Sarah Palin's 1st Interview

Today is the first day after Charlie Gibson's Interview with Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin for ABC News. Analysis is still on-going, but most on both sides agree that there were no major gaffs.

There is one exception to that analysis, however. But the Gaff was not made by Governor Palin. It was made by Charlie Gibson. Kirsten Powers, who is a Democratic Strategist and former member of the Clinton White House (Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Public Affairs), noticed the same error. Ms. Powers currently is a columnist for the New York Post and explains the bungle in this article ABC'S BUNGLES - BOTCHES MAR PALIN INTERVIEW.

Gibson - probably relying on a sloppy Associated Press report - told Palin she has said that, "Our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God."

In a part of the interview that was edited out (but is available on ABC's Web site), Palin says, "You know, I don't know if that was my exact quote."

Gibson snaps: "Exact words." [Emphasis mine]

Charlie Gibson's Interview, as presented by ABC News, appears to be heavily edited. Fortunately, Ms. Powers also provides us with the full text of Ms. Palin's remark which gives a completely different color to the comment.

In the video of her remarks, Palin says "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 [US soldiers] out on a task that is from God." She is clearly praying for wisdom for our national leaders - praying that they are following God's will.

This is Christianity 101, not some fundamentalist plot to wage a holy war. Presumably, Obama, as a Christian, utters similar prayers for our country as well. [Emphasis mine]

Ms. Palin explained that she was making a reference to a remark by President Abraham 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” Clearly, ABC News has taken Ms. Palin's statement out of context.

Ms. Powers further comments on another of the other bungles of ABC's Editing.

There's more: Gibson also accused her of saying of Iraq, "There is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

Here's what she really said: "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

From ABC News we receive a slanted and distorted view of Ms. Palin's religious views.