Top McCain Aides: 'Palin Simply Knew Nothing About National And International Issues'

The McCain campaign continues to snipe at each other over the handling, and subsequent effect, of Sarah Palin on the campaign trail. According Nicole Wallace, a senior McCain aide who is one of Palin's handlers and helped to orchestrate her initial rollout, there is an 'organized campaign to lay blame' for things at her feet. Robert Draper, however, offers a defense of Wallace, saying she's kept quiet about things that a couple of McCain higher-ups have leaked to him, and that Wallace was in a very unenviable position:

I'm sympathetic to Eskew and Wallace, and not just because they're decent people. They've held their tongue from leaking what a couple of McCain higher-ups have told me--namely, that Palin simply knew nothing about national and international issues. Which meant, as one such adviser said to me: "Letting Sarah be Sarah may not be such a good thing." It's a grim binary choice, but apparently it came down to whether to make Palin look like a scripted robot or an unscripted ignoramus. I was told that Palin chafed at being defined by her discomfiting performances in the Couric, Charlie Gibson, and Sean Hannity interviews. She wanted to get back out there and do more. Well, if you're Eskew and Wallace, what do you say to that? Your responsibility isn't the care and feeding of Sarah Palin's ego; it's the furtherance of John McCain's quest for the presidency.

Draper also reports that McCain snubbed Palin during a long ride on the Straight Talk Express.

Comments

[alleycat32]

And she is still uninformed. Just the laughing stock of America.

[LisaLisa1234]

Well, at least the "fake" America, lol...

She can probably console herself that the "real" America loves her.

[justobserve]

The bucks stopped with McCain himself. Why on earth could he have chosen a VP just by an hour long interview by the secamore tree with her? People get the top jobs by their reputation of at least similar position previously, not just by a title "governor" of a 670,000 resident state where Palin was elected with only 114,000 votes for a country of 300 miliion people. As soon as Palin opened her mouth to deliver a speechwriter-speech smoothly but with scathing attacks of everyone who is not a Republican, it was obvious that Palin won't win votes for McCain. After a few interviews, Palin's empty-headed show of inexperience and incurious mind were too bare to see. She can play acting with being presidential just like an actress but to be a real VP is out of her range. Some people even said she energized the base so will be a force in 2012. If she can't do it this time with her divisive tactics, her MO to win in Alaska, how could she do it in the future? She must learn to broaden her knowledge so she would know the world has passed her, and her state, by in having a very diverse culture in this country. Our strength is in uniting with our differences, not divide to conquer as in the olden days. McCain and Palin: a double fraudulent act.

[Liberalforsure]

She is who she is and all the high priced clothes, fancy make up, gorgeous glasses and cutsie manner are never going to change the fact that she is a clueless pathological liar.

[ReasonableBill]

and McCain thought and still thinks she is in a position to be President. I do not think John McCain is prepared for the job, if this is a view into his decision making ability. Yes John you may have been tested, but you failed.

[Ignatz88]

In the waning days of this campaign, if things tighten up as the media keeps saying, the Democrats should hope and pray that the GOP lets Palin be Palin. The more she talks, the better it is for the Democrats. Please let Sarah (insert airquote here) off the leash (end airquote) so that she can really tell us what's on her (begin airquote) mind (end airquote).

[JungleRoses]

It was obvious that Palin agreed to be exploited by McCain; they both thought sexism would help boost the ticket. We'll have to see how it plays out? Why did Palin allow her introduction to the American people to involve evading the media, exploiting her children (then requesting privacy), high-end shopping and her infamous interviews indicating "she was not ready for VP". Palin cannot CRY WOLF! she fulfilled her destiny.

[QueenVictoria]

Isn't the more important question - "Who is ready to be President?"

[Pupadup4oBama]

That's EXACTLY the question - the answer is NO one is ready, but who is ready to LEAD the BEST.
Who has their faculties together, who has the thoughtfulness, compassion and desire to bring people together to work for the greater good.
THAT is who is ready to be president.

[wagthedog1001]

She SHOT the wolf!

[concernvoter]

McCain and his campaign committed knew they did not know anything about Palin at the beginning, so why are they slamming on her now.

[Pupadup4oBama]

they gotta blame someone - and it's always the new guy that gets the shaft.

[corsair1917]

Ready to step in on day one.... that has always been McCain definition of a qualification for VP... His first "presidential" decision and he chose Palin. --- Enough said.

BTW - my quotes are used the way McCain seems to use them... I think that Jon Stewart calls them "di*k fingers"

[hortonhearsawho]

The one magazine she did'nt read, oh darn.

[deweycat]

What has happened to the U.S. electorate in the past 20 years? This desire to elect leaders you feel "comfortable having a beer with", who are all the more charming because they speak as if they dropped out of Tech school in grade 10, and relish their lack of familiarity with foreign countries (as Palin did) because the aren't "members of the elite"... I am not, either, but certainly read as much as i can, and am versed enough to have an informed opinion...
Eisenhower didn't speak or act like "Joe six pack"... neither did JFK... Johnson was a Texan and he pulled his dog's ears, but he acted like a leader... Nixon certainly didn't try to act like a hick... Carter had a common touch but didn't reduce himself; Reagan was the master of a common man, but mantained his dignity... as did Bush Snr... Clinton started the slide, perhaps, with his folksy charm... but it is the most recent past where it seems intelligence, eloquence & poise seem like impediments to American voters... It seems to be a uniquely American trait - you didn't see Tony Blair & Marg Thatcher trying to speak like a cockney; you don't see Steven Harper (Cdn PM) dropping his "g"s...
I fear i have to quote Walt Kelly "we have met the enemy... and he is us".
Please turn this thing around, America

[Pennsieve]

I agree with most of your points, and heartily. "Joe Six-Pack" is an alcoholic who can't reason, and an unreasoning government is what the American public has been saddled with for the past eight years. I hesitate to say the American public "elected" this government because Bush was not elected by the people in 2000 and there is some question about whether Ohio votes were manipulated in 2004. But back to the issue.
We need someone of great intelligence who can unravel the complicated mess the Bushies have made. My only disagreement, deweycat, is with your evaluation of Clinton. Not the "folksy charm," yes, he had that. However, no one in his presence could ever dispute his towering intellect. As a Rhodes scholar and attorney, he may have been one of our brightest presidents. He might well have gone down in history as one of the best - he turned around deficits during his administration - but for his Achilles heel, Monica.

[gadfly55]

Clinton sold out to Wall Street, and didn't take out Bin Laden, he presided over a bubble and bought the Republican agenda. Sell out. His character defect allowed the Republicans to attack him and consequently defeat Gore. He is a tragic figure, read Macbeth, for a plot summary for the Clintons, good riddance, they were outrageous in their ambition and contempt and will not be forgiven for the rubbish they threw at Obama which is still being used.

[rucognizant]

it's because the pro-life fundies are proliferating faster than the rest of us!
That's at the basis of the pro-life , ( & anti-gay partnership, who don't reproduce.­) platform!
They're working VERY HARD to infiltrate government, as part of their master plan!

[gadfly55]

Dumbing down, low standards in education to save money, a culture dedicated to the almighty (sic) dollar, to bottom lines, to tax cuts, to war, to prison, to gated "communities" , to pre-emptive strikes, to gas guzzlers, to credit cards, to consumption, to self-indulgence, to lack of accountability, to doing whatever you want without a care for anyone, anywhere, or anytime. There are millions of people who are lost, can't keep up, don't know, can't know, don't want to know, couldn't care less, whatever, emotionally wrecked, totally distracted, can't make ends meet, can't cope, can't function and don't have the time, ever. This is the wreckage of the system which rewards the worst instincts in humanity, and the system is now broken.

[omenapt]

Best summation of affairs I have ever seen.. I will share with others! Quite poignant!

thanks!

[Punkynsnow]

What has happened is that behind the scenes there is an agenda the far right has that makes it advantageous to them to have a not very bright person as the front man (President) whose sole function is figurehead. This is what they've sold to the public with Dubya. Sarah is simply a female version. The puppet-prez gives them the cover they need to pursue their goals.

Sounds crazy until you start digging. Look up Pro ject for a New American Centu ry. Look at when it started and who's involved, and you will understand a great deal.

They have made great strides in the past 8 years in achieving their goals. Our civil liberties have been eroded, and the people bought it hook line and sinker (Patriot Act anyone?). That is what makes this election the most important of our lifetimes. We need to save our democracy from these f@cists.

[omenapt]

I think the advent of Reality TV has given rise to instant and unwarranted stardom and media frenzy!

It gives to the notion, almost like a lottery ticket, that "anyone" can become President, or famous, or rich, "just like that"!

[jobecky20]

there is an 'organized campaign to lay blame' for things at her feet

Uh...hello­???? McCain agreed to have her on his ticket. The blames lies with him 100 percent. He should have vetted her. He should have realized that energizing the base would turn off independents and even some Republican­s...these are the people he needs on his side.

[NChooseK]

The words "organized campaign" should not be used in any sentence describing the people who worked for John McCain this year.

[filo]

there is an 'organized campaign to lay blame' for things at her feet

That is about the only thing they organized well......­lol

[TallGrrl]

No s h i t e Sherlock!
Why the hell do you have to TEACH a VP candidate about National and International Issues??!!!!
Shouldn't a VP already HAVE that knowledge? ESPECIALLY THESE DAYS????
Every time this chick opens her pie hole, the ignorance that spews forth is STAGGERING.
Anyone who supports this walking embodiment of Category 5 Stupidity, and has children, should be ashamed.
WTF?!!!
WTFFFF!!!!!

[DirkdenHartogForObama]

For all you trolls who are screaming Obama is a socialist. Let me remind you that Mc cain has NEVER done an honest days' work in his life and since BIRTH has been brought up on taxpayers money and has lived on taxpayers money his whole life. if thats not SOCIALISM I don't know what is.

[worldtraveller]

C'mon... I want to see him get crushed in this election but don't be the inverse of hannity yourself. The guy has definitely worked. How he got there, notwithstanding, becoming a naval aviator is hard work.

[worldtraveller]

my apologies inverse would not be technically the correct word as that would be a good thing. but you get the idea.

[luluy]

Excuse me! Do you think fighting for our country, to help keep you and I safe, was nothing??

[worldtraveller]

Fighting for our country... Yes

To help keep you and I safe... hmm... I wasn't around to see but I never read anything about the Vietnamese coming here and taking over America after we left.

Just another foolish war

[mamala4]

DUH...they are just realizing this now? And they picked her because she could take over if something happened to McCain? Dumb de Dumb Dumb...

[luluy]

Sarah Palin has more knowledge and common sense than most people already sitting there in Washington filling their pockets with tax payers money. How much of our tax money went into Nancy Pelosi's husband's business????

[imfedup]

I don't know. You tell us.

[Heru1]

what's the difference between sarah palin and a dog? Lipstick

[jimme]

She's got as much common sense and knowledge as the washington monument.
Be serious. She's nothing but looks and if you're a female you should be offended by that.

[ultrabop]

Yeah, she's about Nancy Pelosi's speed, as far as ethics are concerned, although I have a hunch that Pelosi knows something about something.

[rucognizant]

Sarah Palin has more knowledge and common sense than most people
Can you list these items? knowledge of what, common sense HOW applied?

[bodo]

Yesterday Palin's phony "country folk" accent had completely disappeared and she spoke normal English. Yep, apparently it jess keeps comin' and goin' for the hicks, you betcha!

[ultrabop]

she's had voice training, as well as wardrobe and face makeovers.