McCain's Judgment Questioned Over Palin Pick

The New York Times leads with a story today about McCain's judgment in picking Sarah Palin as his running mate. The article points out numerous holes in McCain's vetting process, including what appears to be a claim that the FBI vetted her. The FBI typically does not vet vice presidential candidates.

Read an excerpt from the NY Times below:

A series of disclosures about Gov. Sarah Palin, Senator John McCain's choice as running mate, called into question on Monday how thoroughly Mr. McCain had examined her background before putting her on the Republican presidential ticket.

On Monday morning, Ms. Palin and her husband, Todd, issued a statement saying that their 17-year-old unmarried daughter, Bristol, was five months pregnant and that she intended to marry the father.

Comments

[sweetholymosiah]

The entire McCain campaign is not about winning so much as protecting the false dichotomy of democrat - republican/ left - right and to insure that the Rally for the Republic does not overshadow Obama's carefully managed "change" campaign, otherwise the elites would really have a problem on their hands. "End the Fed!" as they said...

[Pennylite]

Good for Campbell Brown! My favorite reporters are those that ask the tough questions. Her question was legitimate and for McCain to claim it was "over the line" is just him trying poorly to defend his lack of good judgment. Keep up the good work, Campbell!

[thinkworklivelove]

Americans are in a huge crisis! McSame blew his first decision! He did not vet his VP Pick. She is unqualified. Male or Female. Her executive experience is being supremely overinflated. She has No Foreign Policy Experience. She has No National Security Experience. No, she is not a 'reformer'. It is on record that she was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it. She took 27 Million in 'pork' for a town population of 6,700. Americans should be outraged! The bridge in Minnesota that collasped could have used that Federal money for maintenance. McCain is 72 years old. Stop with the political gimmicks! Enough! No way, No How, No McCain!

[Rosewren02]

Your point about about the Minnesota bridge that collapsed from lack of money for maintenace is excellent I hope the Obama campaign sees your remark and uses it! Good for you keep it coming.

[bigeugene]

Why isn't her complete isolation from the press/media part of the lede on the Homepage? That's extremely bizarre...­.

Here's the GOP VP Pick! You cannot talk to her!

[kylie]

She has to be programmed by Rove.

Robotic replaces idiotic. Umm, maybe not!

[myohopinion]

Since Palin said she released the news about her daughter only because of "internet chatter"..­.when was she planning on telling us? What else haven't they told us?

[cjk002]

The National Enquirer (I now, I know, but they were right about Edwards) is reporting that she originally planned to announce both the pregnancy and the impending marriage right after the convention.

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/

[Pronto]

Hey, if I were the head of either Party - Republican or Democrat - I'd contract the vetting process out to the staff of The National Enquirer. They don't miss a trick . . . or a pregn@ncy . . . or a l0ve child . . .

[Yesnik]

John McCain didn't make this decision.
The far right did.

This whole election is going to be about a wedge issue Abortion !!!

[ChiMan1]

This Just IN: Collective Blood Pressure at the HuffPo . . 199 / 99 pulse 112.
Are the video crews standing by for when the HEAD EXPLODES . . can't WAIT!!!!!

[chillmonster]

I wonder what really is worse: if McCain made a quick decision without vetting or if they actually vetted Palin properly and decided to go with her despite all of these issues.

[alicante]

This is the first big decision McCain had to make and he chose image over substance.­....how do you think our troops must feel about the possibility of her becoming commander in chief?

[kylie]

Watch what happens to the military votes this election--"Missing In Action".

They'll have 'unexplained' problems with ballots making it to the U.S.

Remember who's good at making votes disappear.

Oh, but remember how "patriotic" the Republican politicians are! Always there for the common folk--especially "on duty" for the military pay raises and benefits.

[Pronto]

McCain: The Vet who can't vet.

[Tobiasism]

The AP finally has done a decent story summarizing most of the Palin issues.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jrhFOsVwX9jtDyUhy3zKCBVms8tgD92USVF01

[PrinceKeith]

Grumpy and Grandma - What a bright vision of hope for our nation. Can't wait to see the over-sexed Levi at the RNC. Grumpy is going to get even grumpier if he sees the young buck checking Grandma out!

[dutchess2]

The biggest new thing is that her husband and she were involved with the Alaskan Independence party....

That's not for independent PEOPLE, that's an American hating group that wants to secede from the Union...

The McCain campaign claim she has Republican creds that extend all the way back... but that does not mean that she does not ALSO have a membership in the AI.... Two members there say she was a member.. she denies... so we'll be watching that too.

Now she's gonna be VP of that very country?

Tell me how that's good judgement on McCain's part?

Remember how the far right has been blasting Michelle Obama? Cinda McCain being snide blasting Michelle Obama cause she's always been proud of her country...

How doe sit look if you belong to a group that hates America and wants to secede?

[dutchess2]

NOW WHO'S WHINING?

McCain campaign say our questioning Palin's judgement for exposing her daughter to all this just for her own ambition is sexist... that we would not do it if the candiate were male...

Poor kid... not enough that her very life has been turned upside down, now they've dragged
the guy that got her preggers out of hiding and gonna showcase him too...

Tacky Tacky Tacky

[LAB10]

Bad judgment and dirty laundry both stink.

[BlueMrsKitty]

McSame thought bubble: Can we get Vicki Eisman back in the media so they'll stop talking about Sarah Palin?

[hotstuff]

Who really believe they would send a squadron of mccains snoops to alaska NOW, if they thought she had been fully vetted! Do they really think Americans are that dense?

[Debanne]

Gut feeling tells me there are a few more skeletons to come out on Mrs. Palin. She obviously has made many enemies, they have not spoken yet.