The reason for the Palin bashing in the media
posted at 9:25 am on September 3, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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The selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate has apparently deranged the mainstream media. They’ve reported that she belonged to a secessionist party for a while, but she’s been a lifelong Republican. They’ve reported that GOP convention attendees have started talking about an “Eagleton option” for her withdrawal, when the only people I’ve heard discuss it at the Xcel are the media themselves, and Palin remains wildly popular with the Republicans. What in the world has pushed the mainstream media into this kind of insanity?
The Wall Street Journal has a good analysis — fear:
Even as the Obama camp ponders how best to handle John McCain’s veep pick of Sarah Palin, the high priests and priestesses of the media have marked her as an apostate. The Beltway class is in full-throated rebellion against a nondomesticated conservative who might pose a threat to their coronation of Barack Obama and the return of Camelot-on-the-Potomac. …
They want a VP to be a kind of parliamentary choice, someone they have already vetted, someone who’s made them laugh with insider jokes at the Gridiron dinner. The Beltway class whines constantly about how it wants fresh voices in politics, but we guess this means a first-term Democratic Senator rather than a first-term Republican Governor from some godforsaken U.S. state few of them have ever been to.
We are instructed that Mrs. Palin isn’t qualified, because she lacks Washington experience. But until recently that was said to be a virtue in Mr. Obama, who is at the top of his ticket. Meanwhile, there’s hardly a peep of media notice that the Obama campaign is preposterously trying to remake Joe Biden into a poor scrapper from Scranton when he’s been in the Senate for 36 years. They all know Joe. But when Mr. McCain picks an authentic middle-class mother who is also a Governor, we are told she’s not up to the job.
The WSJ editorial hits close to home here. The outrage from the media over choosing a first-term governor seems oddly out of place for a media that has spent the last 20 months fawning over not one but two first-term Senators running for the Democratic nomination, or at least fawning over the second until his extramarital affair finally broke into the open. The third had just been elected to her second term in the Senate. Yet none of the media seemed all that exercised about a lack of experience during 2007 and 2008.
In fact, the Democratic frontrunners all had less time in elective office than Sarah Palin. Democrats seem to forget that they nominated John Edwards as VP in 2004 after only three years in public office at all, most of it spent — like Barack Obama — running for President. Where were E.J. Dionne, Sally Quinn, Eleanor Clift, and the rest of the commentariat when John Kerry made that pick? They were too busy singing hosannas to the Democratic ticket to worry about experience then, it seems.
What had Edwards ever done that indicated he should be a heartbeat away from the Presidency? At least Sarah Palin has executive experience, which most people will understand as more applicable to the Presidency than a year of legislative experience. She has worked with a legislature, run an executive branch of government, and managed to do it successfully enough to have approval ratings in the 80s.
The outrage has little to do with experience, and almost everything to do with being outfoxed by McCain. The media expected a staid, boring, safe white man that they could pigeonhole. Instead, they got a dynamic, successful, smart conservative “hockey mom” with a record of reform that Barack Obama cannot match and that is the antithesis of Joe Biden. They got knocked out of their lane, and now they have to figure out how to explain how they could possibly have overlooked Palin in their calculations. Presto! They overlooked her because she’s so inexperienced!
Forget the Eagleton option, people. That’s an option to salvage credibility for pundits who failed at political analysis. Palin’s not going anywhere, and her presence will continue to reveal the hypocrisy of these commentators.
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Finally, some positive analysis. Glad you’re back on the case, Ed.
fossten on September 3, 2008 at 9:30 AM
I love this selection.
I feel so bad for her family but I do see one redeeming aspect of this media frenzy. There is no way that this won’t help McCain/Palin, regular people are going to start getting pissed off, if not already.
YellowDawg on September 3, 2008 at 9:30 AM
Damn straight she isn’t going anywhere and the media jerks are just going to have to deal with that fact.
This just in, an important Action Alert from CNN: “Sarah Palin Once Forgot to Tip the Waitress at Denny’s”
Bishop on September 3, 2008 at 9:31 AM
I have never been so disgusted with the otherwise disgustingly dishonest partisan hacks in the media. I’m serious. I have so much anger and hatred for these people I think it’s becoming unhealthy for me.
coffee260 on September 3, 2008 at 9:31 AM
To repeat myself:
A commenter on Megan McArdle’s site left this BRILLIANT line.
tree hugging sister on September 3, 2008 at 9:31 AM
so very true. Palin is the best thing to happen for America since Andrew jackson
unseen on September 3, 2008 at 9:32 AM
Exactly! Thank you for saying that!
simon on September 3, 2008 at 9:32 AM
Last night’s convention MSM journalists ALL admitted their audience is online. They have yet to admit the extent of their own miserable existence as DNC Tabloid Rags and Stations, though!
Uneducated voters need visual aids and jokes to realize their choices.
A voter goes car shopping at the Democrat Deprivation Dealership. The Democrat salesman tells the voter to take a hike (to work, to the store, to the bus that may or may not be there in your town) enforcing good health & green environment via deprivation and forced marches. By the way, though the voter doesn’t get the car, the voter pays for the car he doesn’t get in order to provide security for the Democrat Dealership.
maverick muse on September 3, 2008 at 9:32 AM
The MSM are very afraid. This is a woman that has given the base a shot in the arm it needed. She is dynamic and the MSM are worried their Obambi is going to get creamed.
jencab on September 3, 2008 at 9:32 AM
have never been so disgusted with the otherwise disgustingly dishonest partisan hacks in the media. I’m serious. I have so much anger and hatred for these people I think it’s becoming unhealthy for me.
coffee260 on September 3, 2008 at 9:31 AM
I’m with you.
unseen on September 3, 2008 at 9:32 AM
Ed, what’s with all the positive news????
Don’t we need to keep pessimistic about all this???
/Channeling EyorePundit.
/J/K AP
carbon_footprint on September 3, 2008 at 9:33 AM
There is little “in the closet” about Palin, that would not be excused — indeed, that WAS not excused — were she a Democrat. Watching Elizabeth Vargas on the Today Show this morning, I listened to her prattle on about the “many concerns” over the vetting process for Palin’s selection on the ticket. Hey, who’s raising all these concerns? Not the delegates on the floor last night. Not the other candidates who dropped out of the race. Not the leading conservative pundits. Certainly not anyone who ever lived in, and loved, small town America. No, the constant harping is coming from one place, and one place only, the talking heads of the mainstream press who can’t get over the sounds of their own voices long enough, to know that this is a completely fabricated story.
Maybe they’ll cover all this on C-SPAN. Then I’d have permission to think for myself. If I could be so lucky…
manwithblackhat on September 3, 2008 at 9:33 AM
/off-topic
I just caught elsewhere a story about Palin bashing on “The View” – with Joyless Joy Behar apparently going after her and my darling Elizabeth leaping to her defense in an episode described as “painful” and “ugly.”
So I came here knowing – just knowing! – that Allahpundit would already have posted the clip and parsed it for me.
The fact that “The View” isn’t even mentioned here is either a sign of the impending apocalypse or perhaps means somebody should make sure AP isn’t trapped under a heavy piece of furniture or something.
/back to your regularly scheduled topic
Professor Blather on September 3, 2008 at 9:34 AM
By the way, did Fred kick some serious @$$ last night or what???
manwithblackhat on September 3, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Excellent analysis, Ed.
Which means, of course, that I agree with it. :)
Bob's Kid on September 3, 2008 at 9:35 AM
Ed…..does AP throw spitballs at you?…….
Seriously- do you two “get along”?
FiveWays on September 3, 2008 at 9:35 AM
This is sort of like that secret meeting between Hil and the Big Zero at DiFi’s house (I think?). The media was steamed because they weren’t privvy to it, and didn’t figure it out.
Just the same as then, McCain chooses a fantastic candidate who fired up all of us (at least) in a way I’ve never seen. And no one saw it coming until it happened.
I printed out a McCain Palin sign for my truck yesterday, and I’m already getting editorial comments on the freeway. This is gunna be fun!
JamesLee on September 3, 2008 at 9:36 AM
It’s not only the MSM, but the NRO as well.
ROMNEY FOREVER! Yeah…okay…
It's Vintage, Duh on September 3, 2008 at 9:36 AM
The media is going bonkers over Gov. Sarah Palin simply because she is to the Republican party what Sen. Barack Obama is to the Democratic party: new.
If you cannot portray the Republican party as old, repeat, same-old-same-old, then they lose their only argument: Its Bush’s third term.
Every single argument Sen. Obama’s campaign has made is focused entirely on McCain policies are 100% the same as Pres. George W. Bush.
If McCain is shown to be, God forbid, new, then Sen. Obama’s campaign needs to reformulate their entire campaign. If they don’t kill Gov. Sarah Palin now, they lose. Hands down. Because they have absolutely no point in any argument.
Samhain on September 3, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Indeed, the M$M is narcissistic enough to believe they have final say in whether or not a cnadidate can even stand to the people for a vote. They covered for Silky Pony when Silky Pony was still quite possibly going to be picked VP or AG.”well for Elizabeth” Well evidently a slept-around on adult female is worthy of more space than a pregnant teen girl in newsie land and they expect us to believe that bias has no part in that judgement? The after being shamed into finally confronting Silky they let him gladhand and control the interview that they then decide “ends it”?
Yeah the M$M calls it stright down the middle….the middle of problems donks face, and the middle of the right’s heart.
sven10077 on September 3, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Simply put, the MSM was embarrassed by not doing their homework.
right2bright on September 3, 2008 at 9:37 AM
I can think of 2 reasons why the media types are so negative on Palin:
(1) They are not comfortable with the fact that she has 2x the X chromosomes as Bambi and Biden.
(2) Looking at the record of the other woman in power, namely, Pelosi, you can’t blame them for fearing another Pelosi in a position of power. Luckily, Palin is no Pelosi.
poxoma on September 3, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Well done, Ed. Thank goodness for the WSJ.
This was obvious last Friday when one of the talking heads exclaimed “She hasn’t even been on Meet the Press”.
I almost kicked in my TV last night when I was channel surfing and successively on CNN, MSNBC and Fox, there were simultaneous groups of idiot ranting on about how Palin had not been properly vetted.
Yeah, I guess the 25 people that went to Alaska and rooted through everything but her underwear drawer didn’t actually do anything, despite the fact that she’d also been in the top few of the shortlist for months as well.
The only people that didn’t vet her were the media, since they were too busy talking about how to tear down Romney and Pawlenty.
Damiano on September 3, 2008 at 9:38 AM
I believe these relentless attacks will help shift McCain farther to the right and be less appeasing to the left. It has been an eye opener for everyone how the media controls what we see and here. I would expect as much in a communist country but not in a democracy. The liberals have placed all the cards on the table and the legs are about to fall off. McCain/Palin, a break from the DC elitism.
trs on September 3, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Heh.
This has turned into the Obamessiah vs. Sarah race in 5 days. Actually it’s kinda funny!
Barry vs. Barry-cuda
If they ever had a chance to debate, she’d eat his lunch.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on September 3, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Fear and that maybe it is the Media’s Last Hurrah.
Natalie on September 3, 2008 at 9:38 AM
As WSJ says, MSM has its nose out of joint, partially because MSM resents its exclusion from the VP picking process.
But IMO the real cause of MSM’s hysteria is, as you suggest, FEAR. More than anyone since Clarence Thomas, Palin threatens the left with the prospect of a conservative uprising, political and cultural, lasting for decades to come.
petefrt on September 3, 2008 at 9:38 AM
seems to me this is a great opportunity for conservative politics, the base is so riled up you can probably not only get them donating funds but volunteering and basically follow Palin to the gates of hell if need be. Especially when its so easy to show how bias and disgraceful the MSM is being.
Sarah Palin is the new generation Ronald Reagan, they know it and are terrified.
jp on September 3, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Okay, they want to play that game.
Biden’s son, Hunter, the lobbyist needs to keep the money flowing in because he is a drug addict.
That’s right, sources say he couldn’t have gone into the military because he would not have been able to pass the drug test.
His dad knew he needed money and a job, but no company would hire him so he became a lobbyist to support his habit.
He has obtained over 2 million dollars from his dad’s votes and friends, all the while keeping his drug habit alive.
Now prove that he is not…
*
See how this works?
How about this?
*
Michelle Obama has been meeting secretly with Bernadine Dorn to set up a counter government inner city program to teach Marxism and revolution to the inner city school children.
They have met several times and have laid the ground work for the after school inner city program. Laced with quotes from Karl Marx, it will be billed under the guise as a
“after school integrity program” ASIP in Chicago will be the first of the Marxist style schools dedicated to the overthrow of the traditional school system.
Now prove she has never met with Dorn secretly…
*
See how this works???
right2bright on September 3, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Thanks for lifting my spirits, Ed. Sarah’s fighting my fight.
mymanpotsandpans on September 3, 2008 at 9:39 AM
The media
expectedwanted a staid, boring, safe white man that they could pigeonhole.FTFY.
saint kansas on September 3, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Why is it that everyday, rank and file democrat party member is not being heard from on this unprecedented (Susan Estridge’s words) ATTACK on a mother, her eldest daughter, her youngest son (a special needs baby, no less) and the her family as a whole?!?!?!?!
Is it because they are cowering from the lunatic fringe, the koskids, the huffpro haters, the Dailey machine incarnate?
Or is it because the democrat party is no longer the rank and file members but, rather the lunatics themselves along with their flying monkey media friends?
Dorothy survived the tornado and so will Governor Sarah Palin.
I hope OUR country does…
Gohawgs on September 3, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Remember that 99% of the media probably thinks a “field dress” is something that Bill and Monica thought they buried.
Rovin on September 3, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Actually, she has the same of amount of X chromosomes if you combine His Holiness and His Greasiness.
FYI.
Yep. She doesn’t reinvent her church’s doctrine.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on September 3, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Saracuda has more balls than the entire MSM, and most of the men in Washington. This blowback is the REvenge of the Metro-sexuals.
jp on September 3, 2008 at 9:40 AM
It is annoying that NRO is being this way. Their horniness for Romney is going overboard. K-Lo is complaining that the media is misquoting her by using a negative e-mail she posted on The Corner. Does she not know that the MSM always does that?! You must be smarter than to post that stupid e-mail.
jencab on September 3, 2008 at 9:40 AM
You cannot continue to defend Palin’s lack of experience with finger pointing at Obama.
You refuse to admit her resume is thin because it will sink McCain’s campaign. You have to keep changing the subject in hopes people will too. But they won’t.
That little interview that made McCain cry like a baby and cancel his appearance on Larry King is a prime example of the bullsh*t: Bounds’ repeated outright refusals to answer a direct question about Palin’s foreign policy experience were ridiculous.
By all means, hammer Obama, but you must explain Palin’s credentials without all the wankery.
You can’t have it both ways.
Dave Rywall on September 3, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Here’s the story I love….
No coverage of John Edwards even after the National Enquirer began their series. Only when actual photos and people coming out was there a mention:
“It seems that John Edwards may be accused of having an affair. Now, on to other news”.
Not a peep until today in the Enquirer until today about Palin pregnancy news but MSM story was:
“We interrupt our All Palin Pregnancy Coverage All The Time to bring you this news; It appears Hurricane Gustav may have caused some damage. Now, back to Palin”
CC
CapedConservative on September 3, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Bravo Ed – it is nice to see a story that doesn’t begin with Oy. Refreshing and enlightening.
Fuquay Steve on September 3, 2008 at 9:42 AM
they are as ‘fringe’ as this AIP party in alaska
jp on September 3, 2008 at 9:42 AM
this is just more proof of what trash the left-wing wackos are, and that includes those in the media, academia, government, etc. this is what they really are. ruthless, evil people who will do anything for power.
I was going to sit this one out, but now I’ll vote for mccain, I like Palin, and I hope she hangs tough, like clarence Thomas, and we really stick it to the wackos.
right4life on September 3, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Some of this is true, but a lot of it is simply that the media are sheep and they flock to a good story. Also they know that sex sells, even in politics and even when it’s the kid and not the candidate. They would not be doing this if they did not think they had an audience for it.
I believe the McCain campaign knew what they were in for and rolled the dice anyway. It’s a high stakes gamble.
rockmom on September 3, 2008 at 9:43 AM
seriously, the conservative media needs to be in CONFIDENT Attack mode against the MSM/Dems. Not playing right into their hands, installing doubt in the minds of conservatives over baseless b.s. charges. Especially when running against such an empty suit and dangerous idiot that is Obama.
jp on September 3, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Unfortunately, that is true. I suggest staying away from their commentary and/or analysis on speeches; they will nitpick it down to the timing of the last breath. Which is to say, they will analyze it more on style than on substance.
Remember their criticism of Mitt for not recognizing atheism is his speech on freedom of religion. Gimme a break, people.
Right now they are running endless commentary on how unenergized the convention is.
Lastly, I usually love reading Jay Nordlinger and I have for a long time wished he would post on The Corner. He’s been posting there for the past week or two and now I wish he would stay away. His wit and geniality are lost and he’s become just another nitpick.
BigD on September 3, 2008 at 9:44 AM
sigh…being a governor is more executive experience than your heros biden and obama have combined. if you haven’t noticed, most of our presidents are govenors…like Bill Clinton, and his experience was mainly ‘intern management’
we know the game you wackos are playing, and its not going to work.
right4life on September 3, 2008 at 9:44 AM
And THAT is something the stupid in-the-tank drive-bys need to understand as well.
Even being generous, let’s assume Big Zero’s experience, while different, is on par with Palin’s. Either she IS qualified based on that experience, or he is NOT.
You can’t have it both ways.
JamesLee on September 3, 2008 at 9:45 AM
And this is proof that Palin has had a major impact on the McCain campaign. I am so glad to see you on board right4life.
carbon_footprint on September 3, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Jesus… the guy wasn’t even aware that Russia had a veto on the UN Security Council….
I think we should challenge them in the order we DO NOT TRUST their judgement… that would be:
Worst – Obama
Vice-Worst – Biden
Vice-Best – Palin
Best – McCain
CC
CapedConservative on September 3, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Because women and African Americans succeeding as Republicans upsets the long standing narrative. Remember the Republican party is full of sexist bigots who believe in only making white men rich on the backs of women and minorities. When Republicans do something like this is takes away a strategic point the Dems have always used and that is they are the party that advanced the agenda of women.
tarheelcon on September 3, 2008 at 9:46 AM
So inexperienced that she forced her daughter to have a baby or something, or she had a baby and then called it the daughter’s.
She’s just not as smart as they are, because smart women don’t have kids, they’re lesbians instead.
I get a kick out of seeing the veil of all the educated journalists drop and they show their inner a-hole for the world to see, they try to wallpaper it over the rest of the time.
Yet another reason to like Palin.
benrand on September 3, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Dave,
Did you just get out of bed? You must have missed this earlier post by Allah
Rovin on September 3, 2008 at 9:46 AM
“Repeat a lie often enough and eventually it becomes the truth.” Josef Gobbles would be proud of today’s MSM/Propeganda wing of the DNC.
crazy_legs on September 3, 2008 at 9:48 AM
If the MSM are so rotten and corrupt? Why not just turn them off? TV – KILL IT.
ronsfi on September 3, 2008 at 9:48 AM
The MSM has removed any doubts to even the most illiterate Americans that they are biased to the point that the truth has become irrelevant. Why would anyone read any publication if it is a blatant lie? Brainwashing by the MSM must be dealt with before it has gone past the point of no return.
volsense on September 3, 2008 at 9:48 AM
The MSM is going the way of the dodo anyway. Online news is going to put an end to the alphabet networks soon. I don’t put any stock in what those “reporters” in the MSM say anyway.
Flint Stone on September 3, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Let’s not forget B. Hussein Obama’s own words.
“Change doesn’t come from Washington, change comes to Washington”.
So basically Biden is the antithesis of what he describes as ‘change’ while Palin fits the description perfectly!
Gnosis on September 3, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Sure, we’ll be glad to stop trying to have it both ways, just as soon as the Democrats do.
Is Joe Biden the wise old foreign policy guru? Or is he Good Old Joe from Scranton?
Is a Senator from Delaware more ready to take on national problems than a Governor from Alaska?
Is “The Change We Need” a guy who has been in Washington for 36 years and never held a real job?
rockmom on September 3, 2008 at 9:49 AM
thank you! this is the kind of thing mccain needed to do to win people like me over. She is now the future of the party, and he’s done a very good thing, and deserves my vote. I’ll still oppose him on amnesty, and other things, but I enjoy watching the left lose, and hearing their wailing and nashing of teeth.
right4life on September 3, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Elitist, self-rightous, arrogant, condescending, smug, self-important snobs. Many other adjectives come to mind when thinking of the MSM and the libs. After all of these attacks on Palin, I don’t ever want to hear another story about the “glass ceiling” or about women getting less for performing the same work as men. That’s gone.
uncalheels on September 3, 2008 at 9:51 AM
Democrats seem to forget that they nominated John Edwards as VP in 2004 after only three years in public office at all, most of it spent — like Barack Obama — running for President.
Edwards was actually at the end of a full 6 year Senate term in 2004. But some Dems were touting him as a Veep candidate in 2000, when he had been in the Senate exactly as long as Palin has been Governor. Tom Daschle was caught in this hypocrisy the other day.
BuzzCrutcher on September 3, 2008 at 9:51 AM
They are scared to death of here. That’s why the hate frenzy.
I have never seen such misogynism ever. Where are the women’s groups?
The NOW should be renamed the NOFOSW.
drjohn on September 3, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Now the Lame Stream Media is reduced to attacking a pregnant teen and a special-needs baby. As the father of a special-needs child, that REALLY burns me!
Say all you want about Sarah Palin, but leave her children alone!
tre on September 3, 2008 at 9:52 AM
The Kurtz article you guys have up on the front page gives the game away. Kurtz quotes Howard Fineman of Newsweek this way:
Fineman said that he has “never, ever said that,” and that he has pointed out positive aspects of Palin’s candidacy. “They decided a long time ago that they were going to work the refs,” he said.
Work the refs. In other words, Fineman and the rest of his self-appointed priesthood will dictate our choices and McCain and Palin are apostates. Howard, you’re not the ref. You’re not the arbiter. You may be part of the Greek chorus, but you don’t get to decide who the players are.
Mr. D on September 3, 2008 at 9:52 AM
The Demedia is simply following its prime directive: no more Reagans!
Dynamic and eloquent conservatives must be destroyed, because they threaten the ability of the media to shape the national narrative, and pick our leaders for us.
Don’t forget that a very high percentage of people in journalism got there because they wanted “to make a difference”, which is code for controlling pubic opinion. The public’s “sacred right to know” is better phrased as the public’s “right to know what is sacred”.
drunyan8315 on September 3, 2008 at 9:53 AM
The shrill Maureen Dowd of the NYT (see her opinion today) is endemic of the truly bitter Americans. She and other women in the liberal media resent the fact that Sarah Palin has “it all” and yet she hasn’t reached the level of “enlightenment” that Maureen and others of her ilk have. Maureen has had to sacrifice love, family, and happiness to get to where she is HOW DARE SARAH PALIN not have to make those same sacrifices!!! It’s not right or fair that some “Hockey Mom” have it all!!! Or maybe, sliding into the gutter, these libertards, MoDo have just ran out of D batteries.
PatriotPete on September 3, 2008 at 9:54 AM
MSM is very worrisome to me. I lived in countries where censorship was strictly enforced and punished severely if not adhered to. The one sided media spells trouble for our freedom. It smells like they all received the same instruction memo. I wish the reporters would not be allowed into the convention (if someone disses you, you don’t invite him into your house), and I wish our delegates and representative would stop talking to them. Besides the fact that it would drive them berserk, it allows more time to actually discuss important issues facing us. This is a bit of psychology, but when we can’t tell someone to take a walk when they mistreat us, we’ve lost a lot of bargaining power in the relationship.
ViviAviv on September 3, 2008 at 9:55 AM
The problem is she is just a normal person. Not a career politician. Not a long time D.C. insider. Not someone from inside their bubble of the beltway. She sees things like a normal American person would, not a pol. That’s dangerous to them. She knows the emperor has no clothes. That the press is full of itself and full of crap. She knows horse shit when she sees it and isn’t conditioned to ask “Where’s the pony?” She’ll just say “That’s horse shit.”
Sefton on September 3, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Sarah Palin has had to answer more questions in two days about her experience than Obama has in almost 2 years.
They are terrified of even having the question posed to Obama that they are now demanding it be taken off the table by attacking Sarah.
The left is so afraid of Obama screwing up they are trying to prevent him from answering any questions
He is their Dan Qayle !
William Amos on September 3, 2008 at 9:56 AM
I’m a young professional, just starting out in the workforce so I really don’t have that much money to donate, however, for the first time in my life, I’ve found myself donating to the McCain campaign several times with what I can scrap together. I was never a fan of McCain, but every time I hear another news story put together like Frankenstein in the Obamedia laboratory, I just want to donate more. This can’t be the country I was born and raised in. I don’t remember the news ever being this vicious, partisan, hypocritical, and hateful. Did the media take business lessons over the summer in China, Venezuela, or USSR 2.0?
Tuari on September 3, 2008 at 9:58 AM
No DRywall you can’t have it both ways. If Sarah Palin is DQd base on her paucity of resume what the hell is O’bama doing at the top of your ticket.
Talking about change and “running” a campaign is hardly the same as actually running a cub scout troop let alone a state.
Have a day
sven10077 on September 3, 2008 at 9:58 AM
“What is the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?
Lipstick.”
- Sarah Palin
The looney left and their MSM enablers are rather stooopid to pick a fight with someone they don’t yet know.
They’ll find out soon enough.
SouthernRoots on September 3, 2008 at 9:59 AM
I will say that the circle-jerk which is the media is fun to hear, as when Rush plays clips of a dozen different news shows using the same words.
These people have managed to cocoon themselves, and only themselves, to the point that they parrot one-another and believe that because some other station said something it must be true. The problem is that the other station is looking back at them and thinking the same thing.
Bishop on September 3, 2008 at 9:59 AM
Will this be the song to introduce Sarah Palin at the convention?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCL3B5LgUCo
eaglewingz08 on September 3, 2008 at 10:00 AM
By all means, hammer Obama, but you must explain Palin’s credentials without all the wankery.
Dave Rywall on September 3, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Palin is a governor.
Obama is not.
The Presidency is primarily an executive position.
Case closed.
Game over.
Bishop on September 3, 2008 at 10:01 AM
And you cant defend Obama’s lack of experience by only attacking Sarah Palin. He has to answer tht question sometime and your repeated efforts to have him dodge and hide and be afraid to answer the question also is a valid one.
William Amos on September 3, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Lieberman is having a press conference to address the media smears on Palin. I’m hoping this is the start of a full scale counter attack. This is going to be great.
I think the gloves are coming off in a big way today.
forest on September 3, 2008 at 10:02 AM
It’s almost exactly like that situation except that (1) a Republican outfoxed them, and (2) McCain had the decency not to allow a bunch of reporters to get on a plane headed to Chicago without Obama.
From Ed:
I saw Matthews echo this lie at least three times on Hardball last night, which runs twice on MSNBC in EST (5 and 7)–even after a credible guest debunked it. It was disgraceful.
I promise to drop the poker lingo after this, but Palin seems like someone who has doubled down on matters of principle all her life. Most recently, she and her daughter have doubled down on life. Presumably, McCain is now doubling down on her. So anyone with any brains and an ounce of decency has to go all in for both of them.
BuckeyeSam on September 3, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Just watch her tonight — and during the debate with Biden later…she’ll show just exactly why she was picked.
The MSM is a disgrace — I can’t believe how low they have stooped in their attacks on Palin. Shameful.
Richard Romano on September 3, 2008 at 10:03 AM
The problem is that MSM is now facing something they have never encountered before and they don’t know how to deal with it, namely a strong, vocal, tough-as-nails, not afraid to say it like it is, CONSERVATIVE female.
And anything that sends the MSM running to hide under their desks, I am ALL for!!!
pilamaye on September 3, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Wait.
I love her. I’m for her and have been for quite awhile now. I hope this might even be so and think that it could be.
But she has to prove it before I’m going to say it. As invigorating and energizing and exciting as her potential is, let’s just remember what potential means.
Potential means you ain’t done it yet.
Get back to me in about twenty years with that Reagan comparison.
Typhoon on September 3, 2008 at 10:04 AM
She’s a Christian, and this forces leftists to recognize their lack of control over the higher aspirations of human nature.
I’ve always liked Flannery O’Connor’s thought that Christianity is like a magnetic pole that, by its very presence in the world, forces you into a position with respect to itself. It either pulls you in its orbit, or it repels you. But even as you flail against it, Christ defines the terms. You’re reacting to Him. Either way, He defines you, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.
Oh, you’ll say you merely want to avoid a “theocracy,” you want a society based on “reason” led by a Harvard educated philosopher-king and his Supreme Court judges, that’s all! And yet this Jesus fellow isn’t just a slight barrier to you, he makes you seethe, and you don’t know why. This is why pagan artists are obsessed with degrading Christ in their state-funded art.
Hence, in the short story A Good Man is Hard to Find, the murderer tells his victim before he blows her brains out that “Jesus thrown everything off balance…” The evil man knows deep down that he’s not in control.
He isn’t going away. And neither is Sarah Palin. Deal with it.
jeff_from_mpls on September 3, 2008 at 10:04 AM
It’s simple.
If McCain wins in 2008. Palin will be the nominee in 2012. That means 12 more years of republicans, potentially. Possibly 8 more if jindal is ready by then as well.
They all know Palin is an up and comer, so they are trying to take her out sooner than later. It’s not difficult to figure out.
Being said, Palin needs to do a nuclear speech at the convention this evening after all the doubts of the past few days.
If I were her, I’d compare my results in Wasilla to Obama’s as a community organizer. My town grew from 5,000 people to 10,000; all while lowering taxes and improving the lives of the citizens. As a community organizer, your epic building complex is a disaster and go into details.
Then compare as AK governor to his senate term. As governor, I fought the oil companies, lowered taxes (?), fought corruption – even within my own party – and won. You’ve been running for president since you got elected.
She needs to blow everyone away. Totally. Nuclear.
lorien1973 on September 3, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Spot on!
No disrespect to Allah, Ed, but I find your analysis more incisive and level-headed. So why is it AP posts about twice as much on HotAir as you do? Is Michelle not paying you enough :)
I miss Captain’s Quarters!!!!
zmrzlina on September 3, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Dave Rywall on September 3, 2008 at 9:41 AM
I think what you meant is Obama cannot continue to defend his utter lack of experience by trying to point out a lack of experience of Governeor Palin. Especially since Governor Palin has a great deal more experience in both executive and foreign policy decision making.
If you can’t figure this out on your own then you are suffering. The democrat party now has at the top of their ticket an inexperienced political hack that had to choose Biden so he would have some credibility on his ticket when it came to foreign policy.
McCain picked a person who most reflected what McCain has been all about.
- if you don’t know why Palin has more executive experience then you probably don’t understand what a mayor or governor has to do
-if you don’t know why Palin has more foreign policy experience then you have no idea about anything in Alaska. So until you get some knowledge in that void you call a head don’t continue to think you’re as informed as you think you are.
theguardianii on September 3, 2008 at 10:06 AM
It’s 1898, Randolph Hearst is alive, and yellow journalism is flourishing.
Only one question remains:
Will the American Media elect the President in 2008?
BDU-33 on September 3, 2008 at 10:06 AM
This should be Palin’s song as she enters tonight. Stick it to them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-XfthjK-bk
lorien1973 on September 3, 2008 at 10:07 AM
OK, someone has to say it:
PMSPDS?Kafir on September 3, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Anyone else notice that the Obama campaign is much more comfortable attacking a woman candidate than a male one ?
They did this to hillary and are doing it again. Obama is afraid of women and is comfortable bullying them.
William Amos on September 3, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Question: How many days has Sarah Palin been serving as Governor of AK?
Answer: 639 days
Question: How many days has Barack Obama been a US Senator?
Answer: 1338 days
Since Obama has been campaigning for 19 months, or 571 days. 1338 days – 571 = 767 days!
But keep in mind that Palin’s 639 are constant governing and decision making. You have to calculate the recesses that Congress takes.
Therefore, when a Liberal tells you Palin has no experience, just laugh in their face and walk away.
carbon_footprint on September 3, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Yes. That’s why McCain faces a near impossible task.
lorien1973 on September 3, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Can’t we love them both? AP built this place for the ground up. His hard-work is why this place is so successful. The fact that Ed is a great writer is why the place has stayed successful and grown after Bryan left. I’m tired of the AP bashing. And yes, compliments by comparison are bashing.
————–
Palin needs to do awesome in this speech tonight. Unlike Fred’s, it won’t be embargoed and it’s going to be the introduction for a lot of people. She needs to do well. I think she will.
Spirit of 1776 on September 3, 2008 at 10:08 AM
I am gonna make it my MISSION this week to MESS with EVERY COPY of USWeekly on every newsstand I can find in my area.
I am not gonna destroy the magazines. I’m JUST GONNA MOVE’EM. Like maybe to behind Road and Track or Muscle.
And Ya know whut? I GOT THE TIME, ENERGY, AND INCLINATION!
ExTex on September 3, 2008 at 10:08 AM
No, this should be.
Kafir on September 3, 2008 at 10:09 AM
You are welcome. Palin has energized just about every segment of our party. I am glad we agree these days.
carbon_footprint on September 3, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Spengler agrees with both you and the WSJ, Ed:
How Obama Lost the Election
Nichevo on September 3, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Sums it up well. MSM’s hysteria is due more to this fear factor than anger from being left out of the vetting loop. It’s both fear and anger that’s working here, of course, but I think fear of a historic game-change is driving the frenzy.
petefrt on September 3, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Unfortunately, this has always been the case. I first became aware of it during the 1984 election night coverage. I had just turned 14, the media was all buzzing about how the Dems were going to beat Reagan. (Mondale no less) As the night wore on, the more states that went red, the more obviously dejected the reporters become. In the end, some almost looked like they would cry when the final 49 out of 50 states went to Reagan.
From that eye opening observation to today, the only differences are that there are more media outlets and the restraint shown in 1984 is less obvious.
It tickles me to no end to see the evidence that McCain made the right choice. (Both in the media and in my own excitement.)
Marine_Bio on September 3, 2008 at 10:10 AM
OUTFOXER/FOX ‘08!
RushBaby on September 3, 2008 at 10:11 AM
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