McCain taps outsider Palin to be VP

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate, a surprise choice on the eve of the National Republican Convention.

John McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate.

(Credit: Alaska governor's office)

Palin, a little-known first-term governor with a reputation for being fiscally conservative, is the first woman named to the Republican presidential ticket. McCain officially introduced Palin as his vice presidential candidate during a rally Friday in Dayton, Ohio.

The selection of Palin, 44, surprised many GOP observers. Palin's name had not even been mentioned among prospective running mates. In making this choice, McCain passed over contenders with higher national profiles, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge among them.

Palin is a former city council member and mayor of the small town of Wasilla who rose to prominence on a reform policy. She was installed as governor in December 2006 after challenging the incumbent governor of her own party in a primary.

Palin served on Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004 until resigning in protest over what she called the "lack of ethics."

Palin has proposed providing electrical utilities with grants to reduce customers' rates. In response to higher gas prices, Palin proposed giving Alaskans $100-a-month energy debit cards, a plan she later abandoned in favor of a proposal to send Alaskans $1,200 directly and eliminate the gas tax.

She is married with five children. Her husband, Todd, is an engineer in the oil industry.

We'll have more on her technology policies following this report.

[sbwinn]

Eliminate the gas tax -- now there's an idea. Oil companies make 8% on a gallon; Government makes 15% (in California). Not many politicians are talking about a windfall tax rebate.

[hlwdjsd]

Problem with eliminating the gas tax is that that is the money that is used to support the infrastructure--the roads, bridges, etc. And, considering the sorry state of most of that infrastructure, having even less money for maintenance and repair would be extremely dangerous (think the bridge collapse in Minneapolis).

[awinn233]

Repeal the gas tax and the government won't be able to fund much needed road works projects. If you would rather your gas money go to the shareholders of Exxon-Mobile than to fund road works projects across the country, then I'm glad more people don't think like you.

[Philwent]

You're concerned! !
Here in the UK the government takes nearly 70% of our 1.16p/litre = about £5.30 per gallon.
I guess that's about $9 a gallon!

[Philwent]

You're concerned! !
Here in the UK the government takes nearly 70% in tax of our 1.16p/litre = about £5.30 per gallon.
I guess that's about $9 a gallon! The road tax was intended to be used for the roads when it was called the Road Fund License but now the money is used for all the other useless budgets. If all the road tax raised was actually spent on the roads, they would all be gold plated!

[profbob23615]

Candidate McCain is no longer in a position to comment on Candidate Obama's lack of experience.

[motorush]

wow, you have it backwards. go serve yourself more barack hussein coolaid...

[grossph]

Why not...Palin is running for VP...mr obama is running for President. I actually believe this to be a good move...Obama can no longer claim he has all this 'experience" and then try to claim Palin has little experience....kind of shuts down that argument....

[bj1126]

Quite a big difference between Vice and President in job requirements. ;)

[thisisdan71]

Sure he can. Palin has accomplishments in her few years in politics and the public is aware of them. She makes changes rather than only making empty promises to make changes. There's a big difference.

Republican.....Democrat............ I'm just happy to be living in the USA!

[titanfan3]

What kind of experience does obama have? He is the 0ne running for president! Oh, I forget he was a community organizer in Chicago...that makes him qulaify for the most powerful position in the world. Give me a break. I hope his camp goes down this road. Obama has no record of running anything.

[The_Decider]

Wow, McSame is a doddering 72 year old and could keel over at any moment.

Now do you guys see why McCain is proving to be a massive hypocrite?

[tremelai]

ouch. This site was up yesterday on the State of Alaska's web site.

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:wbCGTUeD1r0J:www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php%3Fid%3D1384+http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php%3Fid%3D1384&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

[snecoleman]

I don't see how this is an ouch. She basically said he is at least heading in the right direction on this, but is still missing the mark because of the way he proposes we pay for it. I think we should look for someone that can see the good and bad in ideas, not just criticize.

[Fat Drunk and Stupid]

The difference between Hillary Clinton and Palin is that if Obama had chosen Hillary it would have been because of her qualifications. Palin was chosen because she is a woman.

It is McCain's hope that the disgruntled Hillary supporters will now view a vote for the McCain ticket as a vote for women. There had already been talk of Hillary supporters voting for McCain to spite Obama. McCain's choice of a female VP panders to disgruntled Hillary supporters.

This would be a great strategy if it were not for the fact that McCain is very old and Palin, by McCain's own standards, lacks the experience necessary to run the country should, God forbid, anything happen to McCain that would require Palin to take over as commander in chief.

Palin vs. Putin? Suddenly Biden doesn't seem so bad.

[snecoleman]

This comment is clearly ignorant. While it is obvious picking a woman will be a means of attracting women to vote for the ticket, it is presumptuous to say it is the only reason. If you review Palin's record, ideas, and direction, then it would make sense McCain would pick her.

[Kwasiowusu]

Palin has more executive expreince than Obambi wilever have, given that Obambi will lose in November.
As for McCain being 72, he is not that much older then Biden, and is still younger than quite a few Democtratic Senators in congress. Not to mention mccains's mother is not only still alive, she as sharp and fiesty as ever.
As for Biden. is this the same Biden that said od Obama: as the " "first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.".
And he chose this guy as his VP? What a joke!

[roberthamer]

It's interesting to see that such a contrast between the candidates and their running mates. You have Obama, a young, relatively inexperienced fresh face in the political scene with the promise of challenging the political establishment, and he picks an older Senator with decades of foreign policy and legislative experience as his running mate. Then you have McCain, an older Senator with decades of foreign policy and legislative experience, who picks a young, relatively inexperienced fresh face in the political scene with the promise of challenging the political establishment. Very interesting.

[Earl Benzar]

I am disappointed in McCain. Picking a woman is great, but at least pick someone with national experience. Alaska? A tiny state, someone with two years experience total, and none on the national or international scene, and given McCain's age and history with cancer, we're looking at an increased probability that his VP pick would succeed him during his term.

[whizkid454]

LOL. Actually, Alaska is the largest state in the USA.

[The_Decider]

Not much of a whiz kid, it is sparsely populated.

[Perry_Clease]

"...and given McCain's age and history with cancer, we're looking at an increased probability that his VP pick would succeed him during his term."

I am thinking of that as well. Not that any of us, Obama included, couldn't be killed in an accident or something. The choice of VP is very important.

[Kwasiowusu]

McCain's mother is still alive, and is as sharp amd fiesty as ever. what makes you think Mccain is just about to die?

[mmichaels]

Palin has more EXECUTIVE experience then any of them. How about that? Obama's limited experience is on the TOP of the ticket. While Gov. Palin's similar experience is on the BOTTOM of the ticket. Great pick!

[KingsImperial]

Nice republican spin; "she has more executive experience than any of them". In Alaska? What has she done with this so-called "executive experience"? Nice way to spin that one guys. McCain wants the female vote, that's it. This stunt has been tried before and it failed. Nice way to role the dice when it comes to picking a VP for the free world.

[mmichaels]

Nice liberal spin: "Nice way to role the dice when it comes to picking a VP for the free world. ". The libs are rolling the dice when it comes to picking the PRESIDENT for the free world. Way to go libs. You should have nominated Hillary.

[titanfan3]

Lets check the record on running things much like you do as a gov. of a state, and a community organizer from Chicago. Obama voted over 130 times present in congress. That means he is not there or does not have the back bone to take a stance. I'll take Palin's expeirience over Barack Huesein Obama any day!!

[cyberlaws]

Love the pick. We need an Washington outsider to shake things up. Our family is tired of being blackmailed by OPEC & Russia. We need to develop America's resources, and get off this reliance of foreign sources of energy. Alaska was bought by the U.S. from Russia in 1867 specifically to ensure a supply of natural resources, but the DEM controlled Congress is opposed to developing our vast amount of natural resources in Alaska. Being the Gov. of Alaska, she could educate the people and politicians of the lower 48 on developing nature resources in Alaska.
Quote from Gov. Palin, " There are billions of barrels of oil underneath the ground up there on the North Slope including ANWR. In Alaska alone we can supply seven years of complete crude-oil independence, and eight years' supply of natural gas for Americans with ANWR (and) other areas of Alaska that we want to allow for development. That's proof that Alaska can be a significant player in the world market."

[sanenazok]

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, an experienced governor like Romney would have added something to the ticket. Still she's not a bad choice, since she has executive (gubernatorial) experience and is especially better than Lieberman. Sorry, but nothing's worse than two old senators, except maybe an old senator coupled with a hot-air-machine freshman senator. I still can't believe that this election is even close: it should be a cake-walk for democrats, but now it looks like the McCain ticket will be getting the evangelical vote (i.e. Virginia may no longer be up for grabs for Democrats). Definitely, Alaska is going to McCain now since she has a high approval rating. Well that state doesn't matter as far as the electoral college, but it will spare Alaskans pointless campaign ads.

[Perry_Clease]

"LOL. Actually, Alaska is the largest state in the USA."

True, but it is the number of electoral votes that count, not the total square miles

[beach356]

WONDER WOMAN
Could this girl be...WONDER WOMAN? Let the bloggers try to impeach her for the fact she is a woman, or the reality that her real work history is worth less than Obama's inventions, but see the other three fingers that are pointing back at you! Well Sarah, bust out the golden lasso and make them tell the truth!

[Annelouise52]

I don't mean to put a damper on her nomination, but I really don't think the republicans have a chance in hell to win this one. Our country is ready for change because we are in such an economical mess and the rest of the world has lost respect for us because the guy at the top is so out of touch. It wouldn't matter if she was black, a woman, rich, poor, old or young - she's a republican and in this election, that is a big hinderance!

[assclownbush]

Palin has nice legs. Furthermore, she is the BEST candidate of the 4 (others being Obama, McCain and Biden) because she has absolutely no experience. Look at what having "experience" has done for the country...8 straights years of budget deficits, ongoing war costing $1 BILLION a DAY, no energy plan, high gas prices, high food prices, record unemployment, worthless dollar and every country hates America.
Oh yeah, that "experience" has done wonders. MUHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!

[GuyBlaise]

Senator McCain's choice for V.P. is surprising but a great choice. Once again history have been made.The Republicans have a female running mate. It's time for America to bring fresh political leaders. It's time to let women take important roles in politics, because women are more sensitive to the real issues of our society. Their roles as mothers and wives are the foundation of the family, often overshadowed by men. Men are nothing without women. As the Batekes of the equatorial forest of Congo say,'Woman is the belt on man's pants."
http://guyblaise.com/

[GuyBlaise]

Senator McCain's choice for V.P. is surprising but a great choice. Once again history have been made.The Republicans have a female running mate. It's time for America to bring fresh political leaders. It's time to let women take important roles in politics, because women are more sensitive to the real issues of our society. Their roles as mothers and wives are the foundation of the family, often overshadowed by men. Men are nothing without women. As the Batekes of the equatorial forest of Congo say,'Woman is the belt on man's pants."
http://guyblaise.com/

[Perry_Clease]

"Could this girl be...WONDER WOMAN? Let the bloggers try to impeach her for the fact she is a woman, or the reality that her real work history is worth less than Obama's inventions, but see the other three fingers that are pointing back at you! Well Sarah, bust out the golden lasso and make them tell the truth!"

Is it true that she is a conservative?