Round two for Sarah Palin and Katie Couric (only this time John McCain comes along)

Sarah Palin and John McCain sat down with CBS' Katie Couric for their first joint interview on Monday, less than one week after Palin's solo interview with Couric, which was widely panned.

In tonight's segment, which aired on the CBS Evening News, Couric asked the Alaskan governor what she thought of criticism that she was "not ready for prime time."

Palin answered gracefully, if predictably ("Well, not only am I ready but willing and able to serve as vice president with Sen. McCain if Americans so bless us and privilege us with the opportunity of serving").

Then her running mate came to her defense, as he did this weekend, this time with a surprising comparison. "President Clinton was a governor of a very small state that had "no experience" either," the Arizona Republican told Couric.

You can watch that and other exchanges for yourself here. And be sure to watch for the interesting back-and-forth over gotcha journalism.

--Kate Linthicum

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Comments

[dallas Mike]

Bill Clinton had a formal education in Forgien Diplomacy.
He graduated from Georgetown University with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS), from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. Phi Beta Kappa, he won a Rhodes Scholarship, designed to pick from the next generation of great leaders, and got a degree in government in his studies at University College, Oxford. He also traveled Europe during that time.

The Edmund A Walsh School is often refered to as "The West Point for Diplmates.

Try again John, try again.

[Virgil]

I might add that while having international borders all around Alaska adds little to foreign policy experience, it is not a deficit either. During my ten-years in Lake County, Indiana, my awareness of Mexico was nothing compared to when I lived in San Antonio and San Diego. The ease of driving to Piedras Negras and Tijuana made me read more about Mexico and the politics of the country. Palin's increased sensitivity to what's happening in towns across the Alaskan border can complement information compiled by the State Department on Canada and Russia.

But her strengths going to the White House includes her instinctive sense of what's right and what's wrong about government, a sense amply demonstrated in years of public service starting from unpaid work in the PTA and on to voter-watched performance as city councilor, city mayor, and governor.

The news of her disqualification is overly exaggerated. She will come out the gold nugget of the Yukon from this debate and America will be the richer for it.

[Hillary_Supporter]

WHY WAS HE BABY SITTING HER FOR THE INTERVIEW?

NO WAY, NOW HOW, NO McCAIN/PALIN

[Joe Rotes]

These guys are running for President and VP. This is like and Abbott & Costello routine. Will McCain join her for the debate with Biden as well ?

And us Americans are stupid anough to consider voting for Palin/McCain ? God help us.

[Adi]

So, by the same logic, McCain's experience argument is off the books. McCain just made the case against his own argument for why people should prefer him over Obama.

[VJ]

Virgil, are you kidding us and yourself? Living next to a country does NOT give you foreign policy experience. That's ridiculous and the American people know it. The plain facts are this woman is grossly unqualified for this job and only the most ardent apologists would say she isn't. What a sad day for America. I can't vote for McCain because of this VP choice. Sorry John. Bad decision.

[Lisa]

But doesn't Mccain say that Obama's lack of experience makes him unqualified to be President? But it's ok that Clinton had a lack of experience? He's such a hypocrite.

[Adam Smith]

Saying "sensing ... right or wrong" is her "strengths" is like saying McCain's strengths is "finance".

She hired her friends and family, claimed expenses for living at home and transporting her family around AK. Fired someone for not firing her ex-brother-in-law. Kept the money from the bridge to nowhere without building the bridge and instead built a road to nowhere. She left her town with millions in debt and higher taxes and paid 10 times what a piece of property was worth because the town didn't owned the land when she started building.

She was an "unpaid work in the PTA" which is kind of like a community organizer...except the CO actually has responsibility.

[David]

Virgil,

You sound as though you had a natural curiosity about Mexico when using your analogy about Sarah Palin's proximity to Russia. However, nothing she has said substantiates a claim that she has even read anything about Russia or its politics. She has virtually no knowledge of world affairs including that of one of her closest foreign neighbors, i.e., Russia.

As far as your claim that she has an "instinctive sense of what's right and wrong about government" you are correct. She uses her position to her own advantage as many politicians do. In some cases, to avoid closer scrutiny. For example, she is currently under investigation by the legislature of Alaska as to whether she violated the public trust by using her position to wrongly oust a beloved public servant. While she originally promised to cooperate in this investigation, she has now reneged on the promise.

Any gold that was once there has been badly tarnished.

[Doug]

Just look at McCain's body language, fidgeting with something. He just doesn't want to be there. Realizing one of his remaining talking points against BO, corss border raids into Pakistan, was killed by his running mate, and this is the burial.

[Crawford]

Virgil;

you might want to brush up on your own knowledge of the world.

The Yukon is in Canada.

[BarbaraS]

Is this for real? Do these two actually think they can run a country? Does our nation really think they can run this country? I see a shell shock old man and Mrs Susie homemaker. If God forbid anything happened to McCain Mrs Palin would be commander in chief. Does that fill you with confidence and a sense of security? These two should instill fear in even the most dedicated republican. I know it sends a ripple of dread thoughtout my sense of security.

[Ira]

It's Parent's Day on CBS News! McCain is the helicopter parent to Palin ("everyone is picking on my child!")

According to the McCain campaign, "gotcha journalism" includes legitimate policy questions by voters.

This demonstrates clearly (1) Palin has no business running for Vice President and (2) McCain has disdain for anyone who questions his rhetoric, be it a journalist or ordinary citizen. And he wanted to debate in a town hall format?

Anyone who is not disgusted by this spectacle is not paying attention.

[Tim Dunn]

"That’s why I say I, like every American I’m speaking with, we’re ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Helping the—it’s got to be all about job creation too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans and trade—we’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as competitive, scary thing, but one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today—we’ve got to look at that as more opportunity."

This an exact quote of Palin's response to the question regarding whether or not the Wall Street bailout was a good idea. Does she sound ready for the leadership of the free world? Senator McCain is 72 years old and has had two bouts of cancer.

[Tim Dunn]

So, Palin drives over to Russia and checks it out from time to time? Picks up a little caviar and vodka, maybe? Takes in a little ballet?

Ever see that TV show about fishing for king crabs? The show with the huge storms and waves breaking over the boats? That is what is between Alaska and Russia. It's called the Bearing Sea. You can't even drive from Alaska's largest city to its capital, let alone to Russia!

[mikemiami]

Hey Dallasmike. Unfortunately a candidate's education is not a legitimate concern to voters anymore. If it was McCain (D student at the Naval Academy) and Sarah Palin (communications degree which took her 6+ years to attain) wouldn't even be considered as candidates. Nevermind that Bill Clinton is an Oxford alum or that Barrack Obama graduated from Harvard law magna cum laude. That means nothing to people who attest to voting for Bush jr. based on the belief that they can have a beer with him.

It used to be that people were embarrassed by mediocrity and that's why our parents busted their humps to send us to school to get a better education. Nowadays mediocrity is embraced and has become a worthwhile characteristic. Now remember. Little kids can't vote. It is their parents who have chosen to vote for candidates based on their familiarity versus their education. So how can one of these morons reproach their kids when they bring home a report card full of c's and d's? They wouldn't want them to become elite now would they?

[frieda]

Enough of having harvard graduates and yale graduates in the white house.

she has more experience than Obama. Obama still can not tell me why is he ready for presidency. He named his "disposition" in the 60 minutes interview.

According to Obama, during CNN forum debate, senate jobs is about yakking and mayors job about doing.

I rather have a "DOER" than a "YAKKER" in the white house.

[Ernestine Robinson]

I am an African American female who, though I am loathe to admit it, once looked just like John McCain looked in the Couric-McClain-Sarah Palin interview. IIt happened on a morning some thirty-eight years ago when, fraught with grave uncertainty and anxiety, I prepared to enroll my daughter in first grade..

[Bill C.]

"Daddy, make the big bad 'gotcha' media people stop picking on me!!!"

Whose idea was this gaffe? I mean, please, this is the "helicopter parent" issue described in a previous entry. So, their thinking is if Palin is looking like a disaster in the media, send Big Bad McCain in to clean it up?

Are they even thinking anymore? Clinton and Reagan??? Does John even believe what he's saying?

[Bill C.]

It's utterly hilarious that having advanced degrees from prestigious universities have somehow become a "problem" in the US. Are you kidding me??? Think of it this way; do you REALLY want somebody 'just like you & me' running the country? REALLY????

I expect: better credentials, better resume, a record of excellence. Education expands the mind and horizons...lack thereof cements a person in their own perfect myopic world.

[Emmmah]

Wasn't it McCain who stood in front of a group of people singing, "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran"?

[Passive_Impassive]

So going by Virgil's account - any fool that is living in SOuth texas or along the border with Canada knows enough abt Foreign policy ?