Gov. Palin stopped the bleeding last night. She's bounced back from punch line status to legitimate Vice Presidential candidate. It looks like Tina Fey is back to her day job (aka 30 Rock).
Palin's interview with Katie Couric was a dark day for the GOP ticket—she stumbled over several questions which replayed repeatedly for the viewing public. If you watch CNN with any regularity, you've probably seen the clip a dozen times.
Certainly the media has been too critical of Palin, but that's not the most unfair part. It's hard to understand why our media literally makes fun of a Vice Presidential candidate for not having vast foreign policy experience. Since when was that a prerequisite?
Look at our last two presidents. Both Bush and Clinton were governors before becoming President...not a whole lot of foreign policy experience there. In fact, probably about as much experience as Palin.
To be fair, though, Sarah Barracuda hasn't really helped herself. It's one thing to recognize that governors' don't have lots of foreign policy experience. It's another thing to grasp at straws and pretend that proximity to Russia amounts to significant foreign policy experience.
Americans are smart enough to see through that. At the same time, we respect those who recognize their weaknesses and work hard to improve them.
That's why Mrs. Palin should have come out and said:
1) she hasn't been traveling around the world meeting with foreign dignitaries because she's been focusing on improving the lives of the people in Alaska.
2) she's stayed in touch with current foreign policy issues and is currently being informed (and will continue to be) by the best advisors in the world on foreign affairs.
3) she's committed to building a strong, bipartisan administration that is informed by the best, most experienced diplomats in the world.
A president (or vice president) doesn't form our foreign policy. That's what the State Department is for. What a president does is listen to advisors and make decisions accordingly. It's why advisors are so important, and why a president's executive ability is even more important.
Sarah Palin has the executive ability and experience she needs. If she will "promote" herself more effectively (essentially, by being herself), she will gain more respect with all Americans. When it comes to Palin, the McCain campaign doesn't have a foreign policy problem; it has a marketing problem.
Well written article. I hope the McCain reads it! Sometimes Gov. Palin seems that she is trying too hard to prove experience. The American public will give her room to develop foreign policy experience.
“It looks like Tina Fey is back to her day job.” You’re kidding, right? The debate gave Fey more material than she’ll be able to handle in the next 4 weeks before the election.
I totally agree! Hope the campaign reads this!
I agree, but can she please stop calling John McCain a maverick?
Spot on! Where the heck were you when they were preping the whole of this campaign marketing strategy? Good clear explaination, with no nonsense and no finger pointing. If both GOP candidates used your approach in communicating with the American people, they would be a shoe in. Along with what Laura said, I am tired of McCain addressing us as “friends”. It is too campaign speak of yester year. Just tell it straight, we can take it!