Posted on 08/29/2008 10:31:45 PM PDT by FocusNexus
John McCain stole the Democrats' thunder by announcing Friday morning that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be his vice presidential running mate.
The second woman picked for the veep slot, Palin, 44, is a first-term governor and former small town mayor. A conservative, she is anti-abortion, removing a worry among Republicans who feared McCain would alienate religious right voters with his running mate. Palin is a mother of five, include a 4-month-old son with Down syndrome.
She has also been praised by free market groups such as the Club for Growth, which has called her a "genuine reformer." She's a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, too.
"The selection of Governor Palin is great news for conservatives, for the party and for the country," said David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, in a statement.
The pick ensures that domestic oil drilling will be a major issue in the race. Republicans have hammered Democrats throughout the summer on the issue, saying that expanding domestic production is an obvious answer to soaring prices.
Obama's campaign slammed her as inexperienced. "Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency," it said in a statement.
The McCain responded by calling it "audacious" to claim that Palin lacks the credentials to be veep.
"She has a record of accomplishment that Senator Obama simply cannot match," McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said in a statement.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
“Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency”
Look how carefully they chose their words. Let’s not mention the fact that she is a governor. No, her most important credit is that she was mayor.
I make a habit of studying politicos reactions and nervous ticks, and when Sarah Pallin was speaking in MN today, with McCain at her right side a couple of things stood out:
1. When Sarah is angry about something, the finger point comes out...I’ve seen that finger point before...it means you are in deep do-do.
2. The only time I’ve ever seen McCain have the nervous ticks that he has show up was during the commercial with his mom, she was talking about the bottles of whiskey that ended up on the table...and McCain could only smile and nod his head, the Lady was taking over the show, McCain had enough sense to keep his lips zipped...
John McCain respects Pallin tremendously, I like that, he even pulled out the wedding ban twist....Pallin reminds McCain of his wife...
Katie Couric opened her evening newscast tonight with those exact words. I turned the channel even faster than usual after hearing that.
I hope Gov. Palin doesn’t waste any time getting out there and campaigning HARD. She has precious little time to introduce herself to voters. If she wants to win, and I think she does, she will have to earn it. She will be savaged by the far left as well as the MSM but if she can stay on message and ignore the kooks, MAYBE just maybe she and Sen. McCain will make history.
You bet it will. I have to hand it to McCain. I was very dubious about his candidacy. But whatever political differences I may have with the guy, he has chosen an excellent running mate. You just have to respect that kind of political savvy.
Palin will appeal to conservatives, both social an fiscal. She will appeal to many working women. And she puts a young, vibrant face on the Republican party. And we may actually get a sane energy policy as well if these two are elected. Bravo, Senator McCain.
I hope Gov. Palin doesn’t waste any time getting out there and campaigning HARD. She has precious little time to introduce herself to voters. If she wants to win, and I think she does, she will have to earn it. She will be savaged by the far left as well as the MSM but if she can stay on message and ignore the kooks, MAYBE just maybe she and Sen. McCain will make history.
I got a question, is it just me or do others feel that being Mayor trumps being a community organizer?
For over a year I’ve heard all these Nobama supporters come up empty with what he actually has done that qualifies him to be President.
Just today I’ve heard callers to talk radio give concrete examples of what Gov Palin has accomplished.
That’s very interesting...an older man always acts differently when he’s interacting with a young, attractive woman.
There’s so many things that are so brilliant about McCains pick of Gov Palin that I don’t know where to start.
Every argument the RATS try to come up with will be so counterproductive to them that they get exponentially more confused, petty, and deeper in trouble as all attempts to smear and belittle Palin will backfire.
For instance, your quote about Palin being mayor of a SMALL town of only 9000 people. An attempt to diminish her EXPERIENCE as MAYOR of an insignificant small town in remote Alaska.
Retort; America IS small towns. America has more small towns than big cities. (check)
I keep it short, but you get the point. In the end it’s checkmate for Odumbo.
That’s why the Dems attacking Palin will backfire on them.
Their top of the ticket has no accomplishments and less experience than McCain’s VP, who actually DOES have ACCOMLISHMENTS and Executive Experience.
:-) The more the Obama people try to press this point, the more it will hurt them.
Well,that settles it—I’m staying home on November 4th.
If I don’t vote for Obama I’m a racist and if I don’t vote for Sarah I’m a sexist.
What’s a politically correct moron to do?
BTW,down heah her name is pronounced “Say-rah,” you ignorant yankees!
;)
I had to look at who posted this because my husband has been saying this all day.
When he was growing up in Dover, DE the population was about 8,500. Joe Biden, of all people, should be reminding the "one" of the truth of your statement.
The largest town in the county where we now live has a year round population of about 4,500. In the summer it swells to about 10,000 because it is a beach town. The "city" of Dover, DE has a population of about 45,000, which is more than the population of all of Accomack County, VA just 100 miles south, which is where we now live.
McCain just made a move where the Obama camp is finding all of their pieces to be in the wrong places. They are not sleeping well tonight.
What they also forget is that what she learnt in that small town, she put to use managing the largest state — Alaska. Her record shows her steadily moving up, gaining experience along the way. That jab about being a former mayor of a small town is actually a compliment as it show growing experience and steady improvement and increasingly taking on responsibility. That should actually be part of her campaign, showing grass-roots and state level ability. In contrast what do we have with O-boy?
I doubt they're sleeping at all.
I watched Murkowski's gang try setting her up to destroy her future political career; she handled them too; then beat murkowski the nx election; beat him bad too.
She really is a reformer and her word's good; highest approval rating of any governor ever in Ak. Only people that don't like her up here is the old repub network who she has sent packing.
All that talk about the state cop, her ex bro-in-law. The state cop had shocked his own 11 year old son, Palin's nephew with stun gun. I'd run him out too. The state cop had some other probs too and his boss served at the pleasure of the governor; appointment.
I had the chance to talk to her several times in late 90's, she has integrity with no end. All the talk on news shows today, just garbage. She's a class act and does what's right, not always what the repubs want. McCain is only one who made sense. He said once you get to know her, you will like her too, he's completely right. I really think she's going to shake everybody up with her style & sense of right and wrong.
Yesterday,on the Jeff Katz show (WBT,Charlotte,NC m-f 3-6PM),some “right-wing” talkradio dude in Anchorage (been there-it’s incredible)called Sarah a “Socialist Conservative.”
Something about her taxing and spending and not caring that 13 year old Alaskan girls can get abortions without parental consent.
It shook me up—I need more info.
I saw where the Obama campaign was slamming Palin for her small town origins. Yet just a week ago, they were touting Biden as “the regular guy from Scranton” who can connect with the common man. Hypocrites to the nth degree!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.