McCain Thinks Palin Knows More About Energy Than Anyone Else in the United States

The real danger here is not that McCain is willing to say anything to win, but the very real possibility that he actually believes Palin knows more about energy than anybody else in the United States.
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People have been debunking and mocking the ridiculous idea that Sarah Palin is an energy expert for about a week now. Via America Blog we learn that John McCain has just put his world famous judgment on display by claiming that Palin knows more about energy than anyone else in the United States.

Q: You say you're sure she has experience, but again I'm just asking for an example. What experience does she have in the field of national experience.

McCain: Energy. She knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America. She represe-- is a governor of the state that 20% of America's energy supply comes from there. And you all know that energy is a critical and vital national security issue.

Adam Siegel calls this what it is, beyond insulting. Empty Wheel points out that the 20% statistic is wrong and breaks down the danger of equating political success in an energy producing state with energy expertise (think Texas). A few days ago Brad Johnson listed some of the others making the false Sarah Palin as energy expert lie. This shows quite clearly how this coordinated GOP talking point has expanded (first she knew more about energy than anybody in DC, now it is anybody in the United States), and how it has spread (first GOP Reps and Governors, then NBC and the Weekly Standard).

The real danger here is not that John McCain is willing to say anything to win: we know that is true. What we should be concerned about is the very real possibility that John McCain actually believes Sarah Palin knows more about energy than anybody else in the United States. Perhaps Obama was on to something in Denver when he said it's not that McCain doesn't care... he just doesn't know. Sadly, it is becoming increasingly obvious that he doesn't care or know a whole lot about any of the issues.

Update: Charlie Gibson (kind of) calls Palin out on this: "I know. I'm just saying that national security is a whole lot more than energy."

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