It's All About Hiding Palin

John McCain's scandalous gambit to politicize the nation's economic crisis with still more wild political stunts this week sure looks like a desperate, last-ditch effort to keep Sarah Palin from being further exposed as a lightweight. Why else would the McCain team be pushing to get Friday's debate moved to October 2, the scheduled night of the vice presidential debate?

In politics as in life, big gambles tend to beget big gambles - McCain bet everything on jazzing up his tired, sagging campaign and appeasing hard-line religious conservatives with his choice of Palin, foolishly hoping that at the same time he would pick up disgruntled Hillary voters along the way. During Palin's Sanjaya phase, now mercifully over, she was a flavor-of-the-moment celebrity, but this week's polls showed the Palin bounce is gone, gone, gone. Panic started to set in among McCain and his handlers.

I've never been in the camp that sees Joe Biden as a dead-certain lock to clean Palin's clock in a nationally televised debate. As smart and experienced as Biden is, his chances of blurting out something weird or unfortunate in the debate (the much discussed gaffe factor) should not be dismissed; and with expectations of Palin so low, especially after her interview with Katie Couric (I recommend checking in with Glenn Greenwald on this), it always seemed to me that she could show up, stick doggedly to the mental note cards she has memorized, and smile and look plucky and make a sarcastic joke or two -- and many in the media would call that a draw or a win.

But the McCain people obviously fear the scenario of Palin melting under the pressure and shocking even many Palin fans. The issue is not so much Palin's ignorance of policy questions, such as her laugh-out-loud-awful problems with an earlier question about the Bush Doctrine, but her Bush-like utter lack of curiosity about the rest of the world through the first four-plus decades of her life.

Obviously the behind-the-scenes prep sessions aren't working. Otherwise the McCain people would not be hiding Palin from the press quite so shamelessly. So the cynical McCain campaign tries to make the media look like idiots by claiming with a straight face that this week's desperate stunt is anything other than a callow effort to distract people and avoid having to push Palin out there on October 2. Andrew Sullivan and others have been raising the point since last night and it looks on target. The question is whether anyone will step up to call McCain on going to such extreme measures to try to cover up the misguided - and badly mistaken - choice of Palin in the first place.

Comments

[JKKlingner]

Another great article, Steve. Thanks. Sometimes I feel as though I’m in the middle of some weird nightmare, that I’ll wake up at any moment and find out that this was all just a bad dream. How is it possible that Palin could actually become the President of the United States of America? Commander in Chief!? Honestly, I’ll bet I’m more qualified to be Commander in Chief than her, and I am most decidedly NOT qualified. But at least I know something about our history and about the world. I have this sense that I am in a bubble watching history in the making, and not the history everyone is talking about—I’m worried about the demise of the United States as we know it, and maybe the world. I’ve never felt this concerned before, even growing up in an era of air raid drills when we curled up under our desks at school for protection. Everyone knows me as an optimist, a glass half full kind of person. But I’m not feeling very optimistic now. I try to reassure myself that this nation could not possibly be ill-informed and ill-advised (well, actually, I mean stupid) enough to vote for the McCain-Palin ticket. But then again, this nation voted Bush into the Whitehouse for 8 years (well, probably not really, but that’s an issue for another day…).

[FemaleYesStupidNO]

I never thought I would see anyone LESS qualified to be in the Oval Office than George W. but then along came Sarah. I am almost exactly the same age, also a mother, a soccer mom no less, but she doesnt fool me for a second. The McCain campaign claims sexism when they want the press to go easier on her, and she is using her sex/gender for all its worth. I DONT CARE if she is pretty and charmin', just as I dont care if the next President is black, white, purple or multi-striped. I care that we finally have in office someone who knows what the h*ll they are talking about and she CLEARLY DOESNT. It is an insult to women everywhere to think that Sarah Palin being female is enough to score points with hockey moms, soccer moms, etc. Do the Republicans really think we are THAT stupid?

[Steve Kettmann - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for a great post. I signed up as a fan of FemaleYesStupidNO

[Rosanneofpgh]

YEP....

[Noracharles1995]

What she said, I'm about the same age as well and had my youngest when I was 44. IMO in a word, yes the republicans think we ARE that stupid.

I keep going back to McCain being overheard dropping the C-bomb at his wife. Yes, they do think we're that stupid. What they aren't counting on is us realizing that none other than Joe Biden wrote and worked on the Violence Against Women Act and didn't rest until it became law. And that he's done a range of things, as has Barack, to help women.

I say they should keep underestimating us cuz they'll lose in a landslide at this rate.

[H2Opolomom]

What is so pathetically said is that so many people are so infatuated with her. She is Barbie the cheerleader and although I never owned a Barbie doll, I believe they don't blink. What gives with that? Shows how robotic she is. McCain must have been having more than a senior moment when he had his 15 minute convo that caused him to pick her as his running mate. Then again, with his history, guess she was the "best looking"candidate that he had. Of course the general populace, who is so taken with her, loves the Beauty and the Beast aspect of this ticket.

Cut to the chase folks. This is not a movie - this is REALITY. Understand who she is, and how dreadfully close she is to running or is it RUINING this country. It's no wonder they are "sheltering" and hiding her. She is an embarrassment to the Republicans, but they can't admit it now.

Quit stalling, McCain - face the music and let's just get over this.

[sharri]

You realize when she's done breast feeding, it wont be near as much fun to look down her top.

[mysterygirl18]

Here's what scares me about that debate with Biden. I think Joe will be great, naturally, but I think Sarah is going to ride the idea of "oh I did well for not having media exposure" and the media will fall for it, saying she had confidence and poise despite John Mccain not letting her talk. In other words, I think this is all kind of big set-up that America will probably eat up.

http://www.myspace.com/wakeupnowpeople

[timezone]

How long can the Reps hope to hide the fact their perky poster child, with the enthusiasm of a cheerleader, doesn't have what it takes for any high ranking office, much less a step away from president? Do they think they can hide her away til after the election?

[Steve Kettmann - Huffpost Blogger]

I think they might think that. Really, the arrogance is staggering, isn't it? I just hope these latest clips of Palin with Couric - wow! even she must cringe when she watches the replays - are seen by millions and millions of people.

[ptillen]

Here's the thing though, I don't think she is cringing. I suspect the only way she's not shaking in her 3 inch pumps over the mere idea of where she might be headed is a colossal amount of arrogance. What she referred to in her Gibson interview as "confidence, commitment, not blinking" is really hubris fueled by willful ignorance. Sound like any still-president you know of?

[Tenebrae]

Well, I since absentee voting has just opened up in some states (one of the Carolinas I believe) yeah, the longer they can keep up the Sarah blackout, the better they will do.

[PumaAnn]

Pal has done interviews now, and obviously nobody is shielding her. Her interview with Katie was obviously not good.

I think she'll learn fast. A flub is all it usually takes for smart people.

but the argument that's being hidden is rather silly, given her interviews.

[Steve Kettmann - Huffpost Blogger]

They have kept her away from reporters to a shocking degree - for all the fuss over McCain's choice of her as his running mate in August, the first time she answered questions from the reporters traveling with her was ... today at Ground Zero. Did you see this footage? To me she looked less confident than she did at the convention - in fact, to me she looks less confident day by day. I don't blame her. It must be scary to confront the possibility that she could be a heartbeat away from the most powerful job in the world, come January 20.

[timezone]

I'm curious what the buzz is about Palin across Europe, Steve.

[DobermanTracker]

“Hold Palin Accountable Rally”

Saturday, September 27th, noon – 2:00 pm
Downtown Park Strip; between I & L streets
and 9th & 10th.
Main stage at the VA Memorial, east end
of the park near L street.

Join your Alaskan neighbors in demanding that:
 Gov. Palin uphold her promise to us for an “open, honest & transparent” government.
 Gov. Palin uphold her promise to us to cooperate fully with the independent investigation as initiated by the bi-partisan Legislative Council.

We, the People of Alaska, also
 Demand the immediate resignation of Attorney General Talis Colberg for unethical behavior and conflict of interest.
 Demand the McCain campaign immediately remove itself and its influence from our state and local government.
 Demand the McCain Campaign ends its attorney, Ed O’Callahan’s unlawful intrusion into our Department of Law.

Brought to you by “Alaskans for Truth”.

[napapjd]

"Lawmakers Agree on Outline of Bailout." That is the headline in the New York Times. So there is nothing for John McCain to be do in Washington. He can head straight to Mississippi in plenty of time to get in a nap before the debate.

The way it looks to me: he either tries to stick with the can't-debate gambit, which would be absurd since the stated purpose for not debating was to spend the time helping forge an agreement; or he says, OK, there's an agreement, and debates, in which case his utter irrelevance to the process -- they got an agreement done before he showed up! -- is highlighted.

So what do you think he will do, Steve? What will they say about the debate?

Now remember, Steve, it's the McCain campaign we are talking about. Anything is possible. Do NOT let yourself be contrained by rationality!

[Steve Kettmann - Huffpost Blogger]

If even Haley Barbour - a former RNC chair - is on CNN making clear he expects McCain to show up to his state for the debate, I have to think he has no choice - unless the House Republicans opposing the bailout somehow hold the thing up.
If McCain doesn't show up, I like the idea of Obama taking the questions alone - or of letting other presidential candidates take part, with an empty podium representing John McCain and his empty, stunt-filled candidacy

[PumaAnn]

Mac showed up all year alone.

On this, nobody's listening to O. We know he dodged all the promised town halls.

[KSMullins]

Yes, I believe you are spot on with this suggestion. Eliminating the VP debate would appear to serve the McCain campaign from a potential embarrassment should Palin falter against Biden. And certainly, the odds of a "Hockey Mom" standing toe to toe with a seasoned Senator are very long indeed.

It would appear that McCain wants very much to be President, but does not appear to be putting enough thought to what would be like...if he were to win. What sort of lieutenant would Palin make?? And would she be an ongoing liability for a President McCain.

As Letterman pointed out, if Palin can't assist now...she certainly won't be able to once the stage moves from the Ed Sullivan Theater to the West Wing.

[BusGreg]

I like what Letterman had to suggest last night.
If Sarah palin really is as ready as advertised, why not let her take McCain's spot at Friday's debate and let Mcain attend to fixing the problem. After all, Moose-girl is ready to assume the Vice Presidency or even the Presidency, so she should certainly be able to stand in for McCain and debate Obama!
I'd pay to watch that one!

[Steve Kettmann - Huffpost Blogger]

I only caught highlights from Letterman. I love it! Great idea.

[Pantleg]

Palin makes the Agnew, Quail choice look good. I wish they would ask
Her how to spell potato. I love the arrogance of ignorance

[mm29464]

excellent post.

[brody4bho]

But if Mc cain debates tomorrow how does he put off her debate? Does he intentionally stall the agreement to "force" a change in the debate schedule?

[ttmatthe]

The point was that McCain wanted to cancel tomorrow's debate, to move it to Oct. 2nd, the SAME day of the VP debates. Doing so would mean delaying or possibly canceling the VP debates.

[milo h minderbinder]

Yeah, but with it looking like a deal is pretty much done, that stall tactic won't work. The question is what else if anything can Mac do to delay now?

[Steve Kettmann - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes, I think he will try to stall. I think if McCain faces reality and debates Obama on Friday night, his gambit failed - and Obama will pummel him in the debate and Biden and Palin will go at it, as previously scheduled, on October 2. But this one's moving fast! Hard to be sure of anything! Thanks for the comment.

[PumaAnn]

Interestin­g.......bu­t I can't imagine why you'd think that. Mac blew him away at his recent debate, and he's quite good at debating.

O usually flubs it.

[jno510]

I wouldn't underestimate Palin. Her ability to score points with the hockey moms, evangelicals and cosmetology college dropouts that appreciate someone "just like me" is huge.