Palin joins McCain at forum
By Glen Johnson
Associated Press
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Sarah Palin, cloistered since her surprise pick as the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate, symbolically butted in last night and answered her first question from a member of the public since joining the ticket.
The Alaska governor, appearing at a town hall with GOP presidential nominee John McCain, interrupted him, saying: "John, John, can I add something?"
McCain, smiling, replied: "Always."
Palin argued that McCain's support for sending thousands more U.S. troops to Iraq put the country on the cusp of victory and was freeing it to focus elsewhere in its battle against terrorists.
"We must win there so that we can win in Afghanistan also," Palin said. "He knows how to win a war."
During the more than hourlong session at Grand Rapids Community College, Palin also:
"Let's prove 'em wrong," Palin told her questioner.
Palin noted she was pregnant as governor and carried out her duties. She also lauded the symbolism of McCain choosing her as his running, which he did after Democratic rival Barack Obama decided against Hillary Rodham Clinton and chose Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden as his No. 2.
Palin said just as Title IX transformed sports, if there is a need for a similar program in the workplace, "then we're there." McCain himself was less committal, saying existing laws would address discrimination and ensure equal opportunity.
"If you want specifics and specific policy or countries, go ahead, you can ask me. You can even play stump-the-candidate if you want," Palin challenged her questioner.
McCain stepped in to note that she had negotiated with oil companies for a massive natural gas pipeline, is commander of the Alaska National Guard and has a son, Track, who is deploying for Army service in Iraq.
"I'm still working on that," Palin said. As the audience laughed, McCain joked, "This town hall meeting is adjourned."
Palin also criticized President Bush or Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman for recently traveling to Saudi Arabia to ask OPEC to increase oil production to help reduce skyrocketing U.S. gasoline prices.
The governor said she was "disappointed" by the actions, adding: "That's nonsense, when we have the domestic supplies here in America."
Earlier yesterday, Palin sat down for her second television interview since her selection on Aug. 29.
She said in an interview airing on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" that Democrats were out of bounds for criticizing McCain after he said the fundamentals of the economy are strong.
"It was an unfair attack on the verbiage that Sen. McCain chose to use because the fundamentals, as he was having to explain afterward, he means our work force, he means the ingenuity of the American people. And of course, that is strong and that is the foundation of our economy," she said.
Palin also said she watched Tina Fey impersonate her last weekend on "Saturday Night Live" — but with the volume off.
"I thought it was hilarious. I thought she was spot on," Palin said. "Didn't hear a word she said, but the visual, spot on."
