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

[2876]

LOL. She sure wasn't chosen for her knowledge and depth about history, the constiution, and foreign affairs

[rick91]

Amen. Looks was the deciding factor. Not so sure that it was McCain himself who made the choice tho. Can see the "smart" guys strategizing the vp pick deciding that going with a female vp would be a great way to pick up angry HRC voters, but going with a hot chick would prevent the all-important white male voting block that the Repubs depend upon from feeling threatened by an older stronger qualified woman who might remind them of HRC or some other ball-breaker type of woman. They didn't want any sexist backlash.

[Star2000dancer]

WE SO MUST FIND A WAY TO GET RECEIPTS OR COPIES OF OUR VOTES.

[teapartydude]

McCain has a habit of chasing younger women.

Typical aviator.

[carrieanna]

Coming from Texas I was surprised he wouldn't have picked someone with more experience, like Kay Bailey Hutchinson. I figured McCain picked a younger woman who he thought he could control...­the opposite his portrayal that he chose someone as a feminist role model.

I also figured he chose her to throw discussion off of the actual issues of this election. He wanted the media frenzy over a female to cover the fact that he's not really standing on any firm platform of ideas.

Neither illusion fooled me.

[Formeralaskangal]

I've said the same thing from the very beginning here at home. He chose what I call a "cupcake" for the job, when he could have picked from any number of less physically attractive smart republican women (if he wanted a woman on the ticket).

I bedazzled t-shirts for my sister and I that read: Palin = Cupcake (ours have actual bedazzled cupcakes on them). Only thing is actual cupcakes are yummy, while McPalin'-a­round-with­-successio­nists just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[LAB11]

Well sometimes thoughts come from the wrong head. It's a fact.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

PLEASE start posting on at least 3 blogs, per day reminders to VOTE EARLY andABSENTEE VOTE. Refer them to Senator Obama's website for their states guidelines regarding VOTE EARLY/ABSENTEE VOTE in their state. This is one of the best ways we can support Senator Obama THIS WEEK by maintaining his momentum.

If we hit big numbers THIS WEEK it will keep him in the news in a POSITIVE WAY.

http://www.barackobama.com/voters/

Banking EARLY VOTES counters an OCTOBER SURPRISE

Let's knock these EARLY/ABSENTEE VOTES out the park this week.

As the song goes, let's give them something to talk about.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

11 DAYS AND COUNTING..­.........O­bama DONATIONS are LOW this month.

Ok OBAMACRATS, it is time to TAKE IT UP A NOTCH. I sent in my weekly donation at the beginning of the week.Howev­er, I just sent in an extra donation. I just can't take the chance of Senator Obama PENNY PINCHING when we are so close, 11 DAYS AWAY. I know many of us are financially drained, but think of 4 MORE MCBUSH YEARS. Which brings me to something my dad told me to keep in mind when facing adversity:

"I would rather you suffer a little while, than to suffer a lifetime."

Trust me, under McBush it will be a lifetime for us, our children and grandchildren.

PLEASE....­...DONATE!­......VOLU­NTEER!....­...DONATE!­..........­..VOLUNTEE­R!........­..DONATE!

[IntelligenceIsBliss]

Listen,

Obama has more money than God right now, it will be impossible to spend it all in 11 days...so why not send a few bucks to the Senate candidates who could really use it and lets try to get that 60 seat Supermajority which will give our side TOTAL control of the agenda in Washington DC.

[mouselion]

You've articulated well what most people are thinking. Like you said, nothing untoward is going on, but obviously McCain is not thinking unbiasedly on this.

[Chicago48]

Well let's admit it - like I've written time and again -- she makes HIM look good and look younger. Can you imagine him and Lieberman running together -- NOT! She sexes up and spices up the campaign. People come to see her, not him, and Cindy knows it....but they want to win at all costs. Besides Mitt Romney, I don't see anybody else he would have chosen that would make him look good and look younger.
Let's be for real: This is a real shot for her. She's a celebrity now, and she'll make millions.

[Tzimisce]

You've heard of thinking with your d!ck, right?
Well, McCain was vetting with his d!ck.
And on 11/4, a lot of white males will be voting with their d!cks, unfortunately.

[Matt7]

That's okay. A lot more folks will be voting with their wallets, hearts and BRAINS.

[mariah793]

I am older and may not be properly tuned in to what now is considered appropriate attire for a woman seeking high office (whether in politics or in business). Are tight skirts and very high red heels now "ok"? Is it considered acceptable to show so much leg while sitting down?

[jenny42]

That's nasty...

[maggsa]

When I was watching the debate I noticed that men voted for Palin more than women. Men completely lose it when a pretty woman talks regardless what she may be saying hence this was the outcome with Palin. On the other hand the majority of women will only support a woman if they feel that she is not alienating them and secondly she is not a bully or a xitch! As women get to know Palin they dislike her and women grow to feel that they cannot trust her. It is evident Palin is All for one! She will say whatever it takes to get into the Whitehouse. We put up with Bush, we do not want the female version in the Whitehouse.

[mouselion]

"Excite" the base. That has several valid meanings in regards to this.

[rick91]

Palin IS Bush with lipstick

[goldcoastsailor]

She always shows a lot of leg in those f-me short skirts.

[RickO]

You just figured that out?