CBS News anchor Katie Couric conducted an extensive interview with Republican Vice Presidential candidate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, on September 29, 2008 and broadcast on September 30, 2008 on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.  The interview, which broached controversial topics including abortion, homosexuality, creationism versus evolution and global warming, took place in Ohio where the McCain-Palin team had been campaigning. Katie Couric also conducted a joint interview with Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain and VP running mate Sarah Palin; parts of that interview were also broadcast on September 30, 2008.

On Abortion:

 Couric: If a 15-year-old is raped by her father, do you believe it should be illegal for her to get an abortion, and why?

Palin: I am pro-life. And I’m unapologetic in my position that I am pro-life. And I understand there are good people on both sides of the abortion debate. In fact, good people in my own family have differing views on abortion, and when it should be allowed. Do I respect people’s opinions on this. Now, I would counsel to choose life. I would also like to see a culture of life in this country. But I would also like to take it one step further. Not just saying I am pro-life and I want fewer and fewer abortions in this country, but I want them, those women who find themselves in circumstances that are absolutely less than ideal, for them to be supported, and adoptions made easier.

On homosexuality:

The governor told us though she’s not a member of any church, she visits a couple of them regularly when she’s home. She took issue with news reports that one of them, The Wasilla Bible Church, sponsored a conference where gays could be made straight through prayer.

Palin: Well, it matters though, Katie, when the media gets it wrong. It frustrates Americans who are just trying to get the facts and … be able to make up their mind on, about a person’s values. So it does matter.

But what you’re talking about, I think, value here, what my position is on homosexuality and you can pray it away, because I think that was the title that was listed on that bulletin. And you know, I don’t know what prayers are worthy of being prayed. I don’t know what’s prayers are going to be asked and answered. But as for homosexuality, I am not going to judge Americans and the decisions that they make in their adult personal relationships. I have one of my absolute best friends for the last 30 years happens to be gay, and I love her dearly. And she is not my “gay friend,” she is one of my best friends, who happens to have made a choice that isn’t a choice that I have made. But I am not going to judge people.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Full interview video Sarah Palin Katie Couric interview September 30, 2008 (with John McCain Sarah Palin joint interview)

Sarah Palin and John McCain campaigning at Capitol University in Bexley, Ohio, September 29, 2008



Katie Couric also asked Palin about her comment on the campaign trail, making reference to Democratic VP candidate Senator Joe Biden’s age.

“I’m looking forward to meeting him, too. I’ve never met him before. But I’ve been hearing about his Senate speeches since I was in, like, second grade,” she said at a campaign rally

.Couric: You have a 72-year-old running mate - is that kind of a risky thing to say, insinuating that Joe Biden’s been around a while?

Palin: Oh no, it’s nothing negative at all. He’s got a lot of experience and just stating the fact there, that we’ve been hearing his speeches for all these years. So he’s got a tremendous amount of experience and, you know, I’m the new energy, the new face, the new ideas and he’s got the experience.

Source: Transcript:  Palin Opens Up On Controversial Issues - VP Candidate Speaks Frankly With Katie Couric About Feminism, Homosexuality, Abortion And The Environment

Photo credit: Photos 1-2, 5 CBS News; remaining photos: Mark Lyons/Getty Images North America



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Video & Photos: Sarah Palin Interview with Katie Couric 9-30-08 Palin Couric Interview Video

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