James Carville, one of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s most ardent supporters, wanted to see a woman in the White House — but not just any woman will do.
On CNN’s Larry King Live Monday night, the Democratic strategist — now a supporter of Sen. Obama — took issue with Sen. John McCain’s choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential nominee.
“The question is why would she be running for vice president. I mean, this woman is almost absent qualifications for the job,” Carville told King, during an appearance with Rep. Michele Bachman, a Republican from Minnesota who supports Sen. McCain.
“She easily has more qualifications than Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden put together, if you look at executive experience,” responded Bachman. “She’s been in a executive position for two years. . . this is a woman who’s delivered and she knows how to get things done.”
“They tout her experience as mayor of this town in Alaska,” said Carville. “This is the picture of the City Hall. It looks like a bait shop in South Louisiana,” the Baton Rouge native said. “This is executive experience to be Vice President of the United States, to be a heart beat away from the presidency, to have to take over the country when we’re fighting three wars, when we’re having the biggest credit crisis we’ve had in this country?”
When Bachman suggested that Carville’s criticism smacked of sexism, Carville fired back. “Congresswoman, I don’t know how to tell you this, but I supported a woman for President of the United States.”
Carville is a CNN contributor.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/02/prominent-clinton-supporter-slams-palin-says-shes-not-qualified/