Palin has opportunity to fire back with convention speech
Originally published Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 8:51 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.
Digg
delicious
Facebook
Mixx
Reddit
Stumble It!Photo Gallery
Sarah Palin
Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., announced that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was his choice as vice presidential running mate on Friday, Aug. 29, 2008.
Photo Gallery
Sarah Palin: Growing up Alaskan
Pictures of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's early days in Alaska politics and as a child growing up in the 49th State.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — John McCain’s campaign today angrily called for an end to questions about its review of Sarah Palin’s background, deriding a “faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee” for vice president.
“This nonsense is over,” declared senior campaign adviser Steve Schmidt in a written statement.
The statement stood out for its admission that Palin is under siege — it condemns “this vetting controversy” — and for its attempt to blunt questions about how rigorously McCain and his campaign explored the background of a candidate who may get the nation’s second most powerful job. It also suggested that Palin is a victim of gender bias in the media.
“The McCain campaign will have no further comment about our long and thorough process,” Schmidt said, lashing out at “the old boys’ network” that he says runs media organizations.
Top McCain advisers said they welcome and expect a review of Palin’s mayoral and gubernatorial record but that the media has crossed that line with its inquiries.
“Certainly, her record deserves scrutiny, but I think we ought to look at her record,” campaign manager Rick Davis told reporters on a conference call. He condemned “the salacious nature” of some news stories designed to “throw dirt at our candidate.” He also lamented a “frenzied” mentality on Palin and urged the media to “dial it back.”
Davis also called for the same level of scrutiny on Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
McCain’s campaign also scheduled a news conference with leading Republican women to defend Palin’s executive experience, and released a new campaign ad for key states, an indication that advisers are concerned that a flurry of criticism may be taking a toll on her image.
The ad quotes a Wall Street Journal editorial that says: “Governor Palin’s credentials as an agent of reform exceed Barack Obama’s and that she has ’earned a reputation as a reformer’ and ’has a record of bipartisan reform.”’ Conversely, the ad says, Obama offers only “empty words.”
McCain shook up the presidential race last Friday by picking Palin, a little-known governor serving her first term in Alaska. Since then, the self-styled “hockey mom” with a record of bucking the state’s political establishment has had a bright spotlight trained on her private and public life.
First, she announced that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter, Bristol Palin, was pregnant. Among the other revelations:
• A private attorney is authorized to spend $95,000 of state money to defend her against accusations of abuse of power.
• Palin sought pork-barrel projects for her city and state, contrary to her reformist image.
• Her husband once belonged to a fringe political group in Alaska, with some members supporting secession from the United States.
• She has acknowledged smoking marijuana in the past.
None of the revelations seen to have shaken McCain’s confidence or undermined her support among GOP delegates.
After four days of intense scrutiny, Palin gets a chance to respond with a televised speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday. In addition to accepting the nomination, the first woman to do so for the GOP, Palin will tell her story: small-town mayor with a taste for mooseburgers; the wife of a blue-collar North Slope oil worker; and the mother of five, including one born this spring with Down syndrome.
Said Tucker Eskew, a senior McCain adviser: “She will speak as a governor, a former mayor and someone with both hands on the steering wheel of America’s energy economy. She will detail her record of shaking up the status quo in Alaska and standing up to entrenched interests to put the government back on the side of the people.”
Defending his choice and the team that helped pick her, McCain said Tuesday that “the vetting process was completely thorough.” Advisers said Palin went through a rigorous process that included a three-hour interview and a survey with some 70 questions, including: Have you ever paid for sex? Have you been faithful in your marriage? Have you ever used or purchased drugs? Have you ever downloaded pornography?
McCain’s aides rejected suggestions from Democrats that her selection was a hurried, last-minute attempt to shake up the campaign and wrest female voters from Obama. They insisted Palin was a strong contender from the start.
But one senior Republican familiar with the search, who requested anonymity because McCain did not authorize the conversation, said Palin had virtually fallen from the radar. Only late in the summer, when McCain asked for more alternatives, was she made a finalist.
As conservatives closed ranks behind their like-minded foe of abortion, Schmidt accused the media of essentially being sexist.
“This vetting controversy is a faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee for vice president of the United States who has never been a part of the old boys’ network that has come to dominate the news establishment of this country,” his statement said.
When she was introduced as McCain’s running mate last week, Palin portrayed herself as a political maverick in McCain’s mold: “I’ve stood up to the old politics as usual, to the special interests, to the lobbyists, the big oil companies and the good old boy network,” she said.
But Alaska’s first female governor has at times benefited from Alaska’s entrenched political system.
For one thing, Palin accepted at least $4,500 in campaign contributions in the same fundraising scheme at the center of a public corruption scandal that led to the indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens.
The contributions, made during Palin’s failed 2002 bid to become Alaska’s lieutenant governor, were not illegal for her to accept. But they show how Palin, who has bucked Stevens and his allies, is nonetheless linked with Alaska’s old guard.
Community Discussion
Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.
So now the truth comes out, she's inhaled in the past! At least we know she's a real person. All this news is sure taking away from other important issues in the world, such as the "war on terror" and "Darfur" and "child neglect."
This is exciting - history being made! She could go all the way with this! She has more chief executive experience than McCain, Obama and Biden combined. And is a trined TV newscaster. She's a reformer and a regular citizen-politician just like the founding fathers intended. She's a proven winner. This should help offset the hit we'll take when Stevens and Young go to prison.
They should have vetted her more. Bet they didn't know she talks to God and knows his will. After watching and hearing this one, I want Frank back. At least he was just an old crook, not some religious whacko.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG1vPYbRB...
Amazing, this story starts out by quoting the McCain/Palin campaign in regard to the "media frenzy" surrounding her canidacy and at least attempts to hold the story together on that one issue. Then, it completely summarizes every accusation, rumour, and ridiculous liberal garbage point that has been thrown at Governor Palin in the same article that was meant to be a story against those points.
Come on! Just another example of the hypocrisy of the liberal media.
This is going to be great and I cant wait to hear her. What a super lady!
I heard that the Palin's were tossing chairs at each other on Jerry Springer. That was on Letterman last night, so it must be true, huh. Isn't it great to be in the national spotlight!
Jay Leno mentioned that the McCain campaign had ads tying the celebrity of Obama and Britney Spears together. So, then, the Republicans are tied to Jamie Lynn Spears?
Come on! Just another example of the hypocrisy of the liberal media.
-----------------------------
Why don't you go complain to Fox News, Hannity, Limbaugh, Scarborough, Fox and Friends, Michael Dukes, the Washington Times, Laura Ingram, G. Gordon Liddy, or Michael Savage. They'll understand...
Liberal media? Give me a break. Let's be real about this, she is getting the same treatment that Obama got when he started running for the presidency. Every piece of her life is going to be scrutinized and given a stigma to it. It probably isn't fair for either of them, Obama or Palin, but, it is the way the media and our society works. The real problem for the Republicans here is that McCain and his camp were hoping that because she was still new to the political scene that she would not have a bunch of baggage so they didn't do their research. So, the media is doing it for them and now they have no rsponses to the questions except to call out sexism at every turn.
She accepted McCain's offer to be his running mate, this is what happens. The difference between her and everyone else, is it's more compacted. EVERYTHING is going to be found out, stuff that even us in Alaska have no ideas about, or really care. But, to much of America it could matter. There are different problems facing the lower 48 than Alaska. She has no idea about let's say.. Colorado, California, or Ohio. There's very little in common with any of those states than Alaska. They have shortage of jobs down there... more people needing medical insurance.
Most Alaskans, even our "stinky hippies", take care of themselves for the most part. whether it's working, or subsistence. We have that opportunity, we're fortunate. It's just not the same in the lower 48.
And that is what much of America is trying to figure out with Sarah Palin. She might be good for Alaska, but IS she really good for America, or heck the World! you can't apply your standards to everyone else, it just doesn't work. If that's the case, we'd better start handing back the money Uncle Ted has gotten us.
Well, Oh_please - right-wing talk show hosts make absolutely no claim to impartiality. So, one who chooses to listen to them are at least completely aware of the right-wing slant and viewpoint. The liberal slant that was mentioned refers to "news" outlets that pretend to be objective. Just because you find merit in and agree with their take on [insert issue here] doesn't make it objective. The difference between the two seems pretty obvious to me.
You got that right, cmunro. Obama was attacked for more than a year by the GOP on every move he made. The GOP announced this historic Palin bombshell less than a week ago and the McCain camp doesn't expect an criticism or questions? Again, typical Republican hypocrisy run amok.
Folks, Alaskans are a national joke now:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/sarah...
This is mostly from last night. Read it and weep (or laugh)
This "liberal media" cry the republicans are making of late does ring a little hollow. It seems to me that everyone is getting beat up the same and it is up to us to find the truth behind the dirt. One thing is clear, John McCain made a reckless decision by choosing someone with nil experience on the national and world stage and now expects the media to just leave it alone. That isn't going to happen so Sarah had best get tough and quick! She had also better get a crash course in national and world affairs before the VP debates or she risks looking very much the prom queen. This decision by McCain tells a lot about how he will lead this country however. By shooting from the hip and making stupid "maverick" decisions that we all could pay for dearly. He picked Palin because she is a woman and that is what he feels he needs at the moment to win against a black opponent, not because she has ANY business at this level of government.
I see the Republicans are not above playing the gender card. And by all accounts the selection of Palin was more hasty than thorough (kind of like the selection of Chuck Kopp...). However, some of the silly things the media is digging up, like the marijuana, the fact that she has an attorney, and the pregnancy of her daughter, have very little bearing on her ability to serve as VP. There are substantive pros and cons to all the candidates in this election; it would be nice if the media and the public would focus on those.
"There are substantive pros and cons to all the candidates in this election; it would be nice if the media and the public would focus on those."
Good point Aric...
Here is a pro or con everyone bothering to vote should focus on. Will Sarah make a good president? If you really think her terms as mayor of Wasilla and her 2 year stint as governor of AK has actually prepared her for the presidency (not the V.P. That is largely a figurehead role until something happens to the 72 year old McCain) then vote for her. I will cringe if I wake up some morning and hear something happened and Sarah Palin was the leader of the "free world".
Yeah, I was convinced early on that McCain was a long-shot for the presidency, but now it seems he is just trying to make this farce memorable.
Dems: "Sarah Palin raised taxes as mayor, got unprecedented federal earmarks, and still left her small-town government $20 million in debt. Her positions on civil rights and the environment are dangerously out of the mainstream. Her reformer shtick seems to be a recent political contrivance based on her earlier support for Ted Stevens and earmarks..."
Republican response: "You sexist pigs!!!"
Dems: "John McCain has tirelessly supported George W. Bush's policies and flip-flopped on virtually every issue for which he was once known as a maverick, even to the point of voting against legislation HE wrote. He doesn't offer any new plans that are substantially different from anything George W. Bush is doing already."
Republican response: "How dare you criticize a former P.O.W.!"
I think maybe McCain picked Palin because he needed someone else with an irrelevant trump card to pull against any issues-based criticism.
DEAR GOD!!! You'd think this was a Frisco newspaper with all the left wing whining I've read here.
Wahhmbulance, Who's whining? If this wasn't such a serious matter I'd say this farce is entertaining as hell! If the R's want to commit political suicide after Bush's legacy of running the debt half way to the moon so much the better.
All I see are a bunch of libs vomitting up left wing kool aid while accusing right wingers of drinking their party's own particular cocktail.
So....Palin, in a quote today on the Internet, says she sees our action in Iraq as "a task from God". Is this the same God who has a commandment out there along the lines of "Thou shalt not kill"?
Wow I guess anyone could be vice president, or even president
Funny how when people mention the Wasilla budget debt, they never include the fact that in addition to constructing a community sports center, it also includes the state loans to construct the water and sewer infrastructure as the community has grown from 6000 to 9500+.
Should Wasilla have gotten grant instead and have the utilities for free?
Hey guys, if your going to make stuff up, could you at least make it funny. For example you could spread the rumor that she recently spent a couple of weeks at the playboy mansion or maybe Obama was seen with his gay lover. Different channel same old reruns.
Mrs. Palin, addressing her church, was asking the people to pray for our troops and the wisdom to know that their actions were God's will.
Her prayer request was actually similar to the Obama press release of his prayer note at the Jersusalem Western Wall for God to bless his family and the wisdom to do God's will.
I heard she was so impressed with Paris Hilton's campaign video, she will have President McCain appoint her Secretary of Education. LOL
How's that icerider?
Gettin better, Thanks for the chuckle.
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.