Palin’s Grasp of Issues

Sarah Palin sat down with Katie Couric yesterday for an interview.  During the interview, she showed again that she has zero grasp of the issues and can only spout back a talking point.  She simply doesn’t understand the nuance of an issue.  It has to be the reason McCain won’t let her talk to the media at campaign stops or hold a press conference, which is something else that is completely asinine. 

Palin needs to be available to the media.  She needs to have a press conference.  She needs to do that now, so we can evaluate her on her merits (or lack of same).

Youtube of the interview:

The transrcipt from the interview (taken from here):

Following is the transcript of tonight’s interview, which focuses on the nation’s economic crisis. Tomorrow’s (25) portion of the interview will focus on international affairs. As previously announced, Couric’s extended interview with Gov. Palin from the campaign trail will be broadcast on the CBS EVENING NEWS next Monday (29) and Tuesday (30).

Mandatory credit: the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC

COURIC: Sarah Palin kept up her busy schedule today, meeting with several world leaders who are here in New York for the UN session. But she took time out for an exclusive interview, in which we discussed the state of the economy at length. We began, though, by addressing reports that the lobbying firm of Senator McCain’s campaign manager received payments from Freddie Mac until last month. I asked for her reaction to that.

PALIN: My understanding is that Rick Davis recused himself from the dealings of the firm. I don’t know how long ago, a year or two ago that he’s not benefiting from that. And you know, I was — I would hope that’s not the case.

COURIC: But he still has a stake in the company, so isn’t that a conflict of interest.

PALIN: Again, my understanding is that he recused himself from the dealings with Freddie and Fannie, any lobbying efforts on his part there. And I would hope that’s the case because, as John McCain has been saying, and as I’ve been on a more local level been on a much more local level been also rallying against is the undue influence of lobbyists in public policy decisions being made.

COURIC: Then we focused on the $700 billion government bailout of bad debt and I asked her if she supports it.

PALIN: I’m ill about the position that America is in and that we have to look at a $700 billion bailout. At the same time we know that inaction is not an option and as Senator McCain has said unless this nearly trillion-dollar bailout is what it may end up to be, unless there are amendments in Paulson’s proposal, really I don’t believe that Americans are going to support this and we will not support this. The interesting thing in the last couple of days that I have seen is that Americans are waiting to see what John McCain will do on this proposal. They’re not waiting to see what Barack Obama is going to do. Is he going to do this and see what way the political wind’s blowing. They’re waiting to see if John McCain will be able to see these amendments implemented in Paulson’s proposal.

COURIC: Why do you say that? Why are they waiting for John McCain and not Barack Obama?

PALIN: He’s got the track record of the leadership qualities and the pragmatism that’s needed at a crisis time like this.

COURIC: But polls have shown that Senator Obama has actually gotten a boost as a result of this latest crisis with more people feeling that he can handle the situation better than John McCain?

PALIN: I’m not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who’s more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who’s actually done it?

COURIC: If this doesn’t pass, do you think there’s a risk of another Great Depression?

PALIN: Unfortunately, that is the road that America may find itself on. Not necessarily this as it’s been proposed has to pass or we’re going to find ourselves in another Great Depression. There has got to be action — bipartisan effort — Congress not pointing fingers at one another but finding the solution to this, taking action, and being serious about the reforms on Wall Street that are needed.

COURIC: Would you support a moratorium on foreclosures to help average Americans keep their homes?

PALIN: That’s something that John McCain and I have both been discussing whether that is part of the solution or not … you know, it’s going to be a multifaceted that has to be found here.

COURIC: So you haven’t decided whether you’ll support it or not?

PALIN: I have not.

COURIC: What are the pros and cons of it, do you think?

PALIN: Well, some decisions that have been made poorly should not be rewarded, of course.

COURIC: By consumers, you’re saying?

PALIN: Consumers and those who were predator lenders also. That’s, you know, that has to be considered also. But again, it’s got to be a comprehensive long-term solution found for this problem that America is facing today. As I say, we are getting into crisis mode here.

COURIC: You’ve said, quote, “John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business.” Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

PALIN: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie — that, that’s paramount. That’s more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.

COURIC: But he’s been in Congress for 26 years. He’s been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

PALIN: He’s also known as the maverick, though. Taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he’s been talking about — the need to reform government.

COURIC: I’m just going to ask you one more time, not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation?

PALIN: I’ll try to find you some, and I’ll bring them to you.

That last bit is particularly telling, and damning.  She’s mouthing the talking points but clearly does not understand the issues behind the points.  Another Great Depression?  No one is talking about that, except Palin.  (Honestly, I think the question about Rick Davis is better directed to McCain.  I’d certainly like to hear his answer on that.  Palin answered that one as best she could.  It’s McCain’s question to answer.) 

It’s plain that she isn’t ready.  She’s not ready to be president should something happen to McCain in office.  Charlie Gibson exposed her lack of foreign policy chops and Katie Couric is exposing her lack of domestic policy expertise.  She doesn’t seem to be all that quick a study to me.  “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.”  Keep learning those lines, Eliza Doolittle.

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