I would not have thought it possible, but McCain and his advisers have made the perfect vice presidential selection in Sarah Palin. It is an ingenious, even thrilling choice, and one that is all the more remarkable in that it was completely unexpected. All the other candidates, such as Romney and Pawlenty, were boring and came with serious drawbacks. Obama has certainly added excitement to the Democratic ticket; now, with his choice of Palin, McCain has done the same for the Republicans.
Compare Obama's unimaginative selection of Joe Biden--another Washington D.C. blowhard--with McCain's choice. I suppose Biden is supposed to win over lower-middle-class white voters by the fact that he is a backslapping good old boy who likes to watch football games and eat chili dogs. What Biden offers is a proven record of mediocrity, and perhaps he can appeal to mediocre people on the basis of a shared absence of accomplisment.
I'm not saying that Palin has accomplished much either. What she has is potential. The Obama camp has already released its first commercial attacking Palin. But how ridiculous does Obama sound in faulting her for lack of experience? Palin is serving her first term as governor, but then Obama is serving his first term as senator. Palin has no foreign policy experience and has only been to Iraq once; Obama's level of foreign policy experience is exactly the same. It's worth noting, in this context, that Obama, unlike Palin, is at the top of the ticket. Palin will at least have a chance to learn on the job; Obama wants to step right into the Oval Office. So every time the Democrats use the experience charge against Palin, they remind the American people of Obama's greatest weakness.
Here's why Palin is such a good choice. She seems like an incredibly wholesome person who doesn't so much talk about family values as embody them. This is the best kind of social conservative: one whose life is an exemplar of the kind of American dream that we can all admire. In attacking her, I think her critics like Paul Begala and James Carville sound like total jerks. I'd like to see more of those carping attack dogs on TV: they can only help Palin.
With her support for a muscular foreign policy and guns and oil drilling, Palin is an across-the-board conservative, which will reinforce McCain's credentials with the right-wing base of the party. Not that those guys had anyone else to vote for, but the choice of Palin will increase the enthusiasm of GOP activists in working hard for a McCain victory. Second, unlike Bush, McCain has chosen a deputy who can be a future leader of the Republican Party. Palin is also young and thus helps to neutralize Obama's youthful advantage. As a woman, Palin will not so much win over the disenchanted Hillary supporters as pick up Hillary's argument to independent voters that it's about time America had a strong woman in its top echelons of political office. For every Obama supporter who can claim an historic first for the Democrats, Palin enthusiasts can make an equal historic claim for the Republicans.
The media will continue to lionize Obama-Biden and attack McCain-Palin. It's only a short time before we start hearing that Palin is the "wrong kind of woman." (Would anyone dare argue that Obama is the "wrong kind of black man"?) Still, the American people have gotten pretty good at seeing through the media charade. A whole summer of media genuflections hasn't produced a substantial Democratic lead. For months, McCain and Obama have remained virtually tied. Now, with Palin, the Republicans have their first chance to pull ahead.
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 22)
61. You worry Clark - how do you talk about the VP and "junk mail" in the same post? Are they related??? Do your research on drilling in the ANWR. Oh, or you one of those that is totally prepared to do without oil of any kind - foreign or domestic???
JJ at 10:17AM on Sep 1st 2008
62. Dear Sir, I believe that this election is not about these candidates, It is about what average Americans are going through economically, the multi-billion dollar wasted efforts in Iraq. We said we are pro-life, can someone tell me how many abortions were carried out during the time of George W Bush compare to same during Clinton's. We run on pro-life agenda for 8 years without delivering on the promise. We are pro-lifer yet we killed over 4k of our future generation in Iraq on assumption. I am a Republican, but I want the Democrats to do it this time! We republicans are hypocrits, GOD forgive us!
bbgeorge at 10:26AM on Sep 1st 2008
63. To you William Hays - stop now....you sound idiotic. Better yet, go live in a Country that wasn't founded on Christianity. Ever read a real history book?
JJ at 10:18AM on Sep 1st 2008
64. See how the lies of Christianity extend from a previous religion that has no evidence for its existence!
http://members.dodo.com.au/neilgodfrey/arch/davies5.htm
http://members.dodo.com.au/neilgodfrey/arch/index.htm
See how Christianity is a collection of lies created from other myths to control populations! There was no God named Jesus, just a man who was crucified for being an insurrectionist and a liberal!
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/
See how America's true mission in Iraq is to destroy all archeological evidence that disproves Christianity!
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/consequences/culturindex.htm
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1195032389454&pagename=Zone-English-ArtCulture%2FACELayout
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12316998/
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/18/world/middleeast/18babylon.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&oref=slogin
yoyoyogi1220 at 10:29AM on Sep 1st 2008
65. To you William Hays - stop now....you sound idiotic. Better yet, go live in a Country that wasn't founded on Christianity. Ever read a real history book?
JJ
Our founding fathers were not godbots. Indeed, they were children of the enlightenment, which was in itself, a marked and most pronounced departure from those who imposed their rule through supposed divine right. Wanna live in a countryh founded by god? Then move yer happy gawd fearin azz to Iran. You'll love it there. I'll take a secular government everyday, gawdboy.
BTW. I'm guessing most athiests are far more aware of the particulars concerning western civ, poly sci, history, than do godnots such as yourself.
Tim at 10:32AM on Sep 1st 2008
66. America is not made up of journalists or of critics who glom on an article to "vent" as in the case of the "other" Robert (the nutty one). I think the McCain choice will produce little negativity among republicans and "some" among democrats. But overall, it is a sign of things to come...women taking their rightful place in the world. Bravo, Palin, they'll try to crucify you, but then that is their style. The mere fact we are taking time to write these "comments" show she has already had an impact. She said, Hilary put "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, but women are not "done" yet." By the way, I am a male who loves women, especially strong women who now see they can make a REAL change.
Robert at 10:39AM on Sep 1st 2008
67. We said we are pro-life, can someone tell me how many abortions were carried out during the time of George W Bush compare to same during Clinton's. We run on pro-life agenda for 8 years without delivering on the promise. We are pro-lifer yet we killed over 4k of our future generation in Iraq on assumption. I am a Republican, but I want the Democrats to do it this time! We republicans are hypocrits, GOD forgive us!
bbgeorge at 10:26AM on Sep 1st 2008
---------------
Well, at least *you're* not a hypocrite! Thanks you for having *eyes with which to see...*
Saint Brian the Godless at 11:27AM on Sep 1st 2008
68. Alaska residents have gotten a check each year for a long time. Palin did not start that. She did not clean up corruption in Alaska gov't, the FBI and the IRS pretty much have that notch on their belts. I do not believe she is sincere at all. If she were she would not have had her water break, then give a half hour speech, and then fly 12 hours to give birth (cough...cough...Desperate Housewives pregnancy) to a Down's Syndrome baby. that is a terrible exercise in judgement. No, if she were what she is pushing on all others to be, her butt would be at home taking care of her family.
whoops at 11:29AM on Sep 1st 2008
69. Dearest Joe and Tim and Mitt
I'd best get right to the heart of it
Since all of my best efforts are failin'
I'm forced to go with Sarah Palin
It's not you; you're all just swell
But this campaign has gone to hell
And so it's with some deep regret
That I appoint this playboy pet
She's not qualified for the post
But she's the lady I like most
And right now what this ticket lacks
Is someone that looks hot in slacks
Someone who can have a child
Will send the lady voters wild
And cause them to stampeed to me
It'll happen, wait and see
I tried to appeal to the voter's mind
And found myself, well, "left behind"
My only option was to pick
A female christian lunatic
So I'm sorry, to you all
That one of you didn't get the call
But in this race, as you must see
It's all about electing me
My only chance here is to punt
And choose this silly Alaskan ****
(**** Word chosen because he has a history of using it)
Saint Brian the Godless at 11:34AM on Sep 1st 2008
70. Robert, there are many more republican women who serve in office with more substance than Palin. The fact is that republicans have very little to offer women. Their unfortunate choice to pander to religous extremists has placed the party firmly against our rights to how and when we will reproduce. Their desire to unrestrict and deregulate business ensures that women will continue to make 20-50% less than male contemporaries. Their desperate grasp on 'values' has made them demonize sex while at the same time allowing the media to become saturated with sexual overtones. Case in point, show me a Fox News anchor with anything smaller than a C cup.
All of this combines into a general attitude that, for all their assurances to the contrary, republicans would be much happier if women remained stay at home, heterosexual, baby making mothers.
Somber at 11:37AM on Sep 1st 2008
71. the title of this blog should be "look who's calling obama 'inexperienced'"
by noting palin's inexperience, the obama campaign is pointing out the irony of the argument it's been hearing from the republicans for months. their main attack on obama was his inexperience and then they went out and got palin. gee, guess who looks kinda foolish now.?
mccain barely even knows palin. they met once prior to her being picked as vp! that just proves that, like other's have said in previous comments, this pick was in a ridiculously transparent move to win over female voters.
mccain wants to show women that he believes there is a place for them at the top. to break through that "glass ceiling." but is that what he is really about? mccain has oppossed bills that would help women receive equal pay in their jobs. isn't THAT the glass ceiling we should be aiming for?
some people may have jumped on mccain's "i'm about equality for women" bandwagon, but i'm not convinced.
Richelle at 11:40AM on Sep 1st 2008
72. Palin is the best candidate of ALL the VP potential nominees. McCain made a damn good choice. Dinesh, that was a good piece of writing. Kudos.
Don at 11:39AM on Sep 1st 2008
73. Also, this is a note for republicans. You need a time out. Take eight to twelve years and get your feet under you. Shake off those evangelical voters, they're not doing you any favors. Focus on being actual fiscal conservatives. Help redefine what conservatism really means. Otherwise you're just going to continue to fragment more and more as half your party splinters off to the libertarians, like Ron Paul and Beers. You think that hillery and obama were a schism in the party? Ron Paul supporters held their own political convention! Now that's bad for a guy who's supposedly in your own tent. Take a breather. Figure out your priorities. And when we screw up (and we will. It's pretty inevitable.) then you will be rested and ready to go.
Somber at 11:47AM on Sep 1st 2008
74. Has anyone else heard this? Apparently that last baby was her daughter's, not hers. She flew from texas to alaska while 'in labor' but was wearing a tight fitting business suit at the time. She didn't go to the hospital, she went home first. When she announced her pregnancy, her daughter caught mono and had to be taken out of school and no one saw her during that time. The church lady on the other hand stayed physically active, jogging etc and never showed.
Is this all true? There are a lot of callers insisting it is.
So what would make a family values fundamentalist put on a ruse like that, covering up so her image would remain squeaky clean? Whoooo could it be? could it be, could it possibly be............................SATAN!!!???
No church lady, no mccorpse. She's not living in reality.
sarah palin - if your uterus is your business, she'll stick her nose in it!
Clif Kuplen at 12:00PM on Sep 1st 2008
75. You think that hillery and obama were a schism in the party? Ron Paul supporters held their own political convention! Now that's bad for a guy who's supposedly in your own tent.
xx
you don't see this statistic, but when poll factor in both Ron Paul AND Ralph Nader, Obama wins by double digits.
If they're on the ballot, either of those are seen as a vote against mccain since people that otherwise would vote for mccain don't given options. I'd guess that's mostly racial.
Clif Kuplen at 12:05PM on Sep 1st 2008