 8:23 PM
Looks like McCain and others are borrowing Obama’s bus…
right2bright on November 5, 2008 at 8:24 PM
This is the bullshit’s bullshit. In order to get in to Obama’s good graces, they are becoming MSM lightweights.
And O’Reilly’s whining like a two-year-old because Palin didn’t grace him with her presence has worn as thin as his hair and mind.
haikusrock on November 5, 2008 at 8:24 PM
Yeah right. Ain’t fallin’ for it.
Tony737 on November 5, 2008 at 8:24 PM
Wish I could be there. Take some pictures.
BadgerHawk on November 5, 2008 at 8:24 PM
oy. Embarrassing.
nazo311 on November 5, 2008 at 8:25 PM
?
BadgerHawk on November 5, 2008 at 8:25 PM
We will see what I can do. no clue how long this will take or when she supposedly gets in. I am not waiting outside the whole time. Too cold.
upinak on November 5, 2008 at 8:25 PM
I’d like to hear some of these stories directly from the lips of the so called sources.
Otherwise, it’s all hearsay bullsh*t uttered by cowards.
The Ugly American on November 5, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Huh? Africa’s a continent?
Conservative Panda on November 5, 2008 at 8:26 PM
This goes all the way to Ronald Reagan…”Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican.” Therefore the McCain aide were not conservatives that clearly understood this sacred 11th commandment.
Sergei on November 5, 2008 at 8:26 PM
I say “Don’t you dare pick on Sarah Palin.”
Folks, send them emails and bust their chops.
Oink on November 5, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Baloney. Shep’s show is really going downhill. I have no evidence to support this, just a hunch, Romney loyalists hoping to permanently rid themselves of a potential ‘12 foe?
BrianBoru on November 5, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Okay, . . .
NOW can we stop pretending we likes John McCain?
seanrobins on November 5, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Sorry for getting here late, but what has McCain himself said about Sarah. He better be defending her!
Oink on November 5, 2008 at 8:27 PM
What I am wondering is this story about her on HuffPo true???
“One night, Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter went to her hotel room to brief her. After a minute, Palin sailed into the room wearing nothing but a towel, with another on her wet hair. She told them to chat with her laconic husband, Todd. “I’ll be just a minute,” she said.”
AprilOrit on November 5, 2008 at 8:27 PM
I bet that she new FDR was not on TV in 1929 and that moron is our next vice president!
dentalque on November 5, 2008 at 8:27 PM
RINO McCainiacs protecting their collective reputations and professional careers by blaming the outsider. Don’t blame Fox. So who wants McCain at CPAC?
CanadianGuy on November 5, 2008 at 8:27 PM
True. This is crappy journalism to say the least.
terryannonline on November 5, 2008 at 8:28 PM
McCain is the only one responsible for his lose. Selecting Gov. Palin as the Vice Presidential candidate was the ONLY good thing McCain did the entire campaign.
Good bye and good ridden to McCain. Three Cheers Gov. Palin!
Zorro on November 5, 2008 at 8:28 PM
2 words.
Fairness Doctrine
Looks like they’re just getting a head start trying to get knocked off of the top of the list of those who get shut down first. “See! We did a hitpiece on Palin!”
Might buy them an extra 6 hours or so…
Jawa hit it best.. “So this is how Liberty dies.. with thunderous applause“
UncleOlaf on November 5, 2008 at 8:28 PM
The manifesto for the next four years was today’s Rush Limbaugh show.
Read the transcripts… Listen to the podcast…
Commit it to memory……
seanrobins on November 5, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Obama spent 20 years listening to sermons and being mentored by Rev. Wrong and yet he “had no idea” his views were extreme. To me that is more ignorant than not knowing Africa is a Continent. We don’t even know if what they are
saying about Sarah Palin is true. She is obviously an incredible, talented woman, and she is a threat to the Democrats and they are already setting up to filet her for 2012. I’m just sickened that Fox News is joining in. I guess I will be getting my news from the internet from now on. Sarah didn’t cost McCain one vote, he wouldnt have had as many as he did had she not been on the ticket.
mcplumbercuda on November 5, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Mac needs to make room under the bus for himself and his campaign advisors. I think we need a bigger bus.
LEBA on November 5, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Good bye and good
riddenriddance to McCain. Three Cheers Gov. Palin!Zorro on November 5, 2008 at 8:29 PM
A liberal friend I hadn’t talked to in a while called me to rub my nose in O’s win last night, then he said “Where did you move to again?” I said Delaware. He said “Yeah, that’s in Baltimore, right?” This is why we don’t talk much anymore, I can’t stand morons.
I would doubt this story about the Gov. of a state, from either party.
Tony737 on November 5, 2008 at 8:29 PM
O’Reilly is covering with Carl Cameron in a few….
That towel/shower story is too much.
AprilOrit on November 5, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Note to Roger Ailes:
Remember that pandering to Billy Clinton after 1992 then loading up with his campaign operatives (Begala, Carville, Beckel, Kinsley, Greenfield, Arnett, Woodruff etc.) is what sank CNN. Don’t make the same mistake with Obambi at FoxNews.
viking01 on November 5, 2008 at 8:29 PM
If you guys want to feel a little better, go read Anne Coulter’s new column. I think I am one of the few who thinks she makes Wednesdays a little brighter.
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 8:30 PM
On Topic: I do not watch Faux News anymore. : )
Off Topic: I was really feeling down and depressed about the upcoming administration and then this thought cheered me up: even if he is a horrible president we will probably get schools, avenues, holidays and government buildings named after Obama. Looks like there is no getting away from this guy. Ever.
carbon_footprint on November 5, 2008 at 8:30 PM
Oh … and gird your loins, people. I’m sure there’s more to come about “laconic” Todd and Sarah.
CanadianGuy on November 5, 2008 at 8:30 PM
best thing I’ve heard all day.
bring it.
Liberals fight like girls.
Handel on November 5, 2008 at 8:30 PM
Amen, to that!
If not for Sarah Palin the last couple of months of the campaign would not have existed for McCain. Without her, the loss would have been a complete massacre. As it was, while a loss is a loss, it was still a respectable loss.
If McCain can’t see how much he owes her, then screw him.
As for FOX and whoever else… We’ll soon see which ones were fair weather friends…..
seanrobins on November 5, 2008 at 8:31 PM
I don’t believe that crap for one flipping minute. Sarah rules. I will continue to support her. I am deeply disappointed over that story by fox news. Sarah put the wind in McCain’s Campaign sails.
I think we may all agree that McCain was lukewarm at best in generating excitement out of the GOP supporters. I was a Mitt Romney supporter myself.
I hope 2012 opens another opportunity for Sarah.
mindhacker on November 5, 2008 at 8:31 PM
I’d love a good fight.
Oh, wait, like Handel said, “Liberals fight like girls.”
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 8:32 PM
McLame is now officially a tool for allowing this.
Please Sarah , for the country, begin a new Bull Moose conservative party and go after the elitist assclowns of both parties that see themselves as the noble ruling class.
We are up for a fight and I know you are too.
DeweyWins on November 5, 2008 at 8:32 PM
LOL he is a moron! Everybody knows Delaware is in Rhode Island.
carbon_footprint on November 5, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Good lord… are the McCain aides so upset at the outcome that they’ll result to this snarky BS? This sounds like the kind of impossible to believe put-downs that the bloggers have been throwing at her this whole election. No one can be a governor of a state and not have a basic knowledge of NAFTA, and no one can make it through 3rd grade geography w/o knowing what Africa is.
They need to stop being bitter and realize that their own mishandling of this election is what cost McCain. The bitterness to throw her under the bus and ruin any future ambitions is selfish and petulant. I don’t believe a bit of this pablum for a second.
hildymac on November 5, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Given the crappy state of schools and government; it would be fitting :P
lorien1973 on November 5, 2008 at 8:32 PM
This whole report is BS. Makes me wanna hurl.
hockey2k5 on November 5, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Utter BS. If the source won’t go on record it isn’t worth reporting.
Hammerhead on November 5, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Girded!
lorien1973 on November 5, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Great point Lorien.
carbon_footprint on November 5, 2008 at 8:33 PM
upinak on November 5, 2008 at 8:25 PM
PLEASE tell her we LOVE her, and are feeling her pain.
Sniff.
pambi on November 5, 2008 at 8:33 PM
All I have to say to these morons is, get it out of your system now.
In six monthsBy the inauguration, everyone will have forgotten these stories anyway. Everyone, that is, except those of us who will remember who was backstabbing whom in four years.zerosheep on November 5, 2008 at 8:33 PM
She was an outsider to the machine, of course they are going to throw her under the bus.
I’m disappointed in the lack of professionalism by the campaign staff. Typical political personalities, point fingers, refuse responsibility in defeat, and undercut team mates.
cryptojunkie on November 5, 2008 at 8:33 PM
McCain has defended her. I think I saw Nichole Wallace’s name connected with this crap. It looks like it started when Sara switched handlers–right before the debate. They’ve gotten their little noses out of joint and are looking for revenge. Not too surprising, I guess. But I am disappointed in Cameron and Fox News.
Dee2008 on November 5, 2008 at 8:33 PM
See what I mean when I say that McCain’s ilk should be banned from CPAC???
MedSchoolCatholic on November 5, 2008 at 8:34 PM
Note that Scheunemann was the one who emailed Marc Macimber last week or two weeks ago to quash all the Palin diva leaks that MacImber had on his blog? Scheunemann is a foreign policy wonk. Why wasn’t Tucker Bounds or Nicole Wallace or Salter the ones calling MacImber’s rumours “bullshit?” Why was Palin left to explain the clothing expenses herself?
Methinks McCain’s staff had been planning to blame Palin for a long time, my friends.
CanadianGuy on November 5, 2008 at 8:35 PM
What small-minded people they are.
rlwo2008 on November 5, 2008 at 8:35 PM
McCain’s aides were not conservatives…I am SHOCKED!
McCain lost this. This is the bitterness of a vindictive prick and his staff now rolling the only exciting thing on the Repub ticket under the bus. McCain PLEASE retire to AZ, STFU and take your moderate RINO scum with you!
jwp1964 on November 5, 2008 at 8:35 PM
They don’t even question the validity of the sources (who I guess – surprise – don’t want to be named) or their motives. What the f*ck has happened to the MSM???
This is unbelievable. Sarah Palin gave McCain the only hope he had of winning, at great personal and professional cost to herself. And this is the reward she gets from his staff????? My estimation of McCain has just dropped a lot of notches for allowing this (and I’m still giving him the benefit of the doubt that he’s not actually encouraging it).
I guess the Republican party eats its own, eh? Great way to start building for the future (sarcasm there).
ProfessorMiao on November 5, 2008 at 8:36 PM
LOL he is a moron! Everybody knows Delaware is in Rhode Island. – Carbon
Ha! I thought it was in Jersey!
Tony737 on November 5, 2008 at 8:36 PM
The Quayling of Sarah Palin. When we have VP-elect who out Quayles the original every week. Sickening. Guys, don’t let the MSM do this, write them emails and call them out on their bias. They’re out to destroy her forever.
Fortunata on November 5, 2008 at 8:36 PM
When Sarah was chosen as McCain’s running mate and we learned about her conservative chops and beautiful family, my better half predicted: “They will stop at nothing to destroy this woman.”
Just didn’t think it would be “our side” in on the deal. I held my nose and voted for John McCain because of Sarah Palin. And so did a lot of other folks I know. And Sarah’s the one with no class. Hmmmm….
mubando on November 5, 2008 at 8:36 PM
It was nice to see Ralph Nader nail Shep and call him a bully. Palin a state to govern. This is just Onionesque MSM filler because they won’t do the needful reporting on the POTUS-elect.
Christien on November 5, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Not for nothing, I’m really glad I dont have to defend this kind of crap anymore. True or not, let libs deal with it for a few years now.
Dash on November 5, 2008 at 8:37 PM
My guess is she got frustrated at the milquetoast campaign they were running. My impression from the early interviews was that she was afraid to answer the questions for herself and was trying to go by the campaign template. Her earlier interviews (cspan) etc. before she was picked are evidence of that imo. My guess is she finally said fark it and went rogue at the end and that really pissed off the campaign.
bluejacket on November 5, 2008 at 8:37 PM
has a state to govern
Christien on November 5, 2008 at 8:37 PM
The staff is there to make the candidate look good, not the other way around. They should be ashamed of themselves for saying that garbage. Sounds like more of the East Coast snobbery of Noonan, Will, etc.
pedestrian on November 5, 2008 at 8:37 PM
I don’t buy it. I heard long ago that the former Romney campaign members, who ended up on the McCain team, were the ones who were spreading the bad rumors.
Never been a Shep fan (all those young girls giggling in the background creeps me out) and now Cameron looks like a back stabber.
jcheney on November 5, 2008 at 8:37 PM
Sarah Palin is the future of the conservative movement.
And the media would gladly see her dead, humiliated, and wiped from the history books because of that.
MadisonConservative on November 5, 2008 at 8:37 PM
I wonder how much the RNC paid for the towels she wore?
College degree here and I just finger counted the continents to be sure I had them all right…
Rockygold on November 5, 2008 at 8:37 PM
It is certain that someone in the campaign had it out for her.
How did it get leaked what they spent on her clothes?
I think the source should be found out on ALL of this, and someone needs to make it public knowledge just what kind of team mate and unprofessional this person is.
cryptojunkie on November 5, 2008 at 8:38 PM
Cameron looked practically giddy as he reported it. I wanted his slap his damn troll doll face.
Shep, O’Reilly, and Colmes are ridiculous. Honestly, Greta was annoying the hell out of me for a while, but I swear that going to Alaska combined with Obama’s multiple yet unreported gaffes, changed her mind about something. She may have written in Hillary, or voted for Obama, but I do think she respected Palin in the end.
haikusrock on November 5, 2008 at 8:38 PM
I’m glad someone else is speaking out about this. I’m so mad. This has former Bushies and Romney hopefuls written all over it.
Palin is awesome. If the party chooses to spit her out and elect big spenders as our leaders, then we better get real used to the Democrat party being the majority.
nlj on November 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
you know..I don’t know who is putting this nonsense out.
The way I see it, Palin had one debate. ONE DEBATE.
And with that debate, I saw someone come out and FIGHT. And clearly state what she believes in. Not always, but for the most part.
McCain had THREE DEBATES, and only fought in one.
Blew the message.
Blew the ONE thing that ignited passion and energy..which was the over handling of Palin.
Whoever it is, be it McCain or his handlers…Whoever is trying to do this should be very careful. Right now conservatives AND republicans arent too happy with his bungling of things.
Best shut up and get back to the senate where you belong, and leave the future to the Palins of the party.
Your time is done.
You’ve more than had your shot.
Now pipe down.
Thats an order.
Handel on November 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
I made it about halfway through the first clip. This is BS. Stuff like this pisses me off and is completely uncalled for. Way to stay classy McCain staffers.
CP on November 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
What the hell (pardon my language) are these McCain people doing? What is Carl Cameron doing? This isn’t real journalism. “Sources in the campaign”… what in the world is that supposed to mean? They are only throwing Sarah (and now her whole family I guess) under the bus because they are threatened by her.
This whole shiza about her being a “diva” and her “shopping sprees” is coming from these same low lives. They need to go do something productive for a change. Go work for Obama.
hockey2k5 on November 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
She’ll know soon enough when American troops are getting ‘no-fire’ ROEs in Darfur, Congo, and Zimbabwe.
Limerick on November 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Yep. You know, that old fart-for-brains spent every waking moment defending his enemies and castigating his friends.
We are well rid of the stiltifying speeches punctuated by endless “My Friends” from this dip-stick.
seanrobins on November 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
No, zerosheep, this is about destroying her credibility for ever. I can well believe it comes from the Romney camp. McCain should step up.
Fortunata on November 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Does anyone REALLY believe she didn’t know Africa was a continent? I mean … she’s as old as I am … and we learned all the continents in the 4th grade. Please … give me a break.
HondaV65 on November 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
O’Reilly doing the Palin dirt now.
CanadianGuy on November 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Just read the HuffPO piece. It is utter garbage. Obama is friends with terrorists and wants to bankrupt an entire industry , and spread the wealth, oh but breaking news Sarah Palin spent too much on a shopping spree. Makes me sick. I hope Sarah knows how much we love her. GO SARAH!
mcplumbercuda on November 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Cameron is on OReilly now…spouting this crap again.
cryptojunkie on November 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
I can believe that she had a lot to learn. She’s a first-term governor who has been focused on her state’s issues and, presumably, on her young family. I can even buy, maybe, that she didn’t do prep for Couric. Though I’m not sure what she blew it off to do. I’m sure some anonymous staffer will say tomorrow that she blew it off interview prep to go shopping at Saks. The problem is that I pretty sure she was prepping for her UN/world leader meet and greet at the same time. Her first day of meetings at the UN was the same day that she taped the first part of the Couric interview.
There is certainly anecdotal evidence from Alaska that she’s never been a policy wonk, and that she can be stubborn if she thinks she’s right. But it’s the thing about her not knowing Africa is a continent that put this story way over the top to me, and therefore not quite believable. I mean…her dad’s a teacher, she graduated from high school and college. She didn’t remember from high school geography that Africa’s a continent? Maybe it’s true, but it seems more like staffers hitting back at her for disagreeing with their strategy and trying to save their future jobs by saying, “It wasn’t our fault her roll out was rough, and she ended up with negative polling. She’s too dumb to live!”
meltenn on November 5, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Nicole Wallace and other McCain RINOs.
CanadianGuy on November 5, 2008 at 8:40 PM
This is just wrong. When did the GOP become the party of dunderheads. Bobby Jindal 2012.
Check this out:
Palin Once Greeted McCain Staff Wearing Only A Towel
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/05/palin-once-greeted-mccain_n_141394.html?page=15&show_comment_id=17696626#comment_17696626
jacobnyc on November 5, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Airing dirty laundry immediately following defeat speaks volumes. These unnamed sources are simply redirecting blame…away from themselves.
The fact that the McCain camp never went after Jeremiah Wright, never unearthed the audio tapes (see: Redistribution, bankrupt coal industry) in advance, and failed to devise one solid talking point to continually drive home against Obama, led more to his defeat than anything else.
Besides, like many, Palin was the reason I was voting for McCain, instead of just voting against Obama.
dugan on November 5, 2008 at 8:41 PM
No, it’s in Amtrack. Duh.
zerosheep on November 5, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Well, they will all learn fairly soon, I think, that there will be a new conservative movement (TRUE conservative movement), and many (most?) of today’s pretenders must be cut out, like the gangrenous wounds that they are.
seanrobins on November 5, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Carl Cameron = POS
WisCon on November 5, 2008 at 8:41 PM
McCain, you squelched the booing of Obama last night. If you let this slide, it speaks VOLUMES about you.
Christien on November 5, 2008 at 8:41 PM
I hear that…
Ya know, I will still blame the “base” and their infatuation with Palin over McCain for the loss. Palin was a poor choice as a running mate, and the “base” was too concerned with 2012 well before yesterday.
Like I said, the quarterback can’t throw a touchdown when his team is gawking at the cheerleaders…
JetBoy on November 5, 2008 at 8:41 PM
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