Excerpt from John McCain/Sarah Palin interview with Katie Couric

**Belinda** · September 29th, 2008, 06:17 PM

Katie Couric: Over the weekend, Gov. Palin, you said the U.S. should absolutely launch cross-border attacks from Afghanistan into Pakistan to, quote, "stop the terrorists from coming any further in." Now, that's almost the exact position that Barack Obama has taken and that you, Sen. McCain, have criticized as something you do not say out loud. So, Gov. Palin, are you two on the same page on this?

Sarah Palin: We had a great discussion with President Zardari as we talked about what it is that America can and should be doing together to make sure that the terrorists do not cross borders and do not ultimately put themselves in a position of attacking America again or her allies. And we will do what we have to do to secure the United States of America and her allies.

Couric: Is that something you shouldn't say out loud, Sen. McCain?

John McCain: Of course not. But, look, I understand this day and age of "gotcha" journalism. Is that a pizza place? In a conversation with someone who you didn't hear … the question very well, you don't know the context of the conversation, grab a phrase. Gov. Palin and I agree that you don't announce that you're going to attack another country …

Couric: Are you sorry you said it?

McCain: … and the fact …

Couric: Governor?

McCain: Wait a minute. Before you say, "is she sorry she said it," this was a "gotcha" sound bite that, look …

Couric: It wasn't a "gotcha." She was talking to a voter.

McCain: No, she was in a conversation with a group of people and talking back and forth. And … I'll let Gov. Palin speak for herself.

Palin: Well, it … in fact, you're absolutely right on. In the context, this was a voter, a constituent, hollering out a question from across an area asking, "What are you gonna do about Pakistan? You better have an answer to Pakistan." I said we're gonna do what we have to do to protect the United States of America.

Couric: But you were pretty specific about what you wanted to do, cross-border …

Palin: Well, as Sen. McCain is suggesting here, also, never would our administration get out there and show our cards to terrorists, in this case, to enemies and let them know what the game plan was, not when that could ultimately adversely affect a plan to keep America secure.

Couric: What did you learn from that experience?

Palin: That this is all about "gotcha" journalism. A lot of it is. But that's okay, too.

Couric: Gov. Palin, since our last interview, you've gotten a lot of flak. Some Republicans have said you're not prepared; you're not ready for prime-time. People have questioned your readiness since that interview. And I'm curious …

Palin: Yeah.

Couric: … to hear your reaction.

Palin: Well, not only am I ready, but willing and able to serve as vice-president with Sen. McCain if Americans so bless us and privilege us with the opportunity of serving them, ready with my executive experience as a city mayor and manager, as a governor, as a commissioner, a regulator of oil and gas.

McCain: This is not the first time that I've seen a governor being questioned by some quote, "expert." I remember that Ronald Reagan was a "cowboy." President Clinton was a governor of a very small state that had "no experience" either. (laughter) I remember how easy it was gonna be for Bush I to defeat him. I still recall, whoops, that one. But the point is I've seen underestimation before. I'm very proud of the excitement that Gov. Palin has ignited with our party and around this country. It is a … level of excitement and enthusiasm, frankly, that I haven't seen before. And I'd like to attribute it to me. But the fact is that she has done incredible job. And I'm so proud of the work that she's doing.

Exclusive: McCain, Palin Answer Critics, Katie Couric Asks Palin If She Contradicted McCain On Pakistan And Her Response To GOP Criticism - CBS News

WTF is "gotcha" journalism... what a bunch of crap.

Palin: Well, not only am I ready, but willing and able to serve as vice-president with Sen. McCain if Americans so bless us and privilege us with the opportunity of serving them, ready with my executive experience as a city mayor and manager, as a governor, as a commissioner, a regulator of oil and gas.

Tina Fey is going to have a field day with that one.

**Fluffy** · September 29th, 2008, 06:18 PM

Of course she couldn't do it alone. She had to have someone else there to do half the talking. Ready my ass.

**ana-mish-ana** · September 29th, 2008, 06:21 PM

I wish they could get interviewed by real journalists - hey we have some here in the UK. I would love to have Jeremy Paxman or Jon Snow interview them.

**betagrl** · September 29th, 2008, 06:24 PM

For the love of God, this is beyond absurd. I cannot believe this is what we've got running for President/Vice President. It's embarrassing.

**Fluffy** · September 29th, 2008, 06:24 PM

McCain: Wait a minute. Before you say, "is she sorry she said it," this was a "gotcha" sound bite that, look …

Couric: It wasn't a "gotcha." She was talking to a voter.

McCain: No, she was in a conversation with a group of people and talking back and forth. And … I'll let Gov. Palin speak for herself.

I love this. Not only does it prove that Palin can't defend herself to a journalist (with McCain talking first and the majority of the answer time) but that it's "gotcha" journalism at fault. No need to give knowledgeable answers directly to voters who ask decent questions.

**Belinda** · September 29th, 2008, 06:30 PM

This has to be in anticipation of Thursday. They'll claim Gwen threw "GOTCHA" questions at her.

**Fluffy** · September 29th, 2008, 06:36 PM

^Yup. They said that this morning on Fox News. Their answers to this interview couldn't have been more rehearsed.

**MontanaMama** · September 29th, 2008, 06:38 PM

What is wrong with you people? You EXPECT that the a politician in this day and age should be questioned or have to defend the words that they actually said? Are you all liberal elites?

Perhaps - and I'm just throwing it out here - the McCains and Palins should stop talking to Katie Couric. It doesn't really seem to be going so well for them.

**lurkur** · September 29th, 2008, 06:40 PM

"Gotcha" is a term they are trying to associate with this to garner sympathy.

Blame the journalist for asking a question instead of blaming the candidate who doesn't know how to answer (or hasn't been instructed how to answer yet).

Wonder what the excuse was to have Grandpa babysitting this interview.

**Belinda** · September 29th, 2008, 06:52 PM

I'm waiting for the McCain camp to request that he assist her with the debate on Thursday...

She might need a lifeline

**ymeman** · September 29th, 2008, 07:04 PM

"gotcha journalism"?

you know, kind of like 9/11 was "gotcha" terrorism. It doesn't matter about the real issues or what really happened, but who was made to look bad because of it. This is how you think when all you do is spin and lie, spin and lie, spin and lie.