SUN EDITORIAL:

Sarah who?

John McCain’s choice to be the GOP vice presidential nominee sure is a risky one

Sat, Aug 30, 2008 (2:07 a.m.)

John McCain’s selection of little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate on the Republican ticket was stunning to say the least.

It was such a surprise that the story dominated the all-news cable channels Friday, casting aside any analysis of Barack Obama’s sensational Democratic presidential nomination speech the night before — and that is saying a lot. After all, the initial Nielsen ratings showed that more Americans watched Obama’s speech than they did the opening of the Beijing Olympics.

So in the short term, viewing it as a purely tactical move, McCain’s announcement worked in eclipsing the glow from Obama’s speech.

Nonetheless, selecting Palin is a risky move that ultimately could backfire on McCain. Palin has been governor for less than two years and before that was the mayor of a small town. She is known as a “maverick” — now where have we heard that term before? — and has taken on the establishment, including powerful Republicans, in Alaska. But there are doubts whether she should be the proverbial heartbeat away from the presidency. It’s an issue that has more relevance in McCain’s case because he is 72.

McCain’s campaign hopes those who supported Hillary Clinton’s candidacy will look so favorably on McCain’s tapping Palin they will go with the Republican ticket instead. For starters, that’s condescending, and it doesn’t take into account that Clinton’s politically centrist views are in no way compatible with Palin’s right-wing political philosophy. It also is amusing to see Republicans hypocritically engaging in identity politics, a form of politics they frequently criticize — at least when they think it can’t be used to their advantage.

Palin’s selection as a vice presidential nominee undoubtedly will make next week’s Republican National Convention much more interesting, but for now it is difficult to imagine it will give McCain the boost he was seeking.

Discussion: 13 comments so far…

By neiman1

8/30/08 at 6:08 a.m.

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Let the sexism begin. Here we go again. The VP is named and immediately the ink against her starts. Glenn Beck begged this woman to run months ago. Her story is a real American politicians story. A citizen, involved, gets angry and fights corruption and turns the establishment upside down. Washington needs a bunch just like her
By Future2012

8/30/08 at 7:02 a.m.

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Sarah Palin has been to Iraq twice as the head of the AK National Guard. She did not need to be a Candidate before going and doing her job.

Sarah Palin is less risk then Barak Obama.
By notacon

8/30/08 at 8:46 a.m.

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McCain miserably failed in his first presidential decision. Romney would have been a far better candidate and potential president. The choice of Palin is breathtakingly poor.
By Eddie

8/30/08 at 9:34 a.m.

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I for one think that Sarah Palin is a perfect choice. Mark my words, she will chew Biden up and spit him out. It is amazing how much of her accomplishments the news media has omitted. Unfortunately, people won't read for themselves about what she has done. Oh thats right, the Democrats don't want any tax cuts. I'm very happy now that Obama chose Biden for his running mate.
By R_Linn

8/30/08 at 10:18 a.m.

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Sarah who? Don't worry, the SUN libs will have plenty of time to get to know her over the next eight years.
By notacon

8/30/08 at 10:21 a.m.

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When she debates Biden it will be like a lamb being lead to a slaughter. I think McCain must think that all the women in his life have to be beauty queens. His first wife (which he cheated on as soon as he returned from the POW camp because she lost her looks in a bad accident), Cindy McCain (one of the trollops that he cheated with) and now Palin all were beauty contestants. I don't think its his brain that he is thinking with!
By R_Linn

8/30/08 at 10:23 a.m.

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To notacon: "The choice of Palin is breathtakingly poor." That's what they said about G.H.W.Busch/Quayle and they won anyway. Except for a few hausfraus who are in a snit over the Hillary snub, nobody votes for the vice president.
By Eddie

8/30/08 at 10:28 a.m.

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Oh! I guess I forgot the Sun is LIBERAL. You can't see the genius in this.
By uddeboda

8/30/08 at 11:29 a.m.

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Why not have Michael Palin as running mate, at least we shall get some good laughs, if nothing else.
By jfnance32

8/30/08 at 11:52 a.m.

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Obama's experience is the joke. 4 years ago he was a state senator. Hopefully, it is not a joke on nation.
By thebs

8/30/08 at 12:21 p.m.

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Nance, don't you post frequently on the blog of, and arent't you an ardent fan of State Senator Bob Beers?

I guess you think Bob Beers is a joke?

Have we actually found common ground?
By neiman1

8/30/08 at 12:55 p.m.

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Sarah Palin visited the injured troops when she visited Germany last year. She didn't take her campaign staff along nor the press. She just went to say "thank you" to soldiers that appreciated it.
By jfnance32

8/30/08 at 3:34 p.m.

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I guess that you are arguing that Obama and Beers are jokes and you want to me agree with that.

I would agree with the below.

If Bob Beers became a US Senator and immediately started to run for President and his opponent picked a 2 year Governor for VP and if his campaign made fun of his opponent's VP experience then yes I would agree that would be a big joke.