This seems to be ?gaffe week? among the vice presidential candidates. Joe Biden takes top honors, obviously, for his double-fallacy on FDR going on TV in 1929 to talk about the economic collapse. Then there are Biden?s remarks on clean coal and the AIG bailout, the latter of which required Obama to come along and whip the errant veep hopeful into shape.
Palin had a rough week, too. Although she didn?t commit the policy and factual gaffes of Biden, her response to Katie Couric?s question about Alaska?s proximity to Russia left much to be desired.
In an interview with Charlie Gibson of ABC News earlier this month, Palin indicated that governing a state near Russia was a foreign policy credential:
GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?
PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.
GIBSON: What insight does that give you into what they’re doing in Georgia?
PALIN: Well, I’m giving you that perspective of how small our world is and how important it is that we work with our allies to keep good relation with all of these countries, especially Russia. We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it’s in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along.
Of course, media outlets pounced on the comments. But Palin didn?t help matters by continuing to bungle the issue in her interview with Couric this week.
I?m sure Biden and Palin are eager for this week to be over and done with.