Prepping Palin for the big time, the big night
ST. PAUL — Of course John McCain’s acceptance speech is the big deal of the GOP convention.
To update on that score, Republican officials said for the first time today that he’s likely to give it on Thursday night now that it’s clear that Gustav is no Katrina.
But perhaps the most anticipated speech will be the one from veep choice Sarah Palin, presumably on Wednesday night. (Republicans have not made these things clear.)
People will be tuning in to her performance for many reasons, mostly to see if she is ready for prime time.
Palin has received unbounded support from other conservatives and injected some badly needed enthusiasm into the McCain effort. But polls show that the general public is far from sold.
In a CNN poll published today that showed a neck-and-neck presidential contest, half of those interviewed said that she isn’t qualified to be the nation’s No. 2. The only running mate to initially get a lower vote of confidence was Dan Quayle 20 years ago.
One-in-five said they were more likely to vote for McCain because of her, the same as said they were less likely. Could she end up being a wash?
Maybe, but millions will be tuning in to see what she has to say. Republicans like what they see so far and believe that she could be a mainstay in national politics for years to come.
“The bench for Republican women isn’t that deep,” Chuck Donovan, of the Family Research Council, remarked today. “In a bold way, it opens up the party.”
The disclosure today that Palin’s 17-year-old daughter is pregnant reinforced the need to prepare her not just for campaigning but for the media scrutiny that accompanies a politician who could end up a heartbeat away, as they say.
To educate Palin on how to handle the big time, the McCain campaign has brought aboard Tucker Eskew. Eskew, a South Carolina native, is a former Bush White House mainstay and GOP campaign operative who has been advising corporate clients on media strategy.
In 2004, 72 of every 1,000 teen girls became pregnant. So this isn’t exactly a big news story. On the other hand, if a candidate for President had part of his house subsidized by a crooked developer who was on his way to Club Fed, now THAT would be a big story. Right? Or if we’re looking at kids, how about this … what if the son of a candidate for Vice President, who himself was a Senator of seniority and clout, was a $500,000 a year lobbyist? That seems like a pretty good story too.
Or how about if the subsidized part of the house was a small vacant lot, or how about if a Presidential senior economics advisor had lobbied said candidate about changing lending laws that may have directly led to the current mortgage crisis, or if nearly your entire inner circle are/ were lobbyists, or if a current Governor’s brother and a Congressman’s son was a high paid lobbyist (after said Gov.s election) Let’s get into all these stories and really flesh them out.
It’s a big story if you’ve just been named the VP nominee of the GOP, who espouse family values — uh, oh yeah — and experience. Like nobody thought it was a story when Britney’s kid sister wound up “in the family way.
If it was a Democratic nomineee, the “stuff” would be hitting the fan.
heard McCain’s spokesperson on CBS stating how “horrible” things were being said about Palin and her family on “Democratic liberal blogs.” She blathered on and on about the “hate-filled, fear mongering” that was going on within the Democratic party about this issue and how “horrible” it was.
Rrrrrright–but nothing wrong with the Obama smears on the Internet “conservative blogs” that have been going on ad nauseum for months–the “terrorism” implications–the “terrorist fist jab” that Michellle gave him…her “angry black thesis” in college…the endless jokes and implications that he is Un-American…etc.
Smears are smears folks, regardless of Party affiliation…and you reap what you sow when you engage it as standard operating procedure.
Re: Palin’s daughter…I could give a rat’s ass were it not for the fact that she is yet another “family values” Christian who tells everyone else what a “Family” is and yet uses the “privacy” card when it turns out that her family is no “better” than anyone else’s–same statement that the Cheneys gave when their daugher was outed…it’s a “family issues”.
Uh-huh–keep trampling the rights of gay American citizens and then hide behind the irony of having a lesbian daughter by playing the “privacy” card.
Repugnicans just don’t get it–the whole concept of hypocrisy is lost on them…they are master spinners and have mastered the craft of turning weaknesses into strengths by using Rovian tactics of hate/fear/division. They used it in ‘04 to great success, but Americans are opening their eyes and realizing that they have been played for the past 8 years.
Buh-bye GOP Sleaze Machine–crawl back into your slimy ooze and re-surface in another four years.
“On the other hand, if a candidate for President had part of his house subsidized by a crooked developer who was on his way to Club Fed, now THAT would be a big story. Right? Or if we’re looking at kids, how about this … what if the son of a candidate for Vice President, who himself was a Senator of seniority and clout, was a $500,000 a year lobbyist?”
*shakes head in disbeief*
Nick-delusional as ever I see. You know what else is a great story…and one that the media has failed to discuss. Google Rod Parsley–McCain’s “spiritual advisor.” Oh and this crap with Obama’s home loan–did I miss something? Has Senator Obama been accused/charged/convicted of something that the rest of us have missed? Of course not–you’re just perpetuating an issue that you obviously have no proof on, so you are making weak links to try and make case.
Another “interesting” story–Cindy McCain’s drug theft charges that were dropped because of her wealth and influence…but we really haven’t heard about that either, have we Nick?
It’s so easy responding to your inane rhetoric. You wouldn’t know a “good story” if it hit you in the face while you are glued to “Hannity & Colmes.”
I’m waiting for the Centrist and her soap box to get on here! It’ll be refreshing to hear what she thinks of a junior/senior in high school getting pregnant. While I’m sure it’ll be no big deal to her, it seems much worse to me than a college kid getting caught with a little bit of pot during a traffic stop.