Sarah Palin: By turns confident, cautious and (once) perhaps at sea

ABC offered a provocative teaser earlier today to hype the first of the interviews it landed with Sarah Palin (as if any hyping was necessary).

But, as might have been expected, her full answer in discussing U.S.-Russian relations was more nuanced than the "war may be necessary" headline the network sent out.

Prodded by anchor Charlie Gibson about a scenario in which the nations of Georgia and Ukraine join NATO and then Georgia comes under full-scale assault from Russia, Palin allowed that "perhaps so" -- the U.S. might have to jump into such a conflict. Pressed on the matter, she continued more cautiously:

What I think is that smaller democratic countries that are invaded by a larger power is something for us to be vigilant against. We have got to be cognizant of what the consequences are if a larger power is able to take over smaller democratic countries.

And we have got to be vigilant. We have got to show the support, in this case, for Georgia. The support that we can show is economic sanctions perhaps against Russia, if this is what it leads to. It doesn't have to lead to war and it doesn't have to lead, as I said, to a Cold War....

There was absolutely no nuance from Palin in responding to Gibson's first query, what he termed the "central question" about the surprise position she finds herself: "Can you look the country in the eye and say, 'I have the experience and I have the ability to be not just vice president, but perhaps president of the United States of America?' "

Her quick reply: "I do, Charlie.... I'm ready."

She also gave variations of this confident answer as Gibson quizzed her about any hesitancy on her part when John McCain asked her to be his running mate. "I did not," she said crisply. "I thought 'yes' right off the bat."

She added, "You can't blink" when offered an opportunity you believe you can handle.

In this first of an extended rollout by ABC of the Gibson/Palin interview, she seemed to draw a blank only once -- when Gibson, without describing it, asked her if she supported the "Bush Doctrine."

That was President Bush's declaration -- in a June 1, 2002, speech at West Point -- that faced with the contemporary threat of terrorism, the U.S.....

... was now staking out the right to "impose preemptive, unilateral military force when and where it chooses."

In another words, attack first, if the commander in chief deemed necessary.

Pretty straightforward.

But Palin's initial response to Gibson's question about her view of the policy was, "In what respect?"

When Gibson tried again without detailing the doctrine, she asked, "His world view?"

He finally let her off the hook and provided an explanation. And, in essence, she endorsed the doctrine.

ABC's take on the interview can be perused here.

-- Don Frederick

(On a less weighty front, The Times' Web Scout blog takes note of an enigmatic aspect of the online version of the interview. Check it out here.)

Comments

[When Pigs Fly]

'I have the experience and I have the ability to be not just vice president, but perhaps president of the United States of America?' "

Her quick reply: "I do Charlie. ... I'm ready."

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Ho Ho Ho Ho He He He Ha Ha Ha.
Ha Ha Ho Ho Wheeee Ha Ha Ha.

Stop it you're killing me!!!!!

[Paul]

Wow, the media is treating the Republican's Vice Presidential candidate with kid gloves. Joe Biden hasn't been treated with kid gloves, they throw the hard questions at him and he answer them straight up. Where's the "Straigth Talk" from the "Straight Talk Express"?

Also, what is the point of asking her "are you ready to lead" without asking her "what makes you ready to lead." Why didn't he ask her to point out the reasons she felt she was the most qualified to be Vice President? This is such a crock, liberal media my butt, more like plutocratic media.

[kayT]

All I have to say is she didn't know the Bush Doctrine! Now I don't know what the Bush Doctrine is either but I ain't running for Vice President!

[Al Robinson]

Talk about intensive interrogation........why does Charlie hate her so? No wonder abc is a second rate network.....next to nbc.......Charlie Gibson just proved what an ass he is....he's not reporting the news, he's trying to make it.lLet's see him ask the same questions to the Demos V-P candidate....in the same way with the same tone, same expressions. Will he treat her in the same manner when's she becomes the next V-P....maybe President.....

[Media Matters]

Sounds like a softball interview served up by Charlie Gibson. We all remember the "questions" he asked Obama at the debate. Shame on you ABC.

[Arem]

Yeah, I didn't know what the bush doctrine is either. It's a veiled question. He could have just asked if we had the right to invade...etc. Bush never declared it the bush doctrine- the media did.

[john]

I didn't know pre-emptive warfare was known as the Bush doctrine either, but she is a governor, she wasn't brought in to add foreign policy knowledge.

[StanB]

The real news is that she didn't know the Bush Doctrine and Charlie let her off the hook by giving her the answer!

[beowulf]

Bush Doctrine is sort of misleading (aside from it really should be called the Cheney Doctrine), because the definition has been used to describe at least 3 different tings: 1. States that harbor terrorists will be considered terrorist (used to justify invasion of Afghanistan), 2. the US reserves the right to wage preventive wars against future threats (as opposed to the long-held right ti wage preemptive wars against imminent threats), and then in Bush's 2nd term especially, 3. Democracy promotion, particularly in the MIddle East.

Now any of those three may or may not be good ideas, but it would have been helpful for Gibson to unpack just what he meant by "the Bush Doctrine", instead of playing gotcha with (as he later explained) definition 2.

[Larry]

I'm about ready to pull my ears off my head. This woman is truly the Britney Spears of politics.

[S.W.F.]

Does anyone else remember their high school civics teacher? Broad strokes for the little folks.

[mandy]

We all know Charles Gibson is no journalist. At best he is a teleprompter jockey. He out did himself tonight with the celeb interview genre. Clearly Palin had the questions ahead of time and snapped out answers even before Gibson finished. This so scary. Lunatics are in control. Invade Russia? Are you out of your mind. No matter what your social values are, if you value democracy and America you cannot vote the McCain/Palin ticket. More war, less jobs is not the answer. Let's demand candidates and so called journalists stick to issues. As for Gibson...I guess Judas works for ABC.

[Karenk]

The Bush Doctrine is a phrase used to describe various related foreign policy principles of United States president George W. Bush, created in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The phrase initially described the policy that the United States had the right to treat countries that harbor or give aid to terrorist groups as terrorists themselves, which was used to justify the invasion of Afghanistan.[1] Later it came to include additional elements, including the controversial policy of preventive war, which held that the United States should depose foreign regimes that represented a threat to the security of the United States, even if that threat was not immediate (used to justify the invasion of Iraq), a policy of supporting democracy around the world, especially in the Middle East, as a strategy for combating the spread of terrorism, and a willingness to pursue U.S. military interests in a unilateral way.[2][3][4] Some of these policies were codified in a National Security Council text entitled the National Security Strategy of the United States published on September 20, 2002.[5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Doctrine

[Karolyn]

David Gergen, adviser to several presidents of both parties and a Harvard professor said: "I think she did not know but I don't think any of us know what the Bush Doctrine is."

We don't. But you can be sure John McCain AND Barack Obama will know what THEIR doctrine is.

[kiddc]

oh my.....this reminded me of a Miss America contestant answering questions in her bikini! This is a total mockery of the Presidency! Americans should be offended that the GOP believes you are this easy!! The rest of the world is laughing over pints in pubs all over the world!! Imagine what that Putin must be thinking!!!!! Oh Boy!!!!!! Bush is looking like a real scholar!!!!!!!!

[Mark]

I'm a nurse and I know what the Bush doctrine is, just by watching tv and reading the newspaper. I would have liked to hear questions about what kind of imminent threat justifies a preemptive war, and what her views are on whether Iraq meets those criteria. Where does she think our intelligence system broke down leading up to the decision to go to war?

[Sarah]

I thought she was great - very poised, confident and good on her feet without getting flustered. I don't know what the big deal is about the Bush Doctrine - so what? She understood what the issue was even if she didn't know the "term" - and she did a fantastic job of explaining her position. She made Gibson look like a crank and the interview made me like her even more. I am on the fence, but the more I see of this woman (with my own eyes and without believing what MSM has been saying about her -- which often proves to be false) the more I like her, and McCain for having the wisdom to pick her. I am veyr surprised at all the rumors and falsehoods flying around about her - it makes me think of a vast left wing conspiracy....

[susan]

She doesn't know what the Bush Doctrine is. That's unacceptable.

[BG]

Yeah, but what kind of shoes was she wearing?

[Marc Carey]

Governor Palin's interview with Charlie Gibson was great, for reasons which many people may not see. I've written the article cited below in order to explain some of them.

http://bluegrassbulletin.typepad.com/bluegrass_bulletin/2008/09/sarah-palin-ref.html

[Susie]

I feel you made a huge fool out of yourself tonight Charlie. I use to think highly of you as a journalist. Way to go Palin. I will be waiting for equal time and questions to be asked of Obama. Ialthough I doubt these questions will ever be asked of him though. Was this just a gender issue or ..... I just don't get it. She certainly did prove herself tonight. What happened Charlie was she too pretty for you to look her straight in the eye?

[Snowbirds]

Sarah Palin did high marks during interview from Charles Gibson. She is capable to be VP in her own capacity and rights. Why involved Pres. Bush? We Americans know that someday Pres. Bush will go down in American history to be the greatest President. He flexed American muscles to show the world that America is the lone SUPERPOWER. No countries ever disputed that legitimacy; nor Russia or China. It's always natural in life that everyone is governed by three things; There's person hate us, jealous to us and LOVE & ADORE US. So life must go on ..... RVing!

Wake Up! Come join us to vote for John MCCAIN and Sarah PALIN!!!

[Melinda]

Sarah Palin is an lipstick wearing idiot!

[gaoban]

Who cares about how "bush doctrine" is defined by the media? Americans won't be cowards if Russia invades NATO allies.

[Dee Dee W.]

She came off looking like someone barely treading water. She is way over her head (to continue the metaphor) and the entire Republican apparatus is trying to pretend otherwise. She may be a tough cookie, a good mother, a so-so governor, and an attractive woman but she is NOT prepared to be the VP and surely not the president. We are in deep, deep trouble if she and McCain are voted in. What has happened to this country? How deluded can people be?