McCain's Palin pick is the epitome of tokenism

Salon ^ | 8/30/08 | Joe Conason

[DallasBiff]

It is hard to think of a more cynical and contemptuous political act this year than John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate. Having served as governor of Alaska for less than two years -- and as mayor of a small town before that -- her qualifications for national office are minimal.

Palin is the epitome of tokenism, exactly what conservative Republicans have always claimed to scorn, until today, as the politics of quotas and political correctness. Even Rush Limbaugh is a feminazi now (at least until Election Day).

But if Palin's résumé is limited, to put it politely, she possesses the only two qualities that McCain now seems to consider essential: She is a right-wing religious ideologue with female gender characteristics. Suddenly that is all anyone needs to qualify as a potential commander in chief of the world's most powerful military. We probably won't hear so much from now on about "experience" and "judgment," McCain's vaunted standard for the presidency until ... today. We certainly won't hear again about the "person most prepared to take my place," the phrase he has used more than once to describe his main criterion for a running mate.

[HerrBlucher]

LOL! I know its just a net poll and thus worthless but it sure is fun to see the whole country RED! On the other hand, the McCain/Palin ticket does have a chance at making that true....that would be something, a landslide where the loser does not even get one state....yah, that would make bambi go down in history all right.

[LibertyRocks]

I understand what you are saying, but where Obama squawks about “Changing” politics — Palin has already achieved what he could only dream of in her own state. She threw out all the corrupt “old boys” in Alaska, and the Dems are afraid the Barracuda will make it to Washington and throw them out next!

[Turborules]

I'm a 59 yo wasp...I LOVE THIS TEAM! Mac and Palin...gotta love being an American!

[Tublecane]

Ignoring for a moment that Palin has at least as many qualifications as Obama...Isn’t it a tradition for rising stars to be picked to run for vice-president, so that by the time the party needs to run someone new, they will have some experience? Was McCain supposed to pick someone better qualified than he, like Biden?

We better be careful. If we keep picking such qualified vices, there could be a lot more Cheney-esque shadow governments.

[LibertyRocks]

I understand what you are saying, but where Obama squawks about “Changing” politics — Palin has already achieved what he could only dream of in her own state. She threw out all the corrupt “old boys” in Alaska, and the Dems are afraid the Barracuda will make it to Washington and throw them out next!

[Monkey Face]

Who is Joey Conason, and why should I care what he thinks? Is he going to pay my rent and utilities from today until I die?

Thought so. Joey: Bite THIS!

[highlander_UW]

...her qualifications for national office are minimal.

How can the dems say this stuff with a straight face? Well, let's see, she spent 2 terms as a mayor of a town, albeit a small one...which is FAR more experience in running anything that either dem candidate has...and then there is the 2 years of experience as governor...again, vastly more experience than Obama or Biden. The dems have been going on about age and foreign experience...as if Obama's growing up in a madrassa as a small child counts as sufficient experience to negotiate with foreign leaders or the 3 extra years Obama (spent working in the corrupt Chicago political machine and with Acorn) provided him some amazing experience. Well, I guess he does have more experience in corruption.

OK, here's what should be Obama's new slogan....Corruption we can count on!

[LibertyRocks]

Sorry for the double-post...

[Turborules]

ZOT! such a narrow mind is the past!

[Navy Patriot]

Sarah's still gonna win and Joe Conason’s still queer.

[Monkey Face]

Congress is full of nepotists.
Time to pull the plug.

[onlylewis]

Palin is the epitome of tokenism, exactly what conservative Republicans have always claimed to scorn, until today, as the politics of quotas and political correctness.................................

Hey stupid, yea I'm talking to you Joey. You want to talk about tokenism then let's talk about it. The dRats want to select a bi-racial thug from Chicago and try to pass him off as black to try an attrack a black voting block that has been sitting on their a**** for a long time. They also counted on the white guilt vote that they would pull in.

Sure her resume is limited and so his obama’s. Atleast she has some true experience in administration. obama has no administration experience and very little if any truly elected experience. He thug-ed his way into office in Chicago and into the US Senate. And now he is on top of the dRat ticket. He can't thug his way into the Whitehouse he will have to be elected. Let's see how that turns out!!!!!!

[lonestar67]

So Joe,

What percentage of Alaska’s oil goes to Japan?

Do you even know?

What kind of impact do you think sending a son to iraq has on the Vice President’s sense of foreign policy?

Do you know why Palin boasted about Alaska’s plan to build a pipeline to the lower 48?

The dems and liberal hacks are swinging wildly in the dark here. They will end up in the circular firing squad. This is getting good fast.

[Turborules]

I pray it happens...another 8 years with OBAMA Marxist means nothing for our children, except large banks of computers sending millions of Nigerian like fraud emails to make a living!

[Republican Wildcat]

This is such nonsense - especially from someone supporting the empty suit Obama whose campaign is about nothing. In contrast, Governor Sarah Palin is an accomplished, principled and respected leader who has a record of standing up for what is right, regardless of party. That is a breath of fresh air and we desperately need that in Washington.

[Vision Thing]

all the Dems / Liberals heads exploding.

While walking into a restaurant during lunch today, two professionally dressed men in front of me were talking about the VP picks.

I told them that this election was over. One of them asked, "You think so? Since when?"

I replied, "Well, after the Saddleback interviews, but McCain's pick today just sealed it up for him."

The other guy said something about how the VP picks have been weird.

I then told him that obama blew it by not picking Hillary, and it gave McCain such a great opportunity.

The two guys didn't seem very happy, which confused me. Here are two professionally dressed men, so the odds are that they were Republican and should be happy about the pick.

However, later on I noticed one of the guys had a badge holder with the words "City of Irving" on it. Then I knew: These guys were government workers, which more than likely meant that they were pro-obama. I felt bad for them. It seems they, too, know that the election is over.

[Gumdrop]

Exactly what one would expect from Joe Conason. Today has to be one of the most humorous days in political history. The Dems are going bonkers, and the PUMA gals are donating to McCain/Palin.

[edwinland]

Help! I'm melting!!

[fr_freak]

She threw out all the corrupt “old boys” in Alaska, and the Dems are afraid the Barracuda will make it to Washington and throw them out next!

I hope she does. I hope McCain lets her run wild with the axe, or is at least shamed into letting her run wild with the axe, because she IS the next vice-president. Of that I have absolutely no doubt.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

The dems are absolutely dreaming if they think Palin in any way shape or form resembles Dan Quayle. Theres no comparison at all. This woman knows her stuff and has conviction. I don’t believe democrats one single word that they have said today.