McCain Talks Experience -- Er, Sarah? With a John Edwards Moment in Tow?

By Stephen C. Rose

WHOOPS: PALIN AFFAIR ALLEGED SOURCE

OK, I need to explain why I am posting this. This story will either be a major game changer that leads to Palin's resignation, a consummation McCain probably devoutly wishes. Or it will be a massive distraction that becomes the campaign. I see no alternative to one of these outcomes.

Why am I posting this item from the National Enquirer.

Following Jonestown, I wrote an in depth journalistic account of events in Guyana called Jesus and Jim Jones.

I date from that time in 1978 the TABLOIDIZATION of American journalism. This is because the National Enquirer had more salient and reliable reporting on the reality of Jonestown than the MSM of the time.

In the case of this Palin item, I approach it exactly as I approached it then. I have been aware of this possible story almost since Palin's nomination. But until it broke for real, I made no mention of it. Now that the Enquirer is willing to stand by it, as they did with the John Edwards story, I am more than willing to let the chips fall where they may.

McCain did not vett Sarah Palin and now the chickens are coming home to roost big time. The shabby soap opera continues. But unfortunately this is an overload the nation does not need. McCain has destroyed Sarah Palin. I half believe she will be OUT before the Veep debate.

To those who think this is a new thing in American politics, I refer them to Grover Cleveland's story -- told in a tabloid of the time.

And I lay the major blame with McCain. With a substantial dollop to Palin if she did not reveal the affair. Lord knows, this is as common as milk. We are dealing with a convention whose political uses remain manifold but whose actual import is increasingly irrelevant.

Comments

[Alessan]

The neo-cons love this women, she fits them, goes along with the only thing that is important to them, and no abortion of white babies. Separation of the races if at all possible to make sure inequality
pervails. It seems that equality is getting an upper hand, with a black man running for President
the neo-cons are scared to death, that people of color will soon be running this country. Of course if Obama becomes President, that will not be true, but that's what they think. They will not vote for
Obama under any circumstances, the color is what matters to them, that's why suddenly Hillary
Clinton, became a favorite for a while, simply because she's white, anything but a black Obama.

[grata2ude]

Its common knowledge that McCain is a craps player. He's been describeds as an addict to this game and is willing to lay down some big bucks. Well when he first rolled the Palin dice he assumed he would win because the press went all ga ga over this perty little cutie.

But the dice is slowing falling onto the crap table and it looks like its going to cost him plenty.

Well Senator, you gambled that the voters in this country were stupid- you lost. You gambled that women would vote based on hairstyle, glasses and perkiness= you lost And you gambled that the office of the VP does nothing but attend diplomat's funeral.--­---you lost.

Snake eyes.

[BarackMarley]

That's only one of her scandals. Here is my Top 5 Palin scandals

http://newsone.com/elections/article/top-5-palin-scandals

[citadelgrrl05]

you guys stop wishing, nothing is going to happen like that she will be on the ticket b/c the MSM will not pick up on this b/c they are mostly neo-cons, at least a lot of them are married to republicans SO STOP WISHING AND START FOCUSING ON GETTING THROUGH THE DEBATES WITH JOE SOMETIMES PUT FOOT IN THE MOUTH, I LOVE THE MAN BUT IT IS TRUE. I HOPE HE IS NOT TOO SOFT ON HER THOUGH. also we better watch to see if she has an EARPIECE IN HER EAR, THE MCBUSH CAMPAINGN IS SLEAZY ENOUGH TO DO THAT SO IF SHE STARTS SOUNDING COHEREANT WE NO SHE AHS A PIECE IN HER EAR!!!

[cgr]

I had exactly the same thought about an earpiece. The government, FBI, CIA, etc., I'm sure have very small, sophisticated and scarcely detectable earpieces, and I was actually surprised to hear Palin's Couric interview go so badly. No earpiece. Still, at the debate, if her hair is down & she's even remotely coherent, someone should check for device. Like any one would, but still...

[classystylz]

I think the title of this blog entry should be changed because I would not have known this was as juicy as it is. I only found it because I have your marked as a fan so that I am updated with all of your entries. Keep up the good writing.

[Stephen C. Rose - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi classystylz. I figured that the Edwards reference would do the job. I should pay more attention to such things though as my posts do not last long at this point. I think Saturday must be a good day to post in terms of getting readership. Originally on my blog the title was simply McCain Talks Experence -- Er, Sarah? which I thought was an economical way of saying what the experience argument will do to McCain in the last analysis. Then I stumbled on the Enquirer thing and added it on. Thanks for the prod! Cheers, S

[classystylz]

Hi Stephen, thanks for the reply. Actually I think Sunday afternoon/evening is a better day to post since more folks are home resting up to get to work Mon. If the majority of the public is like myself, Saturday is my busy day trying to get all street runs done that I cannot attend to during the week since I am at work. As for the blog title I just think that there would have been more traffic to it had it been more interesting. I do hope more comes out of this story though. Thanks again for the reply.

[dlswriter]

We've vetted religious ideology with Huckabee, Romney, Obama, McCain, Biden, and have found those with the more moderate ideology to be WH acceptable.

We have yet to do so with Palin.

I have to know if she is an End-Times believer in association with the likes of Hagee. There is a close association with her churches and Hagee.

I want to know if she is planning on nuking Iran to bring on the Apocalypse. I want to know if she believes her purpose if to fulfill the End-Times prophesy.

To me, this trumps all other issues.

[Stephen C. Rose - Huffpost Blogger]

I would agree if I really thought she might get to be Veep. We sure did not understand Bush 2 in this respect. I see Palin in a similar way. While both have some degree of religious involvement, their political personas tend toward dualistic, good-bad, simplistic thinking. My implression from what I have read is that Palin believes we are in the end times and that when the end comes Alaska needs to be prepped to be hospitable to the remnant that ends up there. I have witnessed some of this directly and to the extent that it is based on resentment, it is pretty scary if someone who believes this way attains power. This relates in some respects to Bush 2 if you do a little vest pocket psychology. If I had Barbara Bush for a mom I think I might be more messed up than I am..

[JRsNana]

IMHO, there is NO WAY they can let Palin go through with the VP debate. It would be an unmitigated disaster for the McCain campaign and the questions of his judgement would be answered.
With conservatives turning on her as they are, the McCain gang will find themselves with no other choice than to replace her (with Mitt Romney is my guess).

[ElBruce]

Maybe she'll decide to suspend the campaign at the last minute and rush off to Alaska to deal with the impending Moose crisis.

[radiclib]

.
.
I am tired of rumors and cheap shots about Palin and the fact that she is female.
It is none of our business if she had an affair or if her unmarried teenage daughter is pregnant or if she chose to travel when in labor with a Downs Syndrome baby or if men secretly lust for her.

Get real, people. She's a candidate for vice-president. Judge her on her qualifications to do the job. And, on that matter, she is less intelligent than Dan Quayle in 1988 and more arrogant and ignorant than George W. Bush in 2000. Electing her would be dangerous. Women know this. Even Republicans know this. She is worse than unqualified. Vote Obama-Biden. Please.
.
.
.

[RedKnuckles]

Personally, I don't care if a candidate has had an affair. The salient point is that the republicans are always trying to claim the moral high ground, family values, etc. They need to be judged by the same values they intend to push onto everyone else. So I say...she'­s fair game.

As far as Palin being attacked because she's female: The NE reported the same sort of affair on Edwards, so your point in rendered invalid.

[dignityandhonor]

An affair? Really? What a maverick thing to do. I couldn't believe McCain called HIMSELF a maverick in the debate last night.

[birdie2]

The religious right is not going to like having their darling taken down by the "liberal media", we should be talking about how MEAN it was of McCain/Rove to put her in the national spot light before she was ready.

[Geoffreys]

I'm not saying it means anything, but the national enquirer's web site is down - at least it says it's under construction when I tried to go to it ...

[Nahnmon]

No - it's up and Sarah is on there ' lover revealed.'

[RickO]

With or without yet another distraction, like this would be if it had legs, the impending disaster of 90 minutes of Palin unscripted in front of what will likely be the largest viewing audience in debate history (I'm actually planning a debate party for the first time), moderated by one of the finest journalists around (Gwen Ifill), I'm sure the McCain campaign is trying to find any thing they can to let that cup pass from them.

We may have a repeat of this week's will-he-show-up question. But this time it will be who-will-show-up? Palin or her last minute replacement?

[RNP]

Mr. Rose, I would have loved to see some further speculation from you on how this might affect the race. Even though it is premature, if you're going to address the elephant, let's ask him some questions too! Who would be likely, Romney? Another, more qualified woman? Would some potential running mates privately turn him down, seeing how this is going, or would the opportunity for power and to be the savior who brings a winning "bump" be too tempting? I'm really curious what John Q. Public would think of this. If Palin resigned, blame for McCain's lack of vetting would be lost in the HUGE story of the new candidate, and he'd have a second chance to "get it right".

[Stephen C. Rose - Huffpost Blogger]

Lieberman was his first choice and at this late date McCain would need a fully vetted character. Lieberman would fill the bill. McCain does not like Romney but he loves Lieberman. McCain would be throwing another huge Hail Mary pass and perhaps have already given up on winning -- as, I believe, his campaign had done before he picked Palin. While we may detest Lieberman, this choice would certainly make McCain a more solid choice than McCain-Palin does. He would lose the GOP core base that loves Palin. He might chip away some undecideds. I think this is the likeliest scenario if Palin is thrown under the bus.

A side note: The McCain campaign would paint a Palin withdrawal as stone-throwing outrage committed by media and all who like Obama, hoping thereby to gain massive sympathy. The only response would be the one I have already made -- McCain is culpable for not having vetted and for bringing a demonstrably vulnerable woman into the maelstrom of media attention.

The model of dealing with this issue is NYC's Gov. Paterson who simply acknowledged when asked abour affairs said sure.

[ElBruce]

I agree Lieberman is most likely, if only because McCain would have the argument to make to the Rove/Limba­ugh/evange­lical wing of "I tried it your way and it didn't work. Now we're going with my choice."

Pros:
1) Republicans who were avoiding McCain because of Palin might breathe a sigh of relief and vote for him.

Cons:
1) It plays into the "erratic, desperate" frame that's already growing around his campaign.
2) Many of the religious right will drop their temporary enthusiasm and stay home on election day. In other words, bye bye base.

[Frank Dwyer - Huffpost Blogger]

Here comes Jeb, who brings Florida with him and will rally the Conservative base by pointing out that he too is one of his brother's many victims, one of the biggest, and then calmly and sadly and firmly throwing his brother under the bus. He has nothing to lose: I'll bet most of the people who still tell pollsters they support W really believe he ought to be under the bus. Celebrity! Vetted! Handsome! True conservative! Executive experience! Can see Cuba from his back yard! Can you imagine the bump?

[98rsd]

Let's see how long it takes the mainstream media to get the guts to go with this story....M­cCain opted for a pig in a poke (lipstick or no) and now he's going to suffer the consequences. It's amusing that--after all the GOP's professed disdain for "celebrity"--the party faithful joined the Palin Fan Club on day one, without knowing anything about her. She was an instant celebrity.

I hear that when she was in New York she gained more foreign policy experience because she could see the Russian Tea Room from her suite.

[Stephen C. Rose - Huffpost Blogger]

Well the story has been around and even noted here since 3 September with no noticeable rise in awareness. I decided today to post it on my blog http://stephencrosehome.blogspot.com today for the reasons I note above. I believe this will break like the Edward's story did, except that the McCain campaign has a card now that they can use to get her out if they decide it might help them. Enter Joe Lieberman. The entire McCain effort is based on surge theory. Trying to hit a blip up on Nov. 4.

I think Barack is doing building blocks and that the structure is getting stronger daily. The post=debate strategy has been masterful.

[wingman1]

I predict Palin will be under the bus on Monday the 29th, in time to be replaced before the VP debate. Part of me will be sorry if she is, because I'd love to see her mangle the language in the style to which we are becoming accustomed during the debate and by so doing further mangle McCain's now teetering chances of being elected.

[withay]

fear this: the replacement will be our own Dear Leader, Joe used-2b-democrat Lieberman, who McCain originally wanted. the debate will be between Biden and Lieberman, almost as surreal, since both are Northeastern liberals.