At First Glance, Palin Is A Smart Choice

I can't say I'm all that surprised by John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) as his runningmate. At first glance - and this will be negated if bad scandals come out - the choice is a very smart one, so smart, in fact, that, as an Obama supporter, it scares me.

Here's four reasons why this is a pretty smart choice - and for progressives, I think its a good idea that we look at these factors as we head into the final stretch of the campaign:

1. Putting a woman on the ticket is McCain's best hope to peel off some disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters. I'm not saying it's going to work all that well, as I don't think most women simply vote for women, regardless of their positions on issues. But if McCain really does have a chance to win over Clinton supporters, picking Palin is as good a shot as any to try to do that.

2. Palin comes from an energy state, and specifically, an oil and gas state. With Democrats' pathetically (yet predictably) tepid behavior on the drilling issue, the GOP senses an opportunity to exploit it, and you can bet Palin will be making the drilling case, with first-person narratives and anecdotes.

3. It will be difficult - though not impossible - for the Obama campaign to make an experience argument against Palin. Even though Palin is probably the most inexperienced candidate for vice president in contemporary American history, the Republicans have spent months attacking Obama's supposed lack of experience. So when gnats like Rahm Emanuel issue silly, over-the-top press releases about Palin's career, they re-open an experience debate that John McCain probably wants to have with Obama.

4. As the Nation's Chris Hayes reports, Palin is a die-hard right-winger who could help McCain solidify the Republican base.

Again, all of these assets could be negated by things that come out about Palin's career and/or gaffes she makes on the campaign trail. I'm sure hoping that's what happens, and we'll need to really help examine and publicize the most odious parts of her record, as well as make the case that the experience of a 72-year-old candidate's VP choice is especially important. But we underestimate her - and the McCain operation - at our peril.

Finally, let's step back a moment, take off the partisan blinders, and celebrate. Palin's nomination all but guarantees that the United States will either have its first African American president or its first female vice-president. I desperately hope its the former, and not the latter - but the historic nature of either is something to be pretty happy about.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate

Comments

[NeoLiberal]

I'm sure all YouTubers and photogs are frantically searching the web for every picture and every speech she's had with Ted Stevens?

Her campaign speeches for governer? Legislation she's championed?

What was her opinion of the Exxon-Valdez debacle? Even though she wasn't governor then, I'm sure she was vocal in some way or another...

Bloggers and Googlers etc., get busy and start searching.

[WhitemoonG]

From a convervative, bravo to the author for one of the best commentaries I've seen on Huffpo. Even if coming from differing sides, refreshing to see some intellectual honesty, in contrast to instant vicious stereotyping and demagoguery.

So, seems the corrupt, unethical Alaska pols are investigating her for "ethics violations?"

Like frogs investigating someone for insuations of being ugly.


If you ask me, being governor of Alaska, and taking it straight to corruption in BOTH parties,

is far more impressive than getting elected to the State Senate (apparently largely by finding out ways to disqualify everyone else on the ballot) and the biggest accomplishment there becoming famous for usually voting "PRESENT." What impressive legislative experience, always voting "PRESENT" on anything important/­controvers­ial. What Leadership!! (Not)

[NeoLiberal]

The BHO camp should draw back a tad on the experience issue right now.

Let SP do her talking. Her inexperience will come out, when she talks about real issues that affect real people.

Her out-of-touch-ness will come out, when she can only talk about Alaska and not the lower 48.

How can she talk about taxes when her state only has a federal one?

How can she talk about conservation when she wants to dig up her state for oil?

How can she talk about ethics reform, when she is under investigation for using her influence to have someone removed from office with whom she had conflict on a personal, not professional level?

Will she be able to learn the roles of VP in just 2.5 months, when she's already admitted she doesn't know what the VP does?

How can she, with a straight face, say she is ready to let her children, after they're grown, go off to McSame's 100-year war? Or will they get deferments like all the other repugs did?

Only time will tell.

[mostlybluedot]

Your reasons two and four are the important ones. She solidifies the base and blocks BO on at least the oil issue. Ain't much BO can do about it, except win Ohio and the midwest, if he can. South and Plains out West are gone.

[Kassandra]

That's not true.

[FGAofFLA]

This Palin pick is a joke, right? I mean, didn't former Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris earn first dibs for this VP nomination eight years ago when she closed down the Florida recount?

[Kassandra]

Too controvers­ial...... plus SHE'S not under investigation ( why, I don't know) They could never pick her, she's damaged goods( everybody knows the Republicans don';t want a reminder of the coup in 2000 staring them in the face, so Harris is roadkill for them).

Whereas Palin, well she's just soon to be damaged goods.....­.....

[1will]

The author made very good points.
I would think that you liberals would be celebrating right now. From your columnists, pundits and comment posters it seems you believe that Palin is a joke, unqualified, inexperienced and a liability to McCain.
Why then are you so angry?
It's because you know she just brought some excitement to this ticket. She fills all of the Conservative values nicely and brings some change to the ticket as well. Sure, she has little experience but then again Obama has no more than Palin. Bye bye to that argument.
Conservatives were willing to vote for McCain but no one was excited about his candidacy. They were mostly voting against Obama. This has changed.
It's now a whole new race.
Bitch, whine, cry and scoff at her being picked. It's hilarious. I'd be worried if you guys were celebrating what you say is a mistake on McCain's part.

[WoodyCPM]

Obama has no more experience than Palin? Get real. Palin has been the mayor of Tiny Town, a position that in that town has no real power or authority to do much of anything except make sure the town bills are paid. She's been Governor of Alaska, population 650,000 for less than two years. That' it. That's all the experience she has. Obama on the other hand has been a community organizer, a two term state senator and now a U.S. Senator. He has over 25 years in and around government. He has had legislative successes that affect millions of people's lives. He has run and managed a Presidential campaign that defeated the biggest brand name in Democratic politics. The insistence from the McCainanites and the right wing Rove noise machine that she has as much experience as Obama is an outright lie. But ever since Nixon that's been the Republican way: distort, lie, smear.

Define "experienc­e."

[1will]

Obama has never "Run" anything. He's been a State and US Senator. He votes. That's about it. Of course as a State Senator he largely voted "Present" because he was too nutless to make a stand for what he believes in. That's change?
Palin has run a business, been a Mayor and Governor. She has run things. Obama is just another politician that surrounds himself with people no one should really want to hang out with. Ayers, Wright, Pfieger, Rezko, Biden, etc. This shows a huge lack of judgement on his part.

[fetchezlavache]

"Obama has no more than Palin"? Are you NUTS!

[krocklin]

You may be right.
Progressives should get used to the fact that if a soccer mom, who believes creationism should be taught in the schools, challenges the facts testifying to global warming even though she lives in Alaska, is a hardcore opponent of abortion in all circumstances, favors oil drilling and presumably supports all the stances McCain takes, so be it.
Then the contrast between Obama and McCain will become all the more stark and we will see how socially conservative the country really is.
I doubt if, on balance, the majority of the country is in tune with the extremes these two Republican candidates represent, but if they are elected - then it is..
And we have to accept that, for the time being, and address it.

[texanna]

I think your 2nd and 4th points are really the basis for McCain's selection with the 1st and 3rd being gravy. I don't think we've heard the last of the "drill here..." mantra. It's only quieted as pump prices have receded a bit. I think pump prices will be pumped up again as needed to bring that cry back and who better to say "Of course, ANWR!" than the very governor of the state? They are going to pound Obama with his backslide on the drilling compromise he's apparently agreed to and add it to a growing list of his progressive regressions. In addition, she will be the magnet for the evangelicals who think McCain isn't medieval enough. With McCain's age they see the possibility of Palin ascending to the Presidency through succession. They will probably start actively praying for his demise on Nov. 5th should he manage to win.

[rudiy]

Do not underestimate this move. Many people only see limited issues. VP's may not sway a lot of people but they may not need to. They may think Barrack is inexperienced but will argue she can learn on the job. Dems also have to be careful how they attack her. They are afraid of McCain's war record and will be afraid to attack Palin for fear that many will say they are attacking because she is a women.

[Kassandra]

I think McCain had a brief spasm when he picked Palin. She's not even vetted! She's under investigation for "ethics violations" and will soon be deposed. What you you think THAT'S going to look like on the campaign trail when she has to take a break to be deposed?

This was a terribly unreasoned decision by McCain. And, I think, undertaken for the most superficial motives. It certainly shows his lack of judgment. He had plenty of other women to choose from...why­'d he pick HER?

Unless all the undecideds and the Republicans just like a pretty face and iffy credentials and shady behavior, this pick is a disaster for McCain. It makes him look even more trigger happy than he already does.

[krocklin]

I assume her record and background will slowly come into better focus.
So far all we hear is that she is a "reformer". McCain also is supposed to be a reformer, which is a joke.
But in her state Republicans usually rule and they have been extremely corrupt even by the shoddy standards of that party. Supposedly she has distanced herself from this corruption by "taking on" the Republican power structure.
However, Ted Stevens, now under indictment, has been an Alaskan Senator for decadesand is the most entrenched and corrupt politician in the state, is an exception to her efforts at reform. According to an Alaskan reporter interviewed yesterday on NPR, she has always been an ally of Stevens and still is.
Perhaps her connections to Big Oil and Stevens will come out gradually.
There also is currently an ethics (civil not criminal) investigaton currently into her attempting to use her office to intercede in a matter on behalf of her sister -in-law.

[rubinoff]

'Smart choice?'..­..how can anyone say that?....i­t was 'desperati­on.' (shaking my head)

[Annette truth teller08]

David, there's something about your article that bothers me.

Your comment...­..."Finall­y, let's step back a moment, take off the partisan blinders, and celebrate. Palin's nomination all but guarantees that the United States will either have its first African American president or its first female vice-president".

I am a fierce Obama supporter, & you need to know that statement like yours are encouraging divisions in a newly United Democratic Party.

No, I will not 'celebrate' this choice. He did not choose her for her experience and ability to lead incase he keels over. He chose her as 'Arm Candy' , for all those wretched PUMA (take that ex-husband) Republicans in disguise women.

And you know it.

[brooklyncitizen]

Excellent.

The post reflects a simplistic understanding of the greatness of Obama's candidacy.­To compare him to Palin is an insult to all of us. After his DNC speech and his speech on race and his poignant New Hampshire speech the fact that people still stress his race is a detraction from the man himself, and from his character, intelligence and leadership ability. Notwithstanding the Messiah jokes the fact remains that this man is exceptional on many levels and my sense is that he has worked pretty hard at it. He has the gift of introspection and has self-corrr­ected....t­his is an obvious contrast to Bush who arrogantly continued bad policy after bad policy.

To compare him to Palin is a joke. Obama is not the candidate because Americans decided it was time to have a black President he is the candidate because Americans thought it was time to have a leader , even if he is black.

[Passenger57]

Any PUMA who votes for Palin will have shown their true colors : they didn't really back Clinton for her stance on issues,they just voted for her because of her gender. And now,they're so desperate for a female in any position of power - remember, Clinton was running for President,not Vice-President- that they will vote for a woman who represents the polar opposite of what Hillary did.
If any do vote for Palin, I'd like to hear their justification.

[BatedBreath]

Seconded!

[Unrepentantliberal]

Bad choice. She make McCain look really, really, really old and just highlights that this woman, who at first impression to me looks like a top selling real estate agent, is just one heartbeat of a very old heart, away from being President.

When though of in this context, I think many voters will be worried about her limited experience. I don't think the press will give her a free pass like they do McCain.

She will have to endure a Obama-like scouring of her political and personal history and if she has some issues that smell a little fishy; and at first glance she does, she could be another Tom Eagleton. Oops, sorry, mistake.

[certainot]

"I don't think the press will give her a free pass like they do McCain."

hopefully, but if the GOP/limbau­gh/hannity go after the media who criticize her early they might intimidate them enough.

[BatedBreath]

I wouldn't count on it. The press is anti-Obama as much or more than they are pro-mccain.

[Cutebunion]

As a woman, I find nothing to "celebrate" about in McCain's choice of a woman as his Vice President, when that woman is Sarah Palin---- any more than most African-Americans found reason to celebrate when Clarence Thomas was chosen for the Supreme Court. Sarah Palin's policies do not support the needs and rights of women-- her gender is of little interest to me. She may be young and spunky and from outside Washington, but when it comes to her position on the issues that are crucial to all Americans in this election, she-- like McCain-- represents more of the same: the old, failed ways of the past eight years that we've suffered under George Bush. Senator Obama has the wisdom and experience to lead us into a better future as President, and he and Joe Biden-- unlike McCain and Sarah Palin-- have a set of policies and plans that will be good for America, and truly support the needs and rights of women. American women are much too smart to be fooled into thinking that Sarah Palin represents their interests.