The Candidates
OK, here you go, McCain campaign. Use these, since, at least according to MetroRepublican, you haven’t yet made up the list yourself. This is what you want to say, Mike DuHaime:
1. She’s too inexperienced.
Wait a second — Barack Obama supporters are going to make the argument that Sarah Palin doesn’t have the experience to lead? Sarah Palin’s two years of executive experience is more than Obama’s and Biden’s put together, and she, unlike Senator Obama, has actually accomplished something during her short term in office. Palin has spent her time rooting out corruption and advocating for advancements in energy. Obama has spent his time running for president. Either way, Sarah Palin’s running for vice-president. Barack Obama is running for president. Their ticket is upside-down. Does Barack Obama really want to get into a debate about experience?
2. Where’s her foreign policy credentials?
Hasn’t Barack Obama already conceded — by virtue of how his ticket is shaped — that, for foreign policy, half a ticket is enough? Where’s Barack Obama’s foreign policy experience? And again: Sarah Palin’s running for vice-president. Barack Obama is running for president. Does Barack Obama really want to get into a debate about foreign policy credentials?
3. This is clearly just a gimmicky pick designed to lure in women!
Oh? Is there something wrong with acknowledging the fact that accomplished women have been passed over for high office for too long? Is there something wrong with wanting to ’shatter the glass ceiling’? It’s quite pathetic that a main line of attack against Sarah Palin is over her gender.
4. The woman is an extremist on abortion!
Sarah Palin has gone far and beyond the typical social conservative by actually putting her money where her mouth is. She has shown her commitment to life by choosing to mother a child with disabilities. When it comes to abortion policy, which is shaped by the court, Governor Palin shares Senator McCain’s commitment to federalism and strict constructionist judges. The two of them both support judges that will overturn Roe v. Wade and restore abortion rights to the states — where they belong.
5. She’s under investigation for abuse of power!
It’s nothing. The ‘fired’ officer was offered another job, which he refused. If Palin really wanted to “punish” him, why would she offer him another job? It’s clear that she’s telling the truth when she said that she just wanted to shake things up. It’s absolutely preposterous to state that Mrs. Palin, who has built her career on fighting corruption, would engage in such behavior. If we want to talk about corruption and shady dealings, let’s start with Senator Obama’s connections with people such as Tony Rezko and William Ayers. Does the Obama campaign really want to get into a debate about sleazy connections?
August 29th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Dude, in #1 YOU forgot the main point!
THEIR ticket is UPSIDE-DOWN with respect to experience. Ours is right-side up.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I put that in #2. I’ll put it in #1 too, I suppose.
EDIT: There. Now it’s in both.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Alex:
On point #5 - don’t assume it’s nothing. This is the second time she’s been in trouble for firing a police official for questionable reasons. The first time she nearly got recalled from her mayor’s office. Unless she’s exonerated by the investigation before election day, this will be a real problem.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
On #4 - If people disagree with her, they won’t care how sincere she is. Also, McCain’s though of as a moderate precisely because people don’t believe he’s completely sincere when he stakes out socon positions on issues.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
On #3: Wait until Hillary goes after her in a national ad. Think it won’t happen?
August 29th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
On #2. You’ve got it backwards. McCain made foreign policy experience one of his signature issues in this campaign. Palin “hasn’t really thought about” the major foreign policy issue of the past five years, if you believe her own words.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Alex, you did a great job! I’m going to start a collection of talking points. Thanks!
August 29th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Test
August 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Kavon - what happened to dumping so called Republicans who attack the choice. Big S has been horrible all day here. He is simply feeding the fodder for the Dems.
Big S - I’ll speak to you personally. You need to get your head out of your ass. What is your real problem with Gov Palin?
August 29th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Why would we want to kick out Big S? He has as much right to his opinion as anyone.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I agree Alex, Big S is also entertaining with such silliness.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
#9
Oh, come on. If any of the things I point out had been done by a Democrat, the comments here would be going crazy over them. I don’t believe we should have that kind of double standard in determining who will or will not be a horrible president.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Big S - Here’s the thing….she is going to be the VP nominee; we sure as heck don’t want the one to be elected…..you’ve made a lot of good points today, but in order to not feed the Dems more fodder…maybe we just need to accept that she is the VP…take a deep breath and hope it comes out all right.
I’m very disappointed that it wasn’t Mitt, but I have been argumentative about it. I stayed off for a long time so I wouldn’t be.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Alex, I usually have a love/hate relationship with the things you say on this site.
This falls in the love category.
Thank you.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
#13
Over the past few days, I’ve gained a little respect for Obama and lost a lot for McCain. Palin’s surely studying up on the names of the former Soviet republics somewhere, and trying to learn the difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. It’s an unserious pick, and will be exposed as such in short order. I’m just sounding the alarms.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
#15 did you hear Obama when the Georgia first thing happened…he had no clue
August 29th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Alex - you might some great points. These are the points I have used all day to help people better understand why Palin is such an incredible pick.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
* make not might
August 29th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Here is a great article about Presidents and “experience”.
http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2008/08/historians_say_experience_over.html
August 29th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
If she wasn’t a woman, would she even be considered for the post?
August 29th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Experience is funny…
Harding was Lt. Gov of Ohio when elected. Hoover of Sec. of Commerce. Lincoln was in the House (for 2 years).
The whole experience arguement AGAINST Palin is silly. Something would have to happen to McCain for Palin to take office and in time whe will learn. Obama would be President from day one.
I put my faith in McCain/Palin anyday.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Hey Greg,
Bout time we gave a top slot to a woman.
It only took 148 years!!!!!
August 30th, 2008 at 12:46 am
# 5 fitting it it number five what worrries me hear is Keating 5. Think that wont happen. Obamas has been talked about with Keating 5 is has not really been talked about this whole time. There is an add i heard coming out about Did McCain use good judgement in Keating 5.
I think with Palin the Dobsons and Robertsons are very very happy. Beyond that it is a mixed bag. We will just have to see how it plays out. Part of me feels if he wanted to win the far right Pawlenty would have done what she does. If he wants to win Hillary’s people….ugh Palin and Her are night and day.
She may help with blue colar voters but so will Biden for Obama, we will see how this plays out.
I realy thought if he was going to pick a woman he would have picked Hutchinson. I guess we will know more latter.
August 30th, 2008 at 2:23 am
#20. Probably not. But tell me a VP pick (other than Cheney) who wasn’t picked for some utilitarian political reason?
A friendly word of advice: Get over your impractical idealism. It doesn’t work in politics. And the bitching is really getting irritating.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Scott Rasmussen said Palin was politically the best pick–before the choice was made. As a white guy, it is good that the party chose a woman.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
>”Harding was Lt. Gov of Ohio when elected.”
He was US Senator from Ohio.