VIDEO HERE of excerpts.
The first of the interviews conducted by Charlie Gibson with GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is complete and will be shown on World News Tonight. ABC has released excerpts of portions of the interview.
The first of the interviews conducted by Charlie Gibson with GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is complete and will be shown on World News Tonight. ABC has released excerpts of portions of the interview.
Palin's answer was clear in saying "I do".
Gibson followed up by asking "And you didn't say to yourself, "Am I experienced enough? Am I ready? Do I know enough about international affairs? Do I -- will I feel comfortable enough on the national stage to do this?"
Palin said she did not hesitate at all in agreeing to become John McCain's VP and when asked if that took hubris, her answer was as follows:
I -- I answered him yes because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can't blink.
So I didn't blink then even when asked to run as his running mate.
They discussed Palin's views on God when Gibson asked Palin about her words when she once said "Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God." He followed up by asking her "Are we fighting a holy war? "
Palin explained her answers as she and Gibson then discussed her son's heading to Iraq to serve.
Other excerpts deal with Palin's opinion about whether the Georgia and Ukraine should be put into NATO?
Palin answered in the affirmative saying both deserved to be included in Nato and then Gibson asked "And under the NATO treaty, wouldn't we then have to go to war if Russia went into Georgia?
PALIN: Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and help.
But NATO, I think, should include Ukraine, definitely, at this point and I think that we need to -- especially with new leadership coming in on January 20, being sworn on, on either ticket, we have got to make sure that we strengthen our allies, our ties with each one of those NATO members.
We have got to make sure that that is the group that can be counted upon to defend one another in a very dangerous world today.
When asked if Georgia was worth the United States going to war with Russia, Palin made it clear that being vigilant against larger powers taking over smaller Democratic countries and then went on to say we would have to be supportive of countries such as Georgia but that it didn't necessarily mean it had to lead to war or cold war.
She spoke of economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure and the help of allies in making sure that Russia does not take control of smaller Democratic countries.
More about the first interview between Gibson and Palin can be found at ABC News.
Palin sounded self assured and confident in her abilities to do the job she would be undertaking as vice president.
[Update] URL to a video portion of the interview can be found here.
Another video excerpt here.
[Update] Portions will run on Nightline tonight and ABC will be running a primetime special tomorrow night with the majority of the interview as per The Corner.
[Update] Additional note for clarification H/T to Hot Air- The quote that Charlie Gibson used about Sarah Palin's words about God and war, to which he insisted was an exact quote, wasn't exact nor the full quote, as is pointed out by Huffington Post.
Gibson said the exact quote from Palin was "Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God."
When Palin mentioned she wasn't sure that was the exact quote, Gibson assured her it was by saying "Exact Quote."
Huffpo, gives the full quote previously as "Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."
Gibson used a quote that the Associated Press gave in their coverage.
YouTube video of the accurate original quote here.
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