Listen to Sarah Palin

In response to an interview question from CBS' Bob Schieffer about whether what Sarah Palin says is important or not, Barack Obama answered: "I think it is important. And I think that I'm more concerned about the fact that she doesn't seem to have any differences with President Bush when it comes to foreign policy and would continue, as John McCain would, the same policies that we've seen over the last eight years that have, I believe, weakened our position in the world."

Indeed. While watching and evaluating Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin's debate performance, it will be important not to focus exclusively on what she doesn't know about critical foreign policy issues. More useful, I believe, will be filtering out what she does know.

Here's why:

It is fair to say that Palin began this process with largely a blank slate. One can dismiss her claims of having learned about foreign affairs by living, as she does, between two foreign countries. The geography is undeniable; but living across the Bering Strait from the frozen wastelands of Russia's Siberia, or across a land border from Canada's Yukon, provides more a sense of isolation than it does foreign policy experience. Similarly, Palin's sole foreign trip, last year, to U.S. military installations in Germany and Kuwait (and stepping one quarter mile into Iraq) to visit with members of Alaska's National Guard may have helped the Governor better understand her constituents deployed abroad, but would not have left her better informed about Kuwait or Iraq. And it is questionable how much useful information she culled from her speed-dating exercise with world leaders in Manhattan (other than the sorry fact that some of them could be fawning or downright embarrassingly sexist).

In selecting Palin, McCain's operatives understood her obvious assets: solid "Christian" conservative credentials, unlimited ambition, effective stage presence and, yes, the fact that she is a woman. But, recognizing her equally obvious weaknesses (primarily a lack of policy, especially foreign policy, credentials), the McCain team sequestered their number two in an effort to give her a crash course in world affairs. Led by arch neo-conservative and foreign agent lobbyist Randy Scheunemann (who was an ever-present chaperone during Palin's New York adventure), the team drilled their "quick study" in the ways of the world.

In the interviews that marked brief breaks in Palin's sequestration, the fruits of their labor have been on display. From her three major and, I would add, "soft," interviews (with ABC's Charles Gibson, FOX's Sean Hannity and CBS's Katie Couric), much can be learned.

Some of her answers are nearly unintelligible, to be sure. But sifting through the jumbled syntax and incoherent babble, her "talking points" emerge. And it is these answers that deserve scrutiny, since they provide a guide to the world view that Palin's handlers seek to project.

Having no independently developed experience-based knowledge of her own through which to sift this "received knowledge," Palin's recitation of her lessons reveals a raw and unfiltered neo-conservative view of the world. It is, at times, banal and oversimplified; but it is also, in many ways, perfectly clear.

It is absolutist and Manichean. There is good ("us") and evil ("them"). "We" stand for democracy and the "spirit of freedom that is found in every human heart." Since the clash between good and evil is both desirable and inevitable, "our" role is to bring "our values" to a waiting world and defeat evil. And, in this conflict, "our" victory is preordained. Compromise with evil is unthinkable and so traditional forms of diplomacy are to be rejected as a sign of weakness and surrender. In this world view, diplomacy means working with those who agree with us, not finding ways to bridge differences with those with whom we disagree.

Simple? Yes, but also dangerous. This is the world-view embraced by the current Administration, especially during its first term. (It is the consequences of this disastrous course that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has worked diligently, if unsuccessfully, to correct.) And this is, it appears, the course also embraced by Palin's running mate and his advisors.

Now, Palin is no mere pawn. In many ways her Christian fundamentalism has prepared her for her role - since neo-conservatism is but a secularized version of her new faith's absolutism. But while the theology provides a fit - it is the language and its application to complex world affairs that is new. And so, while the basic framework (good vs. evil, etc.) makes sense in Palin's mind, she is not yet comfortable with the new phrases that have been written on the previously near-blank slate.

This is why I say that it is important to listen to what she does say, not how badly she says it. And don't make fun: be afraid.

Comments

[Jeep]

Mr. Zogby, I agree with you and I am very afraid.
What progressiv­es/intelle­ctuals perceive as Palin's weakness -- simplistic blandishments -- is her strength. "Freedom-loving Americans", for example, is conservative code for a world view that you have described above. Short and to the point. I love Joe Biden, and am hoping that his team take your analysis to heart during his preparations for the debate. I'm not sure how to use your analysis to best effect, but that is not my job. I look to the Obama team, and am encouraged by the fact that they beat the Clinton machine (some said it couldn't be done).
The world awaits!

[Jezreel]

Brilliant insight Mr. Zogby. In this article you've provided the most thought provoking and penetrating perspectives into the comingling of Christian Fundamentalism and secularism. It really does make sense to define neo-conservatism as the end result of secularized absolutism and dualism
This article is so rich. It offers a wealth of knowledge and insight into the mind of the neo-conservative. And using the previous 8 years of the the Bush Administration's foreign and domestic policies as our guide, your insights into the neo-conservative mind, including its uncompromisingly absolutist and Manichean, i.e., the "us" and "them" mentality and "good" and "evil" approach to developing overarching policies, the secrecy; the erosion of Constitutional rights; and the failure to either acknowledge or admit wrong doing, helps us to better understand the horrors that will await our nation and the world if McCain/Palin are elected in November.
Thank you!!!!!

[GiggidyGeshmoygen]

if Katie Couric can do it, surely Gwen Ifill can insist on actual answers to the actual questions -

this BS i keep reading about how Ifill will not want to "embarrass" Palin by exposing her inability to answer a question is ridiculous -

Sarah Palin is an embarrassment and her nomination is an embarrassment - when she is asked a direct question requiring a specific answer and she starts going off on talking points, cute little stories and feel good patriotism SHE SHOULD BE PRESSED FOR AN ANSWER and be rightly EMBARASSED and EXPOSED when she can't come up with one

"i'll git baaack to yyyyyyaaaa­aaaahhhhhh­hhh" just ain't gonna cut it this time around ...............

[XME]

Seeing as how she's being coached by Bush flunkies, and just over 30 days ago she was the epitomy of a blank slate, it's pretty obvious that her views will reflect those of the Bush administration.

"it will be important not to focus exclusively on what she doesn't know about critical foreign policy issues. More useful, I believe, will be filtering out what she does know"

One thing's for sure, it will be EASIER to filter out what she DOES know than what she doesn't know!

[blueshield]

An important essay, thank you.

In a similar vein, I've become keenly aware of something else that's frightening. For someone with so very little experience or wisdom, Gov Pal.in exhibits a breathtaking lack of humility, self-reflection, or simple doubt on any subject. Any subject: despite obvious attempts to dodge the looming holes in her knowledge and understanding, she always plays the supremely confident expert.

She barely paused to inhale before weighing in with her opinions on Supreme Court decisions, the strategy of the Iraq war, political leadership in 21st century America, Pakistani incursions, the culture of Washington, the Taliban, the political cornfield of earmarks, Senator Obama, published media, and the relative expertise of her running mate.

Not once has she suggested her scope is limited or overstretched.

Which suggests she either has a feral avoidance of self-reflection, or truly no clue what real intelligence is.

[qxav949]

Mr. Zogby, I will certainly heed your clarion call. However, permit me to also mock the subject of your piece for jest, lest I crumble and weep from fear.

[jalyn]

She does her best to project average middle-class Pollyanna mom, and it is slowly unraveling; she is also trying to act so matter-of-fact and comfortable with John McCain during their interview with Katie Couric; she did the "poke on the arm tactic" during a light moment in the interview, as though she and him are best buddies. It looks unnatural, phony and gives impression they aren't taking voters concerns very seriously.

Sorry to go on here, I am hoping and praying that citizens will see this for what it is.

[TRYKER]

Thanks for your post Mr. Zogby. We'll all be that the wiser for your alert to watch what she is really saying.
This is such a bad combination, Mac and Sarah...RE­PUBLICANS.
Its as if its a "Truman Show"...written to arouse a nation to elect a black progressive democrat and expose the neocon criminality for the scourge it is.

Its as though its written for the people to unite and join together in taking back their govt and bring to Justice every last one of the bad actors.
This Republican McPalin act is so over-the-top outrageously bad as a choice
to lead this country, it slaps you smack in the face every day.
How novel, a timeless battle between good and evil, it will never have to end. $$$$$$$$
How fortunate we are to have a choice to walk away from this form of brainwashing and dominance and onto a new pathway, a level decidedly above this swamp of Republican­ism/Corpor­atism...ti­s truly RICO-worthy.

[radiclib]

.
.
This was a very insightful essay.
Thanks for writing it.

Let's not get distracted by Palin's goofiness.
The dangerous thing about her is that she acts, thinks and speaks so much like Gov. George W. Bush of 2000. That is something to worry about. Life is simple when you're a simpleton and simpletons in command of fatal force can have lethal consequences.
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[karela]

An excellent point and a new perspective. I will pay attention to both what she says and how she says it in the debate. She is frighteningly ignorant. But in response to her own ignorance, she is overwhelmingly positive that she is always right. She sees herself as she who must be obeyed because she is absolutely positive that God is on her side. This is the stuff the world's worst oppressors were made of. And McCain has put the country at risk with this choice. And I think on some level he knows it. After he loses, I expect we'll be hearing an apology in a year or two about how he let his desire for the presidency overtake his integrity and honesty. He's done it before. He did it after his 2000 loss. But it didn't stop him from doing it again, just like his disastrous choices regarding the Keating affair didn't teach him anything that helped the country as he waded into this economic situation. He doesn't learn. And he has no vision. He can't look at the writing on the wall and see what the likely consequences are. That's why he was able to still brag to the Wall Street Journal in March that they would never interview a bigger de-regulator than him. He doesn't understand, and isn't willing to understand, that the policies he fought for and won are the very things that have brought our nation to the brink of disaster.

[Boadicea]

"When he faces off against Sarah Palin Thursday night, Joe Biden will have his hands full.
I should know. I've debated Governor Palin more than two dozen times. And she's a master, not of facts, figures, or insightful policy recommendations, but at the fine art of the nonanswer, the glittering generality. Against such charms there is little Senator Biden, or anyone, can do."

I think the above words of Andrew Halcro, Alaska 2006 gubernatorial candidate, who debated Palin plenty, say it all. She's gotten a long way with charm and personality, and good looks. Five colleges in six years to get one very easy degree.

That's the difference between being a woman with a pretty face and lots of charm, and being a woman who uses her smarts and develops her skills and intellect.

Let me spell it out: in this society, women like Palin get so much mileage out of charm and good looks, they can get as far as governor of Alaska without ever developing the smarts and skills needed for the job.

Hillary Clinton, definitely. Olympia Snow, without a doubt. Kay Bailey Hutchison, absolutely.
Sarah Palin, absolutely not.

[kavan]

"filtering out what she does know".

Certainly less to filter...

[pons1595]

I hope she asks her about her discredited anti-earmark claims to putting an elementary school pal in charge of state agriculture because as a child she "loved cows",

[pons1595]

I hope she asks Palin about her anti-earmark claims to putting an elementary school pal in charge of state agriculture because as a child she "loved cows",

[CalexenderJ]

Frightening... They are programming Palin to be Cheney. Imagine, if McCain got elected and died in office, these neo-cons would have Palin dancing on their strings like a puppet.

[joesnuffy]

I don't understand the comparison between Palin and Cheney. In my opinion, Palin is undoubtedly the female version of George W Bush - uninformed, simple-minded, hard-core religious, not well spoken, doesn't read much, gets by on small-town charm. When faced with tough questions she plays the victim. When in her element, she's the bulldog. I would think she was the reincarnation of Bush, except that he's still alive :-( Cheney, on the other hand, has zero charm and is smart and shrewd. Though she is equally dangerous, she is nothing like him.