McCain Statement on Palin

Fresh in my inbox, the McCain campaign's statement on Veep pick Sarah Palin:

Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington.

Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. She leads a state that matters to every one of us -- Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent.

In Alaska, Governor Palin challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. She put a stop to the "bridge to nowhere" that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.

As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops.

Governor Palin has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of. Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today.

Update: The Obama campaign responds: 

"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same," said Bill Burton, Obama Campaign Spokesman.  

And McCain Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker quickly returns fire:

"It is pretty audacious for the Obama campaign to say that Governor Palin is not qualified to be Vice President. She has a record of accomplishment that Senator Obama simply cannot match. Governor Palin has spent her time in office shaking up government in Alaska and actually achieving results -- whether it's taking on corruption, passing ethics reform or stopping wasteful spending and the 'bridge to nowhere.' Senator Obama has spent his time in office running for President."

Comments

[Elemenope]

As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation...

Quite possibly the stupidest thing I've read this week. And Lefiti has been posting *all this week*, so the bar isn't exactly low.

Even *Obama* has more foreign policy experience than Palin; at least he's worked on non-proliferation.

[Adamness]

Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources.

Eh? I think her husband works for BP.

[Warty]

I'd hit it. I have a thing for saggies.

[Elemenope]

Also, how do people think her shilling for ANWR is gonna play? Personally I think as soon as it is mentioned that Alaskans get direct revenue from oil, and so it's all about self-aggrandizement, I think people will find her support covered in crap.

On the other hand, Alaska and its three electoral votes are probably no longer up for grabs. So, there's that.

[guy in the back row]

Holy cow, I went to the prom with that girl!!

He could have picked worse?

[John]

The people in campaigns are stupid sometimes. "Head of the Alaska National Guard" is a bit of a reach. But that is more military command than Obama or Biden have ever had.

[BobDobalina]

I'm with John. Plus, for once in my life, I'd actually be able to say, "The Vice President is HOT!"

The new McCain theme song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LHtOqPW9zY

[Warren]

Actually, this is the most hopeful news I've read since the Paul campaign imploded. This is the way I see it playing out. McCain wins in the general, is struck by lightning while taking the oath of office, and before the thunderclap echo dies, this broad steps up and is sworn-in as our first female president.

I'll probably sour on her once she starts talking. But for now, I no longer see the arrival of Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death as inevitable.

[Elemenope]

Warren,

I'm rightly terrified of *both* people who might conceivably be one heartbeat away from the presidency.

Fucking great.

[Bug]

Palin's state is the only one that borders two other countries. I guess that's as much foreign policy experience as a governor gets.

[galaxy101]

Palin was literally the mayor of a small hamlet of 8,100 people before becoming governor for less then two years...yikes, this has to be the least experienced candidate in history.

[The Extispicator]

Now there adding nude, from-the-shoulders-up photos to press release?

[chuck goolsbee]

Alaskans all fancy themselves anti-gov't frontierfolk. In reality Alaska is the largest welfare state in North America. Every Alaskan is latched-on hard, and addicted to the government teat. Hypocrites... the entire lot of them.

[Episiarch]

We need to get Ron Paul 3rd in line for the Presidency.

[robc]

Palin's state is the only one that borders two other countries.

I was going to say that but I couldnt figure out how many countries Hawaii borders. Depends how you draw those ocean boundaries.

[robc]

HypocritesHumans... the entire lot of them.

FTFY.

[robc]

galaxy101,

See my "study" on one of the threads below. Of the 9 Veeps who then became pres, she would be above 2 in experience and about even when one other (Calvin Coolidge).

[Taktix?]

The people in campaigns are stupid sometimes. "Head of the Alaska National Guard" is a bit of a reach. But that is more military command than Obama or Biden have ever had.

Hey, don't knock that Alaska National Guard. They fought to liberate... er, defended the... uhh.

You know fish are developing WMD's as we speak...

[galaxy101]

Well hopefully she can bring all of that experience and the fact that she is a creationist to Washington and change this country...

[Zerg]

@ Warty: agreed...with the glasses she even has that librarian bookish look that is, while not attractive, hot in a porno "want to cum on her face" kinda way.

[joe]

She has a record of accomplishment that Senator Obama simply cannot match. What, did the get THE street paved?

Governor Palin has spent her time in office shaking up government in Alaska and actually achieving results -- whether it's taking on corruption, passing ethics reform or stopping wasteful spending and the 'bridge to nowhere.'

The irony is, those are the biggest items Obama supporters would point to as his most notable accomplishments, in terms the ethics reform bill he sponsored, and the earmark transparency bill.

She's also young, good-looking, and charismatic. Obama picked on old foreign policy hand to counter McCain, and now McCain's picked a dreamy reform candidate to counter Obama. Interesting.

[plutosdad]

We need to bring Kucinich of the hot wife back, let him run, and Palin be his VP. Then the white house would be babe city. We can even have Bill come back and throw some parties.
At least then the government would be busy getting it on and not interfering in our lives.

[John (Not McCain)]

So, when she illegally fired a guy for refusing to illegally fire another guy, that's what the GOP calls taking on corruption?

Or is it just that she took on corruption, and corruption won?

[Fluffy]

So, when she illegally fired a guy for refusing to illegally fire another guy, that's what the GOP calls taking on corruption?

I'm really not very impressed with that pseudostory.

Let's say the accusations are true. Basically you'd have an asshole cop who walked around beating his wife and using his police taser on his own kid, and the governor picked up the phone and told somebody to fire him, and then retaliated when the guy refused.

Big whoop. "Wah! The public service unions are mad!" Big whoop.

I wish more governors would violate the chain of command to try to get asshole cops thrown on the bread line.

[Pro Libertate]

Palin's not an experienced candidate, but being a governor is a whole lot better than being a senator. I'm eyeballing the three Senators in this race, not just Obama when I say that. The Senate is not "foreign policy" experience ("Ooh, ooh, I voted on a treaty!"), regardless of how you spin things. Governors do deal with foreign governments on trade and other matters, though that would mean more if Palin were governor of Florida or California.

Honestly, what's wrong with just saying "interesting choice" and moving on? She's no more inexperienced in reality than Obama, but the fact is that we've gotten little good out of experienced candidates, anyway. I like experience so I can judge how people will behave in office, but we don't have that on both sides of the ticket now. If she were the presidential candidate, that would be a different story. I just can't get over the hypocrisy of Democrats attacking her inexperience. Sen. Clinton? Sen. Obama? For president? Puh-lease. There's plenty you can assail her with without asking people not to look at the man behind the curtain.

Despite the snark above about the cop-firing issue, her background is covered with an interest in reform and principle, which is why she's so insanely popular in a corrupt state. I'm not in agreement with most of her political positions (or any of the Creationist or other nonsense that she believes or pays lip-service to), but I like her somewhat because of that. Not one of the other three in the race can say the same.

[Alan Vanneman]

As I understand it, she "stopped" the bridge to nowhere by spending the money elsewhere, which is what Congress told her to do. (The earmark for the bridge was withdrawn, but the funding for it was added to Alaska's discretionary pool.)

[Elemenope]

We need to get Ron Paul 3rd in line for the Presidency.

To do that, you'd need to kill almost four hundred people. I'm not saying I'm against it, necessarily, but it does sound like an awful lot of work.

I volunteer you.

[Quack]

"I'm rightly terrified of *both* people who might conceivably be one heartbeat away from the presidency."

Frankly,either of them sound better than the guys at the top of their tickets

[Episiarch]

To do that, you'd need to kill almost four hundred people

I have zero problem with wetwork. But I need a light saber and a lot more midichlorians.

[smacky]

If she attempted to get some guy fired for beating his wife, I like her even more for that. Also, what Fluffy said.

[SugarFree]

smacky,

Not just some guy's wife. She got her brother-in-law fired for beating her sister.

How anyone can spin this as a negative is fucking so far off the partisan end, they need a fucking life preserver. Anyone who would do the same is a liar or a worthless shell of a human.

[SugarFree]

wouldn't Dammit.

[mike]

The Senate is not "foreign policy" experience ("Ooh, ooh, I voted on a treaty!"), regardless of how you spin things.

Thank you for saying this. I also wonder if all the people crying about her lack of foreign policy experience were similarly concerned about Bill Clinton.

[Brandybuck]

I'm rightly terrified of *both* people who might conceivably be one heartbeat away from the presidency.

The thought that either Obama or McCain might have that heartbeat has my shit so backed up it's like there's a cinderblock in my lower colon.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

I can't wait to see the results when *Glamourshots* does McCain's and Biden's makeovers.

[Pro Libertate]

One true statement that has been spoken several times, including recently by Bill Clinton, is that no experience fully prepares you for the White House. All it's really good for is for us to gauge how a prospective president will act, little more.

I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that I [or insert your name here] would be a better president than any of the candidates. So let's not pretend that these are even in the top ten million. They aren't. Candidates haven't been since the 1700s (adjust your population proportionately).

[joe]

Pro Lib,

The Republicans are running on experience. It's the core of their message. The Democrats aren't. If both tickets come across looking inexperienced, it hurts the campaign that's depending on that message, and not the campaign that isn't.

Obama beat Hillary. Neither had great experience, but Hillary was running on it and Obama wasn't.

[atrevete]

"Let's say the accusations are true. Basically you'd have an asshole cop who walked around beating his wife and using his police taser on his own kid, and the governor picked up the phone and told somebody to fire him, and then retaliated when the guy refused."

Actually she should have had the guy arrested. And put in gen-pop as well.

Still I got to give her props as a woman for standing up to the guy, as opposed to Hillary who not only didn't leave her cheating husband, (if she couldn't throw him out of the house), but blamed it all on his right wing enemies.

[smartass sob]

Not just some guy's wife. She got her brother-in-law fired for beating her sister.

Pity she couldn't have gotten the bastard arrested, tried, and convicted instead.

[atrevete]

"The Republicans are running on experience. It's the core of their message. The Democrats aren't. If both tickets come across looking inexperienced, it hurts the campaign that's depending on that message, and not the campaign that isn't.

Obama beat Hillary. Neither had great experience, but Hillary was running on it and Obama wasn't."

Very astute, joe.

[Pro Libertate]

joe,

Acknowledged. But I think McCain has experience to give, which is why he could make this move and still argue that Obama isn't experienced enough for the job. Understand, I'm just talking strategy. McCain's kind of experience gives me a stomach ache.

Obviously, if McCain drops dead, we end up with a question mark. But that seems to be somewhat true of Obama already, so how much harm can that possibility do? Besides, if Obama gets run over by the bus, President Biden will begin his august reign.

[atrevete]

"I can't wait to see the results when *Glamourshots* does McCain's and Biden's makeovers"

You do realize that shot is about 20 years old, don't you?

[JB]

The Republican quotes are getting better and better. Someone smart is finally involved in McCain's campaign.

"Senator Obama has spent his time in office running for President."

"The fact that Barack Obama chose to launch his political career at the home of an unrepentant terrorist raises more questions about his judgment than any ad ever could."

Both damning...and true.

[Charles Oliver]

Looking at that photo on the right I thought "The woman who played Marcy (Rhodes) Darcy will now be just one heartbeat away from the presidency."

[Invisible Finger]

I was thinking Obama's lack of experience was working in his favor - hasn't been around long enough to get too corrupted.

I'm with Mencken on this - the president shouldn't be elected - he/she should be snatched from the street at random like jurors. The results cannot possibly be any worse.

But if experience is the issue here, the Obama ticket more closely resembles the current Bush administration in that regard than the McCain ticket. I hated having Cheney's expereiece around to work the inexperienced president ala his fist up a puppet. And Biden gives me the same creeps.

[galaxy101]

Well we know who is doing the cooking for the GOP bake sale...what an incredibe lightweight!

[B]

"Also, how do people think her shilling for ANWR is gonna play? Personally I think as soon as it is mentioned that Alaskans get direct revenue from oil, and so it's all about self-aggrandizement, I think people will find her support covered in crap.'

You are dead right. When the people find out that the governor of Alaska supports something because it benefits her constituents, man will they be pissed. And since support for drilling is at an all-time low of around 70%, her support for drilling in ANWR is going to be a huge liability.

[jim]

How many people choose who they are going to vote for based upon the VP choice? Not very many. The selection of Palin does absolutely nothing to blunt the attacks on Obama's experience. She is a VP selection, whereas Obama is running for president, and he still has next to no experience. Having Palin as the VP does not change that fact one bit.

[B]

"Well we know who is doing the cooking for the GOP bake sale...what an incredibe lightweight."

And Obama will be her assistant because they always have the less qualified candidate in the subordinate role.
I get a huge kick out of Obama supporters attacking anyone when it comes to experience. He is running for president and the only accomplishment they can come up with is the minimal community service he did in Chicago. And the whole "heartbeat away from the Presidency" attack is kind of nullified by the fact that he will be the president.

Asking his supporters to tell you his achievements and qualifications is like asking Corky from "Life Goes On" to explain the Pythagorean theorem.