October 22, 2008 10:00 PM
Sarah Palin bungled VP job description after Colorado third-grader's question
Claim: Sarah Palin bungled VP job description after Colorado third-grader's question
Truth Patrol says: Shaky
When Sarah Palin visited Colorado on Monday, she took time for an interview with 9News' Adam Schrager, who posed questions for his series on Your Show called Questions from the Third Grade.
Brandon Garcia, a third-grader from Westminster, wanted an answer to a deceptively simple question: "What does the vice president do?"
Palin gave the following answer:
"That's a great question, Brandon, and a vice president has a really great job, because not only are they there to support the president's agenda, they're like the team member, the team mate to that president.
"But also, they're in charge of the United States Senate, so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom. And it's a great job and I look forward to having that job."
Last month, Schrager asked Democratic running mate, Joe Biden the same question. Biden rambled, but also talked about a role at the Senate. He gave the following answer:
"Brandon, what the vice president does is he tries to help the president make sure that the things the president wants to do get done. And in my case, because I've been a United States Senator, and I work with the Congress --they're the people that have to pass the law -- this President, President Obama, is going to ask me to spend a lot of time on what they call Capitol Hill. That's where the Congressmen and Senators work. That's where they pass the laws. Mainly to help the president do his job. That's the biggest thing a vice president does."
To determine whether Palin overstated the vice president's duties, we consulted the U.S. Constitution along with some experts on Constitutional law.
The Constitution gives the vice president only two explicit jobs. First, the vice president presides over the Senate, but has no vote unless the chamber is divided. In that case, the the vice president casts the tie-breaking vote. And second, the vice president becomes president if the president dies or is removed from office.
According to the Senate's official history, over the years, some vice presidents have spent considerable time at the Senate, but according to Senate historians, the role has become more and more ceremonial. John Adams holds the record for breaking 29 votes. But since the 1870s, every vice president has cast fewer than 10 Senate votes. Both Adams and Thomas Jefferson played an influential role presiding over the Senate, but more recently the role has evolved.
"Now, the vice president is usually seen as an integral part of a president's administration and presides over the Senate only on ceremonial occasions or when a tie-breaking vote may be needed," wrote former U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield along with the official Senate historian.
Constitutional law expert and former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Jean Dubofsky believes Palin stretched the job description by saying she would be "in charge" of the Senate and would have a major influence on policy.
"It's basically an overstatement," Dubofsky said. "I think she's got a foggy grasp of what happens in Washington. The role of the vice president, with respect to the Senate, has been a very limited one.
"The only power that the vice president has is to vote to break a tie. Otherwise the vice president doesn't participate in committees. And he or she does not have a vote on any measures."
Biden indicated he'd spend a lot of time at the Senate but implied he would be lobbying, not running the legislative chamber where he has served for more than 3 decades.
For the record, Dubofsky supports Obama and Biden. Jon Caldara, president of the conservative Independence Institute, thinks Palin's answer was excellent and accurate.
"Some vice presidents have taken the job more seriously than others,'' Caldara said. "She didn't say anything that was incorrect to answer a third grader's question. She did a terrific job."
Caldara cites Harry Truman as an example. Before he became president, he much preferred hanging out at his Senate office than his vice presidential office.
"They can be as involved or as uninvolved as they like,'' Caldara said. "Their answers are exactly the same. It's just that Sarah's answer is something that a third grader can understand and Joe Biden's answer is something that would put a 30-year-old to sleep."
Click here to see Sarah Palin's response to Brandon Garcia's question.
Click here to see Joe Biden's response Brandon Garcia's question.
October 23, 2008
8:07 AM
CeeDee Cabin writes:
The real issue in this particular instance...since we've already heard Palin's delusional thinking about what the position of VP to the Pres. of the U.S. actually is, has to do with the kind of message this gives to children. Education, understanding our government, having a responsible answer to a very legitimate question.....what kind of message does this send to our children? A child asked a very serious question, and the civics lession she got was wrong. It is inexcusable.
Her response was even more irresponsible because education is so important. If it's not safe to let Palin talk to children, due to her own lack of education and knowledge, how sad is that? I would be livid if my child had been given such a ridiculous answer. How do the parents explain this to their own children? Or maybe the question shoud be, how do the teachers explain to their students that this woman was just wrong?
October 23, 2008
8:17 AM
Russ writes:
There was absolutely nothing wrong or incorrect in what Palin said. The President, VP and their staff all work with Congress on laws. She never said she would create bills or be in committees etc.
Biden said the same thing - "President Obama, is going to ask me to spend a lot of time on what they call Capitol Hill". He would be in there working with congress on laws. The President and VP have input into many bills before they go to the President. duh.
Palin over simplified it but in fact what she said is true.
October 23, 2008
8:51 AM
Mike Horbatko writes:
Why is this item on the front page and pages 6-7? It doesn't belong and really shows me how poor the management of the Rocky is and how stupid reporters are and out of touch with normal people (Joe the Plumber). It's bad enough that Mrs. Palin is being dumped on by the national news, both TV, magazines and newspapers, now we have "my" paper making a big deal out of nothing. If the Rocky Truth Patrol are real JOURNALISTS (true definition?) they should look into the recent CNN interview of Mrs Palin and ask why the reporter missquoted a question that turned out to be an outright lie! Also, why is Penny Parkers column in the News section rather than the Spotlight, where it belongs? If Mr Temple doesn't see whats happening to the Rocky or doesn't care, when its time to renew my subscription I may not care either! Mike
October 23, 2008
9:37 AM
Steve writes:
Russ, the Truth doesn’t matter to the Rocky Truth Patrol; it’s often full of opinions to support Facts, or even conclusions that contradict the facts.
Compare Biden’s and Palin’s answers:
- They’re both going to support their President’s agenda
- Palin’s going to “get in there with the senators� and Biden’s going to “work with the Congress� (what’s the difference?)
- The Constitution says “The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, ...�. Palin used the phrase “in charge of�; Biden didn’t mention this at all. Who bungled that answer?
It’s kind of funny that the “Senate’s official history…� is different from what “Senate historians� say. Maybe Palin’s error was to refer to what the Constitution says instead of knowing that “according to Senate historians, the role has become…�
It’s sad that this kid would vote for Obama just because he will “help pay the rent�. That means I get to help pay his rent.
(I don’t even mind helping to pay people’s rent, food, etc.; I just don’t think the government should be forcing me to)
To the RMN: don’t brag about blindly following the lead of:
- the AP
- Today Show (NBC)
- Countdown (NBC)
- 9News (NBC)
…see a pattern here?
October 23, 2008
9:47 AM
Anonymous writes:
Here is today's question:
Are the two women who run The "Rocky Truth Patrol" and refuse to let their names be known, Liberals who are Biased in Obamas favor?
Just wrong---Shaky---Rock Solid
Answer:
ROCK SOLID
This has to be the stupidest column I have ever seen.
Another fine decision by John Temple.
Yet he still doesn't understand why his paper is failing and losing subscribers.
October 23, 2008
11:17 AM
PCH49 writes:
Why can't you two report on the real news/issues??
The VP presides over the Senate, and there is nothing "shaky" with Gov. Palin's answer.
Go do some research on the Citizenship USA program and VP AL Gore. I think you'll see that if fits in perfectly with the Governor's answer.
You two should consider additional careers.
October 23, 2008
11:31 AM
pch49 writes:
If you guys think Gov Palin's response is "Shaky", go do some research on VP Al Gore's role in the Citizenship USA program.
There is nothing shaky with Gov Palin's answer.
You should seriously consider doing real news/issues.
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