34 South Main St., Attleboro, MA - Directions - (508) 222-7000
cars | jobs | place an ad | subscribe
Home News Sports Features classifieds milestones services photos tvlistings cars jobs realestate subscribe
Election Coverage

Delegates stand behind pick

BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 2:06 AM EDT


Top Headlines
Among area Dems: 'A solid candidate'

No debate for Democrats in state representative race

Clinton speech strikes note of unity

Delegates stand behind pick

Frank: Palin family raised issue first

Three local delegates to the Republican National Convention said Tuesday that their party is standing behind vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin after she revealed her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.

They said the situation is a private family matter that should not interfere with Palin's ability to campaign or serve with presidential candidate John McCain.

"The news broke fast and furious out here, but we're still with her," said Danielle Fish, a delegate from Mansfield.

"It's a family matter. It's unfortunate for the Palin family, but nobody here seems to be hung up on that," she said.

State Reps. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, and Jay Barrows, R-Mansfield, said there is a lot of talk about Palin at the convention, but most of the discussion about the Alaskan governor is positive.

They said unmarried teens getting pregnant is fairly common and Americans have grown accustomed to it.
Bristol Palin, 17, holds her brother Trig during the campaign rally where Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., introduced Bristol and Trig'ss mom, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as his vice presidential running mate in Dayton, Ohio, Friday, Aug. 29, 2008. Sarah Palin said Monday that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant. With Bristol is, left to right, their father Todd and sisters Piper and Willow. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
"It's a slice of Americana," Barrow said. "I don't think it diminishes her ability to be a good vice president."

Poirier said most people agree that the children of candidates should be off limits from scrutiny and that the pregnancy is a private family concern.

"Everyone I've talked to is very supportive, but they understand this is not unusual," she said.

The Palin situation has raised questions about how closely McCain scrutinized the little-known governor before picking her to be his running mate.

Other issues about her have been raised in recent days, including an investigation into charges she fired a public safety commissioner for political and family reasons.

McCain said his campaign did an exhaustive background check on Palin.

Republicans, however, said Palin is not the issue - McCain is.

They said he has the experience that Democrat Barack Obama lacks and Palin can learn at his side.

"She is not running for the top spot," Barrows said. "It's about McCain and McCain's experience."
This 2007 file photo shows Bristol Palin, daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as a member of the Juneau-Douglas High School junior varsity basketball team.

The Republican convention cancelled many of its activities Monday because Hurricane Gustav was hitting New Orleans.

The local delegates said the gathering got back on track Tuesday.

Earlier in the morning, they attended a breakfast meeting with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

They said Romney showed no disappointment in being passed over by McCain for the vice presidential spot and he strongly urged them to work for McCain's election.

"He said the election wasn't about him, it was about the ideals we all share," Poirier said.
Return to Previous Page  


 


Post Your Comments

Anna DeMarinis wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:58 PM:

" A great quote:
"I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities." "

Report Abuse

Anna DeMarinis wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:52 PM:

" socal: maybe you didn't read the whole article? I addressed points made in the second half of the article. And Obama has never been a mayor or a city council member or the head of a business. The Governor of Hawaii is just now slicing and dicing celt's snide remark.ohxpb "

Report Abuse

celt wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:03 PM:

" Palin was mayor of a town with a population 1/3 that of Norton and is governor of a state with fewer people that RI. I can think of several Republicans who are more qualified. Surely McCain could have done better. "

Report Abuse

socal1 wrote on Sep 3, 2008 7:20 PM:

" This article seems to be about how the delegates are supporting McCain's VP pick and not about Obama or even McCain. I keep saying, build up your VP candidate and stop tearing down your VP opponent because it starts to appear as if your candidate doesn't have any strong characteristics. Trust that McCain's VP pick has the qualifications to justify his support. And build on that. "

Report Abuse

Anna DeMarinis wrote on Sep 3, 2008 6:29 PM:

" socal: everything in the first post (mine) directly relates to statements made in the article. It was saywhat that veered off course owing to an attack of Bush Derangment Syndrome. "

Report Abuse

socal1 wrote on Sep 3, 2008 3:11 PM:

" People are off topic because the 1st word of the 1st post is "Obama" and not Palin. "

Report Abuse

ricknkim wrote on Sep 3, 2008 1:37 PM:

" Kevin H - point taken. I fell for the bait and tried to gain a real understanding of these fellow citizens who HATE Bush. I understand frustration about many missteps and failed promises, but I feel these with every politician from the top down. I felt just as much frustration under Clinton and the 1st president Bush but I didn't HATE any of them (Clinton's wife is another story . . . lol).

Like I said in other posts, I like Palin for the simple fact that she's an outsider with decent executive experience and for the most part, a good person as much as I can consider myself a good person. The fact she has problems in her family just like I do (and is doing her best to address them) makes me believe she can relate to the people of America. Of the people, for the people right?

You're telling me that Biden, Obama and McCain understand what it's like to clip coupons and wonder how you're going to heat your house this winter???? Those fools have as much a clue as Teddy and John, our wonderful senators. "

Report Abuse

kevin h. wrote on Sep 3, 2008 1:09 PM:

" ricknkim, realist, Anna DeMarinis: Why are you arguing off topic with someone who is clueless? Constitutional rights for foreign terrorists? The president as a war criminal? Saywhat is ignorant and wants to change the subject to "Bush lied people died" The story is about Palin. Why are the Dems so tied in knots if they weren't scared of her and her AMERICAN story and experience. "

Report Abuse

ricknkim wrote on Sep 3, 2008 1:01 PM:

" Saywhat - you sound like a nice college professor great on theory and short on reality . . . I'll make a point to stay out of terrorist training camps in hopes of not being caught up in the terrorist crackdown by our government. Sorry, no sympathy for these complete animals, trial or no trial. You are found in a bomb-making facility, etc. you lose the right to be treated nicely. They are not POW's - this is not a conventional war of the guys in white hat's fighting the clearly defined enemy in a black stetson . .

I am not proud of all things our government does, many of which only incite future hatred and terrorists, but I am also willing to accept the exceptions like waterboarding and Gitmo if it means my children aren't murdered in their offices in the twin towers. Billy-Bob Clinton lobbed a few cruise missiles into Sudan and Afghanistan during his glory days, should he be put before a trial????? "

Report Abuse

realist wrote on Sep 3, 2008 12:55 PM:

" One of the problems with the good guys saying they won't use torture is that an enemy knows he has nothing to lose by not cooperating.
Authorizing torture can be just as effective as using it. The enemy knows its being held over their head.

BTW - folks in that part of the world have not had any problems with torturing, killing and desecrating bodies, US, British or just someone from another branch of Islam. So don't think some terrorist nut who captures a US service man or woman will show mercy because he's thinking, "Oh, American. I'll be kind because they don't torture". "

Report Abuse

saywhat wrote on Sep 3, 2008 12:44 PM:

" ricknkim. I disagree. They have violated international laws that govern war (if that is possible). Holding people without trial is a violation of not only our constitution but the laws of basic decency. Some of the men held were captured during the invasion of Afghanistan and were just released last year after charges were dropped. I find it difficult to understand how anyone can think this is OK. I am not an ACLU zealot, nor am I a dove or peacenik. But we shoul be careful how we treat our so-called POWs or when our boys are captured they may, in turn, be treated the same. Waterboarding is torture no matter what Cheney and Rummy said. There are various degrees of war crimes. I do not consider Bush and company a Hitler or Milosevic, but that does not mean they did not violate basic human rights laws. To not question them, to not try them for such violations does us all a disservice. And, pray that you are never caught up in the wide net of a government crackdown on terrorism or you, too, may find yourself in a cell without trial. "

Report Abuse

ricknkim wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:40 AM:

" Guantanamo serves a purpose whether the ACLU zealots want to believe it or not. Those same zealots are the first in line to place blame when one of those animals are released and another 9/11 occurs in their backyards. Bush and Cheney are HUGE dissapointments on many fronts (like 99% of politicians) but labeling them as war criminals is disingenious. They flexed their muscle on bad presumed-principles and it has cost us both military lives and huge money. To put them in the same category as Hitler, Stalin, Milosovic and the Khmer Rouge is complete and utter nonsense. They belong in the bozo category but not the before mentioned.

Don't confuse your personal disdain and hatred for the Bush Whitehouse with that for a relatively good governor from Alaska. McCain and Biden are so "Washington" it is ridiculous that anyone thinks change will happen with either of those 2 fools. Obama has a few great ideas in theory but in reality, it will cost HUGE money and further increase the size of government. Add to that his lack of executive experience and we have Jimmy Carter all over again. The Gov. of Alaska is extremely light on on experience. The main reason I LIKE her is that she is an outsider from the disgusting excuses for "leaders" we have serving us (yeah righ, serving themselves is more like it) in Washington. "

Report Abuse

Anna DeMarinis wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:35 AM:

" I have my facts straight. Smears are smears, no matter how long they have been on the table. Allegations without substantiation. "

Report Abuse

saywhat wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:10 AM:

" Anna get your facts straight: Bush and Cheney are war criminals and should be tried for crimes against humanity: Guantamo (keeping people locked up without trial); invasion of a soverign nation (Iraq); mass murder. McCain is simply going to follow in the nightmare that they created. If, in fact, Obama lacks experience, well I'm fine with that. It's better than having tyrants at the helm. "

Report Abuse

jose21 wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:09 AM:

" Anna - those other issues were on the table before she was ever picked. Nothing like a little blind faith... "

Report Abuse

Anna DeMarinis wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:15 AM:

" It's the "other issues" piece I'm talking about. Those are the smears; allegations without substantiation. "

Report Abuse

hcar wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:12 AM:

" These sound an awful lot like facts to me... not smears.

However, if you need to interpret facts as smears in order to justify your argument, that's your prerogative. "

Report Abuse

Anna DeMarinis wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:53 AM:

" Obama has less executive experience than Gov. Palin and HE is running for President. Biden has less experience than Gov. Palin. In fact,the two of them together have less executive experience than Gov. Palin. The smears against her have been reprehensible, including the ones mentioned in this article. Sounds like desperation to me. "

Report Abuse

*Member ID:
*Password:
  Forgot Your Password?
 
 or