Spring Break
Letter: Palin a credulous, dangerous VP candidate
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Opinion
When John McCain chose Sarah Palin, an attractive, gun-toting, evangelical woman from a resource-rich state, it seemed a match made in heaven. The Democrats cringed as their opponents jumped in the polls. Amid great fanfare, Palin wowed the crowds in Minnesota with her canned vows, and she and McCain were joined, for better or for worse, under the Republican ticket.
A month and a half later, the honeymoon is over. Unfortunately for McCain, it may be too late for an annulment.
Cliché analogies aside, McCain's gamble is blowing up in his face, and many Americans are now questioning not only the competence of his VP pick, but his judgment and vetting skills as well.
Palin's unfavorability rating has doubled since late August, despite the fact that both Barack Obama and Joe Biden have focused their attacks almost entirely on John McCain, and have mostly ignored Palin, even when standing directly across from her in the recent vice-presidential debate. After all, why bother when she is willing to do all the dirty work for you?
In the now infamous interview with Katie Couric, Sarah Palin was unable to name a single supreme court case she disagreed with aside from Roe v. Wade, and if you can name Roe v. Wade, congratulations - you've passed 9th grade political science. Among other super-fun highlights, Palin directly referenced McCain's "track record" in regulating Wall Street, and was unable to name one example of such regulation immediately thereafter.
Viewers of the vice presidential debate were similarly treated to Palin's inability or outright refusal to answer questions, preferring instead to wink at the camera, rattle off heart-warming hockey mom stories, or talk about what mavericky mavericks she and McCain are. When she did decide to answer questions, her responses were either so vague as to be devoid of content or bordered on incoherence.
In addition to her dismal performances recently, Palin still holds archaic views on the topics of evolution and (much more importantly) global warming. While she waffles on the issue, she has at times espoused her belief that global warming is not a man-made phenomenon, a view that is opposed by the vast majority of experts on the topic.
This failure to defer to experts is terrifying coming from a woman who could potentially lead the country with the highest per capita contribution to greenhouse gases in the world and an economy in chaos, and is reminiscent of our current commander in chief who also ignores experts on scientific topics and, perhaps more importantly for his own administration, military issues.
Note that, like Obama and Biden, at no point have I attacked her experience or credentials as a vice presidential candidate. I have simply brought to light the absurdity of her own statements. Anyone wishing to counter this charge of incompetence must in some way explain away these obvious lapses.
I, like many other Americans, have simply run out of patience with ignorant and scientifically incurious individuals representing the interests of a nation which is supposed to stand for and be founded on the principles of progressive thought and reason. A great leader does not close their eyes to the unfortunate truths that others who are more knowledgeable bring to the table.
Her main strength is the same as that of George W. Bush in his campaigns - an image as a down-to-earth, hard-workin' American with whom citizens of middle America can identify or crack open a beer. Call me crazy, but I would rather have a president who can name supreme court cases I have never heard of in defense of his/her beliefs, inspire the massive potential of America into action, and stand strong under the weight of the massive challenges this country will face in the next four years. I want the leader of the free world to be better than me. With Palin, I'll crack open a beer.
- Michael Hammerling, UW-Madison senior
A month and a half later, the honeymoon is over. Unfortunately for McCain, it may be too late for an annulment.
Cliché analogies aside, McCain's gamble is blowing up in his face, and many Americans are now questioning not only the competence of his VP pick, but his judgment and vetting skills as well.
Palin's unfavorability rating has doubled since late August, despite the fact that both Barack Obama and Joe Biden have focused their attacks almost entirely on John McCain, and have mostly ignored Palin, even when standing directly across from her in the recent vice-presidential debate. After all, why bother when she is willing to do all the dirty work for you?
In the now infamous interview with Katie Couric, Sarah Palin was unable to name a single supreme court case she disagreed with aside from Roe v. Wade, and if you can name Roe v. Wade, congratulations - you've passed 9th grade political science. Among other super-fun highlights, Palin directly referenced McCain's "track record" in regulating Wall Street, and was unable to name one example of such regulation immediately thereafter.
Viewers of the vice presidential debate were similarly treated to Palin's inability or outright refusal to answer questions, preferring instead to wink at the camera, rattle off heart-warming hockey mom stories, or talk about what mavericky mavericks she and McCain are. When she did decide to answer questions, her responses were either so vague as to be devoid of content or bordered on incoherence.
In addition to her dismal performances recently, Palin still holds archaic views on the topics of evolution and (much more importantly) global warming. While she waffles on the issue, she has at times espoused her belief that global warming is not a man-made phenomenon, a view that is opposed by the vast majority of experts on the topic.
This failure to defer to experts is terrifying coming from a woman who could potentially lead the country with the highest per capita contribution to greenhouse gases in the world and an economy in chaos, and is reminiscent of our current commander in chief who also ignores experts on scientific topics and, perhaps more importantly for his own administration, military issues.
Note that, like Obama and Biden, at no point have I attacked her experience or credentials as a vice presidential candidate. I have simply brought to light the absurdity of her own statements. Anyone wishing to counter this charge of incompetence must in some way explain away these obvious lapses.
I, like many other Americans, have simply run out of patience with ignorant and scientifically incurious individuals representing the interests of a nation which is supposed to stand for and be founded on the principles of progressive thought and reason. A great leader does not close their eyes to the unfortunate truths that others who are more knowledgeable bring to the table.
Her main strength is the same as that of George W. Bush in his campaigns - an image as a down-to-earth, hard-workin' American with whom citizens of middle America can identify or crack open a beer. Call me crazy, but I would rather have a president who can name supreme court cases I have never heard of in defense of his/her beliefs, inspire the massive potential of America into action, and stand strong under the weight of the massive challenges this country will face in the next four years. I want the leader of the free world to be better than me. With Palin, I'll crack open a beer.
- Michael Hammerling, UW-Madison senior
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