Fiorina: Candidates Can't Run Companies
John McCain's campaign adviser Carly Fiorina, the former head of Hewlett-Packard, was asked if Sarah Palin could run a major company. She said "no" and went on to say she didn't think McCain, Barack Obama or Joe Biden could do so, either.
Copyright © 2008 National Public Radio®. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.
MICHELE NORRIS, host:
One final note today from the campaign trail from McCain campaign adviser, Carly Fiorina.
ROBERT SIEGEL, host:
Appearing on KTRS Radio in St. Louis, the former head of Hewlett-Packard was asked if she thought Governor Sarah Palin could run a major company. Here's what Fiorina said.
Ms. CARLY FIORINA (Former Chairman and CEO, Hewlett-Packard): No, I don't. But you know what, that's not what she's running for.
SIEGEL: Then on MSNBC, Fiorina was asked to elaborate.
Ms. FIORINA: Well, I don't think John McCain could run a major corporation. I don't think Barack Obama could run a major corporation. I don't think Joe Biden could run a major corporation. But on the other hand, a major corporation is not the same as being the president or the vice president of the United States. It is a fallacy to suggest that the country is like a company.
NORRIS: A footnote. Hewlett-Packard's total revenue for 2004, the last full year Fiorina ran the company, was 80 billion dollars. President Bush's proposed budget for 2009 to run the country was over three trillion.
Copyright © 2008 National Public Radio®. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to National Public Radio. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.

Comments
Discussions for this story are now closed. Please see the Community FAQ for more information.