Video retrieved from
PalinTV
Governor Palin appeared on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace to discuss Rand Paul, oil drilling and the the November 2010 mid-term elections. The broadcast re-aired several times today.
Rand Paul and the Civil Rights Act
The first question asked of Gov. Palin was her thoughts about Rand Paul's criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and about the whole controversy surrounding his statements. "I think Rand Paul is right in his clarifications...He's right on when he says he is a supporter of civil rights. He's a supporter of civil rights and the Civil Rights Act. He would have marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. he said and he will oppose any efforts to diminish or erode away any aspects of the Civil Rights Act."
Gov. Palin continued that Paul was in an interview with someone who may have had an agenda. He is a libertarian conservative, and was discussing the impacts of the Civil Rights Act on the Constitution, but Gov. Palin reiterated that he supports civil rights and that legislation.
Wallace followed up by asking if Gov. Palin saw a similarity between this interview and how the media has handled her. "Yeah, absolutely! ...Don't assume that you can engage in a hypothetical discussion about Constitutional impacts with a reporter or a media personality who has an agenda, who may be prejudiced before they even get into the interview about what your answer may be....They're looking for that gotcha moment." Gov. Palin said, "I'm thankful he was given the opportunity to clarify his support for the Civil Rights Act."
Wallace asked, "Having said all that Governor, Rand Paul is a strong libertarian and even some conservatives have doubts about some of his positions," which Wallace then listed on screen. Paul wants Guantanamo Bay closed, the Patriot Act repealed, the Department of Education abolished, and subsidies to farmers ended, according to Wallace. "Does he carry his political philosophy too far? Shouldn't he tone it down especially in a campaign for the US Senate," Wallace asked.
"Well, I won't speak to each one of Rand Paul's positions, because no candidate is going to be the ideal or perfect candidate in any voter's mind. Rand Paul is not a perfect always-to-be-agreed with candidate. Nobody is. Rand Paul is a libertarian. He is clear in his libertarian leanings. He asks questions about implications as it applies to our Constitution, our economy, our society when a law is proposed and a law is enacted, and I think that more of those who serve in the Senate - and Rand we anticipate will be serving in
the Senate - should ask questions about the Constitutionality of policies that are proposed," she said.
On Off-Shore Drilling
Wallace changed the subject to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. "Millions of gallons of oil are continuing to spill into the Gulf of Mexico. You, of course are a big supporter of off-shore drilling. You popularized the term, 'drill baby drill.' Does this disaster give you any pause, Governor?" he asked.
"I am a big supporter of domestic extraction of the resources we are so reliant on versus relying on foreign sources of energy - relying and being beholding to regimes that can use energy as a weapon and that have less stringent environmental standards than we have. I am still a strong supporter of domestic energy supplies being extracted. Having said that, these oil companies have got to be held accountable when there is any kind of lax and preventative measures to result in a tragedy like we are seeing right now in the Gulf."
"Alaska has been through that. I've lived and worked through that Exxon Valdez oil spill. I know what it takes to hold these oil companies accountable and we need to see more of that, but we are still reliant on petroleum products, and oil and gas, and I'm a supporter of off-shore drilling, but also on-shore drilling. Maybe this is a lesson too for those who opposed safe domestic supplies being extracted on our shores and on the land like in ANWR and other areas of Alaska. Let us drill there where it is even safer than way off shore.
Wallace noted that Gov. Palin did go after the oil companies including BP during her administration and asked how she thought the Obama administration is handling the spill.
"The oil companies who have so supported President Obama in his campaign and are supportive of him now - I don't know why the question isn't asked by the mainstream media and by others - if there is any connection with the contributions made to President Obama and his administration and the support by the oil companies to his administration - if there is any connection there to President Obama taking so doggone long to get in there, to dive in there and grasp the complexity, the potential tragedy that we are seeing here in the Gulf of Mexico. Now if this was President Bush or a Republican in office who hadn't received this much support even as President Obama has from BP and other oil companies you know the mainstream media would be all over his case in terms of asking questions why the administration did not get in there, did not make sure the regulatory agencies...to make sure things like this don't happen."
On the Tuesday Elections
Wallace asked Gov. Palin to dicuss last Tuesday's primary elections in which Arlen Specter lost despite Obama's endorsement, and Republican Trey Grayson lost to Rand Paul in Kentucky. "Governor, what do you think voters in both parties were saying on Tuesday?"
"I think both parties - especially as reflected in PA-12 where the anti-Obama candidate registered as a Democrat he won - pro-life, pro-gun, anti-Obamacare - and he won. They're in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one." She said this was the voters saying, "we do not want to see that Obama, Pelosi, Reid agenda, that transformation of America continuing. We need to take some steps to stop it. It's also a message though with that victory there in PA-12 of the Democrat for Republicans for common-sense Constitutional conservatives to ride the momentum of the voters' desire for a change away from what Obama is doing to the country, but not to take anything for granted, not just assume that everyone on board even those Democrats who are quite conservative - a Reagan Democrat type...are not necessarily on board with all the changes that need to take place to stop this Obama administration's agenda."
Wallace asked if the the talk of a big GOP sweep in November is "overblown" given that a Democrat beat a Republican in PA-12.
Gov. Palin reiterated that this is a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one. "Why wouldn't a life-time Democrat vote for the Democrat who was anti-Obama in the race. That just makes sense. This again speaks to the common-sense conservative who wants to see changes in our country to put government back on its side to not take any race for granted....now this is a temporary seat to replace Murtha. We'll see in November who will take the seat permanently."
Gov. Palin said Ann Coulter wrote an excellent piece in which she said Republicans have to work hard if they want to win these mid-term elections and cannot assume that they just will.
On Her Future
Wallace asked, "So far you've endorsed 15 candidates, you're traveling around the country to Republican events to TEA Party events...what's your game plan between now and November? What are you going to do? What do you hope to accomplish?"
"I'm going to keep this up. I'm going to keep out there talking to people, hearing from people - those who desire a less intrusive government in our businesses, our lives, in our family matters. I'm going to keep speaking with them and help to empower them to effect this change that is so needed in the midterms. It's a fun gig. It's a great thing to get to do to be across the country with my family to speak with these awesome Americans who are concerned about our country."
Wallace recalled that in Feb. Gov. Palin said she would consider running for President in 2012 if it were good for the country and her family. "Assuming the Republicans do well in November - your kind of Republican - would that push you more in the direction of making the run?"
"It really comes down to it not being about me or what I want or what I predict is going to happen. This is all about what the voters in America are in the mood for and if the voters in American are in the mood for an unconventional, candid, honest public servant, and it doesn't necessarily have to be me but if that's what they're in the mood for, they're going to let that be known. They're going to help propel and push that candidate forward and then that candidate will make the decision to run or not. Don't assume that's going to be me, Chris."
"It could be you," he responded.
"As I've always said, I'm not going to close any door that might be open, but this is not about me. I really appreciate the platform I've been given, the opportunities to be out there speaking to these good, hard-working average, everyday patriotic Americans who want to see the positive change they deserve," she concluded.
Conclusion
Governor Palin:
Sarah,
It is my belief that you are being summoned to serve....our vigil is posted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. You are the leader we want.
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