Fred Thompson: The left’s smears of Palin prove that they’re panicking
posted at 1:01 pm on September 2, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Yeah, maybe, although I’ll have an easier time believing that after a gangbusters speech tomorrow night. Fred says here that a lot of women identify with her. True?
If McCain’s strategy was to reach out to women voters, however, thus far it hasn’t been successful. The night after the announcement, slightly more women voters viewed Palin as the right choice for McCain’s running mate, but now 41% say she was not, versus 36% who still believe she was a good choice. Forty-one percent (41%) of women say they are less likely now to vote for McCain because of Palin, as opposed to 31% who say they are more likely to support him. Women voters were essentially even on this question in the earlier survey…
[E]ven a plurality of men (47%) say Palin is not ready to be president in the event of the 72-year-old McCain being incapacitated while in the White House, although 32% believe she is ready. Women voters by a nearly two-to-one margin believe Palin is not ready…
Voters overall by a 48% to 29% margin say Palin is not ready yet to be president, a view shared by 74% of Democrats and 48% of unaffiliated voters but only 16% of Republicans.
He told Hemmer earlier in the interview that he’ll be speaking tonight in praise of McCain but they’d be better off using him to sell Palin. Lieberman can take care of pushing Maverick’s maverickiness; Thompson’s presence, fame, conservative cred, and even stereotypical masculinity make him a money choice to bolster an unknown woman candidate’s credibility. Exit question: Which Republicans does he have in mind as being “sore” about the Palin pick? Hmmm.
Update: Actually, maybe Huckabee should introduce her: “I don’t know if you realize this but Sarah Palin got more votes running for mayor in Wasilla Alaska than Joe Biden did in [his] quest for the presidency…”
Link: sevenload.com
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“She excites people like I’ve never seen.”
Fred, it is YOU who needs to show some excitement!
lol!
pseudonominus on September 2, 2008 at 1:56 PM
I hope McCain and Palin highlight these desperate attacks on her at the convention. I really, really do.
JinxMcHue on September 2, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Just to be fair, the Powerline guys are each distinct in their posts and opinions, although I admit it didn’t strike me that they might be in accord in their support for Pawlenty. I know Paul Mirengoff didn’t like Mitt, and as a group they were skeptical about Palin.
I guess my point is that they don’t claim to represent a specific ideology.
BigD on September 2, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Thanks, thought I forgot something.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 2, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Ditto
Paul-Cincy on September 2, 2008 at 1:59 PM
EXCELLENT IDEA!!! We need a big ass video presentation with all the media and blog smears!!! Followed by the folks who’ve defended Sarah and her family!
OHHhhhhhhhh Sarahcuda!
ExTex on September 2, 2008 at 1:59 PM
You’re referring to the polls that seem to indicate that women think she’s unqualified.
My initial reaction was to question her qualifications because her selection looked like pandering. However, once I researched and saw her accomplishments and gutsiness at taking on the corrupt Republican machine in Alaska– and winning– my hesitation turned to admiration. The something less than tepid endorsements from Stephens and Young make her look even better.
The selection was announced the Friday before Labor Day. Most people were enjoying the holiday. For a good portion of the US, today is the first day of school, which requires a mountain of preparation. Unless people were glued to the internet for the weekend, they don’t know anything about Palin.
The $10 million McCain raised over the weekend and the wailing and gnashing of teeth on the left side might be better indicators of what she brings to the ticket. When moderates and conservatives learn about her, they will respect her.
obladioblada on September 2, 2008 at 2:00 PM
She makes me tingle.
Because she’s smart, articulate and appears to have integrity.
And being more photogenic than the Hilderbeast is a plus too!
G-man on September 2, 2008 at 2:02 PM
McCain/Palin 2008 and the RNC better be working overtime now. This is their moment. This is the time for them to earn their bacon.
Paul-Cincy on September 2, 2008 at 2:02 PM
To Mr Rywall: You seem to labor under the delusion that practicing what you preach only applies when standards are never put to the test. The problem with the Obama/brother in Africa situation was BO’s preaching that we (the tax paying citizens) need to heed the words of the bible and feed and clothe the poor. He knew well of his brother’s predicament and did nothing to fulfill his lofty rhetoric. In Gov Palin’s case she is not, that I’ve heard, making excuses, but instead is practicing true conservativism by standing by and supporting her family.
The time for bitter sounding rhetoric is over, sir. It is time to go back to the Reagan doctrine of not speaking ill of a fellow conservative publicly.
lindensg on September 2, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Why’s AP peeing himself with worry, and insisting that the Republicans need to roll out some heavy hitters to sell Palin to the public?
She’s plenty able to speak for herself, and to the extent the campaign feels she must be sold to the public, she can spend some time speaking on her own behalf during her Wednesday speech.
clark smith on September 2, 2008 at 2:04 PM
Here’s the difference Dave, the teen pregnancy is taken care of as a family matter by the family and is basically a non-issue for the government.
The long lost brother living in squalor is what happens when you depend on the government to help you. Obama says he’d rather use the government to take care of the country than family. Since the brother isn’t in America, Obama can’t help him.
I don’t care about these peripheries, but I like Palin because I agree with her positions on the ISSUES THAT MATTER. And for ONCE we have a politician who believes these issues with conviction and not because they may or may not give her a political advantage by believing them.
ThackerAgency on September 2, 2008 at 2:07 PM
I like Sarah….but whoever said that her voice is not as shrill and offensive to the ears as the Hidlbeast’s is a liar!
SaintOlaf on September 2, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Now it’s YOU who is the exception, sir Saint.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 2, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Fred’s right. She excites me so much I am raring to vote McCain/Palin and I was trying to force myself into pulling the lever for McCain a week prior. She was a great choice and has given me some hope that McCain might govern as a Republican.
SimplyKimberly on September 2, 2008 at 2:10 PM
beat me to it…
TheCulturalist on September 2, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Saint Olaf, it’s a function of trying to speak to a crowd. No woman can shout without sounding shrill. Don’t worry; gets get to use her indoor voice for the debates.
S. Weasel on September 2, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Heh. Even my grammar is hungover today.
S. Weasel on September 2, 2008 at 2:14 PM
You be sure and link us to audio of the “Sarah Palin Witch Cackle”. We’ve got a full CD of Hillary’s.
MadisonConservative on September 2, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Ha! Nice Huck.
Dash on September 2, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Uhm, how well do you know Dave?
a capella on September 2, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Well, I never like shouting by anybody, anywhere. But, it’s part of campaigning in front of a crowd, so . . .
But I love listening to Governor Palin’s speaking voice. It’s bright, cheerful, confident, and well modulated. And the accent just makes it all the more adorable for me.
Loxodonta on September 2, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Good point–worth bumping via a “quote”.
Montana on September 2, 2008 at 2:39 PM
I’m a city woman. I don’t hunt or fish (but I do shoot guns), skin’em, etc.
But Sarah Palin is my kind of women – strong minded and independent while knowing how to love and serve her family and community.
Do I identify with her?
Resoundingly, YES!
Mommynator on September 2, 2008 at 2:43 PM
We owe Fred a big debt of gratitude for swinging hard for McCain-Palin (and landing lots of punches, as usual).
And while I never thought I’d say this, Huck deserves our esteem for the same reason.
JudetheFossil on September 2, 2008 at 3:00 PM
For the thousandth time, she was picked to attract conservatives, not women. The left is going to hand us all the women voters.
Ronnie on September 2, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Did you see Huck on Hannity? I never warmed to him, but he put out awesome support for Palin.
pseudonominus on September 2, 2008 at 3:27 PM
a capella: You need to read what I said over again. I didn’t say that Dave was bitter, I said that his rhetoric sounded bitter. We need to stop acting like the mainstream media. We need to be the party of optimism. We, of all people have the best reason to be optimistic. We believe that our best days are ahead of us. We believe that the individual is the best hope for this country, not the government! Let’s start speaking the truth and get on with this. We have an election to win!
lindensg on September 2, 2008 at 3:28 PM
That’s funny, however…
I don’t hunt moose or ice fish, but I grew up in Wisconsin and I identify with her strongly. I’m about her age, I like men, I wear makeup, I wear my hair long, I try to keep myself in shape, I like sports (love the Green Bay Packers), and I’m conservative. There are a lot of women like me. There are plenty of women who aren’t, too, but believe me, the people who think she’s some sort of outlier are crazy. We’re not all butchy uber-feminists.
capitalist piglet on September 2, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Fred’s right.
The left is scared.
madmonkphotog on September 2, 2008 at 3:33 PM
QUESTION FOR LEFTISTS:
Which is more disruptive and incompatible with carrying out the people’s business:
1. A crib with a baby in the office?
…OR…
2. An Intern under the desk?
landlines on September 2, 2008 at 3:35 PM
landlines (3:35PM), that’s an excellent question. It’s also reminiscent of President Kennedy (at least he kept his sexual problem quiet, I suppose) with his little boy crawling around under the desk…and juxtaposed with Bill Clinton, it is a pretty good illustration of what has happened to the Democrats in the interim.
capitalist piglet on September 2, 2008 at 3:44 PM
A dime to doughnuts he was talking about Linseed Grahamnasty from South Cacalacky for one.
Swinehound on September 2, 2008 at 4:00 PM
FRED SHOULD KNOW>>>>>>>>>>
HE’S MARRIED TO JERI!
seejanemom on September 2, 2008 at 4:05 PM
My guess also since Graham was the one pushing Leiberman so hard.
maxine on September 2, 2008 at 4:33 PM
I agree. This goes much further than speculation and correlation. Several media outlet have been extremely vocal about the reduction in the access they’ve had to McCain. I have seen at least 2 or 3 separate pieces about how he hasn’t made much use of his meeting room on the plane. Then of course, it is no mystery that there is no love lost between McCain and MSNBC.
The media has been crying ‘victim’ and ‘entitlement’ at McCain long before Palin’s selection.
I disagree with the apparent Palin scorn. McCain threw no red herrings and Palin was a known top 5 shortlister for months. They were just too busy getting attacks ready on Romney and Pawlenty that they ignored their own reporting.
Damiano on September 2, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Yes, that’s what impressed me, too.
JudetheFossil on September 2, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Thompson Speech Hits Media on Palin, Obama on Abortion
Fred Thompson will forcefully defend the selection of Sarah Palin tonight in a speech Republicans are characterizing as “red meat.” He will argue that the feeding frenzy over Palin’s is the result of “panic” from the Democrat-friendly mainstream media.
“What a breath of fresh air Governor Sarah Palin is. She is from a small town, with small town values, but that’s not good enough for those folks who are attacking her and her family. Let’s be clear, the selection of Governor Palin has the other side and their friends in the media in a state of panic. She is a courageous, successful, reformer, who is not afraid to take on the establishment.”
Thompson will also criticize Barack Obama’s answer on abortion from his recent appearance at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church. Warren had asked: “Now, let’s deal with abortion. 40 million abortions since Roe v. Wade. you know, as a pastor I have to deal with this all of the time. All of the pain and all of the conflicts. I know this is a very complex issue. 40 million abortions. At what point does a baby get human rights in your view?”
Obamas responded: “Well, I think that whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade.”
Thompson will criticize Obama for dodging the issue: “We need a President, and Vice President, who will take the federal bureaucracy by the scruff of the neck and give it a good shaking. And we need a President who doesn’t think that the protection of the unborn or a newly born baby is above his pay grade.”
The bulk of Thompson’s speech will be a testimonial on behalf of John McCain, his character and his leadership. John McCain has “the kind of character that civilizations from the beginning of history have sought in their leaders.”
pseudonominus on September 2, 2008 at 5:19 PM
I was going to have to hold my nose HARD to vote for McCain. The Palin pick has made it much easier for me.
My sisters and I (all 4 of us) are all strong women like our mother. We’re also all IT managers of one sort or another and have dealt with men in a man’s world our entire careers. We greatly admire Sarah Palin and know she is capable, as we are, of running a business at the executive level while raising a family. She has the added help of a wonderful, hard-working husband and supportive extended family, not all women do.
We have all had to deal with disappointment in our teenagers. I don’t think there’s anyone out there with a perfect teenager. Unwed pregnancy is greatly disappointing but not the end of the world. Many wonderful people come from unwed mothers or families started a bit earlier than planned.
Sarah Palin will manage all of it with grace and strength, just as she has throughout her career. If she can make it through the campaign, she can handle anything the rest of the world throws at her as VP or even President.
Common Sense on September 2, 2008 at 5:57 PM
I second that statement!
BTW, MadCon, it’s good to see you finally on my side. After handing me my backside when I said to Allah in his blog about being skeptical & running all the possible scenarios about how this could be bad, it’s nice to see a guy can admit he was wrong, since that’s essential what you’re saying here. The fact is that we didn’t need to add to what we already knew was going to be said about her. She’s just exactly what Fred! said she is, accomplished and has more executive experience than either of the other three on either ticket. I understand how much more powerful it is coming from ‘our’ guy than from me, but I’ll take my wins where I can.
Oh, yeah: FRED!
Sultry Beauty on September 2, 2008 at 6:01 PM
Fred’s gonna come out swingin’ tonight.
Go Fred!
Mojave Mark on September 2, 2008 at 8:00 PM
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