Posted on 11/15/2008 8:44:17 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
As media outlets across the fruited plain float the notion that Sarah Palin hurt John McCain's chances of winning the White House, the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza will break with the herd on Sunday to dispel this nonsense.
Imagine that.
As the last of his "5 Myths About an Election of Mythic Proportions" slated for Sunday's print edition but already available at the paper's website, Cillizza parted with his fellow journalists who believe "McCain made a huge mistake in picking Sarah Palin":
Love her or loathe her, the data appear somewhere close to conclusive that Palin did little to help -- and, in fact, did some to hurt -- McCain's attempts to reach out to independents and Democrats. But just because Palin doesn't appear to have helped McCain move to the middle doesn't mean that picking her was the wrong move.
Remember where McCain found himself this past summer. He had won the Republican nomination, but the GOP base clearly felt little buy-in into his campaign. A slew of national polls reflected that energy gap, with Democrats revved up about the election and their candidate and Republicans somewhere between tepid and glum.
Enter Palin, who was embraced with a bear hug by the party's conservative base. All of a sudden, cultural conservatives were thrilled at the chance to put "one of their own" in the White House. In fact, of the 60 percent of voters who told exit pollsters that McCain's choice of Palin was a "factor" in their final decision, the Arizona senator won 56 percent to 43 percent.
For skittish conservatives looking for more evidence that McCain understood their needs and concerns, Palin did the trick. It's hard to imagine conservatives rallying to McCain -- even to the relatively limited extent that they did -- without Palin on the ticket. And without the base, McCain's loss could have been far worse.
For those interested, Cillizza dispelled some other myths being floated by media including "The Republican Party suffered a death blow" during these elections, and "A wave of black voters and young people was the key to Obama's victory."
Really, what is there really to “loathe” about Sarah Palin? Maybe the left doesn't like her pro-life stance or her unabashed promotion of free-market capitalism, but “loathe”?
Oh, perhaps it was her accusation that Chairman O pals around with terrorists. Well, Professor Ayers (D-Weather Underground) confirmed this week that indeed, he, Bernadine and O are in fact pals.
I think the writers at the WaPost are projecting a bit.
To illustrate just how out of touch the WaPo really is, they came out with a “shocking” admission that they were just a tad biased, “tilting” toward Obama, as though anyone with any remaining brain cells had figured out months ago. They released this revelation, perhaps believing that we'd sit there in stunned amazement and cry “Really!!?? Wow, we never knew!! How big of you to come clean”
Even more than that IMO.
Imagine what would have happened if Duncan Hunter or Tom Tancredo had been the candidate picked for their PRINCIPLES and had brought Sarah Palin on at the same point in the race —or earlier, since then she wouldn’t have been a token measure to get Conservative $$$ and votes.
There would have been a tidal wave of Democratic-leaning Conservatives voting R on the illegal aliens issue alone.
The scam/bailout would have been front and center.
Primary procedures for the GOP must change.
Do you always answer your own questions...? ;)
Oh sure, now that the election is over the lies will be retracted. Asshole MSM types. They are all treasonous.
Reminds me of the phony plaintiff who cried crocodile tears during the trial and then laughed all the way to the bank when the verdict came in in his favor.
and oh yeah, he threw his crutches in the garbage as he was leaving the courthouse to make his deposit in the bank.
**I would have “stayed home” for the first time in my life were it not for Sarah.**
Same here... I’m glad to see that Wapo is using FR for their research.. for 3 days after the election, I always said ...”If not for Sarah.. McCain would have lost almost as bad as Mondale did.”
Governor Palin threw a scare into Baracko Bama and his Obamacorn Marxists. They worked hard, lied hard and spent big bucks trying to keep her from destroying their takeover of America. She almost pulled it off but all that foreign money and fraudulent votes were just too much for her to overcome. Sarah done good.
They need her to sell papers.
They will start building her up soon, I bet.
The democrats gave us McCain, but the MSM would never report it as such.
It is a “well, duh” situation (for us) but give the WaPo credit, for they are the first to have light dawn on marble head.
**The democrats gave us McCain**
Yes the lovely Dems and MOderates gave us McCain.
GOP should ( but ...)take this lesson to CLOSE the first Primaries. by the first REAL Primary (South Carolina) the Candidate could (was ..) have already been CHOSEN!
Close the Primaries, and you know what they can do with their CAUCUS.
I'm trying hard to break that habit.
I agree “loathe” is not quite the right word for some voters who dislike her, like some family members of mine. They totally bought into the “Sarah is stupid” MSM mantra and still believe it, very adamantly. Scary.
Yep. And then the tear-down begins in 2010.
Liberal newspaper editorialists invariably heap backhand praise upon Republicans after they lose. McCain ran a noble campaign, yada yada yada. The press is breathlessly reporting that fellow RINO Lindsey Graham is arranging a meeting between McCain and Chairman O. Wow, that McCain, what a good loser he is! No more senile, doddering war monger. Now he'll chip in and help Obama to save the planet.
John will slink back into the Senate, continue to stick his thumb in the eyes of conservatives, and regain his rightful place as the MSM’s pet Republican.
Of course, George Bush, treated with nothing but contempt and derision by the MSM for 6 years, is suddenly “gracious” ad nauseum, as he “promises a smooth transition”.
Yes we do.
And to think that Sarah Palin only had what 2 months to campaign and introduce herself to America...
The next story will report that water is wet.
Its too bad, but you are right.
HELLO!
We are losing the war by not engaging the enemy!
Elections are being stolen from NH to MINN! This crap started after ALBORE in 00.
They are stealing everything in sight..
and the sheeeple look on....
1938 Germany.
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