Terrific: Caroline’s qualified and experienced, says … Palin
posted at 4:15 pm on January 9, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Not since my beloved boss dumped on atheists has there been heart-ache such as this.
Working moms have to look out for each other, I guess.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin expressed displeasure Friday with media reports of her recent comments about Caroline Kennedy.
“I was not commenting at all on Caroline Kennedy as a prospective U.S. senator, but rather on the seemingly arbitrary ways in which news organizations determine the level and kind of scrutiny given to those who aspire to public office,” Palin said. “In fact, I consider Ms. Kennedy qualified and experienced, and she could serve New York well.”…
In an interview with conservative filmmaker John Ziegler for his coming move “How Obama Got Elected,” posted on YouTube on Wednesday, Palin said that Kennedy has gotten softer treatment in the press because of a “class issue.”
This may be the first thing she’s said for which she’ll get significant pushback from the base. Presumably she feels obliged to rubber-stamp Princess because her own VP resume was thin, but that concedes a point most conservatives refuse to concede — namely, that her two years as governor don’t count for much as a qualification for federal office, or at least for not much more than 51 years as an heiress to Camelot do. She has to tread lightly because of the gender politics involved, but if anything, Palin should be leading the charge in demanding that Caroline win an election somewhere before inheriting her senatorial birthright. Exit question for the ‘Cuda: How, exactly, is she qualified and experienced?
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note to republicans:
playing nice with democrats will not make them like you, nor treat you better.
lorien1973 on January 9, 2009 at 4:19 PM
A month ago I’d have my bowels in an uproar over this, but with ass-clown Franken in the (re: stealing) senate, does it even matter anymore?
Pasalubong on January 9, 2009 at 4:19 PM
I sense a femi-qualified bi=partisan co-host duo on SNL. Right after Stuart Smalley does a guest appearance on his way to D.C.
Fletch54 on January 9, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Well what’s the alternative? Say she’s not qualified? No, she’s not, but that would turn this into a Kennedy/Palin war which is the last thing she wants the media to drum up. Cuz we know whose side they’re on.
And she’s right that her comment was entirely directed at the media. Never in that Ziegler interview did she say Kennedy wasn’t qualified. Not that I expect the media to acknowledge this.
Doughboy on January 9, 2009 at 4:20 PM
This just all feels like a bad reality show at this point, ugh.
Sir Loin on January 9, 2009 at 4:21 PM
she is right. Never once in that interview did she say kennedy was unqualified, she just said she was treated much easier.
ousoonerfan15 on January 9, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Caroline Kennedy is a SURVIVOR. She never went for a drive with Uncle Ted or a plane ride with Brother John. So she can crash the party with Cousin Pat at 3:00 AM, just in time to answer Hillary’s phone.
Steve Z on January 9, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Exactly. When the basic qualification is “Must have the intellectual capacity of a boiled potato,” why shouldn’t she be qualified.
I’ve had bowel movements that were smarter than most US senators.
CurtZHP on January 9, 2009 at 4:22 PM
LMFAO!
Allah… maybe she is saying this so that New Yorkers will vote her pathetic butt in! And we on the “West” coast can look and giggle at the idiots!
BRILLIANT, Sarah I hope Caroline gets in just for the giggle factor!!!
upinak on January 9, 2009 at 4:22 PM
The media needs to stop hanging on every word Palin says.
Firebird on January 9, 2009 at 4:23 PM
damn I knew Palin spent too much time around McCain for her own good.
unseen on January 9, 2009 at 4:24 PM
For the love of god. Sarah, we’re defending your resume and demanding that they stop comparing Caroline to you, and then you do this.
Dadvocate on January 9, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Yawn. Looks like another slow news day. SOP: When traffic is down, throw in a couple of Palin threads.
conservative pilgrim on January 9, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Much of her supporters will, A) Make an excuse along the lines of “What else was she supposed to see, B) Agree.
amerpundit on January 9, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Ooh, or C) Slam Allahpundit for wanting traffic, trying to stir the base, or something else.
amerpundit on January 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Governor Sarah Palin wake up.
Their hypocrisy knows no bounds. They will use this quote to say how you are unqualified–even while they go seat Princess “You Know” Caroline. Stop trying to appease the left.
Mr. Joe on January 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
She’d be appointed, not voted.
SouthernDem on January 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Agreed… I don’t see this as much of a goof so much as one woman defending another and taking the high road.
Skywise on January 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
I guess I have to take another take. Maybe Sarah is saying, Caroline is as qualified as bho is to be in dc.
L
letget on January 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Very true. I don’t think it’s healthy to read too much into a public figure’s every single word.
terryannonline on January 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Much of her supporters will, A) Make an excuse along the lines of “What else was she supposed to see, B) Agree.
amerpundit on January 9, 2009 at 4:25 PM
c) blame it on McCain
unseen on January 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Ramrocks and I talked about this briefly last night. I’m still not sure why she felt like she needed to include that last part. I think she could have let the first sentence stand on its own. Maybe she was just been trying to be gracious, or felt like she needed to defend another woman. She’s shown herself to be quite gracious towards Hillary Clinton so it’s not out of character for her.
meltenn on January 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
opps true. sorry we vote not appoint up here.
upinak on January 9, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Ugh.
I feel like I just caught my fiancee making out with another guy.
MadisonConservative on January 9, 2009 at 4:27 PM
She’s trying to be nice and polite here–but these are people on whom such common courtesy is lost. However, politically, she probably has no choice. Take it for what it is–a pat on the head and that’s about it.
Matt Helm on January 9, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Hmm I thought you were already married. ;)
upinak on January 9, 2009 at 4:28 PM
That’s not the Cuda I knew.
Laura in Maryland on January 9, 2009 at 4:28 PM
If Franken is qualified, anyone is.
AlanC on January 9, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Perhaps Palin was just saying that Caroline is qualified to run for the office, which she is, what with the age/residency requirements and all? You know, the way we all try to play nice and say that the president elect is qualified…
myrenovations on January 9, 2009 at 4:29 PM
I don’t know amerpundit, this wasn’t the brighest thing she’s ever said XD
I thought she was qualified enough for vice-president, but it’s not like I think she’s the perfect woman or something.
She’d have to be single for that to be the case.
Sorry, I lost my train of thought. What was I saying?
apollyonbob on January 9, 2009 at 4:29 PM
D) Your Wrong Sarah. But I still love you.
portlandon on January 9, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Explain the experience.
amerpundit on January 9, 2009 at 4:30 PM
When you consider the make up of the current congress, then I guess she right.
Kini on January 9, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Her Highness is qualified, technically. Experienced, maybe not so much. Personally, I have nothing really against her, and I think other than an being an extreme lefty, she might make a competent senator. It’s not as if the senate is packed with Ciceros anyway.
My beef with her is she’s being appointed solely because of her DNA, and without ever having to dirty her hands with an election, and it’s a disturbing Dem trend when you think about the Biden placeholder guy and whoever is going to inherit Teddy’s seat.
juliesa on January 9, 2009 at 4:30 PM
He’s fixated.
fogw on January 9, 2009 at 4:31 PM
I don’t know if I would call myself a “supporter.” However, I don’t see the big deal in the comment. Why am I suppose to make excuses or anything else?
terryannonline on January 9, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Great. Now the jerks at MSNBC will say “Even Sarah Palin says…”
SoulGlo on January 9, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Just proof that noone is always 1005 correct. next.
unseen on January 9, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I’m going to go with A, sadly.
She’s a politician. This is what they do.
jimmy the notable on January 9, 2009 at 4:34 PM
I think she’s wrong on thisone, but then I never thought being her fan meant that I had to think she was right all the time. However, apparently some do think exactly that way.
Gina on January 9, 2009 at 4:34 PM
I love Palin, but I disagree with her on this one. I’d like to hear her reasons for saying that though. She may be qualified legally to be a US Senator as far as the United States Constitution is concerned, but nothing else in my opinion.
NicSteel on January 9, 2009 at 4:34 PM
This is hilarious.
Big S on January 9, 2009 at 4:34 PM
(Sorry, “this one.”)
Gina on January 9, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Tammy Bruce and Dennis Miller brought up the point that “experience” as a factor in choosing a senator is bunk.
The ones we have now presiding in the senate are idiots. So, as Bruce says, why can’t someone who is not at all involved in politics, all of a sudden be a politician?
Bruce even says Kennedy will be a “Febreeze in the senate.”
Case in point, all of us commenting on the boards think we know better on policy than actual senators. And we do. I do agree in theory that anyone can be a senator and legally so, but being a “Kennedy” by name should not guarantee it.
Plus admiring “the journey of J-lo” doesn’t help in that quest.
jencab on January 9, 2009 at 4:35 PM
She’s a US citizen and old. What other requirements do you want?
Multiple degrees? Able to run a mile in under 8 minutes?
danking70 on January 9, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Guv Palin needs to stop doing interviews for a while.
a capella on January 9, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Allah,
please answer my question
why don’t u like Sarah Palin?
rwoodward6 on January 9, 2009 at 4:35 PM
I don’t agree with her but who cares? Are we honestly so petty or bored that something like this is an issue?
And I’d sooner say that she’s simply being gracious, she’s a class act and with no power to affect the appointment what reason would she have to dump on her?
For whatever reason she said this, it doesn’t change my opinion of her in the slightest because holding such a viewpoint wouldn’t change the way she governs.
Kronos on January 9, 2009 at 4:35 PM
The experienced part… um, well, you know… Caroline did do a short “listening tour” and, um, you know…
Yep, sadly, I have to disagree with Palin on this one. Still love her though.
In fact, she would have to abort a child concieved in adultery with Sen. Stevens while signing a gun ban to lose my support.
myrenovations on January 9, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Exit question for Allahpundit: How, exactly, is experience necessarily a qualification?
http://www.psychologymatters.org/personnelselect.html
I have a copy of a table from Schmidt and Hunter’s 1998 meta analysis that shows how well various methods of testing correlate with job performance. Guess what – experience isn’t that great.
When you only measure things like years of education you get a correlation of roughly .11.
When you even measure actual workplace accomplishments it only climbs as high as .3 or so.
TheUnrepentantGeek on January 9, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Call me skeptical but exactly where does she say this? In what context?
davo on January 9, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Considering who currently sits in the Senate, I certainly think Sweet Caroline is qualified. It’s not like our current standards require any kind of genius to “serve” in the Senate. That “august body” is so filled with liars, cheats, and crooks of all kinds, Sweet Caroline seems better qualified than most who are already there. They’re cooks and morons while she, though possibly only average in intelligence, at least does not appear to be a crook.
t.ferg on January 9, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Hmm, well, er, um.
Wait, where are the unicorns and lollipop trees Dear Leader promised us?
rbj on January 9, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Just exactly what experience do you need to be a Senator?
You could take the guy at the gas station and make him a Senator and it would make no difference.
The job requires strength of character and not particularly legislative experience.
To me the #1 qualification of being a U.S.Senator is to never forget who you work and what your responsibilities are.
They are there to represent their home state first and not their political and personal fortunes.Many forget that.
They are not there to be media darlings or celebrities.
Without a doubt you could say that Harry Reid has all kinds of Senatorial experience but somehow he is still some self serving partisan hack assclown.
For crissakes he single handedly tried to surrender to al-Qaeda during the Iraq war.Is that what we get for all his experience….?
The man is horrible and he is the leader of the Senate.
The most important qualities a candidate could have would be integrity, honesty and a true sense of committment to service and not how viciously you can defeat your opponent or fight the President. This current crop of Senators is horrible and they all feel that the resources of the U.S. are their own private property to do with what they want.They have no respect for the common man.
In that sense Caroline is as qualified as any of them.
NeoKong on January 9, 2009 at 4:39 PM
1) The founding fathers meant for anyone, within limited but strict age and citizenship standars, to be able to serve this country. kennedy is as qualified as any currently in the senate.
2) It’s great that “conservative pundits” are helping defeat a harmless appointee like kennedy so a nasty, corrupt pitbull like cuomo can be appointed. kennedy may have been malleable to reason and/or possibly defeated in the next election. The national and ny democrat machines will get behind cuomo and he will be in the senate for the rest of his life, pushing his fascist view of America. A sincere thanks to all the brilliant “conservative pundits” who aided him.
peacenprosperity on January 9, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Obama pretty much lowered the bar for all government employees.
abinitioadinfinitum on January 9, 2009 at 4:41 PM
I am, realistically. ;)
MadisonConservative on January 9, 2009 at 4:42 PM
U is a letter. It’s incapable of liking anybody. U has no biases.
apollyonbob on January 9, 2009 at 4:43 PM
anyone.
Anyone aware of a blog with actual conservatives commenting on conservatives?
peacenprosperity on January 9, 2009 at 4:43 PM
I agree …she could serve New York well.
Alaska, not so much.
The Ugly American on January 9, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!
The Ugly American on January 9, 2009 at 4:44 PM
So true and Blago.
What people don’t understand is, Palin doesn’t care, she doesn’t need us or anybody.
The country will beg her to run in 2012 because we will need her more than she needs us. This country is in for a difficult time.
Firebird on January 9, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Sometimes I think we forget what we’ve said before we say what we’re sayin’ now…We’ve said – “600 people chosen at random off the street could do as good a job as what we’ve got there now”.
So, Charles Rangel is qualified, but Caroline Kennedy isn’t?
Harry Reid is qualifed, but Caroline Kenned isn’t?
Nancy Pelosi is qualifed, but Caroline Kenned isn’t?
Maybe only lawyers are qualified to serve in Congress…
Hey, I’d rather have 600 Joe the Plumbers and Sarah Palin’s there, but – there are no qualifications to serve in Congress. And, we don’t want any – that, my friend, is a slippery slope…
MYounger on January 9, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Hmm. Somehow I’m betting that by 2012 this discussion we’re having today really isn’t going to be that important.
innominatus on January 9, 2009 at 4:47 PM
I think she’s being smart.
But, really, the only thing required for the seat is a blind follower with no brains that will do the will of Pelosi ad Reid, so I’d say she’s qualified.
americanpatriot on January 9, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Looks like a lot of folks had the same thoughts I had – at about the same time…
MYounger on January 9, 2009 at 4:48 PM
1) A strong woman.
2) A conservative.
peacenprosperity on January 9, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Somehow I think you are right.
terryannonline on January 9, 2009 at 4:49 PM
I’m a Palin fan but this is idiotic.
V15J on January 9, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Harry Reid shouldn’t be qualified to do anything other than weep uncontrollably, but he’s Senate Majority Leader. Given what the Senate is like (and how astonishingly low its approval ratings have been recently), calling Caroline Kennedy appropriate for it seems like fighting words.
But hey, she’s at least as qualified (and her experiences are almost certainly more appropriate for congressional work) as her uncle.
I think Palin is shrewd enough to know not to fight for the liberals; hopefully running with Maverick proved how fickle the left is.
emailnuevo on January 9, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Does she seriously believe this or was is something more Rovian going on here?
- The Cat
MirCat on January 9, 2009 at 4:53 PM
On a day that Democrat Governor Rod Blagojovich is impeached and tied to the recent UNQUALIFIED President Elect Barack Hussein Obama through a federal indictment, we are fighting about what an honest Republican Governor says about Caroline Kennedy?
Demo Gov impeached- eh
Repub Gov gives interview- OH MY GOD!! SHE SAID WHAT!! AHHHH!!
Disgusting.
portlandon on January 9, 2009 at 4:55 PM
To be fair:
Caroline is:
A) Rich
B) Dumb as a rock
C) Used to mucking around with Rich people dumb as rocks.
That is experience for the US Senate.
BKennedy on January 9, 2009 at 4:55 PM
This sounds more like her buddy Greta Van Susteren talking (who also thinks Kennedy is qualified).
Ok, mark this as the first time I disagree with you, Palin.
latinchic on January 9, 2009 at 4:58 PM
HA!
I wish she didn’t say this. Maybe she didn’t like the fact that so man democrats (and some republicans as well) belittled her experience and it was mostly out of sympathy. But her experience is of course legitimate. Where as Caroline’s is based on … what, exactly? Again, I can sympathize with Sarah’s sympathizing with objections to Caroline who may be … like, you know, a good person, I don’t know. And she didn’t have to pile on and agree with the same criticism of Caroline as was the same criticism of her. But she didn’t have to go there.
Oh well. I still love Sarah.
wise_man on January 9, 2009 at 4:58 PM
I wish she would shut up for awhile. The more I hear her the dumber I think she is.
WisCon on January 9, 2009 at 5:02 PM
It’s not like you need much in way of a resume to qualify for the Senate anyway.
All you need is an opinion. Informed opinions are entirely optional.
MarkTheGreat on January 9, 2009 at 5:03 PM
We can still love Sarah but disagree with her statement. Plus, this is just a quote, how do we know she didn’t say more on this subject? I’d like to know more of the story. Now, if she endorsed Caroline and started to stump for her, well then we’d have a problem.
NicSteel on January 9, 2009 at 5:04 PM
This story is making a mountain out of a molehill. Didn’t someone already theorize that AP gets paid per comment? If so, here’s my $.02. Don’t spend it all in one place.
I would say experience is important when discussing presidential candidates (particularly when people gush over one who doesn’t appear to have much of it), but not nearly as much for senators. I mean, notwithstanding that he was in the other party and therefore at odds with a lot of my viewpoints, Bill Bradley did a pretty good job as a senator with (by the current standard) absolutely no qualifications.
Anyway, I had thought that the story around this site was the double standard the media had in continuing to display Sarah as unqualified (I’m talking to you, David “Pimped Out” Shuster) while presenting Caroline Schlossberg as an everywoman who should have the Senate seat handed to her on a golden platter.
Sarah’s comment, the way I interpret it, says that she believes this whole double-standard thing is a total non-story. And maybe she’s right.
Snowed In on January 9, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Funny as hell. joey, where you at brah?
dakine on January 9, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Let the Kennedy have her day. Anoint the princess.
LimeyGeek on January 9, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Someone help this user ASAP…he/she is being forced, possibly at gunpoint, to read stories about Sarah Palin on his/her web browser!
Seriously…do you see that X in the upper right corner? Just click it.
Snowed In on January 9, 2009 at 5:09 PM
It was part of a statement she/her office put out in response to the media coverage of the Ziegler interview. You can read the whole statement here.
My impression is that she was just trying to be gracious to another woman. She’s done the same thing with Hillary Clinton multiple times.
meltenn on January 9, 2009 at 5:09 PM
I wonder what the specific question was that prompted her response. Did someone ask her directly if she thinks Kennedy is unqualified? I wouldn’t be surprised. I’ve been watching the coverage of her interview ever since the YT clip was posted here the other day, and although I try to stick exclusively with Fox, I do sense that there has been some concentrated effort to spin her remarks in the interview as anti-Princess. I think her reply was fine, barring the qualifier at the end (which I totally disagree with), but maybe she realizes she is on the hot seat and just doesn’t want to get into it with the MSM again. I mean, I can’t say I would blame her. It would be no different than Katie Couric or Charlie Gibson’s malicious attempts to make her look stupid. The MSM are like the antagonists in “Mean Girls.” Everything is a hair-splitting pissing contest with them. Nothing Palin can say will ever make them happy; they are on a mission to find whatever they can to use against her. Maybe she said what she did about Kennedy because she isn’t interested in fighting that pointless and juvenile battle.
I will say, however, she needs to remember what she said back during the campaign, about how she isn’t interested in making them like her. If she were to take that approach, and work on polishing her raw talent for cutting them all down with a little charming sarcasm (a la the Gipper), she — and we who support her — would have far few headaches. What she SHOULD have said is, “I never said she was unqualified.” That leaves things open to interpretation. Though I happen to agree, I do believe that if Kennedy were to actually run for the office in New York, they would vote her in regardless of her sparse qualifications. It happens all the time: Look at Obama. Plus, American voters just love their celebrity politicians.
NoLeftTurn on January 9, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Answer to exit question, as far as qualifications:
“No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.”
- US Constitution, Article I, Section 3.
For the experience part, the U.S. electorate decided in November that trying to get a job granted experience adequate for that job.
malclave on January 9, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Sarah is exactly right.
Caroline is as qualified as Brainless Barry.
They are both US citizens.
At least we think Barry is a US citizen.
DeweyWins on January 9, 2009 at 5:14 PM
That makes ALL the difference.
wise_man on January 9, 2009 at 5:15 PM
C’mon Sarah. Where’s the pitbull?
VolMagic on January 9, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Can anybody tell me what those fools in the Senate are qualified to do? What is it exactly that you need to be able to do in that crowd? Blow smoke up everyone’s a$$. I realize that we have a few smart folks up there but I think Caroline will be in fine company and fit right in especially from the Northeast. Boring seem to be the number one qualification. Why should Gov. Palin get involved in New Yorks situation and what decision a fellow governor has to make. I am sure as the senator of New York, if nothing else, her vocabulary will improve. You know?
Cindy Munford on January 9, 2009 at 5:17 PM
I agree with lorien that repubs playing nicey with dems just isn’t worth it. They don’t care and will laugh and point anyway.
If someone has a heartbeat and maybe an IQ above their shoe size they could serve in the congress or senate. Did anyone see Ms. Pelosi’s rabid seal act on the “quote of the day”?
There you go….
tru2tx on January 9, 2009 at 5:26 PM
I’m disappointed to hear this from Sarah Palin.
And AP, if you consider Palin’s resume to be thin, then Caroline Kennedy’s could only be characterized as on the negative side of non-existent.
ProfessorMiao on January 9, 2009 at 5:33 PM
I can has Romney/Jindal?
malan89 on January 9, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Sarah is just being gracious,thats just the way she is.
And she look great doing it..:)
dec5 on January 9, 2009 at 5:34 PM
U can has overreactionz?
Snowed In on January 9, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Did he bite her and give her reach-across-the-aisle cooties?
chunderroad on January 9, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Does Allah really want her to come out and say that Caroline is not qualified?
Oh God can we be so dense?
Dritanian on January 9, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Romney… yuck!
terryannonline on January 9, 2009 at 5:42 PM
I mean seriously with the way she was attacked I am not suprise that she said this. Why bring the unwelcome attention even if she feel Caroline is not qualified?
I disagree with her statement whole heartedly but I don’t see what the big deal is.
Dritanian on January 9, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Ewwww!
Snowed In on January 9, 2009 at 5:43 PM
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