The public's opinion of Sarah Palin has plummeted in recent weeks as many Americans - including her early, fervent supporters - began to doubt her readiness and ability to serve as the next president's second-in-command. But, in her debate Thursday with Joe Biden, viewers saw a Palin they haven't seen before.
Absent, or mostly absent, was comedian Tina Fey's merciless caricature of the Sarah Palin who'd stumbled badly in TV interviews during light questioning about the issues of the day.
On stage instead was the Sarah Palin described by friends and foes in Wasilla and Juneau - a savvy politician and a crafty debater who pounces on the questions she likes and sidesteps, with an unapologetic smile, the ones she dislikes.
In early post-debate polling, the majority of uncommitted voters said Biden was the decisive winner. But, in many ways, it was Palin who walked away with the victory because she exceeded the low expectations that skeptics, even in her own party, had set for her.
Biden, a 35-year veteran of the Senate, was clearly comfortable fielding questions on economics and foreign policy and managed to suppress his own gift for excessive gab and gaffes. He spent the evening focused on McCain, repeating a mantra that his longtime friend isn't a maverick but a mimic of the Bush administration's many failures on the economy, the war in Iraq, the pursuit of Osama bin Laden and more.
In a folksy style punctuated with winks, Palin positioned herself as a Reaganesque champion of "average, middle-class families like mine" - a characterization that's likely to draw challenges following this week's AP report that her family's assets total at least $1.2 million.
Palin's major themes for the night included stamping out Wall Street greed and corruption with more federal oversight and, incongruously, getting government "out of the way" of businesses. She also emphasized drilling for domestic oil and natural gas. Her responses to direct questions, however, were often evasive or laden with platitudes. And, in one puzzling comment, she pledged to expand the powers of the vice presidency - even beyond the controversial new boundaries set by Dick Cheney.
Palin's lowest point in the debate was her characterization of Obama's push for ending the war in Iraq as waving "a white flag of surrender" - a divisive comment that casts Americans who want resources shifted to al-Qaeda's base in Afghanistan as cowards lacking in patriotism and concern for U.S. troops.
But Palin's performance overall was stronger than anything Americans have seen from her in recent weeks. It's too early to tell if it will be enough to reassure a nation in crisis, a nation in great need of a vice president capable of handling the duties of the Oval Office if called upon.
At one point in the debate, Palin said she looked forward to speaking directly to the American people "without the filter of the mainstream media." If the definition of mainstream media means people who'll ask her unexpected or challenging questions, she risks losing the ground she gained Thursday.
Americans need to hear Palin outside the protective custody of obsequious talk show hosts like Sean Hannity, away from rallies surrounded by diehard supporters. McCain, Obama and Biden have repeatedly granted live interviews from the media and welcomed questions from the public, placing themselves under scrutiny and pressure far less challenging than what they would have to endure if elected.
If Palin hopes to be a heartbeat away from the presidency - and, indeed, even expand the powers of the vice presidency - she needs to undergo the same rigorous questioning from now until Election Day.
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VSPHILBR
The Virginia Beach Central Library is fair game for the Republicans as long as the Tidewater Community College campus in downtown Norfolk can have a table set up to register voters manned by people with Obama pins!!! Cheers, MGM
5 beers short of Joe's six pack
Palin was well rehearsed I'll give her that, but please, not answering questions, the folksy hillbilly comments coupled with grins and winks. No class whatsoever. As far as I'm concerned she is an embarrassment to herself, the republican party, McCain, and the very position she is running for. To think this woman could be president is scary beyond reason, and to think she wants additional VP power, is laughable.
Inappropriate Campaigning
On Saturday morning, I went to Central Library in V.B.
I noticed a big bus in the parking lot with Thelma Drake and McCain signs all over it. A bunch of people got off the bus and began not only standing outside the library but also INSIDE the library, in the foyer, handing out leaflets. When I was approached by one of them
I said "No thank you." I was annoyed, but I went ahead to the computer
room in the library. When I left the library a half an hour later, the Republicans handing out leaflets were gone, and I was relieved. My tax money supports the library. and it should not be what I consider encroached upon by these people. I haven't seen the Obama campaign using those tactics. I am a Caucasian, middle aged female who originally wanted Hillary, but I'll take Obama because McCain is nothing but a Bush clone. The Republicans have had their 8 years in office, now it's time for the Democrats to clean up the mess. Whenever I
notice a car with a McCain bumper sticker, it's always a Lexus, Mercedes, Benz, or some other high priced vehicle. Yes,I suppose they've done well under McCain. And please don't get me started on the Alaskan bimbo!
My My GP And Ellipsoid
Well GP I can't for the life of me understand why you found Palin's comments so funny unless perhaps you were watching one of the SNL episodes and thought it was the debate. Personally I find it very refreshing to hear from someone who is not the standard Washington style politician, but then we can't compare her honesty to the message delievered by anyone from the opposition, full of everything that some folks love to hear. Ellipsoid, agree on the Bush statements, but please provide evidence concerning why Reagan wasn't the best president elected in years. Just curious as to why you think he was not the great spokesman most have said he was.
palin
" If the definition of mainstream media means people who'll ask her unexpected or challenging questions, she risks losing the ground she gained Thursday."
Gee...I thought she was refering to the people (like VP editors) who will stop at nothing to make her look bad.
last Palin
Ronald Reagan could not hold a thought in his head without bumbling through and he has an Airport named after him. He is called the Great Communicator.
George Bush is, obviously, out of his league and he was elected president twice. Now, we have Palin, who is right up there with these two former presidents.
Seems, America could care less about real knowledgeable presidentsor VPs as long as they are folksy and charming.The US Constitution only requires citizens to be 35 years old to be elected president.
The only people who need to be qualified are black people like Barak Obama. Leave Sarah alone. She is a cute white woman who stopped the criticism about Barak being unqualified.
Thank you Sarah.
my view on sarah palin
She is shallow, an embarrassment to herself, the republican party including McCain and to the very office she hopes to win. The winks and grins coupled with the childish folksy comments were nothing short of hillbilly like. I watched every second, and laughted out loud at times, regarding her stupidity. Of all the people McCain could have chosen I will never understand why Sarah Palin.
To the Editor, Virginian Pilot
It is highly doubtful that you actually watched and listend to that "debate" night before last. Your description bears no resemblance to the one I viewed on PBS. Most likely your TV set was tuned in and audible, but you were probably too busy writing this silly editorial than to actually look and listen.
Ignorance is worse than longwindedness
Gabriellel, you suggest that Palin's dodging questions is on par with Biden's rambling. However, she's dodging them because she doesn't know the answers. Often, she hasn't even understood the question. That level of ignorance is bad enough in a voter, but inexcusable in someone seeking the Vice Presidency.
Family values
Evangelical leader James Dobson. So much for folksy values.
This is what Dobson had to say just last year, that was before Dobson apparently started going soft on adultery.
Seems Dobson had some choice words only a few years ago about John McCain's adultery. I guess the latest version of the Bible must have repealed the admonitions against adultery, or else Dobson wouldn't be now wooing McCain.
"The Senator," Dobson said, "is being touted by the media as a man of principle, yet he was involved with other women while married to his first wife, and was implicated in the so-called Keating scandal with four other senators. He was eventually reprimanded by the Congress for the 'appearance of impropriety.' The Senator reportedly has a violent temper and can be extremely confrontational and profane when angry. These red flags about Senator McCain's character are reminiscent of the man who now occupies the White House."
Politically Savvy
I did not see Palin as dodging questions, rather she came across as a seasoned debator who wasn't going to fall for the "gotcha" type questions constantly thrown her way.
Without the filter of the media editing room she comes across as very bright and assured.
As usual Biden's attempts at "folksiness" fell flat, as it always does because he is not folksy, he is smarmy and arrogant -- oh and he is also a liar. The Wilmington restaurant he refers to near the end closed 15 years ago.
Palin
She is whats needed in Washington not a member of the good old boys club like Biden.
Stump speeches
What we heard was Palin dropping out of the debate by refusing to answer any questions that didn't suit her or she had no clue. She is great at reading talking points using index cards. She gave a series of stump speeches rather than answer the questions.In particular, she would attempt to drive home a point that this was a farce of a debate and was refusing to answer the questions the American people wanted her to answer. I suspect a number of people caught onto Palin's dodging of the questions, but it'd be nice to make that point more explicit. She looked by her tone and expressions in the debate that she was trying to win a beauty contest rather than the Vice Presidency. Palin, your winking, smiling, attempts disquise heself as middle class (her income was $162,000 in 2007 and $1,000,000 million in assets) and limited knowledge did nothing for me. She is more dangerous than Cheney in her quest for power and in her desire to destroy the Constitution.
Palin and qualifications
One would expect that a person elected as Governor of a state would have some reasonable level of qualifications as well as a sense of how to operate in a political environment. It is amazing and disturbing that so much attention has been focused on Gov. Palin's appearance and style rather than more substantive issues. While she may have presented herself in a more forceful manner during the debate, she offered very few specifics in response to the questions. In fact, she did not directly answer many of the questions. Her misunderstanding of the constitutional role of the Vice President is alarming. She had a list of statistics and some actual GOP policy positions fed to her by the McCain camp and was determined to insert these into the debate regardless of whether the points were relevant. In my worst nightmare, I can see her talking to a world leader about why some issue is important to the typical American "Joe six-pack" and giving them a wink. Our image in the world has been battered enough due to the current "outside the beltway" incumbent. I want someone competent, professional and with a deep knowledge of the national and international issues that matter. Gov. Palin failed
Biden-Palin debate
Only if you were high on drugs and on the short list waiting for a brain transplant could anyone believe Sarah Palin was a winner of anything beyond the "managed not to drool on herself or fall down" prize.
From the media who are eager to manufacture controversy to attract attention because they are bleeding out market-share and audience, the game was about looking good and making a flashy presentation - kinda like everyday media - which Palin was as a weather reporter.
But for substance and critical thinking skills, she came to this contest unarmed, except for the handlers notes and memorized talking points. Might be acceptable for doing the weather or running a state with a smaller population than Baltimore, but for the job she perspires too, she isn't just under-qualified she is clearly un-qualified.
OxyMoron: Main Stream Media
The Pilot Editorial Staff along with what seems to be a large percentage of the main stream Media have been critical of senator McCain's running mate since the get go. I've spoken with Many people of all political persuasions during that time and hear little of the Grave Concerns that the Pilot and Media are Shrieking about. Perhaps the Pilot has an agenda........................
Wishful thinking!
Much of your editorial seems to reflect what you, as editors, think you have seen, as opposed to what Americans really have thought these past five weeks since Palin joined the vice-presidential ticket.
I have seen pundits suggest she step aside, but have not heard any heat nor light in that direction from the average American voter who liked her initially and has had to get to know her, along with everyone else, these past five weeks. We now know her warts--dodging questions--as we know Joe Biden's--rambling. Doesn't mean anyone is disillusioned with her, just aware she is human. The initial build-up to her presented her as Superwoman, of course, so she had to come down to human dimensions sometime. I still strongly support her. Cheers, MGM
Palin
I believe Sarahis an unwanted addee to McCain imposed upon him from his right wing camp. Her Cheneyesque belief in Vice PResidential power is scary. One look at her sonewalling teh Trooper investigation and ignoring a supoena shows her disdain for law.
The ever present smile and folksy asides appeared contrived. When Biden gave his tale of family loss, most would have stopped and offered sympathy, not Sarah. She launced into one of her diatribes.
Husband Todd was, may still be, a member of an Alaskan separatist group seeking Alaaka independence. The group has ties to other right wing fringe groups. Maybe, Sarah's VP remark was an Omen.
Perhaps, rapper Diddy's cheaply made video is truer than we thought.
The Latest American Idol- Golly Gee You Betcha
Palin didn't make a complete fool of herself again - that performance standard alone tells it all. She repeated the text they prepped her with, not being capable of adding anything more to the debate but the usual clichés about being Joe Six Pack, a Maverick, and a hockey mom. People that support her because she is similarly uninformed must ask themselves if they are ready for the White House too. What an absurd measure of leadership. She never once offered any policy differences between McCain Palin and Bush. Biden , on the other hand, pressed the attack with clear policy statements, and facts - mostly correct.. The differences between candidates were stark, one seasoned and knowledgeable, the other a wind-up Pit Bull with Lipstick who hasn't a clue about how poorly prepared she really is. In this regard, more than 2700 concerned medical doctors placed a full page add in the New York Times today asking for McCain's full medical report in light of his bout with highly lethal invasive melanoma. The unobstructed release of this report for expert review is more critical than ever.