Bush Strategist: McCain Knows He Put Country At Risk With Palin Pick

Matthew Dowd, a prominent political consultant and chief strategist for George W. Bush's reelection campaign eviscerated John McCain on Tuesday for his choice of Sarah Palin as vice president.

Dowd proclaimed that, in his heart of hearts, McCain knew he put the country at risk with his VP choice and that he would "have to live" with that fact for the rest of his career.

"They didn't let John McCain pick the person he wanted to pick as VP," Dowd declared during the Time Warner Summit panel. "When Sarah Palin got picked instead of Joe Lieberman, which I fundamentally believed would have given John McCain the best opportunity in this race... as soon as he picked Palin, that whole ready versus not ready argument was not credible."

Saying that Palin was a "net negative" on the ticket, he went on: "[McCain] knows, in his gut, that he put somebody unqualified on the ballot. He knows that in his gut, and when this race is over that is something he will have to live with... He put somebody unqualified on that ballot and he put the country at risk, he knows that."

The other panelists were surprised, a bit, by Dowd's bluntness. Not least because McCain's well-known campaign motto is "country first."

"No, I don't agree," said Mark McKinnon, a former McCain aide, after chiding Dowd for claiming particular insight into McCain's soul.

"Well," responded Dowd, "that's even more disturbing than my thought" -- the implication being that it would be truly frightening if McCain didn't know how bad Palin truly was.

Time columnist Joe Klein summed up what seemed to be the panel's Palin consensus.

"It was a gimmick," he said of the pick. "It was one of the most disastrous decisions I have seen in a presidential campaign since I've begun covering them."

Later in the session, Hilary Rosen, the Huffington Post's Washington editor at large, noted that the Palin pick had been successful in energizing the Republican base -- and McCain himself. But Dowd wasn't biting.

"To me it is like Halloween," he said. "You get energized by eating all that candy at night but then you feel sick the next day."

Comments

[Daniel8168]

Not only is she a gimmick, but she is unethical and abuses her power. Sure sounds mavericky to me. In case anyone doesn't understand the findings in the Troopergate investigation, let me lay it out.

They found that Palin's position as governor gives her the power to fire state troopers. They also found however that she ABUSED that power, and behaved unethically according to the code of ethics there by trying to have her ex-brother-in-law fired without cause.

She can tap-dance all she wants and pretend that she was exhonerated, but anyone other than cultist Sarah Palin loving zealots know that the findings conclude that she violated ethics codes, and abused her power. In other words, she behaved maverick-like against the LAW. We usually call people that are mavericky against the law... come on you can get this one.... do I have to spell this out too.... Yeah, that's right, she's a CRIMINAL!

Too bad when McCain's campaign asked if she'd been vetted, he thought they were asking if he found her while trolling for women in his far-beyond­-mid-life-­crisis Corvette.

[maddronn]

It’s too bad that McPalin doesn’t believe in evolution, because, sadly, she has the mental acuity of an Australopithecine.

[NTO08]

Where is Joe? Oh Joe Biden, where ARE YOUUUUUUUUU?

[littlepitcher]

Actually, I worry about the Biden pick. When the media keep their hands off a candidate they way they have Biden, it's like the kids getting quiet in the back room. Either they're making bombs with the chemistry set, painting murals with lipstick, or shucking their scrubs and playing doctor.

It's the same principle as media ignoring Palin's witch-doctor reverend while making a fuss about Rev. Wright, or ignoring the Bush and McCain connections with the savings and loan lootfest, and simultaneously raising cain about Obama's Chicago godfather.

Where, oh where, is the Biden coverup and how do we find out about it?

[Scarllatti]

The MSM can decide to practice selective amnesia for anything they chose. But we, the voters have a different agenda from that of the MSM. The post debate polls must have been telling them something if they care to listen.

[politicalgal1]

See the new SARAH PALIN BARBIE DOLL:

http://www.Vabooomer.com

[happytrails]

Is that Moose Pie Barbie?

[Jer1957]

I support Obama because we need a Bush 3rd Term. Support the Bush Bottomless Bailout. Arianna's patrons need the money to stave off ruin. And scare an investment banker: say DERIVATIVES EXPOSURE real loud.

[shanefish]

Finally, I am able to laugh. This has been way too stressful! We got this guys, relax and enjoy the show. We definately need to lighten up and keep in our sights, the ultimate goal. I have too many times stooped to their level to argue a point. We need to remember that it is we who hold the moral highground and although I fear another 4 years of acting like greedy, uninquisitive fools in the face of the rest of the world. They are wrong and we are right. Funny thing is, I'm not even a democrat nor a liberal, for that matter. They have caused a 3rd party rebel to vote democrat almost straight down the line in the last 2 elections. Way too funny. It's over and they know it, let's have some popcorn!

[NTO08]

You better pray that's true...wit­h 200K votes being tossed in Ohio thanks to the moronic shenanigans of ACORN, Obama needs to come up with a monstrous plurality there, and fast.

[Fudgefase]

Do any of this 200k KNOW they've been disenfranchised? Or is the Bush Govt deliberately setting up rioting on election day so that he can declare martial law and the election null and void?

[The5thW]

Neocons picking Palin a as standard bearer is like picking a charismatic liberal at the beginning of the Reagan Era--a muse for a constuency in its irrelevant dodderage. That the eccentric but but honest Goldwater of my youth has come fullcircle to a strip mall street pol makes me feel old. The thing that we haven't yet seen fully is weather the charisma of sex on the female side can withstand the ravages of ageing. Is it cruel to ask if she'll thrill them as much 4 years from now? When the infatuation passes, what will sustain the relationship with more than cunning? The nerds in the class got to pick the head cheerleader when they themselves were paunchy and balding. Maintaining the young trophy as she, too, ages is as familiar a story as her running mate.

[Fudgefase]

Isn't it Jeb's turn in 2012 anyway?

[ChristianEcon.com]

I don't get it; how does this "put the country at risk"??

[Tammie]

It's sad if you don't get it....He put the country at risk by picking someone he knew was unexperienced. But, OK say some people say Obama doesn't have experience. Atleast he is smart and very educated which goes a long way. Can you say that about Palin?look at the few interviews she has done the woman has no smarts what so ever.

[bp090499]

John McCain put the country at risk because Sarah Palin is simply not qualified to be President. Case in point: W was not qualified to be President and look where we are now.

[ScottyD1982]

It's simple. John McCain has a 25% chance of dying in the next 4 years. If he is President, and he dies, Sarah Palin has her hand on the red button.

Now tell me with a straight face that you think that isn't risky.

[luvly56]

John McCain is really a descent man and I respect him. But he didnt use his brain at all when it came to picking Sara Palin who is as unqualified for the VP position as I am. Sara Palin reminds me of a Black Activist or a KKK leader who excites people and keep them aroused by her talks at her rallies. But all her good talking stirs and builds racial anger into the hearts of individuals who is racially motivated against people of color anyway. She ducks every reporter and escapes the media because Sara Palin knows that if they ask her about politics or about what would she do after becoming the runner up for VP, she could never answer the question. Do you know WHY? Because Sara Palin do not know the answer. She is a BIG MISTAKE FOR THIS COUNTRY. If Sara Palin get into office we will see rioting, more hatred, more wars and it would be terrible.

[shanefish]

It is our task to keep the prophecized armegeddon from happening. That is not the world we want to hand our children is it? They are giddy thinking the end is near and they're going to float off into the sky holding Jesus' hand. As a scientific-minded person, I personally do not want another 4 years of this.

[Maurizio]

As a concerned Canadian , it's a great relief to see that the American people are finally coming to realize they have to remove the fanatical religious zealots from power. These wingnuts are a threat to the health and economic stability of the world.

[jimpleasant]

Put at risk....ye­s we were even put at risk when John got the general election nomination.
Instead of just one person who does not have a clue we end up with two.
Palin has shown us all her intelligence in her interviews­...she is likeable, sometimes overbearing, but definitely not one you would want to run this country.
John is not one you want to run the country either as he lives in a glass bubble compared to 99% of the people in this country. He has no clue what it is like to live on a fixed income below $100+ million.
He likes wars also which is not good for this country. He also likes to talk but whatever he says makes no sense at all. He seems pretty dumb to me as does Sarah Baracudda.
We need leaders not "special needs" individuals like John n' Sarah.
They may come across as nice people but they are too stupid the run this country in "crunch time" like now. I myself consider the 2 of them a "disgrace" to our ability to choose intelligent people to run for President and Vice President. If there were 3 of them they would be known as "the three stooges."
They might be called now "dumb & dumber."

[haval2]

look at what he did to his first wife and how he did it. if more people knew these facts...th­ey would not be scratching their heads about his insane pick of sarah guilty as charged palin. thye would understand that he is an opportunist and damned the rest of the world. puts our country in the possible hands of a less than rookie like, Guilty As Charged Palin...si­mply irresponsible and hardly America First!

[tylerwest]

Palin = Obama. Period. Neither are qualified for the position. But the people who voted for Obama instead of Hillary Clinton, said that they wanted someone "new, a washington outsider, and that experience was over-rated­"... Palin fits that desciption exactly as Obama. Don't forget the SNL
skits during the primary that made Obama look like a "bumbling idiot" who simply agreed with
Hillary after she answered all the tough questions.

[ChristianEcon.com]

Okay, if you don't forget rightwing ideology has sent everything into a tailspin the last 7 3/4 years.

[DeniseD]

That "no experience" argument about Obama doesn't cut it anymore. It is simply not true. It is a talking point that Hillary tried in order to win the Democratic nomination during the primaries, but we didn't even buy it back then.

Go over to Politico to post your inane ramblings.

[AllAlongTheWatchtower]

Wow...ther­e's a news flash from the city...Did any real news come out of this "Time Warner Summit" or did these hacks simply rehash what they've all been talking about and what we've all known for the past few weeks.

[Ave-Gabrielle]

Put country at risk? As if THAT'S all!? My God, with Sarah Palin in the White House, and, she is so scared she won't even talk to even easy CNN Larry King or, how about ANY soft news anchor. She choked on Katie Couric, but, we're supposed to tell ourselves if McCain wins and anything should happen to him or he is not able to make a decision and Sarah Palin is under pressure to make a decision but she won't even TALK to our media/press--we're supposed to feel safe? Women drooling and so desperate to see a skirt in charge. Well, ladies, maybe not this time. How desperate are you? I'd rather chance on Barack-Biden. The only worries I'd have is Biden's temper because he is passionate about his causes, but they are fair causes. McCain's temper? He said in an interview that even when he's wrong it doesn't make the other person right. I'm still trying to understand the McCain Brain.

[mightyaphrodite00]

I have to say that I don't have any female friends who feel that they are glad to see this particular woman picked as VP choice. On the contrary, in McCains long history of misogynist acts, I think picking a complete idiot (but a WOMAN so hey, I must be enlightened!) is probably the most misogynist thing he has pulled. He shows his contempt for all of the female gender by assuming we would be sucked into this trick. To understand his feelings toward women, just read this: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

[twimc]

You are so correct. I am a female, 62-year-old, life-long moderate Republican, although I am now registered as decline-to-state in my native California, because the Republicans have left me behind on so many issues I have had to cross-over several times. I was never totally enamoured with McCain, but I was totally flummoxed when he picked Palin for VP.
What was he thinking? She is totally unqualified for the job. I have a friend who was a 3-term successful Republican mayor of a small town that is 5 times larger than Wasilla. I'm sure she would never have the hubris to believe herself qualified for VP of the US. I think it was a good political move to go for a woman. But what about Olympia Snowe? Or Kay Bailey Hutchison? Or any of many other more qualified women? Or any qualified man (perhaps more qualified than McCain, himself). Palin needs to pull out NOW. There is no other possible way for McCain to prevail in the Nov. 4 election. Kudos to you, Christopher Buckley, Kathleen Parker and other commentators for publicly saying the right thing.

[tylerwest]

62 year olds don't use the internet and they certainly don't hang out with the kids on the
huffington post! your post is ridiculous -- preaching to the choir.

[egstra]

62 year olds don't use the internet or hang out on the Huffington post? You're kidding, right? You need to open your mind a bit... there are many of us old folks around.

[DeniseD]

What? My husband is 60 and knows more about a computer than I do.

[GJKBEAR]

Hey! We don't all go out to pasture when we hit 60! There are plenty of us still using the net and expressing our opinion...­. Just because we hit 60 or over does not mean that our minds turn to mush and we quit being p***ed off when a Sarah Palin decides to p*** on our legs and tell us it's raining! I know some 80 year olds who might just think circles around you..As my mom used to say - "Think before you speak...it­'ll save you a fortune on removing your foot from your mouth & engage your brain before your lips speak...

[jmcalli]

I'm 62. I've been using the Internet since 1993. It's interesting that in one post you say no one under 30 should be allowed to vote. Now you say no one over 60 is smart enough to use the Internet. I think you are just out to offend anyone who doesn't hold you narrow conservative ideas and are incapable of rational thought. Your world is shrinking by the minute.

[SOLERSO68]

My Mom,who is 63, turned me on to Huffington Post. 4 years ago

[imsosure]

Yep he knows but he just doesn't care. In fact I don't think he really wants the job but no one else could convince Rethuglicans across the country to elect anyone with any common sense or a basic sense of right from wrong. How's that humble pie tasting John Boy?