Palin A "Whack Job," Top McCain Adviser Says

One of John McCain's advisers recently called his running mate Sarah Palin a "diva" after she went off-script at a rally, and suggested she was looking after her own political future over the current campaign. Now another adviser ups the ante in a conversation with the Politico's Playbook, labeling Palin a "whack job."

Meanwhile, Dana Milbank reports on more signs of division between McCain and his running mate on the stump:

"Sarah Oh-Twelve!" bellowed a man in field coat and jeans, one of several thousand at the Leesburg rally, when Palin spoke about her tax policies yesterday.

The oh-twelve message, if mathematically flawed, seemed to capture the crowd's sentiment. There were "I [Heart] Palin" bumper stickers on cars, "Team Sarah" T-shirts in pink, "Sarah!" pins and countless signs: "You Go Girl." "You're in Palin Country." "Maverick Barracuda." One of the souvenir vendors said his most popular offering was a pin showing Palin next to a pit bull and the usual "McCain-Palin" logo reversed, with her name first and in larger letters.

...

The diva made sure to spend some time on her "own track record" in Alaska, particularly all the taxes she cut. "Sarah! Sarah!" the crowd chanted.

"So, Virginia, will you hire us?" she asked. "Will you send us to Washington?"

"Yes, we will! Yes, we will!"

In 2012, that is.

Comments

[oregonideas]

11:03 AM on 11/06/2008

I'm a life-long Democrat, but I do have some sympathy for the more moderate, reasonable faction of the GOP. The party has been hyjacked by the Yahoos of the right...make that far-right...and flown into the ground. Anyone who actually sees Sarah Palin as Presidential timber must, by definition, be more ignorant than Sarah Palin....and that's not good. Hopefully, Palin (like Joe the Plumber) will be just a footnote in American political history attesting to the lack of judgment shown by McCain and his campaign strategists. Certainly, there will be a battle over the paternity of the campaign's failure. But, lacking conclusive DNA evidence, the GOP should have ample blame to distribute among Party leaders. It's ironic that the first (and only) sensible, articulate and gracious speech by McCain was his concession speech. I really can't believe Palin wanted to speak before him....just a little more evidence of her clueless nature. Surely, the more sensible GOP leaders will bring the Party back to a more centrist political philosophy and banish Palin to the wilds of Alaska.

[Actongue]

11:38 PM on 11/03/2008

the poll is from hays research group from alaska so can not verify has to accuracey but seems to be the trend with her dropping like rock

[Actongue]

11:37 PM on 11/03/2008

(IF UNDECIDED:) Well, toward whom do you lean?

McCain/Palin 46.6%
Undecided - Lean McCain/Palin 1.7%
Obama/Biden 43.9%
Undecided - Lean Obama/Biden 0.7%
Other Candidate 2.0%
Don't Know / Refused 5.1%

For more good reads head to mudflats.com

[VirginiaK]

01:19 PM on 10/31/2008

Isn't it "wack job," not "whack job"?

[MarciL]

01:58 AM on 11/06/2008

No.

[jemiltd]

01:06 PM on 10/31/2008

If the GOP is eating its own now, can we all see what it will be like if McCain/Palin win? I am hoping that people vote as they say they are going to and this thing is over early on Tuesday night.

[anniegirl9]

12:20 PM on 10/31/2008

Palin -you go girl! Right on back to Alaska that is!

[DrBuzzieBoomBatz]

11:57 AM on 10/31/2008

Johnny, Sarah, Elisabeth, Billo, Ann Coulter...all dressed up and no where to go for Halloween!
Scary is as scary does! NO CHOCOLATES FOR YOU!

http://drbuzzieboombatz.wordpress.com/

[g7mom]

10:12 AM on 10/31/2008

There will always be issues. There will always be people who are crazy about one candidate or the other. Regardless of the personalities of the people running; more important than the media's stories and opinions; more important than how the candidates speak, look or are presented to the public is ONE THING: ethics. McCain and Palin both have very strong pro-life positions. This alone makes the choice for President simple. To vote for the 2nd and 3rd most liberal senators (Obama and Biden), both of whom are firmly and blatantly proabortion, would be unconscionable. Obama has actually said that if he wins, he would like his first action as president to be the signing of the Freedom of Choice Act, which would eliminate every other law against any aspect of abortion (partial birth abortion, parental notification, etc.). And with a democratic majority in the House and Senate, pretty much any legislation he and Biden want to pass will be a slam-dunk. As a mother of five, I just cannot, in good conscience, vote for Obama. While I am not crazy about the campaigns, or frankly, either of the top two candidates, I must vote based on my core value system. I hope there are many others out there like me who value life. I also love America and believe that to hold the highest military office in the land, you should probably know something about the military by having served your country. McCain has done that.

[Pambie]

11:26 AM on 10/31/2008

Dear, NO one - I repeat NO ONE - is pro-abortion. We are pro-choice. You are anti-choice. It is simple as that.

And truth be told, you are being used by folks like McCain, Palin, et all, who really don't give a rat's ass about the issue of abortion - other than to garner votes. This is not an issue of pro-life/anti-life, it is, once again, an issue about money.

The rich will always have access to safe abortions, be they legal or not (didn't W's college girlfriend have an illegal abortion?). What they want to do is make abortion illegal for the poor and middle class.

I am a mother too. And I am old enough to have known someone who nearly died from an illegal abortion (and, btw, a woman who was my role model as a mother). When my children were born I prayed that every child would come into the world as wanted as my daughters.

[timezone]

12:29 PM on 10/31/2008

Well said, Pambie. And interesting to note, Palin is against choice even in cases of rape or incest. She has said she would like to see Roe vs. Wade repealed.

[g7mom]

07:54 PM on 10/31/2008

Thank you for your kind, respectful reply. I do understand your point. I never said I was pro-choice. Children are not choices to me. It only takes nine months to give the life in you the ability to make CHOICES. I believe that people should take responsibility for their actions. There is no lack of inexpensive, even free, birth control in this country. If you make a mistake, live with it for 9 months and then do the noble thing and give that child to someone who desperately wants children but cannot have them. I know people who are on waiting lists to adopt. Just because the biological parent doesn't want the child doesn't mean the child is not wanted by God. It also doesn't mean that child will be unwanted by other people who may have spent years waiting for that child. If you look at statistics, most abortions are not due to rape or incest.

Thanks again for your kind reply.

[ryancammer]

12:53 PM on 10/31/2008

people like you make me sick. i have to subsidize your children through my taxes, since i'm pretty certain you don't make six figures. you may change the diapers, but i help send your kids to school.

five children. how irresponsible can you possibly be? and then to suggest that people go out there and have even more unwanted children??? how much of your financial burden do you want me to shoulder? i'm not the one cranking out kids at every opportunity, so why should i pick up your tab?

go ahead and vote for mccain. it's really an iq test. you're the half of the population on the left side of the gaussian distribution, and no doubt your kids are too. by the time all is said and done, and your kids have five kids, and their kids have five kids, you'll have 125 walmart employees whose healthcare i'm subsidizing.

but it's never money with you people. it's the will of GOD, right? GOD wants you to procreate procreate procreate until you turn this country into the christian equivalent of India.

you disgust me. unfortunately, you're not alone. it starts with the mind plague that is religion, in particular christianity (at least in this country), which is based on a whimsical premise, and then gets very, very dark. wars, witch burnings, and hatred and intolerance. like most religions, except with a whimsical premise.

i can't believe that critical thinking is completely absent in the majority of the population.

jesus.

[g7mom]

07:23 PM on 10/31/2008

I would never dream of attacking someone the way you attacked me. You don't know me or my kids. You don't know my circumstances or my income level. You don't know my religious beliefs either. You assumed many things - most of which were incorrect. You did get one thing right though - I do love Jesus. Your mean-spirited ranting post (which has nothing to do with the issues) goes to show that the Jesus I know could do a wonderful work in your heart too and then maybe you would not be so angry and judgemental. Talk about hatred and intolerance - what did YOU just show ME without knowing anything about me. I will pause to pray for you to accept Jesus right now.

God bless!

[g7mom]

07:36 PM on 10/31/2008

One more thing...what if your mother would have decided that you shouldn't live to see the light of day? Then I guess you wouldn't be around to throw insults at others on blogs. I bet you would feel and respond very differently if you met me (and my great, wanted, loved children). Respectful postings are great. We can all agree to disagree, as we are all unique individuals with different passions and beliefs.

[Ronnin72]

09:35 AM on 10/31/2008

The woman is an Avowed Socialist, has ties to Millenial Dispenstationlism (End of the world/Return of J.Christ is Coming Right Up) and sleeps with a Seperatist that has ties to Domestic Terrorism (Tod and the AIP.). Yet these facts receive Minimal coverage and some people Can't Get Enought?!?!?? Clements was right, you can indeed fool some of the people All Of The Time!

[Midnightrain]

09:46 AM on 10/31/2008

Her appeal is completely irrational. That is, no one who supports her can give a rational explanation for why they do.

I can't wait until the scholarly literature comes out on the psychology behind this madness--something that explains exactly what she's been able to tap into.

[Pambie]

11:36 AM on 10/31/2008

It's already been written: http://www.amazon.com/Explaining-Hitler-Search-Origins-Evil/dp/006095339X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1225467336&sr=8-1

[Afrique]

08:58 AM on 10/31/2008

lol. Dissension in the ranks, eh. That's not good but expected. Palin's unqualified and definitely not up for the job.

Jay-Z backs Obama. Check out the new rap video - One vote, One Voice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNqcFI-AEOw

[AllenAllen]

07:55 AM on 10/31/2008

THE BARRACUDA HAS JUMPED THE SHARK!

[LAThinker]

02:23 AM on 10/31/2008

Happy Halloween everyone see your favorite characters having a party Feel free to carve the pumpkin http://www.ucubd.com/Index.aspx?id=871&cid=3168

[honestpolitician]

11:25 PM on 10/30/2008

LISTEN ALL: Please Go Vote! There has been confirmed reports of voting fraud with the Republican Party and its supporters. Obama is need of all the votes necessary to create a landslide. Let's make sure that our state turns blue! Voting is a right and a privilege. Let's all make history together! (wouldn't you be proud to tell your kid(s) that you contributed to history 1 year from now, 5 years from now, 10 years from now or 20 years from now? - I surely would.)

http://politicaladattacks.blogspot.com/

[Britta100]

11:14 PM on 10/30/2008

They can call Palin all the names they want but McCain picked her and made the decisions on how to present her to the country. However ,if she didn't like the way they were "handling" her she should have done something about it. You don't present yourself as pitbull and behave like a trained toy poodle.

[Dodge]

11:35 AM on 10/31/2008

Palin was presented to the country in the best way the McCain could have done.

Palin was not vetted... the more she opened her mouth the worse McCain's pick of Palin became obvious. Within the last couple of days Palin showed that she is not VP, Presidential or a national figure. Palin is a runner up beauty contestant that went further than her knowledge or education allowed. Republicans in high places are jumping ship and they are finally admitting that Palins pick as vp is a joke and that she is not ready. There were more qualified people in the Republican party.

[batmanindy]

09:43 PM on 10/30/2008

I can not wait for her to LEAVE!

What is it, 5 more days?

Go Obama!