A “HAIL SARAH” PASS

So John McCain picks Sarah Palin as his running mate. Risky, yes, but I think a brilliant strategic choice. As calculated a choice as could be, but what else is new. No longer can McCain or the RNC seriously use “the experience issue” against Obama, after his pickup of Palin. She has served approx. 1-1/2 years as the Governor of Alaska. Before that, she was the mayor a small Alaska town. Before that, the PTA. NO, none, zilch, nada, zip, Zero foreign policy experience.

I can only think that McCain thought, realized, that with the demographics and numbers  being what they are, there was no way in the world he could come out on top over Obama running the same ol’ same ol’ campaign, with the lackluster running mates you’ve heard bandied about in the press over the last few months as the prospects. In picking Palin, only in picking someone like Palin one could argue, he has made a “game changing” decision. I’ll say it again, risky, yes–for the lack of experience, the untried nature of the candidate, the so-little-known-ness about her, her total lack of experience on the national stage. But clearly, he is hoping to win over some of the disaffected “Hillary” voters. And generally throw down the gauntlet by saying “hey, I can make history too!” by putting a woman beside him. Perhaps winning a nod from enough Independents and “Reagan Democrats” who would more easily vote for a woman than a Black guy. That’s the throw of the dice that McCain’s just played craps with in this choice.

So I return again to the “brilliant” choice of it, in my belief. How otherwise could he have energised his “side” of this race? I’ve seen enough of her to know she is a tough cookie. She speaks well, is bright, engaging, attractive (a former beauty queen) with a down-to-earth quality that will appeal to a lot of folks. Do not underestimate her. It would be easy to predict that Biden could “eviscerate” her in a debate over foreign affairs. I don’t know that she knows anything about foreign affairs. Even in her acceptance speech today, what little she said on the subject was basically that she supports McCain. But for all Biden’s prowess, knowledge and experience, in any debate between the two of them–the bar will be set awfully low for her. Basically, if she can stand vertical and not dissemble before our eyes, it will be considered a success. Biden, with his loose tongue, is more apt to put his foot in his mouth than she.

I can only hope, as is said all too often, that when all’s said and done, people vote for Prez, and not the VP slot. What we do know about Sarah P. is that she is a staunch conservative. She had worked on Pat Buchanan’s earlier campaign. She is pro-gun, “pro-life”, anti-gay rights. She has an 80% approval rate in Alaska. All of this makes her hugely popular with the Republican base, and she will greatly help to energise that crowd. But their base has shrunk, and the Dems numbers are larger this time around. I hope the Dems, this time, are smart enough and skillful enough to make the choices before us clear, pund home the issues, and enough Independents swing Barack’s way.

_______________________________________________________

Zach Newman is a writer and political junkie. His “day job”, though, is as an experienced, reliable and trusted Realtor in the Portland area. He is a longtime member of PABA - Portland’s GLBT Chamber of Commerce. Call Zach at 503.287.8989 or visit his website at: http://www.equitygroup.com/zach.

Comments RSS