Sarah Palin: Scripted (For Now)

by: Chaz Proulx

Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 20:54:44 PM EDT

Remember how shocking it was when Tim Russert died suddenly?

When Russert died it was obvious that no one had the experience and depth of knowledge to take his place on Meet the Press during an election year. Heavyweight Tom Brokaw is standing in for now. Imagine if an unknown sportscaster with no experience with national politics--someone who didn't know the issues or the players, had replaced Russert. Could someone cram hard enough in a week to ask tough follow up questions of people like Barack Obama, John McCain, President George Bush and the other leaders who frequent Meet the Press?

That would be absurd of course. The American people deserve better. No network in its right mind would do that.

That's what makes John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin so bizarre and so irresponsible.

We have higher standards for the people who ask the important questions of the day than we do for the people who (should) answer them.

That's why the McCain Campaign is keeping her isolated from the press. When will she face tough questioning from Tom Brokaw or George Stephanopoulos? Probably not until the televised debates.

Palin did agree to an interview with Charlie Gibson. She had to appear someplace to avoid making headlines for avoidance. She squeaked by with scripted phrases like I "didn't blink," we "can't blink" and we shouldn't "second guess" our allies. She had no idea what the Bush Doctrine is.

She squeaked by, but looked very uncomfortable doing it.

Much of the media has given her a pass so far. They cover the important issues like lipstick on pigs and contrived cultural warfare. Pathetic.

The responsible press, however, recognizes that with just seven weeks to Election Day it's time to dig hard and unearth the real Sarah Palin.

An hour ago I read an in-depth piece in the Sunday New York Times. The Times reporters interviewed dozens of Alaskans to flesh out the canned Palin the McCain/Rove campaign has served us.

I'm predicting that the trooper fiasco we've been hearing about is just the tip of the iceberg. Palin has packed government with old friends. Many go back to her high school days. She also has an inclination to overstep the bounds of public office. From settling scores, firing people who don't do her bidding, to pressuring librarians to remove books about homosexual dads from their shelves, Sarah Palin can't seem to keep her personal agenda in check.

Lastly, Palin thinks she's so special that knows God's will. Then she lies to Charlie Gibson and the American people about it.

If anyone who has seen the tapes of her invoking God's blessing on the Iraq war really believes that Palin was just echoing the words of Abraham Lincoln-well, I've got a Bridge in Alaska I'd like to sell you.