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WASHINGTON – Sarah Palin is a “rock star,” Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd, said Tuesday evening, adding that he doesn’t know whether she’ll be the nation’s first female president, but “she is one of the most exciting, dynamic figures to hit the political system.”
In an hourlong conference call with about 100 people from northeast Indiana, Souder responded to questions that were primarily about the health overhaul plan in Congress.
But one person asked Souder what he thinks about the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, who will be in Fort Wayne on Thursday for a book signing.
“She, quite frankly, needs to get more familiar with some specifics of foreign policy and domestic policy. That will strengthen her likelihood (of becoming president),” he said.
“I don’t know if she can overcome the bias against her. But she’s a rock star. Basically, anywhere she goes, any comment she makes – even if it’s just on the Internet – it’s treated in a different category than most politicians,” Souder said.
He said Palin, along with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, has a connection with the religious conservative movement that other politicians don’t. That connection, her gender and her charisma make Palin unusual in politics, Souder said.
Souder said Palin’s charisma is a rare quality politicians either do or don’t have.
“As they say, you can learn about things, and you can hire people to work for you. What you can’t do in politics is create charisma,” he said.
Callers who asked about the status of health legislation said they were concerned about increasing costs, loss of coverage they now have, the government control over it, the possible elimination of Medicare Advantage and the Veterans Administration system.
Several callers asked a variant of “how do we stop it?”
Souder, who opposes the legislation, said delaying a Senate vote and then pushing a House-Senate compromise bill into 2010 could create major problems for Democrats.
He said as the 2010 congressional primary elections near, Democratic incumbents will grow less enthusiastic about the bill because voters are growing increasingly uneasy about it.
“It’s such a different mood on the House floor,” Souder said. “You can see fear and frustration on the Democratic side. That leads me to think that if they can’t get it done in December, it’s going to be very difficult to do it next year, but I’m not absolutely positive.”
