Sarah Palin in her own words

John McCain's running mate was a political unknown before making history in 2006 by becoming both the first female governor of Alaska and the youngest at the age of 42.

So what does Sarah Palin stand for? Here we take a brief look at her positions - in her own words.

On drilling in ANWR (the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve): "It will work. Senator McCain's wrong on that issue ... I think he's going to evolve into eventually supporting ANWR opening. Obama is way off base on all that. I think those politicians who don't understand that we need more domestic supplies of energy thrown into our hungry markets are living in La-La land." (Watch video)

On being vice-president: "What is it exactly that the VP does every day? I'm used to being very productive and working real hard and being in administration." (Watch video)

On the Wooten scandal (allegations that she fired a cabinet official over his reluctance to fire her brother-in-law as a state trooper during a custody battle with her sister): "A couple of lawmakers who were unhappy with that decision are looking at me as a target right now and wanting to probe and find out why I replace this cabinet member. And it's cool, I want them to ask me these questions, I don't have anything to hide and didn't do anything wrong there, it is a governor's prerogative. ... I never tried to fire my former brother-in-law." (Watch video)

On capital punishment: "If the (Alaskan state) legislature passed a death penalty law, I would sign it. We have a right to know that someone who rapes and murders a child or kills an innocent person in a drive by shooting will never be able to do that again."

On listing the polar bear as an endangered species: "We are suing the federal government, recognising that the Endangered Species Act is not a place to kind of mess around with listing as threatened a species that right now is very very healthy ... Our fear being that extreme environmentalists will use this tool to eventually curtail or halt North Slope production of very rich resources that America needs." (Watch video)

On smoking marijuana in her youth: "I can't claim a Bill Clinton and say that I never inhaled."

On abortion: "(I am as) pro-life as any candidate can be. ... (I have) adamantly supported our cause since I first understood, as a child, the atrocity of it."

For reaction to Palin's selection, click here for Comment Central.

Comments

[Dakota]

Hmmm...

Well, "excrete fire and save the matches!" Senator McCain really knows how to cause some controversy, and set tongues to wagging on his 72nd birthday.

Not only that, but nearly all of the "talking heads" had absolutely no clue about this, because she was sooo faaar off the radar scope.

From both sides of the fence, there are many fence sitters. This candidate will cause many of those fence sitters to vote Republican.

Why? Sarah Palin has many attributes sought by the conservative Christians now in control of the Republican party: She has a Biblical name, she is a member of the NRA, and she is anti–abortion.

More than likely, she will help attract many ‘undecided’ voters, particularly southern voters.

As a result, this choice just might tip the election toward Senator McCain.

[KYJurisDoctor]

John McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin is a SOLID one for REAL Conservatives, and announcing the pick today is a strategic masterpiece, knocking out Barack Obama/Joe Biden’s after convention euphoria!.

Did I mention that I loved EVERYTHING she said after being introduced by John McCain?

EVERYTHING!! OsiSpeaks[dot]com

[Gunther Steinberg]

What does a Vice President do? She should ask Cheney. He ran the country and told Bush what to say and do. Since McCain and Bush are about on par as achievers and brains, that will be necessary. Bush had every "success" handed to him and barely made it through college. McCain was 894 out of 899 in his Naval Academy class and was in danger of being kicked out. Only his father's influence saved him. His history as a guy who ignored the rules is well documented (WashPost 8.29.08; M. Leahy).
Do we select a President and VP on the basis of intellect or ignorance? A Bush clone or a former professor of Constitutional Law who can speak well (needed after Bush), with imagination and a new approach, or someone who had voted with Bush 90% of the time and claims he knows how to run a war. McCain never had a command in the Navy!

[Big Bad Bruiser]

Her soundbites seem pithy, but the views behind them sound lightweight and, dare on say it, none too bright.

[Bob Evans]

Listen carefully, and you can hear the air whoosing out of Barack's balloon! (Under their breath, you will also hear the Democrats fuming profanity at being outwitted and outmaneuvered.)

[Jim Cass]

This news is awesome! It will get so many more voters out this year as well now! McCain and Palin ticket in 2008 is where the vote is at!!!

http://www.johnmccainsarahpalin.us

[Richard Jones]

Now that Hilary Clinton has been done out of the nomination for President by the Democrat mysogynists I am ecstatic that Sarah Palin will be standing as VP.

[GC]

Outstanding...no elaborate Biden-esque answers here.

VP debate is going to be awesome

[R. Blackiston]

Palin / McCain 08' (Ladies 1st), YES, Yes, yes!
As an American, ex-nam-vet, LE Professional & father of 3; This choice too "Change" We the People One Nation Under God, can embrace all the way to the White House and into Americas' future! YES! I'll take Palins' "inexperiance" to Washington and world affairs any day.
Here is an American "1st" Lady!

[Sher]

I'm scared and she's only been around for a day.

[Noel]

She's got it all!

A tie breaker for sure and new life / experience for the party. I think her personal choices in her personal life are a good indication of her policy leanings.

Congrats America! Sparing Ron Paul, this is the best thing that could happen for us!

[DrBanks]

Palin:
1. Five more years experience in elected office than Obama.
2. a real reformer at all four levels of her government service, city council, mayor, state oil/gas commission, governor.
3. Executive experience in 2 of her elected offices.
4. Comander of the Alaska National Guard.
5. A former private sector family business owner. Has not lived off the government or government.sponsored "foundations" all her life.
6. Clearly not a party apologist.
7. Gives regular tax cuts to citizens of the largest state in the union (with a population similar to Deleware's).
8. "Walks the walk" with regard to her religious principles, as evidenced by her decision to bring a child to life, not allow him to be the victim of partial-birth abortion, which Obama supports but Hillary Clinton does not.
9. Is not a lawyer.
10. Only one of the 4 leading ticket members (McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden) who is NOT a multimillionaire!
Obama/Biden:
1. less than 145 days experience in the Senate but even fewer days due to his leading record of absences.
2. No executive level experience from either.
3. Never vote against their party at any level. 4.Biden clearly more experienced than Obama in foreign affairs. But after 2 brain aneurysm operations can Biden be considered a "safety" net for the totally inexperienced Obama?
5. Can Obama's "community agitator" years working with Rev. Wright, terrorist Ayers, Holocaust denier Farahkan be equated to Palin's 5 more years of actual elected office?
6. Obama and Biden are both millionaires due to government connections. Obama made more than 4.5 million last year alone.George Soros has bought millions of dollars worth of Obams "autobiography" - written in his late 40s!
7. Has proposed nearly 3 trillion $ worth of new spending on programs which do not work. Claims the money will come from "taxing the rich" who already pay 95% of taxes. Obviously this is just an empty promise. He must heavily tax the middle class to give money to his political interests, primarily lawyers.
8. Obama's religious background and beliefs are dubious, to say the least. One thing is clear, though, on his journey from Muslim Madrass through 20 years of Marxist Wright ravings, today he knows the Messiah - he sees Him in the mirror every day- a classic case of Messianic Complex!
9. Both Biden and Obama are lawyers.
10. Both Biden and Obama want to raise taxes EVEN on payroll taxes. The entire middle class will have less money in their pockets as they wait on long lines for government cheese/healthcare.

[Trisha]

Sarah Palin is fantastic. She was an absolutely brilliant choice for VP and I can't wait to have her in Washington shaking things up there.

[Carlos Echevarria]

Is this the best you got Hannah?

It's pretty obvious you are in the tank with B. Hussein Obama and Bin Biden.

Notwithstanding your rhetoric this is the winning ticket in November...you exhibit a haughty and condescending attitude.

[Elida Enright]

The republican party is showing democrats how to trat women right. isn't funny. the party of the good ol rich white male has cross the aile and picked a working woman to be the 2nd in command. Hurray. I have been a democrat my whole life until the ranking democratic arrogant boys helped to change my mind. we Hillary supporters will show the democrats and the mesiah Obama what a working mother can do to omobilize the vote in this country. Oh! and by the way I am a woman and hispanic. take that and eat it.

[Charles]

While I can't say that it was smart for Mccain to pick her for her experience level, but who wouldn't want to romp around the country with her? Beautiful woman! It's not like the VP really does anything anyway, so we might as well have something nice to look at.

[David]

First thought was OMG who is she.... I wanted Romney.

Do your homework and read up. Now I know why he picked her. She is a republican's dream. I am so excited to see a new face that speaks from the heart on the Republican side.

Cuts spending and even wants to tap Alaska despite our congresses wishes. Wow! What a woman.

McCain and PALIN '08!

[Lev]

Yeah, she sounds like a real bridge builder.

[Samuel Winters]

More divisiveness, more "my political views are spiritually justified", etc. Great. We've got some really open minded and logical people here. Yes, she is going against Congress. Congress is certainly a mess in many cases, but still, thank God for checks and balances. Although, I am sure they'll find a way to circumvent established law and precedent if it suits their needs. Research humanity's history... this mindset doesn't bridge gaps, it creates them. Do you think that the Book of Genesis should be taught in place of the Big Bang in science class? Hahahah, so embarrassing.