Legal Commentary

McCain-Palin Town Hall in Michigan

By Jeralyn

CNN just aired the McCain Palin Michigan town forum live here. (Link no longer working since it's over.) I caught the last ten minutes or so.

Question by young woman on health care. McCain answered that Government run health care is not in the best interest of Americans.

He favors a $5k refundable tax credit for people to get the health plan they, not their employer, chooses. He favors Community health centers, outcome- based treatment, instead of paying for evey conceivable test, we cover people for a year. Stresses wellness and fitness, citing an increase in child obesity. He will reward you when you succeed.

More...

We shouldn't force people to go to emergency rooms

Question to Palin on her foreign policy experience, what skills does she have? I am prepared and if we are so blessed to be sworn in, I'll be ready. If you want to ask specific questions, go ahead and ask, play stump the candidate.

McCain takes over to defend her (and of course, preventing specific questions.) He references an energy accomplishment of Palin's, says she's commander of the Alaska National Guard and has a son is in Iraq. He adds (paraphrase), "So I think she understands our foreign policy situation. She is absolutely and totally qualified to address every issue that may face the Vice President."

He ends with saying we need Michigan's vote. Palin then adds "there is only one man in this race who has fought for you and that's John McCain. We need your help on Nov. 4."

She then lapses into her by now familiar Rah-rah-rah stump talk, "No more politics as usual, we're going to, as John McCain says, drain the swamp, we will win the war and secure our nation, You are proud Americans, I'm proud to be running with John McCain."

The end.

Update: Someone should take her up on her challenge to play, in her words, "Stump the Candidate" and ask her about any country and foreign policy issues.

On the one hand, it's likely she's been using flash cards and been spending her plane time being prepped to the gills, but on the other, it's quite arrogant for her to suggest that in the two weeks since she's become a nominee, she's gone from not understanding what the Vice President does on a daily basis and not having focused on Iraq to portraying herself as an expert with all the answers. Just a joke.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on September 17, 2008 (boomark / email).