Honest Republican Speaks, Top McCain Adviser Blasts Palin: "Of Course" She's Not Ready

Nico Pitney and Sam Stein

Eagleburger Blisters Palin: "Of Course" She's Not Ready

October 31, 2008 12:39 AM

A former Republican Secretary of State and one of John McCain's most
prominent supporters offered a stunningly frank and remarkably bleak
assessment of Sarah Palin's capacity to handle the presidency should
such a scenario arise.

Lawrence Eagleburger, who served as Secretary of State under George
H.W. Bush and whose endorsement is often trumpeted by McCain, said on
Thursday that the Alaska governor is not only unprepared to take over
the job on a moment's notice but, even after some time in office,
would only amount to an "adequate" commander in chief.

"And I devoutly hope that [she] would never be tested," he added for
good measure -- referring both to Palin's policy dexterity and the
idea of McCain not making it through his time in office. (Listen to
audio below.)

The remarks took place during an interview on National Public Radio
that was, ironically, billed as "making the case" for a McCain
presidency. Asked by the host whether Palin could step in during a
time of crisis, Eagleburger reverted to sarcasm before leveling the
harsh blow.

"It is a very good question," he said, pausing a few seconds, then
adding with a chuckle: "I'm being facetious here. Look, of course
not."

Eagleburger explained: "I don't think at the moment she is prepared to
take over the reins of the presidency. I can name for you any number
of other vice presidents who were not particularly up to it either. So
the question, I think, is can she learn and would she be tough enough
under the circumstances if she were asked to become president, heaven
forbid that that ever takes place?

"Give her some time in the office and I think the answer would be, she
will be [pause] adequate. I can't say that she would be a genius in
the job. But I think she would be enough to get us through a four
year... well I hope not... get us through whatever period of time was
necessary. And I devoutly hope that it would never be tested."

The indictment of Palin was all the more biting because both she and
McCain have held Eagleburger up repeatedly during the past several
weeks as evidence that the Republican ticket has firm standing and
support within foreign policy circles. (In fact, McCain conferred with
Eagleburger by phone just this week, on matters pertaining to national
security.)
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In a recent co-interview on NBC, Brian Williams asked McCain and Palin
"about what must have been a hurtful Sunday for you," referring to
Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama and specifically to the
"heart of his quote" -- Powell's claim that Palin is not "ready to be
president of the United States, which is the job of vice president."

"Obviously General Powell does not know Governor Palin's record,"
McCain responded. "All I can say is, I see all these attacks on
Governor Palin. I don't live in a bubble. But those people obviously
are either not paying attention to, or don't care about the record of
the most popular governor in the United States of America."

Palin interjected, citing the "five former secretaries of states" that
have endorsed their campaign and see in their candidacy "the ability
to win the wars and to keep our nation safe and on course."

Days later, the Arizona Senator again touted the Eagleburger
endorsement during a spot on CNN. During that interview, McCain tried
to downplay the significance of Colin Powell's criticisms of Palin by
noting that Powell had never taken the time to understand her
political gravitas.

"I especially disagreed when he said the comments that he made about
Governor Palin," McCain said. "And I hope that sometime General Powell
will take time out of his busy schedule to meet with her. I know she'd
be pleased to meet with him."

Perhaps Eagleburger, too, should sit in on that meeting.
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ON THE WEBSITE - Listen to audio of Eagleburger on Palin
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/31/eagleburger-blisters-pali_n_139524.html
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