While Sarah Palin’s history in debate says she should perform beautifully during tonight’s show-down with Senator Biden, many Republicans have their doubts. After Palin’s unfortunate interview with Katie Couric last week, I myself (a fairly centered Republican) questioning her ability to answer even the simplest questions of policy and legislation.
Joe Millman’s article in The Wall Street Journal, “Palin Proved a Formidable Foe in Alaska Debates” (October 1, 2008), discusses Palin’s previous debate history and her more recent shortcomings (as they could affect the outcome of first Vice Presidential debate). Millman states that in the past, she has surprised her audience with an unexpected wit and charm, but that she proves quite elusive with more specific questions of policy. He furthermore says that Palin’s performance has been “shaky” throughout this election, but that even the Democrats have some fear of her ferocious political charm. The article continues to state that the Obama campaign considers Sarah Palin “a terrific debater”, and is therefore not writing her off.
It seems to me, and this may be harsh, that Sarah Palin is nothing more than a people pleaser. Her ability to get on stage, as she did at the Republican National Convention, and reassure the crowd that yes, indeed there is hope for the conservative right wing. However, I find that she lacks the substance I desire in a candidate but at the same time she says the things we (Republicans) want to hear. Not unlike another Candidate in this election (need I give names?), Sarah Palin can embrace her audience and draw every last ounce of support out of their conservative woodwork (but with what substance does she do so?). To this extent, I think she was an excellent choice. However, with McCain’s age and the numerous critical issues at hand (i.e. the financial crisis, war, global warming etc.) I wonder if she was the best choice for this position.
I do not think that I am alone with my feelings of uncertainty. An article published by ABC News, states that Sarah has slipped in voter standing since her announcement at the Republican National Convention. The article concludes that “six in ten Americans now doubt” her ability to lead this nation. However, like Millman’s article, this article states that she could come into tonight’s debate with a fresh palate and open horizon. What could be the repercussions of Sarah’s performance? If she performs poorly could it make or break McCain’s campaign?
I am hoping, along with most other Republicans that Sarah Palin can reassert herself tonight as an intelligent lady who can gain the conservative confidence that we so longingly want to give her.
Does anyone feel that Sarah Palin has not made a fool of the Republican Party in her recent interviews? Do you think that this could make or break the McCain campaign?
(Picture from http://foxnews.com/)
4 comments:
Being a hardcore republican, there will be nothing better then to have both John McCain and Sarah Palin win this election. Ever since Senator McCain has announced that Senator Palin was to be his Vice President, many have started to "eat her alive." Senator Palin has rose to the occasion and "stood her ground" when there were numerous, and still are, attacks on her.
Unlike Senator Obama and Senator Biden, Senators McCain and Palin are a great choice for this next election because they have experience that Obama and Biden lack.
Unlike Joe Millman's statement that Senator Palin is "shaky throughout this election," I disagree. She is bringing about a sense of relief that most Americans need. A supporter of Hilary Clinton, and a former Vice Presidential candidate running against the first George Bush, she said that she wanted her granddaughter to look and watch Senator Palin debate against Senator Biden to prove that "women can debate with men on anything."
But, for both candidates, I will like to see, what my Senior Paster from my church brought up, is them talking more on abortion.
If the Democratic Party is nervous, good. What I can't believe is why, even though we haven't finished the Presidential debates nor had the actual election, the local TV stations (ABC, CBS, NBC) have already said that Senator Obama have won. That's not true.
But, with all the mayhem that has been thrown into Senator Palin's face, she has took that challenge and fought through, and remained constant, it boldy.
Way to go Senator Palin!!
Being a hardcore Democrat, I can completely agree with the parts of this blog that talk about her short comings. Although Palin has helped get the republican party recognized and back into the spot light it has not been in a good way. She has shown how she is not ready to be vice president with her lack of knowledge of the events that are happening outside of Alaska. She has shown that with her pretty face that she can get the attention of the room on her and then proceed by rambling on about hockey or energy which are the two things that she knows really well. I find her use of sexuality (ie. licking her lips, winking, and using her seductive voice) to address the people of American to be inappropriate. I would expect professionalism from the person who wants to be the number two representative for our country. I have talked to many republicans about this election, hoping to be given a valid set of facts as to why they feel she is qualified for the position of vice president. I have yet to hear anything about Palin other than "She's hot" and "She's a MILF", to me that is not even close to a good reason for her to be vice president. The republican party putting Palin in the campaign to try to gain the votes of all the women who had voted for Clinton has backfired. In an article in today's campaign '08 section of the Wall Street journal by Amy Chozick she stated that there are a large amount of women who supported Clinton who do not support Palin because, of course, they do not share the same beliefs. They also will not vote for her simply because she is a woman. I do not think that Palin is ready to be VP but maybe she could run again in another beauty contest.
I agree completely with Ally! I am a "hardcore" democrat as well and I am not comfortable with the idea of Sarah Palin being anywhere near the presidency. As for her performance in the VP debate I was neither impressed nor disappointed. I think she did better than most people expected, however I don't think she did a bang up job. Several things bothered me about her performance. The first was her inability to answer the questions asked by the moderator. Every time she was asked a question or asked to make a rebuttal, she had her own agenda. Most of the questions or topics she avoided all together and talked about her energy plans. It seemed like that was the only topic she fully understood. In fact Palin said "John McCain and I have had good conversations about where I would lead with his agenda. That is energy independence in America ". To me this insinuates that McCain acknowledges that this is the only area that can excel in.
Another issue that bothered me about Palin's performance was her laid back demeanor. I know she can't really control the way she talks, yes her "accent" may connect with the average person, however I feel that it reduces her credibility. I equate her accent with the lower class middle America. I know this is not true however that is the way it comes off to me. Also her choice of words like "dontcha know" or "Gosh darn" may be cute and nice but to me talking like that seems a bit inappropriate for a debate.
The last thing that bothered me about her performance was that she said she was not used to how they did things in Washington or "Oh, yeah, it's so obvious I'm a Washington outsider". That indicates to me that she knows that she is inexperienced.
Overall I did not think either VP candidate did a superb job, but I needed a little more from Palin for me to even accept her as a legitimate threat to the Obama/Biden campaign.
Agreeing with Ally, I really haven’t seen anything to show me that Sarah Palin is ready for VP. When I see her performance it reminds me of a mother at a school PTA meeting. The winking and use of sexuality like Ally stated is not very professional and is only seen in town or non professional meetings. Although she may be trying to connect with the middle class people more, it sets it off as “try hard” to me. Sarah Palin is a very strong and smart women and has stood her ground with all the challenges she has faced. But she hasn’t achieved any of my expectations for a VP. Her debate performances where not horrible but not great either. This makes it hard for me to able to choose her over Biden a very strong and aggressive debater. Biden seems more professional and more aware of current events, unlike Palin. During the VP debate Palin never really answered the questions. It seemed as she would stray away from some of the questions or just continues about other topics like the energy plan. I believe a VP should show that they are knowledge able about all the topics and criteria and give a straight answer. She may just need more time to get ready, but as for this years elections I don’t believe she is ready to be VP.
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