GOP strategist: Palin’s foreign policy experience stems from ‘fishing issues’ with Russia.»

[RedEarth]

Ever since Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) announced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) as his running mate, conservatives have rushed to rebut criticism that Palin has no foreign policy experience by claiming that Alaska is near Russia. Fox News’s Steve Doocy appears to be one of the first to make this claim and even McCain and his wife Cindy have uttered the absurd talking point. But today on Fox News, a “Republican strategist” laid out the specifics of this Russia/Alaska rivalry — fishing:

GREGG JARRETT: In what capacity has she worked with Russia?

TYLER HARBER: She worked with permitting issues and with fishing issues dealing with the sea fishing industry there in Alaska

Transcript:

GREGG JARRETT: She has no national security issue – experience. It’s pretty brave of that campaign to put her out there on that, isn’t it?

TYLER HARBER (GOP strategist): It is. You know, one of the things we – one of the most important things that we tell our clients in the political realm is, “Do not be reactive.” If you become reactive, you are going to lose.

I think what you saw last night was Obama being reactive. Current polling shows him trailing McCain when it comes to trust about national security, trust about the war in Iraq, and trust about the war on terrorism. What you are seeing is the Obama campaign becoming reactive.

Now as far as Sarah’s comments, Sarah has dealt with, and has more experience from an administrative standpoint than Obama has. She has visited the Middle East as many times

JARRETT: But she has no foreign policy experience. She doesn’t know anything about —

HARBER: But she does. She does have foreign policy experience.

JARRETT: She does?

HARBER: Now let me point out, she’s worked with Russia – she’s worked with Russia on fishing issues. She’s worked with Canada on transportation issues.

JARRETT: In what capacity has she worked with Russia?

HARBER: She worked with permitting issues and with fishing issues dealing with the sea fishing industry there in Alaska.

JARRETT: Oh, come on. That’s a far cry from major international experience.

HARBER: But that’s still more experience than Obama has.

........video here

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/05/palin-russia-fishing/

[DJ13]

1. Something smells about Palin

.....and it aint fish.

[rucky]

2. If we're ever attacked by herring...

she's ready on day one.

[Kutjara]

3. And the reframing continues.

Suddenly this race is all about Obama and Palin, while Crusty McPOW gets a free ride. When has a Presidential candidate ever run against a VP candidate before? Why is this discussion even happening?

As for this latest example of Bullwinkle's "international experience":

(1) It's probably a lie since fishing treaties are negotiated by nations, not states.
(2) Palin's Middle East trip was not the equivalent of Obama's. He traveled extensively and met a large number of troops and leaders. She said howdy to Alaska National Guard troops and then got the hell out.
(3) I once ate some Caspian Sturgeon. Does that make me a Middle East expert?