Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin spoke at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting this weekend, where she dished out one-liners that made the crowd roar with applause. The comment that is stirring controversy though is one she made on waterboarding, saying it was how we “baptize terrorists.”
Palin, who was Arizona Sen. John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 presidential election, suggested that waterboarding might still be used if she was in charge.
“They obviously have information on plots to carry out Jihad,” she said, referring to prisoners, reports The Hill. “Oh, but you can’t offend them, can’t make them feel uncomfortable, not even a smidgen. Well, if I were in charge, they would know that waterboarding is how we baptize terrorists.”
Palin also slammed liberals, calling the Obama administration “clownish little kumbaya-humming, fairytale-inhaling liberals,” notes the New York Daily News.
“Our children are protected by a thin, tin sign that reads ‘gun-free zone.’ Yeah, like that will stop the bad guys,” she said. “That is stupid on steroids.”
Later, Palin turned her sights to former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who just announced a $50 million pro-gun control campaign. She applauded the “patriots” at the NRA who created an attack ad against Bloomberg.
Palin later spoke with NBC News while campaigning for Iowa Senate candidate Joni Ernst and said that she will stand by her waterboarding remark.
“Would I make it again? Why wouldn't I, yeah, absolutely,” she told NBC News. “Terrorists who want to annihilate Americans, innocent Americans, our children - whatever it takes to stop them. If I were in charge, I'd be stoppin' em.”