Sarah Palin Responds to FOX News Africa Allegations
Sarah Palin responds to reports from FOX News that the McCain told them they were concerned when they discovered she didn't know Africa was a continent.
She tells ABC: "That’s kind of a small, evidently bitter type of person who would anonymously charge something foolish like that, that I perhaps didn’t know an answer to a question. So until I know who is talking about it, I won’t have a comment on false allegations."
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted Nov. 6,2008 at 3:45 PM EST by Andy Towle in Africa, Alaska, John McCain, News, Republican Party, Sarah Palin | Permalink
I'm with her on this one. I chuckled and talked about how crazy it is that she doesn't know what Africa is or what countries are in North America. The claims are outrageous if true.
However, I can only put so much trust in claims made by anonymous sources. Compound that it is clearly an anonymous source trying to shield him/herself from blame for a failed campaign.
In my opinion, we all really need to take a cautious eye at any scapegoating on behalf of the McCain/Palin campaign staff. They lost and they are going to make excuses.
I also don't think they need to make excuses. Their candidate was faced with:
1. an unpopular president of their party
2. an unpopular war
3. an economic crisis
no one could really have a shot at winning the presidency from the republican party this election cycle.
Posted by: Dan B | Nov 6, 2008 3:58:18 PM
"perhaps didn't the answer to a question"?!
Every seven year old with an IQ over 50 can name the continents........
Posted by: Jeff | Nov 6, 2008 4:03:18 PM
omfg! did she just call someone bitter?
Posted by: davitydave | Nov 6, 2008 4:04:23 PM
All she needed to do was say, "That report is completely untrue." Easy. Instead she ducked the question, refusing to answer on the silly basis that she doesn't know who the source is. Ridiculous.
Posted by: Roscoe | Nov 6, 2008 4:05:36 PM
"That’s kind of a small, evidently bitter type of person..."
As opposed to the type of person who would say, with no substantiation, that a candidate for president pals around with terrorists? In what respect, Sarah?
Hey Palin, fuck you and the ignorant moose you rode in on. And I hope that knocked-up daughter of yours gives birth to a child that is a helluva lot smarter and less prejudiced than you are, bithola!
Posted by: Dommyluc | Nov 6, 2008 4:10:36 PM
Forget about her. She lost her election and probably doesn't ever have what it takes to win in 4, 8, or ever. Let's focus on the political issues that effect our lives, like Prop 8 in Cali or adoption rights in Fla and Arkansas.
Posted by: Quint King | Nov 6, 2008 4:18:26 PM
Oh c'mon people!
Of course she knows Africa is a continent. She can see it from her backyard.
Posted by: Marc in Chicago | Nov 6, 2008 4:21:51 PM
Palin lobbied for McCain to pick her. She is extremely ambitious and an egomaniac. Unfortunately she is also young enough, and the Republicans are stupid enough, that we might need to keep an eye on her for the next thirty years to make sure she doesn't do great damage.
Posted by: Mike | Nov 6, 2008 4:29:14 PM
I disagree, ROSCOE. She could say "that is completely untrue" but then she sets precedent that she will respond to attacks from anonymous sources. Here she says, "Come at me with a face and a name, and then I will give credence to your remarks. I will not, however, get into a boxing match with a shadow."
@ DOMMYLUC- I disagree with you too. At least when she said those outlandish, incredulous remarks about Obama she said it herself! She didn't say them as an "anonymous source."
I have been one of Sarah Palin's biggest critics, and still believe that she is unfit at the moment to lead our nation. BUT, I believe she is being scapegoated here by chickenshits in the M/P campaign staff who are trying to blame anyone but themselves for failure and aren't willing to attach their name to their claim which is bullshit.
Posted by: Dan B | Nov 6, 2008 4:32:15 PM
More importantly, does she know the way to Uranus?
Posted by: David D. | Nov 6, 2008 4:37:57 PM
Sarah, they're not "false" allegations just because you don't know who said it
Posted by: David | Nov 6, 2008 4:39:07 PM
I love that the Republican haters and their mouthpiece, Fox, is turning on itself. Of course, Sarah Palin is 100% unfit for sympathy - she's a cunt who behaved like a cunt all the way till she lost the election for herself and McCain. She was nasty to the Obamas, nasty to Democrats and nasty to her own staffers and Nominee. Now she's pissed - oh, too bad! And if she thinks she has another chance with the Republican party she's kidding herself. Even they are too good for her. Hopefully we don't hear from her again... unless she's squealing about how hard it is to be her.
Posted by: echovic | Nov 6, 2008 4:46:55 PM
The anonymity of the source should not give her carte blanche to avoid a direct question. If the question had come from the Christian Broadcasting Network she'd have answered it quickly enough, anonymous source or not.
It is only going to get uglier, folks. Sure, they're scapegoating her. And why not. She didn't do them any favors.
Posted by: Roscoe | Nov 6, 2008 4:48:58 PM
As pathetic, loathsome, and dangerous as Palin is, I think it comes back to the fact that McCain was a weak candidate in a party that's lost its way.
Posted by: David R. | Nov 6, 2008 5:09:24 PM
I love that Sarah Palin can't even deny a story convincingly.
Posted by: Palin is s dimwhit smug bitch | Nov 6, 2008 5:11:38 PM
DOMMYLUC Well said! I agree 100%
Posted by: DaK | Nov 6, 2008 5:12:53 PM
I think she's only using the "won't respond to anonymous statments" angle because without knowing who it was, she can't figure quite how to smear them instead of responding to the accusation.
And characterizing "not knowing Africa is a continent" as SIMPLY "not knowing the answer to the question" - well...if she really thinks it's that insignificant a question, then it just proves she really IS that stupid.
Posted by: dan | Nov 6, 2008 5:20:41 PM
The sudden appearance of Sarah "Barracuda" out of nowhere and choice as a running mate struck me as an odd thing, even for John McCain. I can't avoid iagining that she was introduced as a virus. There was no intention that the M/P ticket should win. The whole point was to put her out in public to rally the ignorant, semiliterate and marginalized people who came out to say how admirable Sarah is--"a working Mother, pro-life, Christian conservative"--just the way they see themselves. She made a splash. We liberal elitists were appalled but plenty of people will be ready to get out and do whatever she--and her handlers--expect. Like herpes, she'll keep coming back.
Posted by: gregory brown | Nov 6, 2008 5:21:32 PM
The sudden appearance of Sarah "Barracuda" out of nowhere and choice as a running mate struck me as an odd thing, even for John McCain. I can't avoid iagining that she was introduced as a virus. There was no intention that the M/P ticket should win. The whole point was to put her out in public to rally the ignorant, semiliterate and marginalized people who came out to say how admirable Sarah is--"a working Mother, pro-life, Christian conservative"--just the way they see themselves. She made a splash. We liberal elitists were appalled but plenty of people will be ready to get out and do whatever she--and her handlers--expect. Like herpes, she'll keep coming back.
Posted by: gregory brown | Nov 6, 2008 5:22:52 PM
Well said DOMMYLUC...I cannot stand Palin and completely disagree with her view, but it's obvious that she's being thrown under the bus by bitter McCain staff looking for a scapegoat. The choice to pick her was McCain's alone and no one else.
Posted by: GuyRed | Nov 6, 2008 5:26:16 PM
Since when do you have to know who said it to deny the allegation, even if it is false?
Knowing Palin's reputation as a vindictive backstabbing bitch, I take this as a veiled threat to the person who leaked the story that the emperor has no clothes. Oops! I mean that the Empress has a new $150K wardrobe! (and then some for her entourage)
Posted by: Kevinvt | Nov 6, 2008 5:27:46 PM
You can't blame poor Sarah, Dr. Seuss did not have any books on Africa. If only she rented Madagascar.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Nov 6, 2008 5:36:48 PM
This FOX 180 degree turn is like a car wreck. You can't help but slow down and see what happened. I did not think they'd turn on her so fast. I thought if anything McCain would get cannibalized. I really thought they would prop Palin up, especially considering that she might appoint herself senator in the likely case that Stevens wins his election. Wow!
Posted by: sugarrhill | Nov 6, 2008 5:49:43 PM
Well, I seldom take much heed when anonymous sources are cited. However, in Sarah Palin's case, I will make an exception. She has proven over and over again how little she actually knows... about much of anything. There must be some merit to the allegation because anyone not on the defensive would have simply stated the allegation was untrue.
Posted by: Island Girly | Nov 6, 2008 9:00:51 PM
Since McCain knew all about Spain, he could teach Palin a few things. You know that they speak Mexican there? lol
Posted by: Josh | Nov 6, 2008 9:19:55 PM