Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Tuesday the characterization of the tea party movement as terrorists was not only unfair and hypocritical, but if true, President Barack Obama “would be wanting to pal around with us.”
“Independent, patriotic Americans who desire fiscal sanity in our beloved nation being called terrorists — Sean, if we were really domestic terrorists, shoot, President Obama would be wanting to pal around with us, wouldn’t he?” Palin told Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
“I mean he didn’t have a problem with paling around with Bill Ayers [the ‘60s Weathermen radical] back in the day when he kicked off his political career in Bill Ayers apartment, and then, you know, shaking hands with Chavez and saying he doesn’t need any preconditions with meeting dictators, or wanting to read U.S. Miranda rights to alleged suspected foreign terrorists,” Palin said. “No if we were real domestic terrorists I think President Obama wouldn’t have a problem with us.”
Palin was referring to accusations that Vice President Joe Biden labeled the tea party movement members terrorists in a closed door meeting he held with House Democrats on Monday.
“I’m gonna stick up for people who at this point are being called terrorists and being accused of waging jihad against our own country,” she said. “Enough is enough and I’m not going to sit here and take it anymore.”
The former Alaska governor told Hannity she still had not decided whether she would make a presidential run, though she acknowledged she would have to decide soon for legal reasons.
Palin did chastise front-runner Mitt Romney for coming out so late with his opposition to the debt-ceiling deal.
“Bless his heart, I have respect for Mitt Romney, but I do not have respect for what he has done through this debt increase debate,” she said. “He did this: He waited until it was a done deal that we would increase the debt ceiling and more money would be spent, more money would be borrowed and spent on bigger government, and then he came out and made a statement that he didn’t like the deal after all. You can’t defer an issue and assume that the problem is then going to be avoided.”
Palin was asked did the stance of any of the potential 2012 GOP candidates meet her approval.
“Michele Bachmann — she spoke out and she cast her vote according to her principles,” Palin said.
Palin said she was not judging the field, but it was important to defeat Obama. “2012 can’t come soon enough,” she said.
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