What Palin does for McCain, and to Obama
posted at 11:20 am on August 29, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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With multiple media outlets confirming now that Governor Sarah Palin will indeed join the Republican ticket as John McCain’s running mate, McCain has clearly chosen to play offense rather than defense. Instead of a safe choice, such as closest runner-up Mitt Romney or genial Everyman Tim Pawlenty, McCain took some risk with a relative newcomer to national politics. Palin will inject risk, excitement, controversy, and an unexpected historic note to the Republican convention.
First, though, let’s assess the risk. Palin has served less than two years as Governor of Alaska, which tends to eat into the experience message on which McCain has relied thus far. At 44, she’s younger than Barack Obama by three years. She has served as a mayor and as the Ethics Commissioner on the state board regulating oil and natural gas, for a total of eight years political experience before her election as governor. That’s also less than Obama has, with seven years in the Illinois legislature and three in the US Senate.
However, the nature of the experience couldn’t be more different. Palin spent her entire political career crusading against the political machine that rules Alaska — which exists in her own Republican party. She blew the whistle on the state GOP chair, who had abused his power on the same commission to conduct party business. Obama, in contrast, talked a great deal about reform in Chicago but never challenged the party machine, preferring to take an easy ride as a protegé of Richard Daley instead.
Palin has no formal foreign-policy experience, which puts her at a disadvantage to Joe Biden. However, in nineteen months as governor, she certainly has had more practical experience in diplomacy than Biden or Obama have ever seen. She runs the only American state bordered only by two foreign countries, one of which has increasingly grown hostile to the US again, Russia.
And let’s face it — Team Obama can hardly attack Palin for a lack of foreign-policy experience. Obama has none at all, and neither Obama or Biden have any executive experience. Palin has almost over seven years of executive experience.
Politically, this puts Obama in a very tough position. The Democrats had prepared to launch a full assault on McCain’s running mate, but having Palin as a target creates one large headache. If they go after her like they went after Hillary Clinton, Obama risks alienating women all over again. If they don’t go after her like they went after Hillary, he risks alienating Hillary supporters, who will see this as a sign of disrespect for Hillary.
For McCain, this gives him a boost like no other in several different ways. First, the media will eat this up. That effectively buries Obama’s acceptance speech and steals the oxygen he needs for a long-term convention bump. A Romney or Pawlenty pick would not have accomplished that.
Second, Palin will re-energize the base. She’s not just a pro-life advocate, she’s lived the issue herself. That will attract the elements of the GOP that had held McCain at a distance since the primaries and provide positive motivation for Republicans, rather than just rely on anti-Democrat sentiment to get them to the polls.
Third, and I think maybe most importantly, Palin addresses the energy issue better and more attuned to the American electorate than maybe any of the other three principals in this election. Even beyond her efforts to reform the Oil and Natural Gas Commission, she has demonstrated her independence from so-called “Big Oil” while promoting domestic production. She brings instant credibility to the ticket on energy policy, and reminds independents and centrists that the Obama-Biden ticket offers nothing but the same excuses we’ve heard for 30 years.
Finally, based on all of the above, McCain can remind voters who has the real record of reform. Obama talks a lot about it but has no actual record of reform, and for a running mate, he chose a 35-year Washington insider with all sorts of connections to lobbyists and pork. McCain has fought pork, taken real political risks to fight undue influence of lobbyists, and he picked an outsider who took on her own party — and won.
This is change you can believe in, and not change that amounts to all talk. McCain changed the trajectory of the race today by stealing Obama’s strength and turning it against him. Obama provided that opening by picking Biden as his running mate, and McCain was smart enough to take advantage of the opening.
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because JAGs are out there with the enlisted Marines (McCain’s son) and enlisted ?? Army (Palin’s son).
Hey, my husband’s a pilot in the Air Force, so he’s not exactly on the ground down there either (and boy is he happy about that) but Biden would do well to just drop this whole line of bragging.
He’s too stupid to do it, of course.
funky chicken on August 29, 2008 at 11:36 AM
This is what it must have been like the day the forward pass was first used in a football game.
The Dems are stupified.
DrW on August 29, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Yes. He had to negotiate with the Germans about where he could hold his Berlin speech after they said no to the Brandenburg Gate.
EnglishMike on August 29, 2008 at 11:36 AM
It’s what you do with what you have that matters.
McCain/Palin!
maverick muse on August 29, 2008 at 11:36 AM
There are great images and footage of Sarah visiting her National Guardsmen in Iraq when they were deployed there. She has a strong sense of responsibility to them and spent a great deal of time listening intently to their concerns and feedback while she was there. So while Obama breezed through a camp in Iraq on his way to Europe, hardly speaking to a single enlisted person, Palin sat for hours with them listening to their feedback. Fab!
aero on August 29, 2008 at 11:36 AM
My thoughts exactly. If McCain announces soon that Rommey will have a critical cabinet position I’ll be just as thrilled as I am with Sarah on the ticket, and just as reassured that competency will be valued in McCain’s administration.
Maquis on August 29, 2008 at 11:37 AM
As the Bishop of his stake he advised against abortion 100% of the time. He was called “cruel” by some women for not given them the OKAY to have an abortion.
Yes, a relative by marriage died and that made him sympathetic to it and that is why he said it is not the GOVERNMENTS position to decide. But he was always 100% personally pro-life.
And I am keeping it civil by not spreading lies about a good and decent man. How about you?
Elizabetty on August 29, 2008 at 11:37 AM
I have to say, after a weak start, the McCain campaign has been hitting on all cylinders lately. The Palin pick is the latest example of smart, smart political thinking.
Clark1 on August 29, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Well, then, here’s hoping your illness is fatal…
Spanglemaker on August 29, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Smiles.
Ed, was I wrong?
upinak on August 29, 2008 at 11:32 AM
upinak, How do you think Palin will do in debates?
I’m very excited about this pick, actually.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Cody1991 on August 29, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Yes, it’s called politics…it’s been going on for thousands of years.
benrand on August 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
CNN is already showing their ignorance. Lack of experience. 4 month old baby with downs - that requires an awful lot of attention. Will a VP have time for both?
Gods they are idiots.
Mr_Magoo on August 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Here we were sighing for Reagan, and we got a Maggie Thatcher. Not bad, not bad at all.
dhimwit on August 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
The live feed from Ohio on foxnews.com is tedious…..anyone know when McCain/Palin are scheduled to appear?
LimeyGeek on August 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
After a rocky start, McCain’s campaign has been showing signs of real competence. The timing couldn’t be better — right as the wheels are coming off the Obama campaign.
Cicero43 on August 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Rove - you are a super evil genius!! How did he do it?
DerKrieger on August 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
New here, aren’t you?
Oh well, off to take a deposition.
Wethal on August 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Aiiiii! I am at work and don’t have time to read everything!
Darned students.
Hmmmpf.
Bob's Kid on August 29, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Excellent point.
What’s with the KOS Kidz Quayle/Palin meme? Does Palin not know how to spell potato or something?
Buy Danish on August 29, 2008 at 11:39 AM
McCain listened.
That is all you need to know you guys.
:)
upinak on August 29, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Very well thought out and written, Ed.
Weight of Glory on August 29, 2008 at 11:39 AM
hahahahahahahahah yeah, right
funky chicken on August 29, 2008 at 11:39 AM
FIFY
ManlyRash on August 29, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Buy Danish:
The KOS Kidz haven’t hit puberty yet, so they think Palin has cooties.
BKennedy on August 29, 2008 at 11:40 AM
http://www.vpilf.com
Vic on August 29, 2008 at 11:40 AM
National forecast Calls for sunny skies over the red states, and widespread apoplexy in the blue states.
backwoods conservative on August 29, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Excellent excellent pick!!!!!
justinok on August 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Maybe we’ll get lucky and they will secede.
DerKrieger on August 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM
I hope that in the next few years, Sarah Palin earns a title like “Iron Sarah.” I think she has the potential, for sure.
aero on August 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Well aren’t you just a little storm cloud…
BadgerHawk on August 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Cody I really think Biden is going to be in trouble. Sarah is very cool under pressure and makes the “other guy” look like a total jerk. She did it with both Halcrow and Murkowski… she will deffinately do it to Biden and if Obama gets in the way of her and Biden’s “debate”…. Look out!
upinak on August 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM
ACK.. NO, no more RAIN.. I don’t want snow either!
upinak on August 29, 2008 at 11:42 AM
I liked Palin as a possible choice but as the hours move on here today I like it more and more. Though I’d rather have Fred/Palin but I got what I got at the moment.
McCain/Palin FTW
theguardianii on August 29, 2008 at 11:42 AM
I have strong reservations about McCain in large part due to his stance on illegal immigration. I am an Arizona resident, right on the border. I was resigned to vote for him, more as a vote against Obama simply because he is a Marxist, media made guy and he scares the hell out of me. His wife too. Ah hell, I do not trust Dem, who am I kidding. I am a true gun totin country boy and they are just communists trying to destroy this country that I served for 22 years.
But his pick for VP made my day. I just made my donation. I see her running against Hillary in 2012. This should make things interesting.
usarmyretired on August 29, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Huckabee-Romney negated each other’s future on the ticket, particularly Huckster’s quotes. But with Palin VP, all animosity is water under the bridge.
Diminish Democrats into Minority ‘08!
maverick muse on August 29, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Upinak - I totally agree - It’s a savvy pick. I was hoping for it, or JC Watts…
SkinnerVic on February 8, 2008 at 12:47 PM
It’s a GOOD DAY!
SkinnerVic on August 29, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Someone above said McCain just “hit a home run.” Home run? Are you kidding me??? This is a complete end of the 9th, bases loaded GRAND SLAM.
Honestly, can any one of you think of a person in the entire United States who might have been a better pick than Sarah Palin? I can think of only one: Colin Powell. And even there, I’d still call that a toss up between the two.
McCain played this absolutely brillantly.
ericdondero on August 29, 2008 at 11:43 AM
I really didn’t have any high hopes that McCain’s pick would be someone I thought it should be. Would have been happy with Romney as well. If McCain and Palin win, that’s awesome. If he doesn’t, then Romney is still there and Palin continues to be the governor. And this raises her national awareness. Many possibilities, and they are all good to acceptable. I don’t see any bad coming out of this at all.
wise_man on August 29, 2008 at 11:43 AM
OK, off to donate
funky chicken on August 29, 2008 at 11:43 AM
May we all live in interesting times.
wise_man on August 29, 2008 at 11:43 AM
McCain: “Hey Barry, tell me how my a@@ tastes”
Captain Hate on August 29, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Just donated!
javamartini on August 29, 2008 at 11:44 AM
God Bless America…..you know what, for the first time in my adult life time, I am proud to be an American this morning!!!!
SDarchitect on August 29, 2008 at 11:44 AM
“Palin will re-energize the base. “
I am very energized right now and I am eagerly awaiting the convention.
fazoolius on August 29, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Amen. Game, set, match. Barry-O is toast.
ManlyRash on August 29, 2008 at 11:44 AM
What is clear to me is that McCain is listening to his Republican/Conservative critics. There has been a torrent of support in innumerable blogs over the past year all talking up Palin for exactly the reasons that are now being opined by the talking heads.
Fan-freaking-tastic pick.
turfmann on August 29, 2008 at 11:44 AM
MSM is absolutely going crazy over this pick. The first question from them will be for her to spell potato. That’s the best they can do. Talk about change….
Fuquay Steve on August 29, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Bravo, Ed! That was exceptional, even beyond your usual high standards.
petefrt on August 29, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Palin will energize the conservative base, this is exactly what the McCain camp needed.
Maxx on August 29, 2008 at 11:45 AM
We already do, WiseMan. We already do.
ManlyRash on August 29, 2008 at 11:45 AM
This is AWESOME!!!!. I woke up early to watch Obama’s speech, thank god a let down….
Now Mccain is set to announce his AMAZING VP pick at the place I proudly went back to school 4 years ago to finally get my BA WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY!!!! Go Raiders!!! Go Mccain!!! Go Palin!!!!
Also thank you CSPAN streaming so I can watch this live in Japan!!!!! Ganbatte Mccain/Palin!!!!!
tottoritodd on August 29, 2008 at 11:45 AM
I’m disappointed it wasn’ Romney, but I understand McCain had to shake things up. He couldn’t go w/ another boring white guys a la Newt. I agree that Palin won’t attract feminazi womyn, but who needs ‘em? Vote McCain/Palin!
drflykilla on August 29, 2008 at 11:45 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFjqZ_vvLNc
Ok, I just saw the video of her firing a weapon (M16?) and I’m going to have to go for a smoke break.
Laserjock on August 29, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Great pick! I don’t think that anyone else could have generated as much buzz and energized the base as she has done already.
Just think, the first female American president will be a Republican.
chromium on August 29, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Elizabetty, don’t sweat the Romney questions. He proved himself a great guy and strong team player these last few weeks.
I very much look forward to a US Senator Mitt Romney. I think he (or his protege Meg Whitman) will be in the cabinet.
His abortion belief is something he can more easily explain to voters in his state than to an entire nation anyway. And he benefits from the comparison to David Axelrod’s last client, Deval Patrick.
funky chicken on August 29, 2008 at 11:46 AM
CAT FIGHT!
Mr_Magoo on August 29, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Anyone notice that three of the four people on the major-party tickets - Palin, Biden and McCain - have children in the Armed Services? (Obama’s oldest child is ten years old.)
Damian P. on August 29, 2008 at 11:47 AM
TORA! TORA! TORA!
mad saint jack on August 29, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Never donated to a politician before. Now that McCain decided to chose a Pro-Life VP (which was a concern of mine as that is a important issue to me) I might just have to consider it now.
Yakko77 on August 29, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Also, Ed, there’s an aspect of the “foreign policy” issue that you didn’t mention; and that is the fact that now both McCain and his VP have children in the military. Now, in purely cynical political terms, that doesn’t amount to much, HOWEVER, only a fool can’t see the dangers mounting all around us as a nation, and for the weight of our foreign policy stance to lay heavily on two people with very personal attachments to that policy, is going to be both an asset and a comfort. It may not mean a lot in D.C. but it does to me.
Weight of Glory on August 29, 2008 at 11:47 AM
CNN Male Anchors discussing how much of a burden being a mother of a son with downs.
Priceless.
Mr_Magoo on August 29, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Two Mavericks…and one I seem to agree with.
Asher on August 29, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Palin for President 2012
Dollayo on August 29, 2008 at 11:48 AM
I can’t say that I’m particularly excited about this pick like I would be with Romney or Thompson (although the post did help), but at least it doesn’t make me want to abandon McCain like Lieberman or Ridge would.
OneGyT on August 29, 2008 at 11:48 AM
I only feel bad for Alaska. Who will be left to run the place and continue fighting the corruption there?
aero on August 29, 2008 at 11:49 AM
This is a smart, tough, patriotic woman that will kick old mush head Biden under stage during the debates.
rplat on August 29, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Here we go
LimeyGeek on August 29, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Brilliant move…Palin will bring in a lot of Hillary women in addition to independents. It also should help with the conservative base.
Now McCain should name Romney, Leiberman, Thompson, Hunter, Guillani and Pawlenty to cabinet positions should he win.
orlandocajun on August 29, 2008 at 11:50 AM
A woman on the ticket and no cankles jokes!
Disturb the Universe on August 29, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I really just got a thrill up my legs and arms over this!
McCain/Palin ‘08
A woman and a woman I can finally get behind!
Urban Infidel on August 29, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Yeah, I’m happy, happy, HAPPY!!
Every time I resolved to hold my nose and vote for McCain he managed to royally pi$$ me off - one more time.
I can do this now with no reservations.
/heh….. Obama, who?
Cody1991 on August 29, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I agree, Romney would have brought more to the ticket, but I can’t blame McCain for picking someone who DIDN’T run against him. Who would do that?–oh yeah, Obama did
Dollayo on August 29, 2008 at 11:51 AM
This is exactly what one would expect from a slime bag operation like CNN.
rplat on August 29, 2008 at 11:51 AM
I love all these CSAPN Obama callers.. All they they can say is that this makes Mccain look desperate….What!?!?!
They haven’t been reading the polls I guess…..
I love the desperation!!!!!
tottoritodd on August 29, 2008 at 11:51 AM
*sigh*
This is one happy Republican!
Califemme on August 29, 2008 at 11:52 AM
The wheels aren’t coming off Obama’s campaign. His convention went pretty good, with no major gaffes, and he’s still leading McCain. Early evidence suggests a 6-8 point bounce for Obama as a result.
This is going to be a dogfight to election day. Remember that Bush was up by 7 points after Gore’s convention, and we all know how that election turned out.
I like Palin but I am very worried that I don’t know that much about her, even though I’m politically active and knowledgable, and the American people as a whole know nothing about her. It creates a significant challenge for Palin, because she’s going to have to get known by, and earn the trust of, the people in 67 days.
Outlander on August 29, 2008 at 11:52 AM
I’m sure this sentiment is shared by many here: this is the first time I have been _excited_ about supporting McCain.
12thman on August 29, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Keep in mind, moreover, Obama seemingly has spent half his political career running for other offices.
Palin has some work to do on foreign affairs, but I’m really looking forward to Biden and Palin talking about Obama’s position on partial-birth abortion.
Where can we get McCain-Palin wear?
BuckeyeSam on August 29, 2008 at 11:52 AM
It was a good pick.
But it will remind people of the continuing corruption in the GOP party.
jim m on August 29, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Yay, Maverick! You finally shocked me in a good sense! I am so excited I’ll be stopping by my local Republican HQ here in Boca to volunteer my time and pick up a bumper sticker –I haven’t been this excited since this never-ending election cycle began. Way to go, McCain. Ed, excellent analysis, as always! :)
Dariaanne on August 29, 2008 at 11:53 AM
ooops….premature…..some dopey cheerleading filler….
GET TO THE MAIN ACT!!
LimeyGeek on August 29, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Obviously these morons’ parents weren’t up to the task of raising their developmentally challenged offspring so they ended up at CNN.
Captain Hate on August 29, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Don’t sweat it, all you Romney fans! His chances of becoming the next Secretary of the Treasury have increased enormously today!
Steve Z on August 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
AWESOME!
Weight of Glory on August 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Wonderful! Go Palin and McCain! McCain and Palin - I like it!
txstar on August 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
To paraphrase a line from Jeff Daniels: Just when I think McCain can’t do any more to insult conservatives, he goes and does something like this……and totally redeems himself!
gmbdds on August 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Talk about Political Shock and Awe.
The Attack Pilot strikes.
Credo on August 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Go easy on our Ohio cheerleaders. They are on our side…albiet they are cheesy….
tottoritodd on August 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Yeah, this got me off the fence. I can’t stand McCain, but I’ll pull the lever for Palin. You betcha!
S. Weasel on August 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Watching MSNBC right now. They keep catching themselves talking about “lack of experience” and you can hear in their voices and see on their faces that they realize every argument made, boomerangs right back to Obama. Hilarious.
equanimous on August 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Come on over, PUMAs!
Disturb the Universe on August 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Great Pick….
She has more experience in Governing than Obama!
PappaMac on August 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM
The most sophisticated military installations in the world, the most ardent surveying of our borders, the most active Coast Guard for defense of our borders are in her state. She knows what it is like to live next to a foreign aggressive power. No one else in the Dem side has that experience.
She understands foreign trade and borders, this will not be an issue, and as the Dems try, they will fall into that trap. Her only weakness is no visibility, and of course the MSM will hate her.
Watch the polls now, Obama and the DNC heads are spinning. CNN didn’t even know how to pronounce her name.
They look like fools, should have read HotAir.
right2bright on August 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Ok, I’m in. She has run something larger than a Senate office.
I do hope she’s not really a creationist though.
TedInATL on August 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM
F’n'A :)
LimeyGeek on August 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM
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