A Real Pit Bull Wouldn't Send Emissaries to do her Dirty Work

Sarah Palin's absence from real press conferences and unscripted political interviews should be a red flag to any thinking person that she is completely unqualified to be running for Vice President of the United States. From Kay Bailey Hutchison to Jon Kyl, the Republican emissaries are breathlessly telling the American public about Palin's extensive experience. Based on their definitions of experience, why is it that the most "qualified" of all candidates was not able to immediately go before the press? Today brings word that the McCain campaign offered her first interview to Charles Gibson at ABC. What people need to recognize is that as conditions for these types of one-on-one "celebrity" interviews, she will be given approval over the types of questions asked as well as have an advanced run down of the questions themselves. It's also going to be on her home turf, set amid a backdrop of down-home Alaska images including her sending her son off to war.

Ever since Ronald Reagan, oratory skills have become frighteningly synonymous with intellect for many American voters. As a communication professor, I appreciate the ability to make a good speech. But that's about performance abilities and not necessarily intellectual capability. I would offer that any number of talented performers could make the same acceptance speech delivered by Palin last Wednesday with even greater passion and commitment. Does that mean they should all potentially be on-deck to run the free world? I'm confident that if you polled any number of top box office names they will all tell you that their abilities as a performer does not qualify them for the office of Vice President. Unlike Sarah Palin, they are not so dangerously arrogant.

With a script she didn't write, Palin smirked, smiled and nodded on cue, trying hard to link her intellect with her performance skills for those voters who don't recognize the difference. She will do the exact same thing with Gibson. It's not hard for a performer with a script. Make no mistake, this is not going to be a test of her intellectual capability nor is it a political interview. It's simply People magazine clothed in a very thin shroud of journalistic value. Put her in front of real reporters for an unscripted press conference and let's see how the pit bull fares. After all, she does have a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Idaho!

Comments

[Mojane]

Exactly. You'll never see her interviewed by Olbermann or Maddow, or any other serious journalist in the print media either. You'll see her with the trained monkeys only, like Gibson, Hannitty, Billo, et al.

[Kremfresch]

Let me get this straight... Obama is pilloried as an empty suit because he is a good speaker, But Palin delivers one decent speech (that somebody else wrote) and she is suddenly not only qualified, but the BEST candidate for the job.

[demfriend]

I would love for Palin to be forced to answer questions without a "keeper". We citizens have every right to have the person who might be the heartbeat away from holding our lives in their hands questioned until we know the true person and not the made up GOP version being sold. How can anyone believe the stories they are spreading but MSM is part of the GOP machine and they see Palin and fresh blood. I would hope if we survive a potential Mccainbush getting elected that Palin would not be in the oval except to visit but Mccains an old melenoma king with the high potential of stroking out and we would have this nitwit not far from extremist in the oval in charge of our fates. Obama's friends should be pushing the extreme views and the woman againest all womens rights. Then Palin should be neutered.

[PATina]

I'd prefer for Gov. Palin to do a press conference w/ Helen Thomas front and center.

[NCMan]

Put Palin in frint of "REAL REPORTERS".....

Good idea. Do you know of any? After this election season, I'm not sure there are any left.

[nutty4tahoe]

I'm at a complete loss to understand why so many people will vote for any Republican set before them. If OJ or Charles Manson were Republican candidates I'm sure they would vote for them too. Sarah Palin's stance on abortion, her kooky ultra-far-out-there religion, her lies, her pandering should be enough to snap some of these people back into reality, however, she is the Republican candidate and that's good enough for them. McCain's campaign is obviously afraid of what will happen when Sarah gets out there unscripted by a speechwriter. I'm sure they've seen the video of her recent graduation speech at her church, a rambling bunch of babble. She will either say something stupid or, the real reason, people will actually get to know her a little and not like what they see. This, of course, will not affect those staunch Republican knee-jerk voters, but could have an affect on the independents that McCain so desperately needs.

[3fingerbrown]

An overall worthwhile post, but professor, with due respect, I challenge your claim that "ever since Ronald Reagan, oratory skills have become frighteningly synonymous with intellect for many American voters."

American voters have labored under this delusion since long before Ronald Reagan was a twinkle in Jack Warner's eye. Since the days of the Continental Congress, thousands of overinflated windbags have risen to great prominence on oratory alone, thanks to the credulousness of American bumpkins.

One need only think of William Jennings Bryan, "The Great Commoner," whose mighty speechifying combined with a simpleminded worldview catapulted him to three Democratic nominations for the presidency and allowed him, disastrously, to hold the party hostage for a generation. In several ways, Bryan was the Reagan of his time, the difference being that Bryan had principles he stubbornly refused to surrender, and he therefore lost and dragged the party down with him. Reagan, completely free of any principles whatsoever, was willing to lend his soaring oratory to anything to get elected, no matter how preposterous.

Bryan was a fool, Reagan an unmitigated cad. But they both floated to the top on hot air alone.

[SonyaInTx]

....and she will continue to hide from the press. Any clear thinking person know is able to see what type of an emptyheaded fraud this woman is. She has the nerve to call others "cowards" when she won't come within 100 feet of the press.

Obama/Biden '08

[hollace]

I am just giving my head a shake over this palin choice.
Is this the way Americans pick their leader?
It Palen fiasco is just obscene.
are you all winging it,and hoping it turns out like a vote driven award show?
how do you let someone with as little experience,
or knowledge of the real world at the head of your country and expect anything other than a tragic outcome.
We in canada have troops in afganistan ,to back up your troops.We have a vested interest in this election also,but unhappily we see the Jerry Springer generation get avote.Luckily you have agroup
of dedicated young people coming up and my money is on them.
The,ll save your asses . good luck oboma supporters.many canadians are happy your not swimming in the shallow end of the pool.{my first blog}Hollace

[TheApeMan]

Hollace,

If they (the stupid people of America...I'm voting for Obama/Biden) elect McCain/Palin, keep a spot up in Canada open for me!
I cannot believe that people are so stupid to vote for these people.
Polls just came out today with one saying that McCain/Palin was 50% and Obama/Biden was 43%
It's mindboggling...
I just hope this affair story comes out, and she/he blow the debates...but even that, may not matter to these voters

[slc20]

I believe this will work.

McCain and Palin will probably win this election, I'm afraid.

[khaleef49]

I agree with you and I am very afraid. What is wrong with my fellow Americans?

[careerdues]

The Right Wing of the GOP has been very effective at convincing the general public that they are the party of morality and integrity (Remember when "W" was going to restore intergrity to the White House?) and more forceful in spinning the counter arguments and intimidating the MSM. Rove found the old playbook of Joseph Goebbels--and has been telling the "Big Lie" over and over to the point that many become oblivious to reality and truth--and those that know better become apathetic.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

I will never believe Sarah Palin will be hearing these questions for the first time, testing her ability.

This to is staged like her last audition reading the prompter and using condescending tones. Any miss 2nd place queen and sport announcer in Alaska can do that

Charles Gibson and that short side kick, has lost all credibility that night with below the belt cheap shots to Senator Obama with Hillary jumping in making her cheap shot on a man involved with criminal action when Obama was age 8. If the white man Ayers was so bad when Obama was age 8, why didn't the authority keep him A$$ locked up.

I know anyone with common sense would think if any thing is truly wrong with the man standarding in society why is he not locked up.

Further checking youtube and goggle the Clinton received campaign contribution from Mr. Ayers too.
Charles Gibson or short butt never questioned Hillary about her funds from the same man.
Again lost credibility as senior reporter anchor etc. Any products I saw on ABC, I made a list as a reminder not to buy any or accept any free sample. I don't watch ABC/disney owner .

I hope this women apology to the American people for smart a$$ remark about community organizers.
How can she be VP representing America, as the ugly American maybe. Agreeing to say what was written has her introduction to American sick. very poor taste as this so call maverick

[omajo]

So will they let the viewers know that she got the questions in advance?

She has three other siblings , what about the brother?

And if she won't answer questions , couldnt the press just not report on their campaining?They love the press then.

[apoyo]

Speechifying is the beauty queen's talent.

[candlegravity]

"Sarah Palin's absence from real press conferences and unscripted political interviews should be a red flag to any thinking person that she is completely unqualified to be running for Vice President of the United States."

It's not the "thinking people" I'm worried about voting for her. But your point is well made.

[Gma11]

I am so thoroughly disgusted with the antics that pass for political debate in our nation!