Organizing for America

DEBATE REALITY CHECK: VICE PRESIDENT AS PART OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Tonight, Sarah Palin said: “Our founding fathers were wise in allowing flexibility in the office of the Vice President and we will do what is best for the American people in tapping into that position and ushering in an agenda that is supportive and cooperative with the president it's agenda in that position. Yes, so I do agree with him that we have a lot of flexibility in there and we will do what we have to do to administer very appropriately the plans that are needed for this nation.” [Vice Presidential Debate, 10/2/08]


FACT: PALIN WOULD NOT RESPOND TO WHETHER THE VICE PRESIDENCY WAS PART OF THE EXECUTIVE OR THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Like Cheney, Palin Would Not Respond to Whether the Vice President Is Part of the Executive or Legislative Branches. “Vice President Dick Cheney has said his office only partially belongs to the executive branch. Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden disagrees and Republican rival Sarah Palin isn’t saying. Sen. Biden (Del.) believes the office he is seeking is solely in the executive branch, according to his staff. But aides to Alaska Gov. Palin did not answer the question. ‘Unlike Dick Cheney, Joe Biden won’t have to create a full employment plan for lawyers and scholars to clear up something that was unquestioned for about 200 years. The vice president is part of the executive branch, period. End of story,’ said Biden spokesman David Wade. In turn, a spokesman for the Republican presidential campaign did not answer the question. Instead, he e-mailed remarks Palin gave at a campaign rally in Golden, Colo., on Monday. Palin did not say what branch of government she believes the vice president’s office is part of in those remarks. Instead, Palin said she and Republican presidential nominee John McCain had discussed what responsibilities she would take on as his second-in-command.” [The Hill, 9/18/08 ]