Chronicling trends in entertainment, pop culture, politics, the arts, and the uncategorized et cetera.

Shallow Nation

October 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 am

Video & Photos: Joe Biden, Sarah Palin Interview with Katie Couric 10-1-08 Biden Palin Couric Interview Video

In separate interviews, CBS News anchor Katie Couric asked the Vice Presidential candidates, Republican Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Democrat SenatorJoe Biden , questions about abortion and Roe v. Wade. The interviews were broadcast on October 1, 2008 on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

Article continues below.

Sarah Palin expressed her opposition to Roe v. Wade.

Couric Why, in your view, is Roe v. Wade a bad decision?

Sarah Palin: I think it should be a states’ issue not a federal government-mandated, mandating yes or no on such an important issue. I’m, in that sense, a federalist, where I believe that states should have more say in the laws of their lands and individual areas. Now, foundationally, also, though, it’s no secret that I’m pro-life that I believe in a culture of life is very important for this country. Personally that’s what I would like to see, um, further embraced by America.

Sarah Palin interview with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, September 24, 2008

However, Sarah Palin notably could not recall any other Supreme Court cases.

Couric: What other Supreme Court decisions do you disagree with?

Palin: Well, let’s see. There’s, of course in the great history of America there have been rulings, that’s never going to be absolute consensus by every American. And there are those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade, where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but …

Couric: Can you think of any?

Palin: Well, I could think of … any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level. Maybe I would take issue with. But, you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a vice president, if I’m so privileged to serve, wouldn’t be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today.

Source: Transcript – Palin, Biden Trade Views On Abortion

ABC Political Radar cites Supreme Court cases Sarah Palin should have been familiar with.

The vice presidential candidate seemed to have forgotten that three months ago she criticized the courts ruling in Exxon Shipping v. Baker which gutted a damages award after the 1989 oil spill. At the time she released a statement saying,

“While the decision brings some degree of closure to Alaskans suffering from 19 years of litigation and delay, the Court gutted the jury’s decision on punitive damages.“

Palin also failed to mention some cases recently decided which have troubled her running mate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. For instance last term, the court overturned a Louisiana law allowing the death penalty for someone who rapes but does not kill a child. McCain said the decision was “an assault on law enforcement efforts to punish these heinous felons.”

Source: Palin Silent on Supreme Court Question

Watch CBS Videos Online

Full interview video Joe Biden, Sarah Palin interviews with Katie Couric, broadcast October 1, 2008

Joe Biden expressed support of Roe v. Wade and was able to cite a Supreme Court case he disagreed with.

Katie Couric: Why do you think Roe v. Wade was a good decision?

Joe Biden: Because it’s as close to a consensus that can exist in a society as heterogeneous as ours. What does it say? It says in the first three months that decision should be left to the woman. And the second three months, where Roe v. Wade says, well then the state, the government has a role, along with the women’s health, they have a right to have some impact on that. And the third three months they say the weight of the government’s input is on the fetus being carried.

Couric: Are there Supreme Court decisions you disagree with?

Biden: You know, I’m the guy who wrote the Violence Against Women Act. And I said that every woman in America, if they are beaten and abused by a man, should be able to take that person to court – meaning you should be able to go to federal court and sue in federal court the man who abused you if you can prove that abuse. But they said, “No, that a woman, there’s no federal jurisdiction.” And I held, they acknowledged, I held about 1,000 hours of hearings proving that there’s an effect in interstate commerce.
Women who are abused and beaten and beaten are women who are not able to be in the work force. And the Supreme Court said, “Well, there is an impact on commerce, but this is federalizing a private crime and we’re not going to allow it.” I think the Supreme Court was wrong about that decision.

Source: Transcript – Palin, Biden Trade Views On Abortion

Sarah Palin and John McCain campaigning at Capitol University in Pennsylvania, September 22, 2008

Barack Obama and Joe Biden campaigning in Michigan, September 28, 2008