Kathleen Parker: McCain Chose Palin For Her Looks

Conservative Kathleen Parker's column tearing apart Sarah Palin's qualifications netted her thousands of hate letters. But that hasn't stopped her from following up with another salvo on the Republican vice presidential nominee. This time, she posits that Palin's appearance has something to do with the hasty way she was picked.

My husband called it first. Then, a brilliant 75-year-old scholar and raconteur confessed to me over wine: "I'm sexually attracted to her. I don't care that she knows nothing."

Finally, writer Robert Draper closed the file on the Sarah Palin mystery with a devastating article in this Sunday's New York Times Magazine: "The Making (and Remaking) of McCain."

McCain didn't know her. He didn't vet her. His campaign team had barely an impression. In a bar one night, Draper asked one of McCain's senior advisers: "Leaving aside her actual experience, do you know how informed Governor Palin is about the issues of the day?"

The adviser thought a moment and replied: "No, I don't know."

...

One does not have to be a psychoanalyst to reckon that McCain was smitten. By no means am I suggesting anything untoward between McCain and his running mate. Palin is a governor, after all. She does have an executive résumé, if a thin one. And she's a natural politician who connects with people.

But there can be no denying that McCain's selection of her over others far more qualified -- and his mind-boggling lack of attention to details that matter -- suggests other factors at work. His judgment may have been clouded by . . . what?

Read the whole thing.

Rachel Weiner is an Associate Politics Editor at the Huffington Post. She can be reached here.

Comments

[Foucek]

So this is why she got the wardrobe, and the makeup artist....­.hmmmmm.

[InspiredbyObama]

Good grief, I hope not!

[livingston1]

Topic change....­did anyone hear about Palin's speech today concerning children with special needs? She stated that if she's VP she would redirect funds from earmarks into projects for special need children. The kicker? She was making fun of the research being done on Fruit Flies. If she truly had a passion for understanding Autism as she was stating, then she would know that the reseach being done with Friuit Flies is to help people with Autisum--the flies produce a certain protien that helps fight Autism. I have to wonder how much Palin knows about Trig's disability.

[btanner]

I'm sure she'd be more supportive of fruitfly research had Noah brought a couple of fruitflies with him in his arc. He did bring a couple of dinosaurs though.

[NoSillyName]

She is an ignorant *ss.

[5075]

If Palin's state produces so much energy and she"s gonna be our energy czar, why does her state have the highest gas prices in the nation. Her citizens needed some of that good ole government welfare in the form of a rebate check to stop the riots.

[bhshore]

She's got a pretty mouth.....­and she ain't nothin like my old lady Mary cause she's got'em nice legs and stuff ....and a pretty mouth...tw­o....

[BannedInBoston]

Yup, she shore is purty....

[StockBroker]

MCain selected Palin because she's good arm candy.

[bullwinkle88]

Kathleen hit the nail right on the head. Just look at McCain's antics in the past...how he dumped his faithful wife as soon as he got out of prison camp for a hottie with bucks.

Now that hottie is showing her age, so he looks to more fertile fields. Not to sow anymore, but simply to oogle.

He's a chauvinistic, decrepit old man who in truth hates women.

[BannedInBoston]

He really does like to "oogle" -- watch McCain's eyes carefully the next time he makes an appearance with Palin. I think you'll see something very interestin­g....

[TXfemmom]

McCain was irresponsible and rash in selecting her, and those are characteristics he has had his entire life. People cannot and will not change until they recognize that those sort of flaws in one's character are not a good thing. McCain is much like GW in that he lived a life recklessly and got much of what he got because of who he was and he never was forced to face his faults.

[BannedInBoston]

Well, if you've watched the way McCain slyly leches on Palin every time they appeared together, you can believe it. If you look carefully, you'll see the way that McCain seems to be closing his eyes, but he's actually sneaking peeks at her legs, butt (when he's standing behind her), etc., etc. Palin probably thinks of McCain as just your basic dirty old man (DOM) and she's probably right....

[imfedup]

She may be the world's first trophy VP candidate.

[SteadyOn]

Check out this hilarious video.....­.

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/b8c102be3e

[biased2]

Funny or die -- seen this one -- funny as it gets though!

[imfedup]

Yeah, he's subtle all right . . .

[gnormb]

McCain chose Palin because he wanted to be POPULAR, like she is. Was...

Speaking of popular - "Popular" from Wicked could be Palin's theme song:

"Sarah Palin Sings Popular"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvXDrOQBsrA

Please check it out. 21k people on youtube have so far without regretting it! :)

-Gnormb

[imfedup]

OK. Everyone needs to watch this video -- especially if you need a laugh.

[myoungholt]

Interesting to see this in print. It was truly the very first thing I said the first time I saw McCain and Palin on tv. Look at the various body languages. He is more ebullient with Palin and gives her more and better hugs than his own wife! The proverbial "everyone" said that couldn't be so, he's got more sense than that, etc. ad nauseum. There was a demented aged man in my family who tried to put the moves on me. Didn't work, but I sure learned a lot about body language and chemistry as I told myself I knew where to kick and could run faster.

I totally agree with Kathleen Parker.

[franksters]

Actually, William Kristol is the one who really wants to do Palin. Check out Jane Meyer's article on the selection of Palin in the New Yorker. A bunch of horny neocons found her very stimulatin­g....took a special trip up to Alaska about a year ago to 'vet' her. Yep.

[BannedInBoston]

Speaking of dirty old men (why not come out and say it) you might be interested to keep track of where John McCain's eyes tend to drift when he makes appearance with Sarah Palin. Personally, it looks to me like he's just plain leching on her (to put it bluntly). He tries to conceal this by partly closing his eyes (you will note) but doesn't quite get away with it....

[BannedInBoston]

Speaking of d.irty o.ld men (why not come out and say it) you might be interested to keep track of where John McCain's eyes tend to drift when he makes appearances with Sarah Palin. Personally, it looks to me like he's just plain lech.ing on her (to put it bl.untly). He tries to con.ceal this by partly closing his eyes (you will note) but doesn't quite get away with it....

[wordvarc]

The RNC/GOP neocons are left with only appearances and rovian doublespeaking hot air.

[4peace]

This is just like high school, gosh darn it!

[CommanderCodeine]

I'm not attracted to her but I prefer intelligent women.