Pakistani President Zardari gushes over Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin's meeting in New York this morning with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari — part of her crash course in foreign affairs — began innocuously enough.
"So nice to meet you," she told him, according to the pool report filed by CNN, and he responded in kind.
Simple, civil salutations. But Zardari soon steered the conversation in a direction that would make Campbell Brown, the CNN anchor who Tuesday called John McCain's campaign aides sexist, cringe and cry chauvinism. Here is the exchange:
ZARDARI: “You are even more gorgeous than you are on the [inaudible].”
PALIN: “You are so nice. Thank you.”
ZARDARI: “Now I know why the whole of America is crazy about you.”
[A Zardari handler tells the two to shake hands again for the cameras.]
PALIN: “I’m supposed to pose again.”
ZARDARI: “If he’s insisting, I might hug.”
At that point, the pool reporter was escorted from the room.
— Kate Linthicum
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the 
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This is the proof I needed to see that Sarah is ready to assume the role of president when necessary. This is one very deep philosophical public servant. From the above exchange who could doubt her keen insight into the intricacies of global politics.
Palin: "I'm supposed to pose again". How better to present the strong willed determination of our country to our allies in the war on terrorism?
Posted by: When Pigs Fly | September 24, 2008 at 05:16 PM
you can catch more flies with honey . . . Sarah Palin WILL bring peace to the Middle East with her beauty, grace, intelligence and diplomacy.
Posted by: LFforMcCain | September 24, 2008 at 06:27 PM
If introduced to Campbell Brown, Zardari would have been impressed until Brown started talking. That woman has to have the most annoying voice in broadcasting.
Unfortunately CNN didn't follow Michelle Obama's advice -don't go for her just because she's cute.
Posted by: bc3b | September 24, 2008 at 06:36 PM
wow, before bhutto's body is even cold....
Posted by: Azad | September 24, 2008 at 08:29 PM
LA Times great for that in depth report on Pakistan's president meeting Sarah Palin. It's no wonder that you have won many Pulitzer Awards! Fair and objective reporting during election 2008!
Posted by: steve rodriguez | September 24, 2008 at 08:46 PM
What Zardari said is embarrassing for whole nation.
Posted by: Sohail | September 24, 2008 at 11:29 PM
How thats a good thing to blush over our next VP
VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
Posted by: VJ Machiavelli | September 25, 2008 at 12:10 AM
steve rodriguez,
Hey genius, how much depth can you get in 30 seconds?
"At that point, the pool reporter was escorted from the room."
Yesterday, all we got between her and Karzai was his son's name before, again, the media was forced out of the room.
She has NOTHING substantial to say. Prove me wrong.
Posted by: cal | September 25, 2008 at 01:54 AM
Zardari is such a joke, what an embarrassment for the entire Pakistani community.
I wonder if Sarah Palin even knows where Pakistan is on the world map. "Well, I believe it's close to Russia...."
Posted by: zunaira | September 25, 2008 at 10:27 AM
What is wrong with being gorgeous. What?...if you're ugly, that qualifies you instantly, but if you are beautiful (buzzer sound)you are disqualified. I like the way she celebrates being a woman. No pantsuits (in every color. I especially like the Bronco orange color) for her! There is hope for America with Sarah.
Posted by: glori | September 25, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Of course he is going to hit on her!!!
He is now the President of country that he was incarerated for 11 years prior to his becoming their leader. He knows he do whatever the hell he wants. It is sad very sad
Posted by: Makc | September 25, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Zardari.... tries to become over clever.
Posted by: Umair | September 25, 2008 at 09:05 PM
very sad...his remarks were cheap.thats not what we expect from a president...very sad for pakistan:(
Posted by: zeb | September 25, 2008 at 11:33 PM
I am embarassed to know about how our newly elected president has behaved in the presence of a lady. Whatever happened to manners, decency, representing your whole nation, harassment? All I wish is that he learns NOT to get off-track in future.
Posted by: Dr. Javed Rashid | September 26, 2008 at 12:10 AM
SAD FOR PAKISTAN, to have such a cheap presi
Posted by: sdfs | September 27, 2008 at 02:45 AM
Why am I not surprised? One shouldn't generalize, but I have a male Pakistani co-worker who seems to hit on anything that moves! Maybe it's just the way Pakistani men are - they have been blessed with an excess of the male hormone!
Posted by: Sofia | October 12, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Pakistani men are just fine... they're just not lead very well...
Both leaders know how media feeds on their every move...
More hype for Palin... and (in his mind), a foreign ally to force agendas for Zardari... the art of flattery is less known to a guy who should be moaning over his dead wife.
Posted by: Saqib Ahmed | October 26, 2008 at 10:18 PM
who knew including himself he would become a president one day. mr. zardari is a presi now but hey you never knew before you'd act and sound like a mr. loser...
Posted by: Khan Omar | December 14, 2008 at 08:03 AM