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The Obama Campaign's First Impulse...
August 29, 2008 2:52 PM
...was to attack Gov. Palin.
"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency," said Obama spox Bill Burton. "Gov. Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil, and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same."
Republicans say it's noteworthy that, on the week commemorating the 88th anniversary of women getting the right to vote -- with McCain, making a groundbreaking VP pick -- the Obama campaign's first response was to attack, not congratulate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, or acknowledge the historic nature of her selection.
It was just yesterday that McCain ran a TV ad congratulating Obama on his historic achievement.
Upon further reflection, Sens. Obama and Biden issued a more carefully considered response:
“We send our congratulations to Gov. Sarah Palin and her family on her designation as the Republican nominee for vice president," said the Democratic ticket in a joint statement. "It is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics. While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward, Gov. Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign."
The first response Republicans had to the Biden pick, of course, was to attack Obama with Biden's words. Then again, there's nothing particularly historic about picking a white male senator as your running mate.
- jpt
August 29, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (287)
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Obama's twisted logic that merely running for office provides him with the qualifications, experience and credentials to perform in that office, is as laughable as his twisted logic that a whirlwind 9 day, six country, overseas photo op qualifies him as an expert on foreign policy. Obama is an empty suit who is obviously trying to create the illusion that he is something that he is not. If its a choice between an experienced mayor and Governor, with an approval rating of 80% for V.P. versus. a community organizer, and junior senator, who spent most of his time in office running for President ... I choose Palin. No Wright, no Farrakahn, no Ayers, no Rezko, no mean Michelle, NOBAMA
P.S. It's also hunorous how the media is now asking McCain if he vetted Palin, when the media totally dropped the ball in vetting Obama ... that's why we found out after the fact about Wright, Rezko, Ayers, and the rest of the nut jobs closely associated with Obama.
Posted by: Howard | Sep 2, 2008 3:43:22 PM
"I cannot believe people will vote for McCain/Palin. Politics as usual: Screw the environment, screw the blue collar workers, screw womens rights to choose, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. I believe in Obama/Biden. They will have my vote. This isn't about "AMERICAN IDOL" voters, this is about the every common American caring about one another, not just corporations protecting their bottom line. Why would someone make a prejudiced comment like that anyway? Someone who doesn't care about their fellow man. This country is about EVERYONE of EVERY age group, not just you old, rich fogies who don't give a hoot about anything but no abortion, and protecting your precious money. I am tired of paying more taxes than someone who makes over a million a year. My husband and I work VERY hard for our money and are tired of it being spent on BS. GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Marie,
The American Idol voter would probably vote for the egotist not Mcain. If you and your husband think your taxes are to highand being spent on BS, imagine what would happen if Barack Hussein Snobama gets into office. They only wayyou are going to lower taxes and end wasteful spending ist to throw out
Pelosi, Reid andtherestof the socialists.
Posted by: Kevin A. Koppmeier | Sep 1, 2008 12:42:25 PM
I cannot believe people will vote for McCain/Palin. Politics as usual: Screw the environment, screw the blue collar workers, screw womens rights to choose, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. I believe in Obama/Biden. They will have my vote. This isn't about "AMERICAN IDOL" voters, this is about the every common American caring about one another, not just corporations protecting their bottom line. Why would someone make a prejudiced comment like that anyway? Someone who doesn't care about their fellow man. This country is about EVERYONE of EVERY age group, not just you old, rich fogies who don't give a hoot about anything but no abortion, and protecting your precious money. I am tired of paying more taxes than someone who makes over a million a year. My husband and I work VERY hard for our money and are tired of it being spent on BS. GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: marie | Aug 30, 2008 9:11:02 PM
It is interesting that Republicans are far more welcoming of a FEMALE choice than the so called liberal Dems.
Posted by: irma | Aug 30, 2008 6:32:46 PM
A VP without any experience?
At least on her trips to the Middle East she visited the troops.
Obama has 0 experience as the front runner, whereas the VP for the Republicans tops Obama's experience ion 2nd position.
Dems cannot use the experience card in the mix, look at their own sorry story in 1st position.
The power torch Obama wanted so badly has just been passed to a woman.
Obama cannot even bring himself to grant any power of recognition to Palin, just as he couldn't Clinton, who was the popular congealing factor he ignored.
The idea that a woman is just too weak is why this sister of the traveling pantsuits is walking out on the Kennedy
(king of Chappaquiddick) power torch pass to inexperience.
Inexperience that is unable to accept a more powerful and knowledgeable woman as a running mate, is not the right power to seat in the Whitehouse.
Posted by: woman citizen | Aug 30, 2008 1:33:07 PM
"Barack/Biden have been exposed for the worthless political hacks that they are. They are members of the Dem. Congress that has the lowest approval rating of all time."
-----
People who've had any exposure at all to the day-to-day operations of a large, non-rich family really KNOW that ANY woman who presides over one is PERFECTLY capable, if given the chance, of running the world.
Is this country ANY better off, for example, for the ghastly Biden's "experience in foreign affairs"? Au contraire -- not to mention that years of the "experience" he claims -- and ALL of The CHANGEling's -- have been spent running for president/vice president.
Posted by: Belle Starr | Aug 30, 2008 12:11:08 PM
For all of those on here blogging about how Palin is no Hillary, and not as qualified as Hillary.
Yes, you are right.
However, Palin is also at least 16 years younger than Hillary is. So for her age, her level of executive experience is probably higher than Hillary's was at that age, and higher than Obama's presently is, at a few years older than her.
The BIG difference is, she is only running for Vice-President. She is running at the BOTTOM of the ticket, not the top of the ticket like Hillary was. And the bottom of the ticket is also where Obama should have been running, given his level of experience.
Posted by: Lee | Aug 30, 2008 11:52:12 AM
How old was JFK whem he was elected? & JFK was on the big screen for Obama.
How old was Teddy R. when he became president? So. Palin is to young?!!
or
McCain is to old but:
Biden has spent more TERMS in the Senate than Obama has YEARS in there.
Another knee-jerk judgement by Obama to answer the most difficult problem at that time--lack of experience.
So, he puts an old white man with many, many years of Senate experience a heart beat away from the presidency.
What will be the next knee-jerk reaction to the selection of Gov. Palin, who, of the 4, has the most executive experience--(committee chairman requires a PHD in how to delay progress)--guess a point could be made that active duty military experience requires executive action so McCain comes in second.
BUT--HEY! That is the way the pundits talk!
Listen to what is said, how it is said & Palin comes over (to me) as a real person running for RIGHT vs the others that are willing to try anything to get the POWER. Also, she did not have to ware a pants-suit to try to fit into the good-ole-BOY club.
Obama's celebrities he hangs with are on food-stamps----poor Oprah! Without her he would likely be watching from the sidelines. Since the only clain to fame Obama has is his paternal ancestory--DOES THAT MAKE OPRAH A RACIST
or just a mistake for her?
Billy Bob, Florida where we can once again have our votes count...for the MAN
Posted by: Billy Bob | Aug 30, 2008 11:29:28 AM
If any one knows how an 18 month Governor of a state with a population of only 630,000 (which would make it the 17th most populous CITY in the United States),
who thinks creationism should be taught in schools,
who went to the prestigious University of Idaho,
who had met McCain only ONCE before yesterday,
who believes that drilling in the ANWR is the way to solve our oil dependency,
is even remotely qualified to be Vice President (behind a 72 year old man with cancer) please, let me know...
Posted by: cmedic | Aug 30, 2008 11:19:56 AM
Who are we voting for?? Let's not forget...OHAMA is running for President,
Palin for Vice-President. Now, who do we want with more experience? Hum..........Maybe we should look at this as 'on-the-job training'. After all, what does the VP do? Not much. This sure will get the Clintons out of the picture if the republicans win. Mrs. Palin just might be the next President and not a dadblamed Clinton. We have had enough of that bunch.
As far as Ms. Hutchison, I am a Texan and I think she is stupid. Guess you don't know that she adopted a baby a few years ago.....and what does she do with it when she is in Washington?
This Lady will bring some class to DC, something the other party cannot do.
Even though OHama wears expensive
suits I cannot see him in anything other than a basketball uniform!!!!!
Posted by: MEW | Aug 30, 2008 10:24:05 AM
This is another 3am call looming over Obama's mind right after his DNC coronation ...
There is probably a SIZEABLE %(not all)of folks who are reminded once again that the Repubicans welcomes them ... whereas Obama, Camelot and Pelosi is still a little sore about them ...
Posted by: McCain/Palin 2008 | Aug 30, 2008 9:42:01 AM
The DEMS are scared, very scared ...
This out-of-box choice will energize GOP base !
Posted by: McCain/Palin 2008 | Aug 30, 2008 9:31:11 AM
How can Obama completely leave out that Palin is the Governor of one of our 50 states?
Calling Palin the Mayor of a town or 9,000 people is like calling Obama a community organizer.
Palin has more executive experience then both Biden and Obama combined.
This democrat will vote for McCain/Palin in 08!
Posted by: James | Aug 30, 2008 7:56:00 AM
Brian: "Chump "Change" Obama has only TALKed of it."
Actually, Obama has sponsored legislation for ethical reform and government transparency (just to name two examples). He has already been working for real change -- in a bipartisan fashion, I might add.
Posted by: Thinkerton | Aug 30, 2008 2:20:56 AM
abc: "But by being so savage to the GOVERNOR of ALASKA (the state in which the most oil drilling will occur) Obama reveals that even if he is elected President, he cares nothing about the drilling issue ..."
Can you please explain (a) what Obama did that was "savage", and (b) how Obama does not "care" about "the drilling issue"?
Regarding (a): You do realize that it is a customary (and perfectly acceptable) part of elections to point out the positions your opponent takes with which you disagree?
Regarding (b): You do know that (at least so far) McCain opposes drilling in ANWR? Plenty of other reasonable people do, too. Perhaps you need to explain what exactly "the drilling issue" is, and how Obama "cares nothing" about it, because I am not following.
Posted by: Thinkerton | Aug 30, 2008 2:14:40 AM
This is awesome!!!! it is not about being a woman. it is about someone of governing experience(the other three have none), integrity, a sense of duty, and mccains faith in a woman's ability to help run this country. A bold statement that speaks to mccains character and belief in woman.
this puma for mccain/palin!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: puma | Aug 30, 2008 2:11:56 AM
Apparently the "Republican trap" is to treat Sarah Palin and all women as weaklings who can't defend themelves. This is insulting to women and insulting to Americans.
If the McCain strategy is to treat Sarah Palin as a prop to drag out whenever they want to generate sympathy, that will fail. I'm glad that she's a mother of five children, but Vladimir Putin isn't going to be soft on her because of that.
Posted by: Patriot | Aug 30, 2008 1:52:30 AM
Palin has already delivered REAL "Change";
Chump "Change" Obama has only TALKed of it.
Posted by: Brian in NYC | Aug 30, 2008 1:47:30 AM
Obama has played right into the smart GOP trap.
It isn't enough that his campaign is alienating Alaskans, citizens of small towns nationwide, and women who are both mothers and who are successful at a career.
But by being so savage to the GOVERNOR of ALASKA (the state in which the most oil drilling will occur) Obama reveals that even if he is elected President, he cares nothing about the drilling issue or the people of Alask. He fails to comprehend how his campaign's insults will affect the drilling issue in the years to come.
Posted by: abc | Aug 30, 2008 12:11:56 AM
So Palin can't be the VP because she is only the Gov. or Alaska?
Put Bill Clinton was ok to be POTUS and he was only the Gov. or ARKANSAS?
Barack/Biden have been exposed for the worthless political hacks that they are. They are members of the Dem. Congress that has the lowest approval rating of all time.
The Liberals are now upset because McCain picked a true All American Woman to be his running mate. How come Republican ladies are so much better looking than Democrap babes?
McCain will destroy Obama in the POTUS debates, no teleprompters for Barack.
Palin will destroy Biden because he is just a bully, and Palin will not back down and will end of humiliating the hair plugged one.
Posted by: Freaksloan | Aug 30, 2008 12:10:22 AM
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