Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin leaves a hotel in New York on Wednesday after meeting with the Ukrainian and Georgian presidents. In a first, Palin takes press questions

NEW YORK — Sarah Palin fielded four questions from a small group of reporters Thursday after touring several Sept. 11-related sites, articulating a forceful approach to the war on terror but offering mostly evasive answers to specific questions.

She also wouldn’t say whether she supports the reelection bids of embattled Alaska Republicans Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young.


“Ted Stevens' trial started a couple days ago. We’ll see where that goes,” she told reporters in what amounted to her first press conference since accepting the Republican vice presidential nomination.

She ignored a follow-up question on whether she would vote for Stevens and Young and wouldn’t say whether she would have done anything differently than the Bush administration in its war on terror.

“I agree with the Bush administration that we take the fight to them,” she said. “We never again let them come onto our soil and try to destroy not only our democracy but communities like the community of New York. Never again. So, yes, I do agree with taking the fight to the terrorists and stopping them over there.”

She deflected a follow-up question about whether she felt the continued U.S. military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan has inflamed Islamic extremists.

“I think our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan will lead to further security of our nation, again, because the mission is to take the fight over there. Do not let them come over here and attempt again what they accomplished here, and that was some destruction, terrible destruction on that day. But since Sept. 11, Americans are uniting and rebuilding and committing to never letting that happen again.

In response to a question about the bailout package before Congress, she said, “I don't support that until the provisions that Sen. McCain has offered are implemented in [Treasury Secretary Henry] Paulson's proposals.”

Palin broke her campaign trail media silence after touring several Sept. 11-related sites and delivering a brief statement on the lessons of Sept. 11 in front of a firehouse that lost many of its firefighters in the World Trade Center disaster.

“Every American student needs to come through this area so that, especially this younger generation of Americans, to be in a position of never forgetting what happened here and never repeating, never allowing a repeat of what happened here. I wish every American would come through here. I wish every world leader would come through here and understand what it is that took place here and, more importantly, how America came together and united to commit to never allowing this to happen again. And just to hear from and see these good New Yorkers who are rebuilding not just this but are helping to rebuild America has been very, very inspiring and encouraging. These are the good Americans who are committed to peace and security, and it's been an absolute honor getting to meet these folks today.”

Before that, Palin took a 20-minute tour of the Tribute WTC 9/11 museum, took in a firefighters memorial, spent 25 minutes in a center for families of victims of the terrorist attacks, then met with New York City firefighters.

Palin was ushered into the museum by Lee Ielpi, president of the board of directors of the September 11th Families Association, which maintains the private museum.

Ielpi’s son, a firefighter, died on Sept. 11, and Jennifer Adams, CEO of the tribute museum, said Palin was moved when Ielpi showed her his son’s picture as well as his bunker jacket.

Palin told her guides that her parents came to New York after the attacks and worked in the Staten Island landfill.

After the tour, Palin observed a memorial wall with John Morabito, a firefighter with Ladder Company 10.

“She was actually a little emotional because of the firefighters memorial wall,” Morabito said. “I think she was sincere with it. She was friendly. I think she actually is a decent person.”

“She seems to be up to date [with] current events and everything that happened on 9/11. She’s been given enough information. I’m sure she knows as much as the common American.”