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Transcript of Katie Couric Sarah Palin Interview
Sarah Palin: My understanding is Rick Davis… recused himself from the dealings in that firm.um I don't knowhhhow long ago a year two ago and that he's not benefiting from that. And you know…Iwas..I would hope that's the case.
Katie Couric: But he still has a stake in the company so isn't that a conflict of interest?
Palin: (3 sec …)Again my understanding is that hehehe recused himself from the dealings with… Freddie and and Fannie any lobbying efforts onononhis part there. And I would hope that's the case because as John McCain has been saying and as I've been in a uhhhhon a much more local level been also rallying against is the undue influence of lobbyists in public policy decisions being made.
Non-conversation portion on video
Palin: I'm ill about the position that America is in and that we have to look at a 700 billion dollar bailout. At the same time. We know that inaction is not an option And as Sen. McCain has said …unless this nearly trilllllion dollar bailout is what it may end up to be unless there areahh amendments in Paulson's proposalreally III don't believe that Americans are going to support this andandwe will not support this. The interesting thing in the last couple of days that I drawn out have seen is that …Americans are waiting to see what John McCain will do on this proposal. They're not waiting to see what Barack Obama is going to do. Is he going to do this and justsee what way the political wind's blowing? They're waitin to see if John McCain will be able to see these amendmentsum implemented in Paulson's proposal.]
Couric: Why do you say that? Why are they waiting for John McCain and not Barack Obama?
Palin: He's got the track record of the leadership uhqualities and the pragmatism that's needed att a crisis time like this.
Couric: But polls have shown that Sen. Obama has actually gotten a boost as a result of this latest crisis with more people feeling that he can handle the situation better than John McCain.
Palin:AhUhyou knowI'm not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see…Who’swh- who's more apt to just be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for some opportunity to change, and who's actually done it?
Couric: If this doesn't pass, do you think there's a risk of another Great Depression?
Palin: Unfortunatelllyyy, that is the road that America may find itself on. Not necessarily this, as it's been proposed, has to pass or we're going to find ourselves in another Great Depression. But there has got to be action taken bipartisan effort um Congress not pointin fingers at this point atat one another butumtpsh(mouth smacking noise) findingthe solution to this, uhtaking action, and being serious about the reforms on Wall Street that are needed.
Couric: Would you support a moratorium on foreclosures to help average Americans keep their homes?
Palin: That's something that John McCain and I have both been discussing whether that …um...uh…that is part of the solution or not. You knowknow it's going to be a multi-faceted sssolllllution thatthat has to be found here.]
Couric: So you haven't decided whether you'll s-support it or not?
Palin: I have not.
Couric: What are the pros and cons of it do you think?
Palin: Oh, well, its itssomedecisions that haveum been madeuh poorly should not be rewarded, of course.at the same time
Couric: By consumers, you're saying?
Palin: b Consumers and those who were predator lenders also.Um That's ayou knowthat has to be considered also. But again, it's got to be a comprehensive long-term solution found…to thfound for this problem that ahAmerica is facing today. As I say it we are gettin into crisis mode here.
Couric: You've said, quote, "John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business." Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac…two years ago can you give us any more examples of his leading the charge for more oversight?
Palin: I think that the example that you just cited with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie that that's paramount. That's more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.
Couric: But he's been in Congress for twenty-six years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with …lessss regulation, not more.
Palin: He's also known as the Maverick though, takin shots from his own party, and certainly takin shots from the other party. Tryin to get people to understand what he's been talkin about the need to reform government.
Couric: I'm just going to ask you one more time not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.
Palin: I'llll try to find ya some and I'll bring em to ya.
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SNL Parody of Couric-Palin Interview
Announcer: And now part four of Katie Couric's interview with Alaska governor Sarah Palin.
Amy Poehler: Governor Palin thank you for agreeing to talk with me one more time.
Tina Fey: Oh hey you know sure!
Amy Poehler: [blinking] Did you enjoy your week in New York City?
Tina Fey: You know I did Katie I did and I wasn't sure I would at first. New York is of course home to the Liberal media elite but Todd and the kids had a great time going to the Central Park and the F.A.O. Schwartz and that kooky[KPB1] goofy evolution museum!
Amy Poehler: [Pause] So it sounds like the trip was a success?
Tina Fey: Well there were some funny moments. For instance I had fifteen or to twenty false alarms where I thought I saw Osama bin Laden driving a taxi. I was embarrassed to be wrong but mostly I was disappointed I wasn't right. Also, in an effort area to bone up on foreign policy I went to the Times Square area to see a film called "The Bush Doctrine" it was not about politics.
Amy Poehler: [blinking] You went to the UN for the first time. How was that experience?
Tina Fey: Oh you know it was just amazing so many interesting people though I have to say I was disheartened by how many of them were foreigners. I can promise that when Senator McCain and I are elected we're gonna get those jobs back in American hands.
Amy Poehler: [Pause; blinking] How did the world leaders you met with react to you?
Tina Fey: They embraced me Katie. Figuratively and a couple of those Pakistani guys literally. But they were all so welcoming. Be it from Hamid Karzai the President of Afghanistan, or Jalal Talabani the President of Iraq, or Bono the King of Ireland.
Amy Poehler: [blinking] On foreign policy I want to give you one more chance to explain your claim that you have foreign policy experience based on Alaska's proximity to Russia. What did you mean by that?
Tina Fey: Well Alaska and Russia are only separated by a narrow maritime border. You've got Alaska here and this right here is the water and then this up here is Russia [uses hand to show what she means]. So we keep an eye on them.
Amy Poehler: And how do you do that exactly?
Tina Fey: Every morning when Alaskans wake up one of the first things they do is look outside and see if there are any Russians hanging around. If there are you gotta go up to them and ask "What are ya' doing here?" And if they give you a good reason they can't then it's our responsibility to say you know "Shoo! Get back over there!"
Amy Poehler: [blinking] Senator McCain shut down his campaign this week in order to deal with the economic crisis. What's your opinion of this potential $700 billion dollar bailout?
Tina Fey: Like every American I'm speaking with we are ill about this. We're saying Hey! Why bail out Fannie and Freddie and not me? But ultimately what the bailout does is help those that are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. To help um it's gotta be about job creation too. Also too shoring up our economy and putting Fannie and Freddie back on the right track. And so health care reform and reducing taxes and reigning in spending 'cause Barack Obama you know? You know we've got to accompany tax reduction and tax relief for Americans. Also having a dollar value meal at restaurants -- that's gonna help. But one in five jobs being created today under the umbrella of job creation. That you know also [abrupt stop]
Amy Poehler: [blinking] What lessons have you learned from Iraq and how specifically
would you spread democracy abroad?
Tina Fey: Specifically we would make every effort possible to spread democracy abroad to those who want it!
Amy Poehler: Yes but specifically what would you do?
Tina Fey: We're gonna promote freedom usher in democratic values and ideals and fight terror-loving terrorists.
Amy Poehler: But again and not to belabor the point one specific thing?
Tina Fey: [long pause] Katie I'd like to use one of my lifelines.
Amy Poehler: I'm sorry?
Tina Fey: I want to phone a friend.
Amy Poehler: You don't have any lifelines.
Tina Fey: Well in that case I'm just gonna have to get back to ya!
Amy Poehler: Forgive me Mrs. Palin but it seems to me that when cornered you become increasingly adorable. Is that fair to say?
Tina Fey: [ in a cutesy-pie manner ] I don't know is it? Pwew, pwew, pwew [ she fires her fingers like pistols ]
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[KPB1]I think it’s goofy