11/12/2008 8:40 am

POV

John McCain Defends Palin on 'Tonight Show' (Video)

YouTube

In his first official post-election appearance last night on NBC’s “Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, a funny John McCain defended his pick of Sarah Palin as his running mate — regardless of whether polls say she hurt him.

"I’m so proud of her, and I’m very grateful that she agreed to run with me. She inspired people. She still does," McCain said. "And look, I couldn’t be happier with Sarah Palin, and she’s going back to be a great governor, and I think she will play a big role in the future of this country."

Did she ever go all "rogue" and off message? “Do you ever expect mavericks to stay on message?” McCain said. “People were very inspired by her … and that’s what matters.” He said people were inspired by his campaign, as well as Barack Obama’s.

On those nasty rumors being leaked by anonymous sources within his campaign about Palin’s shopping habits, whether or not she knows Africa is a continent and the members of NASFTA, McCain suggested that such rants amounted to sour grapes from people claiming to be campaign insiders.

"I think I have at least a thousand, quote, ‘top advisers,’" he said. "’A top adviser said’ — people I’ve never even heard of, much less a, quote, ‘top adviser’ or a ‘high-ranking Republican official.’"

"These things go on in campaigns, and you just have to move on," McCain also said.

For his part, McCain joked, since the election he has been "sleeping like a baby." "Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry," he said to laughter.

Leno said that during the campaign, he "would see sort of two McCains," and he asked the Arizona senator to explain why that was.

"I think these are tough times … and campaigns are tough," McCain said. "I don’t, frankly, think that a lot of people wanted a stand-up comic. They wanted to know how we were going to address the issues … But, you know, you just do the best that you can."

Here’s video of McCain talking about Palin. You can watch the entire interview with Leno here:



4 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

MsDee1
Nothing wrong with John McCain. In fact, I thought many times during this last campaign that I wish John McCain had been in the White House over the past eight years. We’d probably be in better shape today. Karl Rove is as much to blame as Bush and Cheney. That’s for sure.
By MsDee1 on 11/12/2008 11:22 am
starryNite
Ms. Dee. Right you are. When John McCain was okay but when Sarah Palin became his running mate, that was a game changer. It is not her fault even though I grew to dislike her.
By starryNite on 11/12/2008 12:40 pm
BelindaJoy
This is so laughable….McCain knows in his heart of heart why he chose Palin and it backfired. He doesn’t respect her on any level. Did she rally the republican base? Yes. But what about the rest of the country, did he really think he could take the White House on the votes of only those who live in Palin’s self described “Real America?” He is such a pathetic shell of the man he used to be.
By BelindaJoy on 11/12/2008 3:11 pm
DeBrcaobj
Check out Jon Stewarts twist on the McCain/Leno comments. (Also, just following is a good piece on Palin): http://www.hulu.com/watch/44053/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-wed-nov-…
By DeBrcaobj on 11/13/2008 7:21 pm