Gibson Hits Palin Below the Belt (video & transcripts)

IRIS ^ | September 12. 2008

[Ooh-Ah]

In Governor Sarah Palin's first media interview since her nomination, Charles Gibson has insisted on forcing Sarah Palin to defend something she did not say:

GIBSON: You said recently, in your old church, "Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God." Are we fighting a holy war?

PALIN: You know, I don't know if that was my exact quote.

GIBSON: Exact words.

The problem is that her full statement simply asked people to pray for soldiers to do the right thing and for US leaders to do God's will in general when sending out soldiers:

"Pray for our military. He is going to be deployed in September to Iraq. Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God, that is what we have to make sure that we are praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

Her grammar in the extemporaneous speech is clearer to understand in the actual video (at 3:23):

VIDEO



Back to the Gibson interview:

PALIN: But the reference there is a repeat of Abraham Lincoln's words when he said -- first, he suggested never presume to know what God's will is, and I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words.

But what Abraham Lincoln had said, and that's a repeat in my comments, was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God's side.

That's what that comment was all about, Charlie.

Here is the quote from Lincoln:

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right

It is clear from the original video that this is exactly what she meant. The interview continues:

GIBSON: I take your point about Lincoln's words, but you went on and said, "There is a plan and it is God's plan."

This is another dowdification. Here is what she actually said:

...that is what we have to make sure that we are praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan

Back to the interview:

PALIN: I believe that there is a plan for this world and that plan for this world is for good. I believe that there is great hope and great potential for every country to be able to live and be protected with inalienable rights that I believe are God-given, Charlie, and I believe that those are the rights to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

That, in my world view, is a grand -- the grand plan.

GIBSON: But then are you sending your son on a task that is from God?

PALIN: I don't know if the task is from God, Charlie. What I know is that my son has made a decision. I am so proud of his independent and strong decision he has made, what he decided to do and serving for the right reasons and serving something greater than himself and not choosing a real easy path where he could be more comfortable and certainly safer.

There is nothing radical about this sentiment at all--not only is it a fundamental element of mainstream Christianity, it is an ecumenical sentiment--Jewish theology relies on this concept as well. Here, for example, is an excerpt from the Talmud (Ethics of the Fathers):

Do His will as if it was your will

Update: This is really funny. Excerpts from the Gibson clip are now posted on ABC's Internet site. First of all, the clip of Palin speaking is actually spliced into the Gibson interview and it shows Gibson's quote to be a dowdification! Gibson pulled his misinformation from the original AP story that distorted the text. However, the video clip of her speech has been cut off before the key element (shown in bold below):

"Pray for our military. He is going to be deployed in September to Iraq. Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God, that is what we have to make sure that we are praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

Palin is simply asking churchgoers to pray that US leaders make the right choices, as opposed to a declarative statement that the Iraq war is "God's will."

[stayathomemom]

Man, for a moment there I thought you meant Mel!

[kingattax]

charlie was showing off for his little liberal pals in the media trying to embarass and discredit gov. palin.

he is lower than whale excrement

[11th_VA]

This will forever be “Exhibit A” under Bias Media ...

[101voodoo]

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

[savedbygrace]

Gibson showed himself to be a punk last night. A lying punk.

[21twelve]

I think in the ENTIRE context of her talk it makes even more sense. It sounded like she was talking to recent graduates, and how about leaving the umbrella of the church - keep looking for the will of God and to do God’s work out in the community, etc. away from the safety of the church.

She talked about how she works hard as Governor, but if it isn’t for the right reasons it is worthless.

[kellynla]

BTTT

[Juan Medén]

I was so p.o.’ed that I wrote ole Charlie an e-mail. I challenged him to interview Barak Obama with that same, snide, pedantic, condescending tone. . . . I’m holding my breath. I think he is going to respond any minute now. Tell Whoopie that I have taken the color purple to a whole new level.

[cpanter]

It couldn’t be any clearer. Of course, that isn’t the point to these people. They have about 50 days to distort everything they can.

I just watched Naomi Wolf (on Fox) call Palin a liar for saying last night that we are going to Iraq to fight the terrorists who flew the planes on 9/11. Distort is the mission.

[downtownconservative]

Ya think? Arrogant deceitful pundits never regret their words until they are forced to eat them. I’d be very surprised to see that happen here, despite the obvious underhanded dishonest misrepresentatiuon of Sara Palin’s actual words and her quite obvious intent. Gibson was on a D-Rather bent to mortally harm her. It was an ambush that failed. Gibson=Rather=loser. Only Gibson won’t lose his job over it, as I think he should.

[Maurice Tift]

Gibson was outclassed and it’s happening to so many of her detractors. Poor guy... it must be frustrating.

[Nasher]

The media purposely distorting someones words?

Nah! Never happens:

CNN twisting the truth in the john cena interview

[Canedawg]

I already wrote an email to ABCNews last night expressing my dissatisfaction with Chuck's demeanor during the interview. What an arrogant, condescending .

[kingattax]

arrogant and condescending are his GOOD points too....

[NOBAMA in 08]

Charlie “JACKASS” Gibson has now PROVEN AGAIN He is a LEFT WING PROPAGANDIST AND WHORE! JUST ONE MORE EMPTY-SUITED MOVEON.ORG AS* KISSER! GIBSON IS NO MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN KEITH OLBERDOUCHE OR PRISSY CHRISSY:-)

[NOBAMA in 08]

Lets forget Political Correctness!

Charlie “JACKASS” GIBSON IS MORE DISGUSTING THAN WHALE SHI*!

[samtheman]

The very IDEA that the United States of America might be on the side of GOOD!

Well! I never!