September 1, 2008 - 9:30am

Opinion

Hail Mary: Not the pass, the voter

I have a remarkable family relation down in the Deep South. Mary is an 88 year-old pistol of a preacher’s daughter; born, raised and lived in Alabama all her life. She’s no liberal, never smoked or drank and went to the Methodist Church Every Sunday morning and every Wednesday night. She speaks her mind. She’s nobody’s fool, either.

When George Bush made HIS decision to invade Iraq (Because that is what Congress gave him – the authority to make his own decision.) she called me to say simply, “I think he’s gone mad.”

She did not mean angry, either.

Now she’s shocked. She’s never heard of Sarah Palin before and expected better from the guy she was thinking about giving her vote. She wasn’t sure a few weeks ago but she’s a lot less sure about John McCain after this stunt.

If McCain needed a woman running mate, “Why didn’t pick one with more experience?” she asks.

“Well, Mary,” I replied. “Maybe those women weren’t asked because they are too moderate – you know on a woman’s right to choose. Or, maybe all those women told him, ‘No thanks and good luck.’”

In fact, right now there is a small group of really experienced and capable women Republicans in Congress facing their state’s voters who must explain why, if Sarah Palin is VP material, they’re not.

Maybe those voters will think, ‘If McCain rejects you, maybe I should, too.’

Mary’s response is not rare. But, she did not know what many stunned Alaska political figures – including Alaska Republicans – say about the so-called popular governor of Alaska.

The reaction wasn't so rosy elsewhere. State Senate President Lyda Green said she thought it was a joke when someone called her at 6 a.m. to give her the news.

"She's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president?" said Green, a Republican from Palin's hometown of Wasilla. "Look at what she's done to this state. What would she do to the nation?"

With friends like that…

I expect that Ms. Lyda Green of Wasilla, Alaska will be under attack by Republicans outside of Alaska for being just another jealous female Republican politician from Sarah Palin’s hometown who just wanted to be the VP candidate, herself - or, something.

The Alaska bloggers – folks who know the Governor better than I - are having so much fun with it, too.

Mary also didn’t know that 20 months ago Sarah Palin was the part-time mayor a city smaller than Bel Air or Westminster, Maryland. In fact Westminster is twice the size of Wasilla, Alaska.

Any political observer with a brain or a minute’s worth of experience working, observing or writing about politics knows this wipes “experience” off the table as an attack issue for John McCain and puts the “age and health” issue front and center.

A “heartbeat away” is not a throwaway line. It means something to people.

I will explain this to folks who might have trouble getting it.

Nobody has to say Sarah Palin isn’t an experienced leader. 95% of the voters already know it because they’ve never heard of her before.

“Experience” is what McCain and his GOP friends keep trying to use as an “attack message” against Barack Obama. It’s their message. It’s practically their whole message.

How can McCain “approve this message” with a straight face or a shred of credibility if the person he selected to be a heartbeat away from a McCain presidency is Sarah Palin?

The Democrats don’t have to do a thing to make Mary wonder whether or not she should be insulted by McCain’s cheap ploy to grab women’s votes with someone so weak, when so many strong women are out there.

If Alaska Republicans and Mary understand this in their guts, what’s there to add?

DAVID PAULSON can be reached via email at david.paulson@politickermd.com.

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Comments

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

posted by jonniec

That's right I said it, Sarah Palin is a "wolf in sheep's clothing". She puts on this wonderful "hockey mom" front laden with familiar republican playbook tactics.

I'm an independent who was a definite "swing" voter, but my decision is clear now Obama/Biden in 08. Palin is not only unqualified (come on, part-time mayor of a podunk town, and gov of a state smaller than most cities doesn't equate to much more than PTA president) she is completely out of touch with the needs of the American people.

A pick for Palin is a pick for insanity.

09/05/08 2:54 pm

Strange how Mr. Donna

posted by Mr. Fig

Strange how Mr. Donna Hamilton's praise for Gilchrest was silent until it was politically expedient for him to say so.

09/05/08 6:43 am

David, the challenge is

posted by Mr. Fig

David, the challenge is still out there: a single complimentary comment about any Republican.

You can't. No wonder people really don't care what hyperppartisan Mr. Donna Hamilton says.

09/05/08 6:41 am

attack

posted by windriver

Paulson is the KING of sleeze attack. Was he responsible for the OREO incident? Some think so.

I have an aunt in Florida and she is ecstatic over Palin. She says in her 88 years, she has never seen such a strong independent woman and will NOW vote for the R ticket.

And this means what in the grand scheme of things? Anecdotal evidence of a McCain Palin win?

09/04/08 4:20 pm

Palin WON the war

posted by windriver

With the political death of the feminist standard bearer at the hands of a further left unknown black man from the depths of the Chicago Daley machine, the feminist hoards in the media and elsewhere are ready for the blood of another woman. Not just any woman. A woman who, if elected in November, will have WON the 40 plus year old war against traditional values.
From burning their bras to going to work (and leaving the kids with a sitter) to entering the board room.

Now a woman has achieved ALL those things and is about to be the first woman Vice President of the United States. When Sarah Palin enters the WH as VP, HER side , the side with the traditional values, small town values, family values, will have won the cultural war against the feminists.
It is like being the first on the moon. Once its done its done, NOTHING can take it away. The far left feminists and their feminized male counterparts, will have to concede. The war of 40 years will have been won, and NOT by their side. They will do whatever it takes to stop this fine woman.
They WILL fail.

09/04/08 4:15 pm

Comeback? How about Coming Out?

posted by Get Real

Dear Dr. A: Comeback? Mrs. Palin's come back was her national coming out last night. I guess she can, and did speak for herself - as well as speaking to her knee-jerk detractors. You know, the one's I mentioned in these responses. Mr. Paulson's opinion piece looks like it needs a little updating. And you, his faithful admirer, need some new rhetoric.

Your opinion isn't the only opinion. Please don't believe that anything counter to it is a personal attack, and rationalize it away. I am merely putting the points of this opinion piece into a different and doubting perspective. Something sorely needed in this one-party, rubber stamp state. Questioning the supposed leadership, and the platitudes of your Democrat party, typically is not answered (or responded to) here in any way, other than as "deflections" and "personal attacks". Empty rhetoric, in my reading. Full rebuttal, in yours. Political opinion ping-pong goes on. Enjoy the "game". For God's sake, Dem.'s own the table, paddles and balls in this state. Do you want to take your balls and go home when someone challenges you? Isn't it boring playing alone, against a non-level, vertical backboard?

p.s. The T.V. talking heads gave her props across the board - CNN, PBS, NBC are the one's I watched and the others weighed in with positives in the press. Spin, spit & sputter like Paul Begalla, Al Gore's wardrobe consultant (Donna Brazille) & co. did last night. Stay tuned. ;-)

09/04/08 11:58 am

Trends

posted by Dr. A

I've noticed a trend in right-wing responses to Paulson's blog. Ignore his arguments and attack him personally. Could it be they don't have any come backs to his actual arguments?

09/03/08 6:51 pm

Thanks, though for the Gilchrest Hug

posted by Get Real

Thanks, though, for the Gilchrest Hug. Respect is a good thing.

09/03/08 11:12 am

Your Auto-response Again?!

posted by Get Real

I just cant get past the fact that rather than celebrate in a civil manner the "good fortune" of having such fine candidates, AND a lock in Md. for Prince Obama, you wail and deride your opponents.

Do you know the guy that's a fanatical fan of a good team, yet obnoxiously bashes the supposedly out-gunned and weaker competition (i.e. stereotypical Yankee or recent Patriots fan)? You're that guy.

And how have they been doing lately when it comes to winning the big game? 2 Democrat presidents in 40 years, hmmmm. Deflect - while we Elect. See you @ the polls nonetheless. I'll be the one NOT wearing a bologna sandwich suit. ;-)

09/03/08 11:07 am

Weak attempts to deflect

posted by David Paulson

Weak attempts to deflect from embarrassing issues seem to be the only responses Republicans have in their bag of tricks these days?

OK. Allow me to praise the judgment and service - both in the Marines and in Congress - of a rock-ribbed real Republican who puts Country First, ahead of his party.

I've always liked and admired Rep. Wayne Gilchrest and I always will. He has been a true maverick within his own party.

We are talking a real maverick with the courage to stand up to his party's leadership, as opposed to the guy in St. Paul right now who flip-flopped his way to a party nomination.

09/03/08 8:46 am

Crocodile Tears...

posted by Get Real

David, David, David. Your heart surely can't be bleeding for the Republican party and conservatives, could it? How touching. What really warms my heart though, is that the shrill noise level of liberals wanting to save us from ourselves, is getting louder and louder. That must be the "progressive" thing about liberals ("L"-word). Me thinks thou doth protest too much. C'mon. Md. is locked up for Obama.

Talk about the looming budget deficit from state tax collections falling 1 Billion short. Owe-Malley & Co. really fixed things by raising taxes along with their payroll. Just like he fixed the BGE bills. Just like he fixed the judicial nominating system. No nepotism, just qualifications. Mike Miller's son surely has a VP spot on an O'Malley presidential ticket, huh? Nice to know the Democrats have all the answers and will keep fixing things around here, via their 1-party power system. Thanks again, Nannies. We could never do things for ourselves. Perhaps you could change your mascot from donkey to Nanny goat? Oops, now I'm trying to help you in a bipartisan way. My bad.

No slots. No way. Make the legislature figure out how we'll pay (for THEIR way). ;-)

09/02/08 12:56 pm

We're waiting...

posted by Partisan Paulson Can't Do It

We're still waiting, Mr. Donna Hamilton.

A single positive comment about any Republican.

You can't bring yourself to do it...your partisanship is just too much to overcome.

09/01/08 4:34 pm

Palin

posted by unsure

Well of course people in her hometown, people who have seen her living her life, doing mundane everyday things, would be unable to recognize her qualities, her excellence. To them she's just that lady from down the street.

This is why it's said "A prophet hath no honor in his own country." She's familiar and ordinary to them.

09/01/08 11:02 am