From The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (9/26/2008):
CAFFERTY: There's a reason the McCain campaign keeps Governor Sarah Palin away from the press. I want to play an excerpt from an interview that Palin did with the "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric where she was asked about the bailout package. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATIE COURIC, "CBS EVENING NEWS": Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries, allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy, instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping -- Oh, it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes, and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans.
And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today.
We've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAFFERTY: [stares at camera for a few withering seconds in silence]
Did you get that? If John McCain wins, this woman will be one 72-year-old's heartbeat away from being president of the United States. And if that doesn't scare the hell out of you, it should. [. . . .]
I'm 65 and have been covering politics, as have you, for a long time. That is one of the most pathetic pieces of tape I have ever seen for someone aspiring to one of the highest offices in this country.
[shrugs] That's all I have to say.
BLITZER: Yeah, but she's cramming a lot of information --
CAFFERTY: There's no excuse for that. She's supposed to know a little bit of this. You know, don't make excuses for her. That's pathetic.
BLITZER: It was not her best answer. I agree with you on that.