The Worst Vice-Presidential Nominee in U.S. History

There was a TV ad for deodorant that said, "Never let them see you sweat." The John McCain campaign has just showed the world that it is drenched.

Selecting Sarah Palin as its choice for a vice presidential candidate is perhaps the worst such choice in American History. To be fair, maybe there are worse choices, but I don't know how bad William O. Butler was when he ran with Lewis Cass against Zachary Taylor.

But it's far worse than Dan Quayle, who was a sitting senator. Worse even than Geraldine Ferraro, who at least served in Congress for three-terms. And far worse than William Miller, a choice so obscure when selected by Barry Goldwater that he (honestly) later did an American Express commercial asking, "Do you know me?" And that ad was after the election. But even Miller had been a Congressman for 12 years. And been a prosecutor during the Nuremberg War trials against Nazis. Sarah Palin lists her credits as a hockey mom.

There was a point during the Republican primaries when I was trying to figure out who I hoped got the presidential nomination. Someone so weak he'd be easy for the Democrats to beat, or someone more challenging who at least wouldn't be a disaster for America. I decided on the latter because America has to resolve its serious problems and can't afford risking some glitch where another George Bush got elected. And so I felt that John McCain, for all his weaknesses, was the lesser of all evils and was glad he got the nomination. Throw that out the window. McCain-Palin is an unthinkable disaster.

I completely understand the reasoning behind the decision for John McCain to select Sarah Palin. Absolutely. It's the thinking that settled on Sarah Palin that's missing.

No doubt John McCain will get some women to vote for him who wouldn't have otherwise, and even some independents. But he will also probably lose as many Republicans uncomfortable with a woman on the ticket - let alone a woman with so little experience as Sarah Palin. Not to mention that the choice will cause many undecided Democratic women to be aghast and push them back to following their Democratic beliefs. And further, it will lose all the independents who look at the GOP ticket and say "This is who I'm supposed to give my vote for the next four years to lead and protect America??" It may even appeal to right-wing evangelicals for her strong pro-life stance and get some to vote - but that position and others related to it are specifically what loses even more women voters. And men. Ultimately, the nomination will lose far, far more votes than it gains.

But this is not the reason the decision is so terrible.

It's always said that the most important decision a presidential candidate makes is their pick for vice president. It shows their thinking and judgment. John McCain, in his first decision, has just told the world that he believes Sarah Palin is the most qualified person to be a heartbeat from the presidency. Forgetting all the available men for a moment, if John McCain felt it critical to select a woman in an effort to somehow grab the Hillary Clinton supporters, look at his choice of women he had available: Christine Todd Whitman, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Elizabeth Dole, Susan Collins, even - for goodness sake - Condoleezza Rice. Or Carly Fiorina. Each of these have marks against them, and perhaps some might not have wanted to run, but it's near-impossible to look at the list and suggest to the American public that Sarah Palin is the best choice of Republican women to be vice president. And again, this is ignoring the men he who could have been chosen.

It's not that Sarah Palin is inexperienced. It's that this is gross political misconduct.

Sarah Palin has been governor of Alaska for just a bit over 18 months. Alaska has a population of 683,000. (Though that doesn't include moose.) This would only make it the 17th most populous city in the United States. Just ahead of Fort Worth.

Before that, she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. Population 9,000. I know Republicans like to promote "small town values," but this is taking things to ridiculous extremes, don't you think? I'm from Glencoe, Illinois, population 8,762. It's so small it doesn't even have a mayor, it has an appointed village manager. I'm sure that Paul Harlow is doing wonderfully at his job in the village - but I don't expect that he sees himself as even wanting to be a heartbeat from the U.S. President in 18 months. You know what the top news story is on the Glencoe website? "Fire Hydrant Painting Underway." (To be fair, it's the #2 story. The top news is a clarification about displaying political signage.)

Do you know what the first two "powers and duties" are for the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska? Check their municipal code:

1. Preside at council meetings. The mayor may take part in the discussion of matters before the council, but may not vote, except that the mayor may vote in the case of a tie;

2. Act as ceremonial head of the city;

Swell.

If you live in small town America (and I mean really, really small), look around you and be honest - do you see your mayor (or village manager) as a heartbeat from the presidency in 18 months?

But that's not the reason either that the decision to make Sarah Palin the VP nominee is so terrible.

It's one thing to discuss how unqualified Sarah Palin is. That's a national matter and huge. But on a grassroots political level, her nomination takes away the Republicans' ONLY weapon in the campaign - calling Barack Obama inexperienced. They haven't even been trying to run on the issues, or on the eight-year record of George Bush, which John McCain has supported almost 95% of the time. They've only been running on the faux-issue of Barack Obama's experience of 14 years in federal and state government. Yes, Sarah Palin is merely running for VP, not president, but with a 72 year-old candidate with a history of serious medical issues, this is who they're saying is able to step in as president in a heart-beat. She has so little experience that she makes Sen. Obama look like FDR, Winston Churchill and Julius Caesar combined. So, the Republicans pulled the rug out from under themselves. They have no issues. The economy? Housing? The national debt? Education? The Environment? Iraq? Afghanistan? Nothing. All they have is "Dear Democratic women: please pretend our VP candidate is Hillary Clinton. Just forget that she's pro-life. And against most things Democrats stand for."

But that's not the reason the decision is so terrible.

Because if the hope for John McCain is to get women to vote for him who otherwise supported Hillary Clinton - if anything could get Hillary Clinton campaigning in full force and fury...this is it. She likely would have campaigned hard, but it's in Hillary Clinton's best interest to be the leading voice for women, and the leading woman candidate for president in the future, so having another woman as the potential Vice President (and potential President) is a significant challenge to that. The Republicans just opened Pandora's Box and brought Hillary Clinton roaring to Barack Obama's side on the Democratic train. And Bill Clinton, too.

Yet even that's not the reason the decision is so terrible.

What this does in the most profound and grandiose way possible is give lie to John McCain's pompous posturing that he Always Puts America First. And that undercuts the most prominent campaign issue of his entire career, that everything he does is for reasons of honor. There is nothing honorable about making Sarah Palin your vice presidential nominee. Nothing. Unless you define honor as "blatantly pandering."

But that's not the reason either that this decision is so terrible.

But before we get to that, let's look at the actual announcement to make Gov. Sarah Palin (AK - pop. 683,000) the Republican nominee for president, and put the horrible decision in perspective.

First, John McCain stood at the podium, looking up-and-down reading his speech. It's impossible not to compare that to Barack Obama giving his majestic speech the night before that even conservative analysts were admiring in awe.

Second, the cameras were polite enough to avoid it, but there were empty seats in the gym. It's impossible not to compare that to a stadium of 75,000 people that Barack Obama spoke to the night before.

Third, when people around the nation were waiting to hear about Sarah Palin's qualifications and gravitas to be Vice President of the United States, the first five minutes of her speech were spent talking about her husband being a champion snowmobiler.

Fourth, when she finally got around to her qualifications, pretty much all we discovered was that she fought to cut property taxes. And then, she basically stopped there.

She did, however, mention becoming energy self-sufficient - by talking about how she supported drilling in Alaska!!! Perhaps to Republicans this is being an environmentalist, but to most of America, not so much. Then again, she's also against putting polar bears on the endangered species list (which the government did), so maybe her environmental qualifications are more lax than she thinks.

And then, finally, she spent the rest of her time praising John McCain. Fine, that's very supportive of her...except that the one question on everyone's mind was not -- "can you say John McCain is a swell guy and tell us that he was a POW", the question on everyone's mind was - "Who in God's name are you, and please tell us why you should be a heart-beat from the presidency?"

In the end, the only case she herself made for being on the ticket was praising Hillary Clinton! That's it, period. Now, it might be enough to attract some women -- but it doesn't make a case for the ticket. Why? Hint: some women did vote for Hillary Clinton solely because she was a woman. But most women voted for Hillary Clinton because she was a Democrat, as well as a woman, who stood for important Democratic values they seriously believed in. If Sarah Palin wants to praise Hillary Clinton, go for it. But at least understand what you're praising. Because it will likely come back and bite you.

It was a thin, nothing, empty speech. It was a speech to be head of the Chamber of Commerce. Compare that to the speech by Joe Biden when Barack Obama introduced him. Eloquent, soaring and explaining in blunt detail why John McCain should not be president. Joe Biden must have been watching Sarah Palin's speech, in order to take notes in preparation for his debate with her and thought, "This isn't fair."

And all that's not even the reason the decision is so terrible.

The reason is because the election is not about Sarah Palin. Or about Joe Biden. As much as TV analysts want to be excited by the balloons and hoopla, tomorrow the air will be let out, and there are still over two months to go for the campaign.

The campaign is about Barack Obama and John McCain.

Sarah Palin's nomination doesn't change that. In fact, it reinforces it. Nothing about putting Sarah Palin on the GOP ticket changes a word that Barack Obama said in his vibrant acceptance speech - about himself, about his issues, and about John McCain's repeatedly faulty judgment on the critical issues facing America.

What Sarah Palin's nomination does do is focus attention on John McCain's age. Indeed, the nomination was made on his birthday, when he turned 72, the oldest man ever to run for president. As the crowd sang "Happy Birthday to You," you almost sensed that through John McCain's clenched smile, saying, "Thanks for reminding me," that what he was thinking underneath was "Please, oh, please, don't sing the 'How old are you now?' part." And how good a message was it that he's saying he supposedly forgot it was his birthday?

Vice presidents are usually selected as people who are adept at blasting the other side's presidential candidate, because it's only the presidential candidate that matters. Joe Biden has already done that - twice - at length, spoken as someone who knows John McCain well and likes him. Sarah Palin had her first chance...and whiffed. Didn't even try. And it's hard to imagine what she has in her arsenal that will remotely allow her to do so in the future.

The election is about the presidential candidates. And the selection of Sarah Palin now allows Barack Obama to campaign untouched by the Republican ticket. John McCain's only other option is for himself to personally become negative for two months - which is disaster in presidential politics.

Now add on all the problems expressed above. Sarah Palin's inexplicably laughable lack of substance, most-especially on the foreign policy stage. Her taking away the one issue, experience, Republicans were even attempting. Her pushing away voters who might otherwise be willing to vote for a senator with 26 years in the Senate. Her bringing Hillary Clinton aggressively back into the campaign. Her inability to offer anything to off-set Joe Biden. Her standing as supposedly the most-qualified Republican woman as John McCain's first decision.

And, in the end, it all focuses back on Barack Obama, with his indictment of eight years of the Bush Administration and of John McCain's flawed judgment - and John McCain's defense of all that.

Republicans might be dancing earlier today, because there was a lot of fun music playing. But the music has stopped. The actual campaign has now started. For Republicans, it might have ended.

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

Comments

[dbm1966]

Great article. I can't wait for the vice presidential debate. She is no position to criticize either Biden or Obama.

What is really sad about McCain's move is it shows how shallow he thinks Americans, especially women, are. I heard some Republican women on radio state that (1) McCain's pick is an insult to women and (2) looking at this choice and not considering her gender, she is simply a horrible choice, and they are going to vote Obama.

In other words, issues are more important than ovaries.

[bluescat47]

She is indeed up there with Curtis Lamay, Wallace's VP nominee in 1968, as the worst of all time. McCain could have chosen a highly qualified woman such as Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, 14 year in the Senate and another 12 in the House, chosen by Time magazine as one of the top 10 U.S. Senators. But a responsible centrist wont work for McCain in his appeal to the social conservative airheads, the Ted Nugents and Rush Limbaughs of America. McCain's decision is a measure of the man, and he comes up woefully short.

[yellowdog10]

This is one of the best pieces of political writing I have read.

[littleblackcat]

Check. Checkmate.

[stevensjohn26]

I think Biden's plugs are the best of any VP candidate. How about you?

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

I'd like to add - Game, Set and Match to Senators Obama & Biden.

Did anyone tell Gov. Barbie that there is no prize for Miss Congeniality in Presidential Elections?

[MiamiMama]

As a FORMER Republican, I was never on John McCain's team. He seems like a hot head and attacks the man, not the argument. His VP choice was a strategic move to lessen the attack dog, Biden, during debates. It is not proper to beat up a woman, as Obama found out with Hillary. It will be very easy to say, I respect you Govenor Palin, however, everything that you represent goes against the thinking of women, environmentalist and sound judgement. For the sake of the party, I would have turned down the nomination knowing it would create the perfect situation for the democrats. The experience factor in Palin and Obama are world's apart. His educational background and brilliant campaign strategy using grassroots efforts show he is the supreme commander. Imagine the rollover affect into running the government by recognizing the kind of people needed to make the unthinkable happen?

The only thing McCain can hold on to is Rev. Wright, race and non-issues. Comparing the two first ladies, no contest. Compare infidelity of McCains prior to divorce, no contest. Cindy McCain's drug use and prescription theft, no contest. Palin's husband works for BP - Big Oil! Evangelicals running America - No way! Overturning Roe vs. Wade - Unthinkable!

I think the youth under 30 will be the deciding factor. With acell phones and no land lines, no one really knows the impact, but I suspect it will be huge....unless the Republicans are busy making chips for those voting machines

[stan1]

Elisberg is all wet on governor Palin. Despite being from a small state by population count, she has far more executive experience than either Obama or Biden as a reult of her governorship. In addition, it is refreshing that we finally have a candidate that has not been ensconced in the DC beltway. So far she appears bright and tough without the negative baggage carried by the dems....that in addition to McCain makes this the ticket for me.

[SickOfThisSht]

stan1 try to be objective - Elisberg is dead on target - do you honestly believe that Palin with no international experience is ready? Most college graduates have more international experience!
So according to you since she seems bright, tough, and not negative like the Dems she is qualified to be VP stan stan stan... Palin's VP nomination will withdrawn by Friday!

[stevensjohn26]

Well, it is Friday, and they did not pull the nomination. Will you admit that you are wrong?

Maybe the Obama campaign will realize what a bad choice "plugs" Biden is and they will pull him...but, it will be some emergency or family situation that gets him off of the ticket, so not to make Obama look bad....we'll have to wait and see...

[Dansden]

WOW!!!!! With ditzy and daring Palin on the ticket- that changes everything.....

What this means is that Ralph Nader REALLY has a chance now....smile....

With Palin in the mix folks can feel to vote for ANYONE.......absolutely anyone.......

maybe Americans should WRITE IN HILLARY CLINTON for President........

OR maybe Pam Anderson........

[azcamp]

Great article. I have been searching for this kind of analysis.

John McCain has proved to be the same kind of non-thinker that G. Bush is so I am not surprised. I just thought that he would try to hide his deficiency. I think that the debates will be interesting when the very tall Obama towers over McCain and the very tall Biden towers over Palin.

In the back corner of my brain, I wondered if McCain tried to pick someone who would not tower over him on the campaign trail or out perform him in a debate.

[08politicaljunkie]

Alaska has the 1st highest occurrence for forcible rape among all 50 States. And its Governor, Sarah Palin, is against terminating an unwanted pregnancy at any cost.

http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/akcrime.htm

[Snailgoop]

The article is too anti-Palin and so it's not trustworthy. It sounds like a rant.

[08politicaljunkie]

Marijuana is legal in Alaska.

[PapaRonn]

I really hope people are out there doing their homework on this last baby rumor. Every woman I have spoken to ,EVERY WOMAN ,says there is no way they would have boarded a plane after their water broke. Let alone an 8 hour flight with a connection.Rumor has it her daughter was in labor and she had to get back home to keep the ruse intact. Not even her staff noticed her pregnancy?If there are any medical experts out there ,I know mono is contagious,but should it have kept her daughter out of school for 5-8 months? McCain may regret that this woman was not fully vetted...

[PapaRonn]

what about Wasilla's $20,000,000 debt?

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Those are mighty fine credentials for a 'Fiscal Conservative'.

Almost as impressive as her 'Christian Family Values' credentials now that her 17 year old unwed daughter is pregnant.

Can't wait to see her National Security & Economic Policy Credentials... (gigglesnort)

[JamieJay]

THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMENT! People don't know that, as mayor, Sarah Palin left her hometown in enormous debt.

[minkia]

I would say Dick Cheney IS the worst VP ever, he may have been effective for his constituents but has been horrible for America ( and that old dude he shot in the face). But she has potential to be the worst, hopefully she wont get a chance. Any person that believes a victim of rape or incest should be forced to bare the bastard fruit of their abuser does not have the mental aptitude to make sound decisions about war and peace let alone lead the so called free world and has no compassion or empathy.

[JoeAlvord]

Hear! Hear!

[Mia23]

Thank you, Mr. Elisberg, for an extremely well-written piece. Case closed,