McCain Surrogates Struggle To Defend Palin's Experience

There is, it seems, a dearth of effective talking points on Sarah Palin's lack of foreign policy experience. On Monday, McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds went on CNN to defend the vice presidential pick, only to come up blank when asked to name one specific decision Palin has made as commander of Alaska's national guard. Democratic operatives quickly circulated the video.

On Tuesday, Sen. Jon Kyl, another McCain confidante, was given his turn. And the results were equally problematic for the presumptive Republican nominee. Asked by Fox News' Chris Wallace whether Palin was "ready to be president" Kyl's response was, basically, "in time."

"Obviously, in terms of national security decisions over the first months of the McCain administration, that will be done by John McCain," he said. "But also she is a quick study. I suspect that very soon the American people will believe she has got what it takes to be in any situation, even a tough national security situation."

There is, it seems, a sense of glee within Democratic circles that the Palin choice has effectively made the experience argument moot. But, despite an absence of solid talking points on the matter, McCain's camp is clearly still invested in painting Obama as the one wet behind the ears. Earlier on Monday, they sent out an email to reporters lambasting the Democratic nominee for citing his own presidential campaign as an indication of executive gravitas. Bounds called it "desperate circular logic."

And yet, at least right now, the abundance of attention is going to Palin's resume. Asked whether the Alaska governor was ready from day one to take over for McCain, Kyl again was something less than assertive.

"First of all, in a McCain presidency, John McCain will be calling the shots. I think he believes that, through the campaign and the early part of this administration, she's a very quick study and she is tough. And I think he sees her as someone that could clearly step into his shoes should be necessary. She brings other things that relate to the economy, oil exploration, to the kind of issues that John McCain tends to talk about less. Therefore, they complement each other very well."

Comments

[Lupin77]

She's ready to lead the PTA or a small town in Alaska but not the greatest and most powerful country in the world. The bottom line is that she is under qualified to be vp. Wake up America they're trying to pull a fast one on us.

[Mitchell4A]

Here is something to consider: Palin may be more like Bush than McCain is like Bush. She is an ideologue and seems to have Bush's need for loyalty.

“Watch out: Palin may be a Bush Twin”
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[G-Politik]

For the life of me I can't believe the crap that the Repubs throw at the public and the media keeps feeding this bs.
I love it how Fred Thompson replaced sorry Rudy "aah! the terror guy" Guliani tonight and spent half of his speech defending the Gov. palin pick.
I guess they'll scare us tomorrow..­.

[vietveter]

I would bet that old Skull and Bones

could not pass a

GED test

Why should I think that

Barbie is a fast learner?

perhaps she is...

by comparison

[ghenry]

I blame British PM Gordon Brown for this!!

[OtayPanky]

PART 1

Sam Stein: There is, it seems, a dearth of effective talking points on Sarah Palin's lack of foreign policy experience.

===

I mean - really Sam - has "a dearth of effective talking points" been any kind of a ball and chain on repubs up until now? They're even trying to co-opt Katrina right now at their conventions. These guys are the absolute masters of "ignore that man behind the curtain" politicking.

Give them a few days, and their smart operators will get the talking points down, distribute them onto everyone's crackberry, and they'll starting meme-ing the MSM. The name of the game is, make the same 3 points over and over again whether they're true or not, and you'll create those little belief bubbles inside the brains of the average Joe and Jane.

[grp]

Just curious why you don't mention or seem to be concerned about BO's lack of foreign policy experience?

[LiberalDemIda]

Just curious, grp, why aren't YOU concerned that Democratic Obama's foreign policy ideas are good enough for the Republican Bush Administration to implement THREE TIMES THIS YEAR ALONE.

Apparently, the "extensively experienced" Commander in Chief and his warmongering VP, also (incorrectly) credited with "extensive foreign policy experience" don't agree with you and other McBush and Caribou Babs' assessment of Barack.

Obama/Biden '08/'12!!

[gtalkspolitics]

How much foreign experience did Dick Chaney and Rumsfield have? it's about judgement and Republicans don't get it the leaders at the top like John McCain are too out of touch with the American voters..,

[OtayPanky]

Barack's lack of experience is a legitimate concern for anybody with a brain - even his non-cultic supporters like men.

But honest to Goobers, grp - this election is a total no-brainer for anyone with a non-partisan independent THINKING brain. The repubs have given us arguably the worst 8 years of our country's history, pretty much dismantling the constitution, destroying our economy, and creating the most partisan and toxic political climate in memory. Plus, they studiously ignored what everyone with a brain agrees is the overwhelming concern of the planet. The data on that one is so unambiguous that both the Pentagon and the insurance giants are re-calculating their entire risk factors because a 20 foot rise in sea levels is now the biggest risk of ruin we ALL face.

Add to all this the fact that McCain just made what even smart repubs like Mike Murphy and Peggy Noonan agree is the worst VP choice in history - and you have an unambiguously clear signal that McCain - despite his noble status as a true war hero, and yes, even a (former) maverick senator - lacks the temperment and the judgment to actually lead this country back from the brink of ruination.

If you want me to go on, just ask.

And no need to thank me. I'm here to help.

[RFBorjal]

Where is the evidence that Palin is a "quick study"? Has anybody gone through her academic records? The only account of her schooling that I've heard so far is that she was a basketball point guard.

[joshsantana]

The GOP is saying that these positions are not for "on the job training". And now they are doing.

[JamesInDenver]

McCain is telling us to relax, it will be Ok, she's a quick study. How the hell do he know she's a quick study?? Over the last couple days, he's proven he knows nothing about her.

After Bush, all Republican's should be required to take IQ tests.

[grp]

But who would administer the tests - the liberal democrats?

[rosal]

Any 11 year old has more brains than repbs. A kid could administer the test

[wedapeepo]

how about independents?

[chosenson]

So she need a crash course? And calling her a "quick study" is an admission that she's green and needs to be taught.

[rosal]

There is the answer to the country about this woman: Oil Exploration. That says it all, that's why she is in the position she is now. The religion, and the hunting, etc. are just fillings. The extremists think its really for her "values" . Big Oil, and Neos, think differently. They don't want anybody strong that could ruin their plans.

[renegade28]

What the hell has this nation become? I get the sense that America is on the decline.

[grp]

Oh, don't feel so bad about BO. He still has time to mature into his job as a senator. And, if he ever attends, he might even be a good senator!!

[rosal]

Is Miss Congeniality thinking she is on a beauty contest when she is giving a "speech"? She sure sounds like it. I am waiting for the tiara, the flowers. and the satchell when she accepts the nomination. Voice lesson should be mandatory, its very hard to put up with the high pitch

[BillForObama]

That's and understatement.

[3dtrix]

Optimists might say freefall - I say on a rocket-sled to hell.

[mshazen]

This whole thing makes me sick, the thought that they could possibly win is enough to keep one up at night.

[JamesInDenver]

It's impossible to imagine her running Ford or General Motors, but McCain selects her for VP. These guys are way over paid. We could replace them with Poodles.

[grp]

but certainly not with liberal democrats

[Ndw]

I agree. It's truly depressing, and very disturbing.

[harriscrl3]

In time? Yep when McCain Keel over he is looking very tired and they say Gidget you are are up its your time to lead. I'm sure gidget will be ready.

Carol

[LeeCalif]

HAHAHAHA

[BMS]

Carol,

hee hee
I believe her full given name is Caribou Gidget Barbie.

[Candyx]

because she is not!

[UncleJimbo]

Why not ask the Senators,C­ongressmen and Governors at the RNC...Is Sarah Palin more qualified to be Vice President than...YOU­?

[gr8abz]

I feel as if John McCain has just put our lives on the line with his pick of a trigger happy moose hunter from the redneck capital of the North. Oh, we can feel safe at night knowing she's only a few paces from the red button. Eeegad.