Did McCain Fully Vet Palin?
Did John McCain fully vet Sarah Palin? The McCain campaign says that she was in fact fully vetted and that there will be no more surprises. There certainly have been some surprises since she was named, and she does have a few problems.
- She is embroiled in an investigation into whether she inappropriately used the power of her office (governor of Alaska) to have a state trooper fired, because that state trooper was in the middle of a nasty divorce with her sister.
- Her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant and will, according to reports, marry the father. That’s fine, and should be off limits in the campaign, in my opinion. The daughter didn’t choose to run for office and shouldn’t suffer because her mother has made that choice. The real problem here (and is fair game) is Palin’s view that abstinence is the only way and that sex education shouldn’t be taught in the schools. We’ve seen how well that works out, hmm?
- Palin has ties to the Alaska Independence Party (thanks to Paulette for steering me here), motto “Alaska First, Alaska Always”. They are agitating for a vote they say was denied them in 1958 — the vote to decide whether Alaska would stay a territory, become a separate nation, become a commonwealth, or become a state. Secessionist Sarah, as Kos says.
- Palin secured earmarks – after hiring a lobbying firm, bringing millions of federal dollars to Wasilla when she was mayor. Just doing her job, maybe, but John McCain has made expunging earmarks a major issue in his campaign.
There are a couple of serious issues here. First is the possible abuse of power. I think that — if true — speaks volumes as to how she views power and how she would wield it. There are some serious ethical concerns here. Second is her ties to the AIP, a secessionist party. Does she actually believe in the United States? Last, securing earmarks seems to run counter to what McCain wants to do. Perhaps there’s a little hypocrisy here?
(I don’t think it’s fair to ask questions of her as to whether she should run, having a baby with chromosome issues at home. That’s a choice she and her family presumably made together. She wants it all. What working mom doesn’t? I know I do; I want to raise my son well and also have a career. It’s not perfect, but we’re doing okay, for the most part. So I think questions like this should be left unasked.)
It remains to be seen what kind of candidate Sarah Palin will be for Vice President and whether she was in fact fully vetted. But it seems to me that she’s carrying some significant baggage into this campaign, quite a lot for someone so early in her career. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out this week at the Republican Convention, and into the fall.
There are some that will undoubtedly see this as attacks on Palin, and I already see the spin and hypocrisy involved with both sides here. But I think you’re on the right track here, and this is really all about what it says about McCain. And as I posted on my blog a few days ago, I think we’re seeing a choice made to pander. I had no idea that he’d be reckless about it, however.
I thought from the start that this choice was McCain’s attempt to pander. I thought then, though, that it was McCain’s attempt to pander to women — disaffected Hillary voters. I still think that, but I really think — having watched some of the reaction — that it was a sop to the conservatives in the Republican Party. They are really revved up. You’re right: It does seem that McCain has been reckless with his choice.
McCain did not fully vett Palin.McCain is and always has been reckless. Reckless spun well = maverick.
Welcome back Deanna!
It is INCREDIBLE to me that this is McCain’s selection. He failed miserably in his most important decision so far as a Presidential candiate — picking his VP.
There is SO much information out there on Palin that this is like watching “The Republican Realty Show”.
I don’t understand how the Palins would subject there daughter to this type of publicity; they had to know when this came to light that it would bring too much attention to Bristol during this very intensely private moment.
I remember being 17 and how sensitive I was to so many things. I can’t imagine why they subjected Bristol to al of this.
Bad judgment call for McCain and both Palins.
Very good points here. The Bristol thing is just awful. I have a 17-year old daughter and I can’t imagine putting her through this bad publicity.
The Palins are from a small town in Alaska. Now her life is on public display for the world to see.