What Sarah Palin's gonna say in Thursday's VP debate with Biden

Alaska Gov. and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is going through three days of debate prep in rural Arizona. On Thursday she'll face the Democratic VP nominee, Sen. Joe Biden, who's no doubt doing his own prep for prime time.

But Palin took a little time off Tuesday to practice some of her speaking points in a surprise phone-radio interview with the popular Hugh Hewitt that gives us an advance glimpse into Palin's parlance.

Hewitt was an ardent supporter of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney during the primary season.

But he'd be delighted to get Palin on air for his generally conservative audience and, as John McCain's campaign well knows, would not try what they call any gotcha questions.

Not if he ever wants another national radio scoop like this.

Hewitt and Palin talked about why so many critics seem to despise her, about her family's sometimes strained expenses, her faith and her professed puzzlement over why critics would mock her faith or beliefs if she isn't mocking theirs.

Hewitt first asked the 44-year-old mother of five if she could explain the derision, even hate, directed toward her in recent days.

"Oh, I think they’re just not used to someone coming in from the outside," she replied, "saying, 'You know what? It's time that . . .

. . . normal Joe Six-Pack American is finally represented in the position of vice presidency. And I think that's kind of taken some people off guard, and they're out of sorts, and they're ticked off about it.

"But it's motivation for John McCain and I to work that much harder to make sure that our ticket is victorious and we put government back on the side of the people -- of Joe Six-Packs like me -- and we start doing those things that are expected of our government."

OK, put that down for Thursday night. You'll hear about Josephine Six-Pack.

Hewitt asked if the governor was surprised by Katie Couric's kind of pop quizzes.

"Well, I have a degree in journalism also," Palin said. "So it surprises me that so much has changed since I received my education in journalistic ethics all those years ago. But I'm not going to pick a fight with those who buy ink by the barrelful. I'm going to take those shots and those pop quizzes and just say, 'That's okay. Those are good testing grounds.' And they can continue on in that mode. That's good.

"That makes somebody work even harder. It makes somebody be even clearer and more articulate in their positions. So, really, I don’t fight it. I invite it."

So put that down too. We'll see more of spunky Sarah who enraptured the GOP convention audience that night of her acceptance speech.

Does she keep track of all the attacks on her?

"No, I sure don't," she said. "And, thank God, I don’t have time to follow those. You know, I think that those shots too, though, no matter what we're taking and receiving, it's nothing compared to what real shots are against Americans in this world.

"Americans today who are worried about losing their home and figuring out how in the world they're going to pay their fuel bill next month, and send their kid to college, and may be worried about losing a loved one that they're sending off to a war zone to protect our rights.

"Those are the shots that Americans are taking. So all this political nonsense and the lies, the rhetoric that is spun out there about someone just trying to offer themselves up in the name of service to this great country, I'll take it."

And a little Sarah Barracuda. Americans wanna see their presidential competitors fight for it.

Many people are struggling? Have you and Todd ever?

"Oh, my goodness, yes, Hugh. I know what Americans are going through. Todd and I, heck, we're going through that right now, even as we speak, which may put me again kind of on the outs of those Washington elite who don't like the idea of just an everyday working-class American running for such an office.

"But yeah, there's been a lot of times that Todd and I have had to figure out how we were going to pay for health insurance. We've gone through periods of our life here with paying out of pocket for health coverage until Todd and I both landed a couple of good union jobs.

"Early on in our marriage, we didn't have health insurance, and we had to either make the choice of paying out of pocket for catastrophic coverage or just crossing our fingers, hoping that nobody would get hurt, nobody would get sick. So I know what Americans are going through there."

Just normal folks who happen to be running for vice president.

She also talked about her family's modest investments and 401(k) taking hits in recent days and worries about three more college educations to finance.

Do you think the media and left understand your faith?

"I think that there's a lot of mocking of my personal faith, and my personal faith is very, very simple. I don't belong to any church. I do have a strong belief in God, and I believe that I'm a heck of a lot better off putting my life in God's hands and saying, 'Hey, you know, guide me.' What else do we have but guidance that we would seek from a creator?

"That's about as simple as it gets with my faith, and I think that there is a lot of mocking of that. And, you know, so be it -- though I do have respect for those who have differing views than I do on faith, on religion.

"I'm not going to mock them, and I would hope that they would kind of, I guess, give me the same courtesy through this of not mocking a person's faith but maybe, perhaps even trying to understand a little bit of it."

Have you heard from your Army son in the Mideast?

"That little stinker, I guess he's called his girlfriend a couple of times, but can you believe he hasn't called his momma yet?

"He's over there. They were just leaving Kuwait heading into Iraq, and I am just so extremely proud of Track, my son, and all of the men and women, of course, serving in the military. I'm proud that my son made this independent and very wise decision as such a young man at 18, deciding, you know, he realized there’s something he can do to help, to contribute, to help protect our nation.

"I couldn't be more proud of him and all those who choose to serve in our military. They're serving for the right reasons. God bless them. God love them." (Audio of the 10-minute interview is available here.)

You can bet Biden's aides are poring over the Hewitt interview too, looking for rehearsed response lines for Biden to drop in with apparent spontaneity.

"Governor," Biden might say, "I'm from Scranton, Pa. I know Joe Six-Pack. And, governor, you're no Joe Six-Pack."

Then Palin could pause for the derisive laughter to subside and calmly observe: "Senator, I know a lot of Joe Six-Packs. And not one of them has been living off the United States Senate like you for 36 years."

Should be an interesting evening.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credits: The McCain-Palin campaign; Joe Biden and Sarah Palin / Getty Images; Associated Press (Florida crowd)

Comments

[frieda]

I heard the interview and she was 180 degree different that she performed with Katie last week.

I learned more about her and her values during this interview than Kaite's interview which was more about trying to find something awful about her.

[VJ Machiavelli]

Sarah the "New Republican Terminator" is going to Terminate Joe Biden with good old common sense. Something that is very much lacking in Washington, and with the "MEDIA and CONSERVATIVE ELITES", they all seem to think the world revolves around them.
They are in a world of their own, Cocktail parties, Dinner Parties, and all those embassy receptions.
Every now and then they have to leave the "CAPITAL" and visit the small towns and cities that make up this great country. Yes they live in a fantasy world called Washington Parties. Now and then they go to one in NYC, or Chicago or San Fran or LA, in the summer they head to the Hamptons, etc,etc. But how many go to Alaska ?

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com

[oy]

What she SHOULD say is, "Thank you, moderator, and congratulations on your new book on the Age of Obama. It is good to know that I will face two opponents in this debate, Senator Biden and you."

From Drudge: VP DEBATE MODERATOR RELEASING 'AGE OF OBAMA' BOOK ON INAUGURATION DAY

[TinaRFH]

Palin has been subject to the same intense "scruitiny" and "subjective" journalism that Geraldine Ferraro faced in 1984, only now, there are more news outlets that the average American can choose - one of my peers (a working mother) noted last evening that perhaps the last few interviews that Palin gave were somewaht of a "set-up" of the press, lowering expectations going into this debate so that she would come out looking even more vice-presidential than previously. In reading descriptions given by her aids in the story on Palin's debate style in this newspaper, it appears that may not be the case, rather she appears to be one who will be a quick study, understands what she needs to do to win, and that should be fair warning to both the Obama Campaign and those in the media who would see Biden as a shoe-in. I for one, will have the popcorn ready - this should be entertainment for those of us "working mothers" who are of an indepedent, yet conservative mind, and are rooting for Palin.

[Jason C]

I love the comment above suggesting that Katie Couric was trying to "find out something awful about her." Dear Frieda: Latie Couric did nothing more than ask follow-up questions. Palin used the word maverick about McCain and Couric asked for specifics. Palin didn't have them--she'd been programmed to use the word but there was nothing under it. She cited Alaska's closeness to Russia (actually Siberia) as evidence of foreign policy experience, and Couric asked her to explain that. I'm sick of people like you (and Palin) suggesting it's "gotcha" journalism by the ol' "librul" media that's responsible for Palin looking so ignorant and in-over-her-head. Journalists are supposed to ask follow-up questions if the rote programmed answers don't satisfy them. And when Obama and Biden are asked repeatedly to go beyond generalities, no one whines about "gotcha" journalism. It's only with the female candidate that there is an assumption, ironically, that we shouldn't be too tough on the fragile flower.

[Save The Alaskan Parrot]

Sarah has been away at Republican camp. She is spending a lot of time in arts and crafts. Thursday she wants to to show you her project. Sarah is stringing together a necklace of diatribes and platitudes.

[Annonymous]

Can't wait for this to happen. Sarah Palin maybe well prepared for debates, but I think if we look back at what she's said in past interviews or done in the past, it reflects who she really is. If you are going to run for the vice president of the United States, you should be thinking about important issues daily and be ready to answer questions about them, any time. Her past reflects that she lacks the ability and knowledge. props to her for being the first women vice presidential candidate, but is she really what we want as the next u.s. vice president?

i learned a lot about her through www.dailysource.org/palin
very helpful and organized news site!

[rob]

Unfortunately, Sarah's on the wrong side of a number of populist issues, which is going to suppress turnout for her ticket. She's parroting the values of the anti-bailout groundswell, but she's backing the bailout (and backed the first iteration of it). She's trying to dissassociate herself from the crazy zealot label (and I don't know if she really IS or ISN'T one herself) while trying to hold on to their voles. She desperately wants to become a Washington power, but the attitudes of her Alaskan base won't let her. Trapped between two worlds.

Barr must be pulling in supporters by the bushel.

[Honey Rogers]

It is great that Sarah is more like us than the others in Washington. If Sarah was running for the Senate, she could be a great candidate for Alaska and Alaska only. Sarah is not intelligent enough to articulate her ideas about anything besides, moose, family and witchcraft. She is not ready for the world stage. She's likable, great zingers, warm smile and family. She should audition for Jay Leno job when he retires. I think she got a "D" in economics, and changed schools five times. She's not a great role model for young women. Remember McCain thinks women need more education and is alright with the pay ratio of women 77cents/1.00. He doesn't agree with the concept of equal pay for equal work for women. She says she has a journalist degree then Katie Couric and Charlie should have been a walk in the park. It wasn't easy because she just doesn't know enough about anything to answer questions about the country or foreign affairs. Did you see John babysitting her and she looking to him as a grand father. Sorry I want two leaders in the White House, not an old senile confused man and a moose hunter with five children. She has been mayor of a town smaller than a high school. I'd rather a community organizer anyday. He worked with everyday people trying to get housing and health care for the unfortunate. Union member who had lost their jobs. Give me the old organizer anyday. The world is too dangerous to let an eratic man be the leader of the most powerful country in the world. When things get tough, John McCain would suspend his presidency until he figured out what his next move would be. He too is imcompetent. Did you watch his strategy on the bailout, suspend campaign to interview with Katie(terrible, liberal Katie), eat at a four star rstaurant and arrive in Washington 22 hours later. Remmber he has a private plan. Where was he? He was so concerned, plezzz, attack Obama who handled the crisis with intelligence, cool, and strong. John ws running from his campaign manager still receiving payments from Fannie Mae last month, Palin's interview that Tina on SNL quoted her and got so many laughs it was scary, and less not forget those polls that day. Not a good day for McCain so he uses his same strategy, shake up things, change the subject, the American people are stupid and asleep.
John McCain should take a nap and put Sarah and family on a plane back to Alaska.

[davidpeters]

I hope that Biden exposes her for the lightweight she is. She is unfit for office and our nation cannot take the risk of putting yet another person in the Whitehouse that is arguably borderline incompentent.

http://www.palinspin.com - the scandals, incompetence, lies and deceptions of Sarah Palin!
http://www.obamamate.com - social news for the Barack Obama nation

[reallly now]

so she's for unions, respects Katie Couric for toughening her up, and thinks we should be more tolerant of other people's religious beliefs- even if they differ....