Latest:

02:12 Egypt candidates woo middle ground
01:22 Clinton: End Assad 'rule of murder'
00:22 Rebel groups agree on Islamic state
00:22 Saltire Games ban 'ridiculous'
00:22 Food industry experience offered
00:22 Scott: Sci fi is getting worn out
00:22 Another Eurovision disaster for UK
00:22 Kinsey: Mindy Kaling is brilliant

Sarah Palin is a joke, says Rushdie

Monday, 13 October 2008

US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is "a bad joke" and her selection as John McCain’s Republican running mate is a "colossal misjudgment," controversial writer Sir Salman Rushdie said yesterday.

The award-winning author, who spent a decade on the run after his 1988 book The Satanic Verses was published, told Ireland’s TV3 channel that the Alaska Governor lacked competence and was too right-wing on social issues.

Sir Salman, who is a vocal supporter of Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama, said of Ms Palin: "I think she’s a joke."

He added: "I mean I always thought, she’s a bad joke, but I always thought it was a colossal misjudgment of McCain’s to appoint her as his running mate because she’s not even borderline competent, and what we know about her, or increasingly what we are beginning to know about her, is how very, very, very far to the right she is.

"This is somebody that doesn’t believe in abortion, even in cases of incest and rape."

Sir Salman was visiting Dublin to receive honours from Trinity College and University College Dublin.

Print
Text Size
- Normal
- Large
- Extra Large

In response to Sean who wrote:
"At least Sarah Palin hasnt been on the run for 10 years, after making idiotic comments in a book.
"What a joke - BTW, keep your socialist, european views to yourself. This is our country. not yours."

My response: If the US leaned to mind its business then such concerns would not be necessary. As it is the US acts like the world is its private fief to do with as it pleases. Fortunately, Obama won. Oh Sean, do you even know what socialism is?

Peter

Posted by Peter | 28.11.08, 19:00 GMT

No Sir Rushdie, she is not a joke. I'm not laughing, I'm terrified. The fact that a significant number of Americans regard her as presidential material scares me even more.

Posted by wagener | 23.10.08, 20:31 GMT

As an American, I am appalled that John McCain is potentially leaving a proud anti-intellectual -- and I mean the type that rejects reading and knowledge in favor of shaking her voodoo doll out the window -- in charge of our government. This decision should immediately disqualify him from this office and, at the very least, subject her to impeachment should McCain become President.

Posted by Salome | 16.10.08, 01:53 GMT

Worse than a joke, the nomination of Sarah Palin as possible US VP is an insult to the population of the world. We should all be appalled that someone who might be the next president of the US (John McCain) would have so little regard for global humanity that he would choose a possible successor who is so utterly inept. Shame on John McCain! Shame on the Republican Party! And shame on Sarah Palin for being too stupid to know any better. Haven't eight years of ineptude been enough?

Posted by Donald | 14.10.08, 14:31 GMT

Pro-life, pro-gun??!! A bit of a contradiction if you ask me.

Posted by cd | 14.10.08, 10:19 GMT

Most sensible people can see she is not competant for the job. The folksy heck this and darn that language and that awful wink really puts me off her. But hey the Americans did elect George Bush so it possible.

Posted by Patrick | 14.10.08, 00:22 GMT

@ Richard Ramsey: "[Sarah Palin] is....pro-gun and a regular church-goer"

Mr. Ramsey: Can you please tell me how exactly that qualifies someone to be VP? Or President? Seriously.

"Hey there...Sarah Palin may not be able to complete a full sentence, but she's PRO GUN, so that's good enough for me! Woohoo!"

Posted by Andrew | 13.10.08, 23:27 GMT

At least Sarah Palin hasnt been on the run for 10 years, after making idiotic comments in a book.

What a joke - BTW, keep your socialist, european views to yourself. This is our country. not yours.

Posted by Sean | 13.10.08, 21:11 GMT

She is not a joke to quite a few ignoramuses and very deluded redneck types in the US. Actually, she could constitute a sort of Rorschach test -- anyone who thinks she is competent and a good pick for VP needs a new start on life.

Posted by frank Burns | 13.10.08, 20:31 GMT

Isn't it massively incongruent to be "pro-life and pro-gun"? How does that even make sense? I believe that the respect John McCain had garnered for himself had vastly diminished with the definite misjudgment of selecting Gov. Palin as his running mate. I ask this of all Americans: Why would you want to lose even more respect for yourselves as a nation for the next 4 years?

Posted by Hannah | 13.10.08, 18:40 GMT

He is not one to talk about bad jokes considering his insensitivity to muslims in his novel "the satanic versus".
In a short time she will learn the ropes of high office, press and politics just as she has in the past, rising from being a "mom only" to various high posts, up till governor of Alaska. Not a small thing.
Yet he dismisses talent so readily, as if he never made mistakes.

Posted by GB | 13.10.08, 16:30 GMT

Gov. Sarah Palin is an oustanding candidate. Obama supporters are continually attacking her as a joke because SHE IS NOT JOKE but a real threat to Obama's chance.

At least she is proud to be an American. She unlike Obama does not kill babies.

And unlike Obama will not be bullied by IRAN. Her government will never sentence Rushdie to death for writing a book or critcising her.

Posted by ReuelT | 13.10.08, 12:38 GMT

I agree. How scary. McCain is bad enough- what does he stand for and what does it say about those that would vote for him?
Obama will be the best President the US have ever had, a President that the world needs so badly, who will lead the way in putting right the many issues that currently prevent world peace and harmony.

Posted by Martin Kostyrka | 13.10.08, 12:34 GMT

Has anyone seen McCain and Palin together? It's like watching (an even older) Hugh Hefner talk for one of his (unattractive) Bunny girls! He doesn't seem to trust her enough to let her speak for herself and by everything we've seen so far, who can blame him!

Posted by BP | 13.10.08, 12:29 GMT

Agreed, he's a bit of a bad joke himself.

Posted by T J McClean | 13.10.08, 06:51 GMT

Fortunately for America it appears that Barack Obama will win this election in a landslide. Sarah Palin can go back to Alaska and slaughter wildlife for another 4 years.

Posted by soma | 13.10.08, 06:10 GMT

I challenge anyone, particularly those whose sentiments align with those of Mr. Ramsey, to provide one shred of evidence supporting the idea that Sarah Palin is capable of the duties which are part and parcel of the VP position, or, more importantly, the duties of President in the event of any unforeseen catastrophe.

As there is a growing and already substantial body of evidence to the contrary, I believe the burden of proof lies with you.

Posted by Brendan Black | 13.10.08, 04:31 GMT

Wait until your darling Sarah fires up people for a war on Iran the same way she fired them up against Obama in racist ways. Resembles Goebbles? That's what you get with evangelical, extreme right wing politics.

I totally agree with Rushdie: Sarah Palin is a joke.

Posted by Brigitte | 13.10.08, 04:29 GMT

With all due respect, Sir Salmon Rushdie is a bit of a joke too.

I like Sarah Palin, and so do the voters of Alaska.
She's pro-life, pro-gun and a regular church-goer. We share her values and we (Evangelical Christians) also vote.

Why would we vote for Obama?

Posted by Richard Ramsey | 13.10.08, 03:58 GMT