McCain Would Rather Win an Election Than Pick a Qualified Running Mate

She's never actually used the word Shiite in a sentence before. She's never had to. She's never given any thought whatsoever to nuclear proliferation. She's never had to. She's never thought about Israel, Russia, Korea, or Iran. She's never even thought about Mexico. So, what HAS she thought about? I mean, what has she thought about that's going to directly affect you and me if (yes, God forbid) she has to slip into the role of the most powerful leader on the face of the planet? Well, we know she's given a lot of thought to your uterus. Hell, I think about your uterus all the time and nobody should ever elect me to any office.

I was reading my friend Dan Senor's piece in the Wall Street Journal today, in which he takes Biden to task for his once staunch position on the splitting up of Iraq. It's a smart argument Dan makes -- and I'm not his audience, believe me. I'm so lefty I'd consider going gay if I could date Obama (oh, you bet I drank the Koolaid and I've been all fuzzy ever since).

So I'm reading Dan's excellent article and I'm hating its well reasoned argument - how Biden was wrong about Iraq and why he's mysteriously dropped that position, etc - and I'm realizing something that put a smile on my face. There is not a fireball's chance in Alaska that Sarah Palin could make that argument in a debate with Joe Biden. She lacks the gravitas, she lacks the knowledge, she lacks the experience. If she were a news anchor we'd say she reeks of local.

But most importantly, what does that say about John McCain? He has now destroyed his two favorite arguments against Obama. Experience was a pretty good argument. Yesterday. But the more offensive and controversial argument is the one that inspired the McCain campaign's clumsy, communist-era slogan - "Country First." Aside from sounding like the name of a midwestern savings-and-loan, the phrase is an obvious reference to McCain's mantra that Obama "would rather win an election than win a war. " He has repeatedly challenged Obama's motives, his character, his judgment and his patriotism. Sarah Palin is the glass house inside of which McCain will now have to throw those stones. Because, what does it say about a man who chooses someone so grossly unqualified as his running mate for the highest office in the land simply because she might - might - get the Hillary vote? What does it say for his opinion of those very women he hopes to enlist?

Does John McCain think about actually governing? Or is he merely focused on winning? Because a man of 72 years old with a history of health problems has to consider the possibility that his Vice President might actually have to govern. No, he's not thinking about that. He's not thinking about you or me. John McCain is thinking about John McCain. And his running mate is thinking about next year's salmon run. And your uterus.

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

Comments

[KC333]

I am tired of hearing this experience thing. What is experience anyway, being a POW? The truth is John McCain never had a normal job. He went straight from the military to Congress. At which of the 7 homes does he sit in while he thinks about the issues that are important to mainstream Americans. When it comes to judgment, look at the running mate he chose. With all the experience he has, why is it he voted for the war in Iraq? Why is it the he voted with Bush 89% of the time? Why is it in his speech, he delivered the frosting of the cake but not the ingredients? Because the next four years will look like the last eight. The republican party is run by oil lobbyists so do you think they really want us to be independent of foreign oil? McCain has been in the Senate for over 25 years and now he wants to fight for change. Thanks, but no thanks. He gave a speech in New Mexico (you tube), and said he would consider drafting people for war. Abraham Lincoln said it best when he said "If once you forfeit the confidence of your fellow-citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem". The Republicans have forfeited our confidence. Give more money to the rich and hope it trickles down to the rest of the people.

[sherlock22]

Let's be fair and turn the title of this article around: "The Democratic Party Would Rather Win an Election Than Pick a Qualified Candidate."

If you're going to complain about Sarah Palin's lack of experience, why not complain about Obama's? Sarah Palin was holding public office before Obama was in the Illinois legislature. Apparently inexperience is ONLY okay if the person in question has the right political ideology. Please, let's drop the hypocrisy.

[LeviCro]

McCain has managed during this campaign to remove any shred of respect and hope that I had for him being a valid candidate.... this is the last straw... I thought MAYBE I was the ONLY one who thought he was crazy here.... guess not...

[southafrica4obama]

Good piece. But I disagree with you on Biden's Iraq proposal. The Iraqis are for it as long as the oil profits are distributed evenly. You don't know how those groups dislike each other. It was about dividing the country into three semi-autonomous regions. Just like the Kurds had been during Saddam.

[booksnmore4you]

The experience issue is still good.

Obama got his bachelor's from Yale in *International Relations*, has lived and traveled abroad, has shown an ongoing and intense intellectual curiosity about international affairs and has written about the subject a great deal in his books, and rigorously studies the subject on an ongoing basis, e.g., see http://papercuts.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/what ... Additionally, he has chaired one and sat on another Senate committee concerning foreign affairs, and has crafted legislation on the matter.

In contrast, Palin is a complete noob in international affairs - honestly, even I am much more experienced in it than her. She stated six months ago that she has not concerned herself with the Iraq situation except on a very basic level. "Palin is a neophyte in comparison" to Obama, said the Daily News-Miner. And the Anchorage Daily News stated, "She's a total beginner on national and international issues." Moreover, the McCain campaign has even admitted this but spun that Palin "would learn from the master of foreign policy", McCain, which besides being debatable on its face fails to account that McCain is 72 and a five-time cancer survivor.

Palin is not a veep pick. She is somewhere between a surrogate first lady because Cindy offers even less and a low level adviser who gets to sit in and listen with the big boys. She is a pander-pick aimed at low-information undereducated one-issue voters.

[jaysan]

The Democrats blew their chance to show they value women with experience, by tossing aside an experienced woman named Hillary Clinton. Instead, the Democrat Party Elders behaved like an Old Boys Club, deciding behind the scenes that the future of the party lay with an unexperienced token black man instead of with an experienced woman.

unexperienced & black >> experienced & female

[redbai]

I may have missed something, but there was actually a primary in which rules the "experienced woman" agreed. Then she lost. It was in all the news. What Democrat(ic) Party Elders manipulated the system and how did they force all those people to vote for who they wanted too and why doesn't whatever ridiculous answer you have apply to getting republican voters?

But then maybe the inability to call the Democratic party by it's right name (and the use of a Republican talking point instead) gives more insight to your opinion. Hoping to sow discontent in the ranks of the opposing party, eh?

[athenasword]

Actually, we chose the man who won! And he chose the person who he thought would best help him lead the country as a partner. End of story.

I'm sure that Sen. Cli nton will play a major role in the future of this party and administration. No one is denying she's a powerhouse. No one was "tossed aside". McCane's pick was an insult to all women, Hillry, her supporters and Republican female leaders included.

[rock2casbah]

Psst........There was actually an election to decide who the nominee would be. More people voted for Obama. What would you have us do with the outcome of that primary election? You say women are equal to men and need to be treated as such. Well when men lose elections they are expected to move on.........why don't you "woman up" and do the same. Sore losers are loathed and shunned in a man's game. Notice how all the male candidates accepted the rules of the DNC before the election and played on the same field, but you expect HRC to be given a Presidential nomination because she is the woman?

[Lexpoldd]

I wonder what those pathetic buffoons, Lou Dobbs, Leslie Sanchez. Alex Castellanos and all those haters will say about McCain's pick. Obama - a Columbia and Harvard Law Graduate, a Community Organizer, a Professor of Constitutional Law, a Civil Rights Attorney, a State Senator and a US Senator versus someone a heartbeat away from the potetial Presidency of a 72-year old 4 time cancer survivor who holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Idaho, a PTA cum hockey Mum who just about 24 months ago had the distinction of being the Mayor (or Village Manager) of a town of 5,400 people and now Governor of a state with a population of 1/4 of the folks who live in Brooklyn - WOW!!!

Lex

[jaysan]

Who has Rush Limbaugh spent more time attacking -- Obama or McCain? The answer is McCain. Because John McCain has for a long time been the liberal horse of the Republican Party, which is why the hardliners so badly want him to lose. McCain is the best way to bring the Republican Party onto more liberal ground. Hillary voters should recognize that the sham that was the Democratic nomination process can't be overlooked. That wasn't a nomination process, that was a backstabbing fest by Roman Senators. McCain picked Palin because she's got a strong image as a reformer, while Obama picked Mr Business-As-Usual Biden instead of going for real change. Real change doesn't come from candy-coated speeches, as Hillary pointed out. Real change is not what Obama's about, that's for sure. The only change he's about is changing like a chameleon, saying one thing one day and another thing another day.

[crystalclear2828]

First major decision...McCain blew it!!! Shows he lacks judgement and experience to make a sound decision. Obviously, McCain is still very ambitious in seeking the office of POUS. I hope you never use the line again that you put "Country First", that was a lie! You continue to show that you will do anything to win. This woman has no foreign policy credential whatsoever, and with all the wars going on and the Georgia crisis you think you would have chosen a running mate that would be able to step in as President if something where to happen to you being you just turned 72. You're pandering to the die hard Clinton's and the young voters, but you have to know people aren't stupid, give us a little more credit ! It would have been great if the first woman to make history of a major party would have had a little more to offer. I suppose that doesn't matter as long as your lifetime dream comes true! No wonder you stated that the only duties of the VP Is to inquire about the President's health and attend funerals. I guess you just need a nurse maid. You have just basically made a mockery of this woman and all women in every way. Talk about sexism, the Clinton die hard should be appalled at you for even thinking that this would bring them to your camp. The young voters, forget it, you're too old and don't inspire anyone!

[bonnetteblj]

Excellent article...hits the nail on the head. Still just shaking my head and laughing at this choice.
She spoke like such a dingbat yesterday on TV. I do believe people in the Democratic
Party respect women who have intelligence (like Hillary Clinton, Ann Richards, Barbara Boxer,
etc.) where the Republicans are choosing her for her looks and what...experience? The
list of experience is laughable (soccer mom, PTA, major, and 2 years as Governor of
the 47th state in size)! Their goal is to unite Christian conservatives, but I am sure Hillary
supporters will not back her due to her abortion stance.

God forbid McCain wins as she will be just one step from the Presidency. If McCain had
good judgment and cared about the American people and the United States, he would not
put such an inexperienced person as his VP choice.

[NotMcCain]

Yes, and since he's decided he's desperate enough to need a woman on the ticket, he would rather win with an inexperienced completely unqualified one than one who has the knowledge and experience to serve.

He would gamble with our lives, our security, for personal political gain. Disappointing, even scary, to know how lightly he takes our national security--and the fact we are AT WAR.

[jmead]

I would suggest that the democrats would rather win an election than select a qualified candidate for the Presidential nominee.

[supradave1]

Whether or not Obama is "qualified," he received the parties nomination. He campaigned around the country and, low and behold, got the most delegates. That's his qualification.

[Tommygun264]

You would suggest the moon was made of green cheese if it helped the pubs.

[JayDDrew]

I haven't seen anyone bring up the fact that just because Palin gets elected doesn't mean she'll stay in office for any length of time.
Some time after the election, she will resign, citing the need to raise her children, particularly her new infant. The repubs will then move someone into the slot who could potentially function if McCain kicks the bucket. Four years later, they would have already groomed the next guy (Jeb Bush, Ridge, Pawlenty, etc.)
Palin is simply a willing tool to be used, and the conservative media will do their best to cover her obvious flaws and say thiswas a great choice by McCain. They already are in full support mode, even though Palin is a worse choice than Meirs was for the Supreme Court.

[supradave1]

Speculation is such a good reason to qualify something. What are the Powerball numbers?

[miltchocklit]

jeanie528, are you going to tell us WHY you have decided to vote for the McCain/Palin ticket, or are you just going to let us assume you are a fool?

[hooboy]

You know nothing about Dan Quayle, except that he kept a teacher out of trouble by using the spelling of the word potatoe on a 3 b y 5 card, as given to him by the teacher. Many millions of people in the USA have always spelled that word ending in an e.

He did that once, and got a million hits by Demorats who were told how the word was spelled by some people.

I have a letter in my file from the Left Angeles Times, one of your favorite sources of nonsense, that says they have a million of examples where people spelled the word potatoe, but they would not even print one example. Typical Demorat.

In 1976, Quayle was elected to the U.S. Congress from Indiana's Fourth Congressional District, defeating eight-term incumbent Democrat J. Edward Roush. He won reelection in 1978 by the greatest percentage margin ever achieved to that date in the northeast Indiana district.

In 1980, at age 33, Quayle became the youngest person ever elected to the U.S. Senate from the state of Indiana, defeating three-term incumbent Democrat Birch Bayh. Making Indiana political history again, Quayle was reelected to the Senate in 1986 with the largest margin ever achieved to that date by a candidate in a statewide Indiana race.