Barack Mans Up, McCain Wusses Out

Barack Obama will appear on The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News tonight. John McCain cancelled his interview with CNN.

That sums up all you need to know about either candidate - and, in a nutshell, explains why Barack Obama will win the White House on Nov. 4.

The official story is that McCain cancelled his appearance on Larry King Live because he was angry that CNN reporter Campbell Brown grilled a McCain strategist about Sarah Palin's experience as "commander in chief" of the Alaska National Guard.

But really - what could McCain say? He has approved a set of talking points about his choice of a running mate that now make it impossible for him to do anything but duck the press and hope for a hurricane.

It didn't have to be this way. While I think Sarah Palin is a lightweight zealot who has no business on a national ticket, McCain could have introduced her in a way that would have showcased her strengths and papered over her weaknesses.

McCain could have said: "Governor Palin is smart, savvy, principled and overwhelmingly popular in her home state. Although her political career has been relatively brief, she has proven her judgment and her character. She is admirable in her personal and public life, I think she is the face of the future of our party."

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Unfortunately for McCain, some nitwit GOP attack dog stood up and said, "Hey, wait a minute - you could say exactly those same things about Barack Obama."

If McCain had been clever, he would have snapped back: "Yeah, and it's worked out pretty well for him, hasn't it?"

Instead, the GOP leadership is showcasing Sarah Palin's "executive experience" - 20 months of governing a state with 670,00 people and an annual operating budget of $4 billion. They're claiming, with straight faces, that her tenure in office outweighs Obama's years in the Illinois and U.S. Senate.

That's just stupid. First of all, if executive experience is the most important factor in selecting a president, then John McCain is way out of his league here. But even more ridiculously, by that "logic," Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is, (depending on your math), four times, 20 times, or 12 times more qualified to be president than Sarah Palin. Kind of makes you think, doesn't it?

So while McCain looks sulky for ducking Larry King, he doesn't have much choice. He has saddled himself with a set of talking points that have all the logical power of a soap bubble.

Contrast that with Barack Obama. When he was (justly) outraged at the way Fox News was covering his campaign - calling Michelle his "baby mama"? - Obama and his media advisors went to work behind the scenes to fix the situation, bringing in Fox News President 'Roger Ailes and even network chief Rupert Murdoch. Thanks to their effective, timely work, Fox News viewers will be watching Barack Obama get hard-edged -- but respectful -- treatment from Bill O'Reilly tonight.

So as the increasingly cranky McCain moves further into the bunker, undecided voters will get a fabulous opportunity to watch Barack Obama - handsome, intelligent, smoother than soy milk, and looking more presidential every day.

You know, there are a lot of things that experience can teach you. But there are some things you're just born knowing.

Comments

[smag]

McCain has done dozens of interviews with CNN in the last year. Obama had to get a special dispensation to to an interview because he can not handle tough questions.

[Scarabus]

McCain couldn't say much about Palin because he didn't *know* much. She wasn't really vetted by anyone but Dobson and friends. And, incidentally, a number of the things you suggested he might have said are turning out not to be true. Not that he would care, of course.

[DASChicago]

Thanks Elizabeth, YOU Speak for Me!!!

[kennyfasugbe]

Cue card indeed! Do you remember right after the primaries were over, he made a stupid gaffe or should i call it truly baring his minds to the press about a specific issue, and his campaign released a memo saying that Senator John McCain does not speak for Senator John McCain's campaign?
Does anyone have a link to that news story or a video link?
With such level of intelligence and/or getting-it-together upstairs, does Russia, Iran, China or Venezuela need worry?

[truth101]

Talk about a silly generalization this is it. The simple fact is that the REP
ARE IN A DESPERATE SITUATION TRYING TO GET PALIN UP TO SPEED
and be able to avoid saying something dumb, and that MC MUST
RIGHT NOW WATCH HOW HE RESPONDS TO questions about her.
Therefore cancel. Simple as that. The point is that Palin
is just totally unknowledgeable about world affairs, issues, history, and
topics like he world bank, united nations, south america, japan, china, etc etc etc.
She is now in DEEP STUDY MODE and like a VENTRILOQUISTS DUMMY
WILL EMERGE WITH THE APPEARANCE OF DEEP WISDOM ON ALL THIS AND MORE
INCLUDING THE LAW WHICH SHE HAS NEVER STUDIED UNLIKE THE DEMS.

[huffmanja]

As usual, I posted a comment contrary to the opinion of the author and it was deleted. Of course the MSM is so against censoring of the media and free speech. Only when it works in their favor lol.....

[nowRnever]

Great post Elizabeth! Thanks!

[Venom5809]

Exactly and CNN not even left wing.

[p2p2008]

In my household, throwing a temper tantrum, especially uncessesary one and done to get his or her way will get you spanking. McCain campaign is staff with whiners and manipulative children.

[jmcon]

"But really - what could McCain say? He has approved a set of talking points about his choice of a running mate that now make it impossible for him to do anything but duck the press and hope for a hurricane."

Brilliant. I wished I'd thought of that. Of course.

[mouselion]

Rudy Guilianni has way more "executive experience". GOP didn't pick him for the nomination. McCain didn't pick him for VP. Experience has nothing to do with it. It's McCain trying to capitalize on gender politics.

[Cynde]

My mom always said you get more speaking with a bit of sugar and taking in what is said with a bit of salt. Palin needs some sugar cubes and hey, pass me some salt over here.

[Swedishgal]

More like a truckload of sugar.

[Moarku]

Wow, I knew he had backed out of an interview because someone dared to ask tough questions of his running mate, but somehow I missed the fact that it was Larry King.

Why would ANYONE back out of an interview with Larry King? He's not a journalist, freely admits to doing no homework (supposedly so he asks the same questions lay people would), and basically lets his guests say whatever they want without EVER being challenged. What's he got to be afraid of?

[crescent gaia]

I, for one, cannot wait to see how Senator Obama handles himself tonight. Considering the leaked transcript, which I don't know if I can hold as true or not, it seems like he handles himself very well. Senator McCain will look even more like a scaredy-pants.

I only say that I don't know if the transcript is true because it seems so much in Senator Obama's favor. I'm taking it with a grain of salt and will be watching tonight. :)

[macracan]

I read the script and - although delighting - I fear it is probably just humor.

[TakingBackTheUSA]

Where did you find this leaked transcript? Post a link?

[TakingBackTheUSA]

Care to post a link to that leaked transcript?

[Cynde]

Scardy pants for sure and hiding behind A WOMAN'S SKIRT. The Rove team used Palin's ambitions but will sink her when they no longer need her. Did you catch the faces of some of the Republican older guys in the audience when she was playing the shrew. Saw a few pained expressions saying this woman should be put in her place when this is over. You can bet in hiding in the voting booth, they won't vote their party because they won't want that little woman upstart in office. Tough may work in Alaska but a smart and savvy business woman would never use those tactics to get what she wants....she would know better.

[Ellema]

I love your post! Hiding behind a woman's skirt: classic! Pained expressions: priceless!
You're also dead on about business savvy. Those tactics don't work in business, you better watch your back when you open your mouth like that, not to mention assuredly losing the respect of those that report to you. Bravo!

[avidday]

The transcript, posted on 23/6, was a joke.

[barackobama4prez]

http://justmoreofthesame.com/fact_check

The TRUTH about the Palin speech.

[DebbieinPhx]

If you want the less educational but slightly more entertaining version of this watch Jeffery Toobin of CNN just get down with it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v24ULd4yT94&eurl=http://www.crooksandliars.com/