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

[sustainabletruth]

Yep. Every time he talks about her, McCain looks like he is head over heels with Palin's "The-Sex-i­s-in-the-h­eels" Heels.

OK.So she's hot and wears nice glasses. Granted.

What baffles me the most is how people can say she is genuine and authentic (redundantly), because all I see is a fake, catty, shallow, manipulative, narcissistic beauty queen who obviously cares more about being adored than she cares about the country, as is evident by the fact that she did not blink when asked to be VP in this time of world crisis. (Though perhaps she did flutter her eyelashes?)

Please. Give me Obama. It's time for intelligence and wisdom in the White House.

[AfterTheMorningAfter]

Alright Charlie Gibson, why are you asking real questions when I am fluttering my eyelashes at you. You should be asking me questions using your smaller head, Charlie. You betcha. The Sarah Doctrine is what its all about, although I don't know what it is yet. I am still trying to figure out the job of the VP. I get back to ya and bring you some. Wink Wink you Betcha.

[jackson1015]

Parker's just summing up what everyone else in the country has figured out by now.

[hortonhearsawho]

If she is in prison at that time....

[Oregon Ivy]

Once again, a mysogynyst lets his little head do the thinking.

And we're suprised, why?

[doctordoubt]

All you have to do is watch his eyes when he's around her. Nough said.

[landoffools]

Mid. 2010 Phone Call:

Ring,Ring, Ring !!!
Republican National Committee !
Hey Guys, It's Sarah !
Sarah Who ?
Sarah, Sarah Palin !
Hold Please !
Tick,Tick,­Tick,Tick,­Tick !
Dial Tone !!!

[Greg285]

Dear Ms. Parker,

I’m glad that you have finally decided to catch up with the rest of America! Americans have always known that McCain selected Palin for her looks because that's his M.O.-- He collects trophy models..

[Emlyn]

It's a wonder McCain didn't look for a girl moose

[Sammy00400]

"Looks" might be the wrong way to put it. "Charisma" would be better" since its both physical and rhetorical appeal. She certainly qualifies for both. So does Obama. However, if Parker says Sarah was picked 'only' for the physical ('looks' if you prefer) then that would be bad.

[AZTim]

Read a great article in newest "The New Yorker" magazine and it clearly laid out how a couple of magazine (National Review and The Weekly Standard) excursions to Alaska in 2007, wherein top right-wing writers (Rich Lowry et al) fell in love (lust) with Sarah and then just had to get her chosen as GOP VP candidate. Need to read.

[ilikbshbtntgeo]

I read it too. Why is that this country is repeatedly at the mercy of the wet-dreams of neo-con chicken-hawks? First Iraq, now Palin.

[standforpeace]

Yep.

[Deadmoose]

I must be weird. I don't find her attractive at all.

[Emlyn]

I don't think she is even nice looking. She looks ragged. There's nothing there - looks or brains except to rip off the Alaskan people.

[S1m0n]

Moi aussi. Yuck!

[GerryS]

dumb as a rock, and a voice more obnoxious that mary hart's

[amluvinit2]

All too often in this world, that is how women are chosen for postions all over this country. I have to admit, that's how I got in the door to a couple of businesses. But, how irresponsible was McCain, this isn't a postion where I have to lead a few people, it is a postition where she may have to run a whole country, then we would all be SOL. Another politician letting his other head do the thinking.

[rick91]

Watched Fox Propaganda channel last night for as long as I could stand. Greta what-her-name was still going on and on about how the media is SO unfair to poor Palin. SO "sexist".
They're still trying to keep those Repub-leaning women who were thinking of voting for HRC angry.
Don't think it's working.
Fox used to help the Repubs win elections. They're so out of touch with where the majority of the country is now, I think fox is helping greatly to make the Repubs the odd man out politically.
They just seem to be living on a different planet than the majority of Americans.

[CCJJLEE]

For the Mayans, it was over in 1502, when Columbus landed in Central America.

It was over for the Mayans in 1200 A. D . Columbus never even saw a Mayan, brain surgeon. This is why the correct side thinks you all are American hating, self hating Psychopaths!! You prove it over and over and over again. You will slough this off and go back to you're ranting, facts be damned! Try reading history before you quote it. You might learn something useful.