Palin and the Charlie Gibson Strategy
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Wise Guys
In theory, Charlie Gibson has the power to expose Sarah Palin as the fantastically uninformed foreign policy thinker that most Democrats—and, if primed with a healthy dose of truth serum, probably more than a few Republicans—believe her to be.
The ABC newsman, who scored the first of what will surely be scant few major media sit-downs with John McCain’s running mate, could very easily do what a mischievous Boston television reporter did to George W. Bush in 1999 and spring a pop quiz on the unseasoned politician, measuring her knowledge (or lack thereof) of some elementary facts about global hotspots.
There’s no shortage of possible questions that could be asked, and while the ethics and relevancy of playing gotcha would be debated endlessly after the fact, the sight of Mrs. Palin flailing to answer such a basic question—or even providing an incorrect response—would instantly and powerfully drive home to millions of voters the Democrats’ contention that a person who has been governor of Alaska for 20 months (and, before that, mayor of a town with fewer people than the average Arena Football League game attracts) is frighteningly ill-prepared to assume the presidency of the United States.
But this—almost certainly—is not how it will go when Mr. Gibson interviews Mrs. Palin, nor is it how it will go if and when Mrs. Palin, acting under the strict supervision of Mr. McCain’s brain trust, consents to any similar sessions before Election Day.
From the instant Mr. McCain tapped her, his campaign leadership has schemed, with remarkable effectiveness, to minimize the obvious threat posed by Mrs. Palin’s inexperience—and, more specifically, how the media portrayed that inexperience. The road to her looming interview with Mr. Gibson is a perfect example of how deftly they’ve handled this challenge.—Mrs. Palin’s selection was announced on August 29 in Dayton, whence she proceeded almost directly into what Rick Warren might call “a cone of silence” as a rash of potentially harmful revelations—many policy-oriented, a few personal—emerged. Reports of her voracious appetite for federal earmarks and past support for the notorious “Bridge to Nowhere,” ties to the equally notorious Ted Stevens and possibly even the banning of books from public libraries exploded, but Mrs. Palin stayed quiet.
Meanwhile, an army of Republican surrogates, led by Mr. McCain’s campaign manager, aggressively hawked a victimization narrative, invoking charges of sexism, conflating the legitimate policy questions about Mrs. Palin with illegitimate personal accusations made by a blogger, and accusing the press of being “on a mission to destroy” the Republican V.P. candidate.—Fomenting this hysteria proved invaluable. It rallied the previously apathetic Republican base against its old foe, “the liberal media,” and distracted from the revelations about Mrs. Palin. (Most news outlets covered the McCain campaign’s charges of unfairness more intensely than, for instance, her reliance as mayor on the earmarks she now claims to revile.) But most importantly, it built suspense for Mrs. Palin’s carefully scripted, and tightly managed re-emergence at the Republican convention, where she masterfully read from a teleprompter and ad-libbed a few lines—skills she honed as a television sports anchor early in her career—in a command performance that surely dazzled many of the nearly 40 million Americans who tuned in expecting, based on all of the media noise they’d heard, a far shakier presentation.
That convention speech achieved two important things for the Republican campaign. First, it validated—in the eyes of many voters, and not nearly all of them Republicans—the G.O.P.’s charges of media bias. Why on earth, many casual viewers surely wondered, would the press be making so much noise about such a poised, confident and impressive woman? Not surprisingly, a poll released this Monday found that by a 54-10 percent margin, voters believe the press has been harder on Mrs. Palin than on her opponents.
This, in turn, bought the McCain campaign time and latitude in scheduling interviews for Mrs. Palin, which they used to set up this week’s relatively risk-free encounter with Mr. Gibson. Officially, no question is off-limits. But Mr. Gibson, more so than most major television personalities, has shown little interest in pursuing questions about Mrs. Palin aggressively. And the interview will be taped sporadically over two days. Surely, he won’t be playing hardball in the early sessions.
The result is close to a no-lose situation for the McCain campaign. In the unlikely event that Mr. Gibson pulls a pop-quiz surprise, they will rush to portray the interview as a hit-job—perhaps even equipping Mrs. Palin with a pithy retort ahead of time. Not everyone will buy it, but the G.O.P.’s handling of these past two weeks has won Mrs. Palin more of a cushion than anyone would have imagined when she was picked.
But most likely, Mr. Gibson will be deferential and Mrs. Palin will come off quite well. Then the public will be even less inclined to pay much attention to the media’s hectoring for more face time with the candidate and the McCain campaign will be able to be even more sparing in making her available.
Think they can’t keep this up through November? Think again.
ABC News and Mr. Gibson are a disgrace to the business.
Gibson is a GOP mole and a old skool hack.
Palin is a empty suit and so is he-
They make a perfect pair.
maybe gibson will ask her how many states there are.
if she answers 50 she'll be ahead of nobama
A look at Palin's words and actions are sufficient to demonstrate she is not a maverick, but a Bush Republican. Over the past 8 years we have seen the Republican "we're for less government interference in your lives" Party erode our everyday privacy, dictate what our children can and can not learn in school and deny our right to decide when, how and with whom we have VERY personal relationships. Obama and the media are cowed into silence by cries of being soft on terrorism and igniting a culture war. Palin has stated she will do everything in her power to make the laws under which we all live conform to her personal religious beliefs and has spoken repeatedly of the war in Iraq in religious terms. There is no reason to ask hypothetical questions about Sara Palin's ability to lead this country; we have plenty of evidence of the agenda she will pursue.
If McCain and Palin are ahead, Americans deserve what they are about to get. In addition to the coming deep deep recession (I'm a market analyst), we will see the beginning of new and much more frightening conflicts with Russia, Iran, and who knows who else. If everything works out and there are a couple of vacancies on the Supreme Court, abortion will be criminalized in the United States. Science will be attacked when it contradicts Christianity, and a constitutional amendment will ban gay-marriage.
A bunch of ignorant dolts seem to decide the fate of our nation. Not the republicans, lets's say 40% of the nation; they know exactly what they are doing, they just clearly don't care about lying to the faces of Americans. They so blatantly manipulate news stories and disregard facts and contradictions, that to an educated person, it is more than clear that their campaign is just a big game, they'd like you to believe a war, they are playing to win.
It's the middle, those brave souls, the ones who switch from one candidate to another. "Oh I like this one! No I like the VP Palin! She's so sarcastic and sassy! No I don't like Obama, he always says such good ideas, but he's not sassy enough, plus he reminds me of (insert black acquaintance). I want a maverick just like me!" A bunch of uneducated tabloid reading imbeciles who's only claim to being a Maverick is dressing up as Top Gun for Halloween.
We all deserve what's coming... I'll be fine I make money and should vote republican... if only I could destroy every bit of knowledge I have about decency and compassion and the path of our nation.
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McCain Now Winning Majority of Independents.
Majority of independents now prefer him over Obama, 52% to 37%
USA Election 2008 by Lydia Saad
PRINCETON, NJ — John McCain’s 6 percentage-point bounce in voter support
spanning the Republican National Convention is largely explained by political
independents shifting to him in fairly big numbers, from 40% pre-convention to 52%
post-convention in Gallup Poll Daily tracking.
………………………………………………………………..>
OBAMA’S BOUNCE WAS A “FAIRYTALE!” HE HAS PEAKED IN THE POLLS! PAPER THIN RESUME IS HIS DOWNFALL.
What if Senator McCain had selected Governor Pawlenty of Minnesota as his VP choice, kept him protected from interviews for two weeks and then continued to control media access to the Governor for the duration of the campaign? Such delicate handling of a vice presidential candidate would probably cause voters, as well as the news media, to seriously question the Governor's preparedness. The fact that Governor Palin, and not Governor Pawlenty, happens to be McCain's VP choice should not make a difference in seriously questioning her preparedness. On "Fox News Sunday" (9/7/08) Rick Davis, the McCain -Palin campaign manager stated that Governor Palin will do interviews "on the terms and conditions of which the campaign decides that it's ready to do it." It seems that McCain campaign has chosen to manipulate the new media's access to Governor Palin as a warning that tough questions are off-limits.
What if Senator McCain had selected Governor Pawlenty of Minnesota as his VP choice, kept him protected from interviews for two weeks and then continued to control media access to the Governor for the duration of the campaign? Such delicate handling of a vice presidential candidate would probably cause voters, as well as the news media, to seriously question the Governor's preparedness. The fact that Governor Palin, and not Governor Pawlenty, happens to be McCain's VP choice should not make a difference in seriously questioning her preparedness. On "Fox News Sunday" (9/7/08) Rick Davis, the McCain -Palin campaign manager stated that Governor Palin will do interviews "on the terms and conditions of which the campaign decides that it's ready to do it." It seems that McCain campaign has chosen to manipulate the new media's access to Governor Palin as a warning that tough questions are off-limits.
Err ... hello, pot, this is kettle!
To all of these people who prate on and on about how unprepared Sarah Palin is, she's only a Veep candidate and she has more experience than the Anointed One. And has just about as much (i.e. no) experience as the Messiah.
To all of those who make a big deal about how "small" Alaska is, what about Delaware, which has within 150,000 of the population of Alaska ... and being Governor certainly trumps being Senator in terms of executive experience.
Keep digging an ever bigger hole for yourselves, you Mainstream (i.e. Left-Wing) media people ... rather than laud the fact that she should be a feminist icon; a woman who has made herself from very humble roots; who has been successful and has managed to raise a family at the same time, who is well-loved by Democrats and Republicans alike in her own state?
Is she pushing to ban abortions? No, she isn't. Like many people, she separates her personal views from policy.
What is it that scares people so much about her? Simply because unlike the "feminists" who preceded her with their virulent Marxism and Misanthropy (the hatred of men), she has succeeded without either of these character flaws.
Sarah may yet have significant flaws, but on the surface it's clear that she is not only the better VP candidate, despite the slurs about inexperience, she has more of it than the Democratic Presidential Candidate.
Barack is being exposed more and more as the PLACEBO he is. Placebos don't work. They just make people feel happy.
Ask her about fossils. Where did these dang fossils come from?
As to why... read the "The Marching Morons" by C. M. Kornbluth.
is it really "putting the country first," as mccain likes to claim that he does, in first nominating palin and then shielding her from serious questioning?
voters need more reporting from the establishment press not only about palin's lack of knowledge, candor, and relevant experience, but also about mccain's judgment and motivation in choosing and then shielding her.
this is going to be a "finger on the button" election, and mccain and palin both have demonstrated hot-temper, impulsiveness, and retaliation toward "enemies." i hope we will be responsible citizens in considering our choices in november.
Ask her about fossils. Where did these dang fossils come from?
As to why... read the "The Marching Morons" by C. M. Kornbluth.
THE USA MEDIA IS NOTHING BUT ANTI-AMERICAN, OVER-PAID KNUCKLEHEADS.
SEND GIBSON, KATIE COURIC, EVERYONE AT PBS, NBC, ABC, CBS, TO FARMS, TO WORK ALONG SIDE THE PEASANTS.
FORCIBLY RE-DISRIBUTE THE WEALTH OF MULTI-MILLIONAIRES OLIVER STONE AND MICHAEL MOORE TO THE POOR.
IF YOU HATE HOLLYWEIRD---VOTE REPUBLICAN.
LIBERAL MEDIA ONLY UNDERSTANDS ONE THING---VOTING REPUBLICAN.
The article started off with this lovely understatement of fact, "as a rash of potentially harmful revelations—many policy-oriented, a few personal—emerged", and went steadily downhill.
In fact, none of the first attacks again Gov. Palin were policy-oriented. The attacks were all about her lack of preparedness, lack of experience for someone being a heartbeat away (not sure how that same lack in the person running for president doesn;t seem to bother those same people), and the fact that she had too many children for the liberal taste.
Let's move this campaign to some darn issues. We as Americans are becoming the laughing stock of the world in the way we handle out elections, and nit-pick the candidates. No wonder decent qualified people won't run for office. Who the heck wants to go through this gauntlet.
What is this country coming to. The economy is awful. I should know, I do not make money. Most of what I do make goes on the higher cost of food and gas, it's a juggling act for me.
The Republican party/John McCain has done and does not plan to do anything for the middle class and the poor. (I am one string length from being poor). Most of McCain's comments were on Energy this past Sunday- nothing about Healthcare only a few comments on the economy. He and Ms. Palin are so far removed from what the majority of Americans need.
I cannot believe that my fellow Americans do not see.
Sarah Palin is not the VP yet. In America, we the people have a right to CHOOSE who leads OUR country, every 4 years. Gov. Palin and John McCaine are not above being ASKED ANY questions, we the people, want to know. And we the people, have a FREE media who's job it is to ASK those questions on OUR behalf. How dare the Republican Party hold themselves up as above that process. If you want the job, then interview for it!
Since the Boston reporter's Gotcha failed to rid us of GW Bush, why do you imagine it will work by showing up Sarah Palin's immense ignorance on things non-Alaskan?
Most Americans are every bit as ignorant as GW Bush was and still is. They will only stand by and think, I don't know that either, so what?
Please try thinking before writing.
Americans seem suspicious of people who know lots of things.
Can we also redistribute Cindy McCain's Mafia engendered, inherited fortune also or is it only non-republicans who must be made to suffer such ignominy?
Can you or anyone point to anything done by the GOP that benefits the bottom 90% of America's wealth?
K.P.
"...to minimize the obvious threat posed by Mrs. Palin’s inexperience..."
"Inexperience" as compared to whom? A "community organizer"?
"...to minimize the obvious threat posed by Mrs. Palin’s inexperience..."
"Inexperience"? As compared to whom? A "community organizer"? Really...
Alejandro L. (not verified) says:
If McCain and Palin are ahead, Americans deserve what they are about to get. In addition to the coming deep deep recession (I'm a market analyst), we will see the beginning of new and much more frightening conflicts with Russia, Iran, and who knows who else. If everything works out and there are a couple of vacancies on the Supreme Court, abortion will be criminalized in the United States. Science will be attacked when it contradicts Christianity, and a constitutional amendment will ban gay-marriage.
Your elistist and foolish posting reminds me of why I don't want Obama as president. If you think Obama and the democrats will solve the economic recession, the policies Obama has outline will move it out of a recession category into a depression category. You don't raise taxes in a recession. That is elementary.
If you knew anything about history, you would know that isolationism and appeasement don't work, so how would you handle Russia and Iran?
Here's another civics lesson for you, if Roe vs Wade was overturned, abortion in the United States would not be criminalized. It would go back to the state and each state would determine what they wanted to do.
Science will not be attacked at least not like it is when someone questions the "settled science" of AGW (an oxymoron if you believe in the scientific method. That ridiculous theory has absolutely zero proof that CO2 is causing any of the warming we saw from 1970 to 2000 (since then we haven't had any further warming).
As for a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage, most opponents of gay marriage don't want such an amendment, but state supreme courts keep overturning the will of their people and putting it in.
From what I've seen the left doesn't particularly care for democracy and tend to hate free speech.
It's very kind of Mr. Kornacki to lower the bar for Mr. Gibson. Shouldn't you wait to cry "foul" until he actually poses a question? Or are you really so worried about how it will go that you have to start lowering expectations of Mr. Gibson before it even happens?
Who knew politics could be so entertaining?
Curious how the author attempts to conceal the fact that Sarah Palin has fought the corrupt Republicans to the point of resigning office and challenging them. All the while missing the obvious point that Obama NEVER has challenged the Chicago political machine.
Obama says McCain supports Bush 90% but fails to mention he votes with Harry Reid 97% of the time.
You are in trouble and you know it.
We know, too, that if Sarah Palin gets a pimple on her butt you will breathlessly report the blemish... people are wising up to you bozos and it is hilarious!!
Too bad Obama didn't try to keep Biden from a microphone. He's a serious danger to the campaign. McCain's people are smart!
Has anyone ever seriously questioned Obama who thinks there are 57 states, that he is already President or is unsure if his faith is Christian or Muslim? He is indeed an empty suit and that he fools so many speaks poorly of mass mentality. Ask him about William Ayers!
The condescension toward Governor Palin is outrageous. The day after McCain and Palin are elected a whole lot of folks are going to be wondering what happened. -jw
Get an education or a better job and stop whining. Who do you think has controlled this country since 2006 --none other than your idiot Democrats with the 9% approval rating?
Great how about the rum runner Kennedy's fortune or the fortune that Kerry got from marrying the widow of the Republican Heinz. You are so full of it! Democrats whine constantly about how bad it is. Get a job!
Tee hee hee poor jokey democrats. Republicans always set you up for the big fall. You never dissapoint and always take the bait. You'd think that repubs have some kind of weird crystal ball or something and the dems keep checking their outdated campaign history book.
To wit, here was their Obama family all Sunday-spruced up and nukular (new-clear) ;-) like all the Republican families look like, right? Dan Quayle even told them that 20+ years ago in (reference that lousy Candice Bergden sitcom)and it seems they took it to heart (you know the Huxtables and all)......Times and the nature of republican families have changed, but dorky democrats who don't understand America stay the same.
Then comes that dasterdly maverick McCain, showcasing an American family not quite like what the republicans were promoting 20+ years ago, but still very American and very Patriotic. Then the democrats pull out their dusty playbook and say 'ooh ooh look, out-of-wedlock, ooh ohh'. Then America looks at them and says "They're just like my family. What's your problem democrats?"
And again, the democrats lose an election that
was virtually theirs to lose. Democrats always seem to be too late in identifying 'the national trend' because their kooky ideas are not based on humankind's realities. Democrats' policies and ideas spring from 'la-la land' where their 'reality' is really just a figment of their imagination of what humankind ought to be, not how it really is.
People ask, "what's in her hair?"
You liberals can take comfort that within that upswept hair, Sarah's packing a Smith & Wesson. 2nd Amendment Mama. BOOOO!