Partisan Palin: New Face, Same Old Tune
Gov. Sarah Palin's speech Wednesday night fired up Republican delegates at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Getty Images)
If there were any hopes left that the 2008 presidential election would be the dawning of a post-partisan age in Washington, a time when political issues would trump political insults, they were shattered last night at the Republican National Convention in Minnesota. Insults were the order of the evening, especially from Sarah Palin. The plucked-from-obscurity vice presidential nominee delivered more of a Don Rickles routine than a speech, and I think it’s going to backfire for the Republicans.
Here was a real opportunity to introduce not only a new face on the American political scene, but a new perspective, a new paradigm, even. Who better to guide us away from the hateful politics that have divided our nation these past 15-years, than someone like Governor Palin? A mom, a parent of a special needs child, a charismatic woman and speaker, who’s proved in her limited time in public life to be a mover and shaker, someone from a part of the country almost no one knows. It could all have been so NEW and fresh and hopeful, and I’m guessing many of the 37-million people who watched the speech, almost as many as watched Barack Obama’s acceptance speech in Denver last week, wanted to hear a message with exactly those qualities.
Instead, the applause had barely died down before she lit into Obama like a pit bull; there were the claims she’s more experienced in politics than Obama (a huge tactical error by the McCain campaign, in my view. Palin’s supporters can spin whatever fantasy they want, but the fact is her resume is thin by any national standard: mayor of a small town, governor of a sparsley populated state for less than two years. So, make it a plus—she’s different, she has real understanding of what regular folks go through… but don’t tell us she’s experienced.) Palin mocked Obama’s years as a community organizer on Chicago’s South Side, which gave him his political start. She was sarcastic and negative, and in minutes, turned from a breath of fresh political air to just one more agent of divisiveness and bitter partisanship.
While Obama’s convention speech last week was long on rhetoric and short on specifics, and while he got in his licks against McCain, he also took time to talk about the very real economic fears that plague Americans right now. He at least put it on the table. Sarah Palin did not. And while her putdowns of her opponents may have driven delegates in the convention hall to near ecstasy, I couldn’t help but imagine millions of people watching across the country saying, “Okay. But what about my job and my mortgage and my health insurance?”
Obama’s response to the speech was on the money. Rather than try to butt heads back against her, he said, “You’re hearing an awful lot about me… but you’re not hearing a lot about you. You haven’t heard a word about how we’re going to deal with any aspect of the economy that is affecting you and your pocketbook.”
It was the 1992 Republican Convention where Pat Buchanan, throwing his support to George H.W. Bush, delivered what’s become known as the "culture war" speech. He angrily said Bill and Hillary Clinton’s agenda which they would “impose” on America “was not the kind of change we can abide in a nation we still call God’s country.” Later, many political observers said his angry and aggressive tone help send moderate voters to help elect Clinton. I think history might show Sarah Palin’s speech on Wednesday night had some of the same impact on her ticket.
Check out how the buzz around Gov. Palin is beautifully broken down by a one, John Stewart:
Comments: 11
you go girl!!! and I'm talking to Jim!!!
bottomline: Palin is a formidable candidate. and we are all in store for a great political season.
A perfect analysis of Palin's speech. And a truly apt comparison to Pat Buchanan's 1992 address. Let's see how it turns out in November. I'm certainly behind your hope for the end of the partisan nonsense, but it's seeming more and more like the nation is saying to that hope, "no, we can't." I really enjoyed this blog posting. Thanks!
Why hasn't anyone mentioned that Palin has probably more or less experience than a high school class president. (no offense to any of you current or former high school class presidents)
Mayor of a city of 9,000 people? Governor of a state no one knows much about. She had the nerve to attack Obama and Biden for not having experience on leadership, and not having much responsibility... really?! What the hell did she do in Alaska that makes her so special. We probably will never know, since most of America doesn't keep tabs on the remote state of Alaska. Really, Alaska? Seriously? Who even lives there!? WTF!
I like John McCain, but the pitbull should be tied to the house and hosed down.
I'm with you all the way here. The hypocrisy of these people (the politicians and the media commentators) on everything concerning Sarah Palin is staggering, as is the amount of the ad hominem hatefulness that has come out of this convention. And they wonder why Americans are so turned off by the political process. You are right on target.
I have said it for years, and I'll say it again... the Republican party is a terrorist organization, who has been spreading lies, rhetoric, propaganda, hate, and terror for the past 50 years. Yea, I'm talking about you Nixon, Reagan, Papa Bush. But especially YOU George W. You are the face of terror, and have been for the past 8 years.
Gee, do you think Jim is a Democrat?? Sorry Jimbo, Governor Palin DID GREAT. Barack Obama? Who the hell is he? He did NOTHING as a state representative voting "present" consistently and is the most left-wing member of the Senate. Spare us Jim, we know you would never give her a chance. But "Big Mac" and VP Sarah Palin will get my vote, my family and many friends. Keep the politically-correct creation named Obama. Funny, how people PRETEND Obama is bi-partisan with experience. He is neither. Maybe because he is half black he is getting the old PC pass. Vote BIG MAC!
One more thing, you have the nerve to show Jon Stewart, one of the biggest liberal Democrats out there as a serious person? He is a dopey comic. Spare me. And for those wondering about the new VP's experience, well, it is better than the PC creation Obama. She ran/runs a damn state. Barack- a community organizer. Sorry you don't like the state she runs but it is a hell of a lot more important with its reserves than the dumps Barack is from in Chicago- you know, the place the Governor of Ilinois wants to bring the National Guard into to calm the black crime wave. Obama= HYPE TO THE MAX.
And the Buchanan nonsense is way off. Buchanan always had/has a substatial following. That is why his books always hit the top selling lists. It was the fact that Bush I was out of steam and Slick Willie knew how to take advantage of it but got a horrendous vote if you remember- 40 something percent due to Perot in the election also. Clinton ran the fake internet wave and the economy started to tank near the end of his presidency if you do your homework. He was very good on the deficit but put in far left judges the media calls "moderates." Yeah, Ruth Ginsberg is a "moderate" despite being a big shot at the commy ACLU. Spare us. Vote for Mac.
Sarah Palin was a typical McCain decision - reckless and wrong. He talked to her for a whole 15 minutes, then offered her the vice presidency of our country. Her "qualifications" are two years as governor of a state with 1/3 the population of Brooklyn and second place in a beauty contest. I guess that's enough if you're a man who turned your campaign over to the same people who Swift Boated you in 2000. Palin is already being investigated for abuse of power. That must have made the Bush-backers feel right at home. McCain is 72 years old and has had multiple bouts with cancer. He should have picked someone qualified. Instead, he just continues to drift to the right. It's time for him to drift off into the sunset.
THIS IS JUST FOR YOU "BOB":
FIRST OF ALL:
You really need to lay off the Kool-aid. The sad thing is, you are a victim of McCain/Palin rhetoric - better known as utter right wing propaganda - and you don't even know it. Since Palin joined the ticket - the McCain campaign has fed lie after lie to the American public with full force via attack ads, the ridiculous RNC, campaign stops, talk show appearances, etc. It goes on and on.
My gripe with you and people like you is that you are so blinded by the division and views of each party - polarized by assholes like Carl Rove, who prey on the weak and ignorant... they feed you ish just for your vote.
This is not about being a democrat or a republican, it's about being an educated American who actually researches each campaign and weeds out the lies and the truth - something YOU and people like YOU should be doing. They are playing you for a SUCKER and you don't even know it. If you are going to maintain your views and continue to feed into the Republican machine, do us all a favor on November 4th - and stay home.
SECONDLY...
I have always liked John McCain. I favored him back in 2000 when he duked it out with George Bush for the Republican nomination. He was an honorable man who served his country... and following his loss to George W... when he came clean about lying about how he felt about the Confederate battle flag... made him a GREAT man, an unlike any politician - he WAS a man who actually revealed some sort of humanity and conscious. But since he locked in the nomination, John McCain has proven that once a Republican always a republican... the lies, the attack ads, the cheap shots... that's all beneath him. or is it? Shame on you John McCain... and shame on you all who don't see through his campaign.
bob, john stewart is smart and well-versed on what is going on in this country, unlike yourself. regardless if it's labeled as satire, what shows on his program is the truth... the proof in the video-hippocracy is alive and well in the GOP and on FOX. Look at the facts Bob, but you probably cherry pick your facts, don't you Bob, Don't you. get a life.