Critics Slam Palin For Saying Vice President Is "In Charge" Of Senate

October 23, 2008 7:10 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Just as a report came out on Tuesday about the $150,000 spent by the Republican party for her clothes and makeup, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is again under fire for saying that the vice president is "in charge" of the Senate.

In a taped an interview with Denver TV station KUSA, Palin was asked a question from a third-grader named Brandon, "What does the Vice President do?"

She responded with delight, saying it was a good question and something her second-grade daughter, Piper, would ask her also.

"A vice president has a really great job because not only are they there to support the president's agenda," she answered. "But also, they're in charge of the United States Senate, so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom. And it's a great job and I look forward to having that job."

Critics and pundits have pointed out that the vice president's constitutional role as "President of the Senate" is largely ceremonial and has no formal policy-making authority. The vice president does have the power to cast a vote in case of a tie in the Senate, but that authority is limited and also ceremonial. The person who is "in charge" of the Senate is the Senate majority leader, and the vice president mainly serves in place of the president in certain circumstances such as death or resignation.

Palin spokesperson Maria Comella has responded to the criticisms. "Governor Palin was responding to a third grader's inquiry, said about the response. She was explaining in terms a third-grader could understand that the vice-president is also president of the U.S. Senate," she told CBS.

During her sole debate with Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) earlier this month, Palin had said about the role of the vice president, "I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was asked by the San Francisco Chronicle about the first-term governor's "in charge of the Senate" statement.

Reid said, ''It's obvious that she doesn't know anything about the Senate. ''The Vice President votes in case of a tie -- which happens rarely, rarely -- and other than that, has ... nothing to do with the Senate or the voting. She obviously knows absolutely nothing about our Constitution or our country."

A blogger on the liberal-leaning TPM also wrote, "Many months back, when asked about the possibility of her becoming John McCain's VP choice, Sarah Palin said in an interview that someone needs to explain to her 'exactly what the VP does all day.' Apparently after all this time no one has."