Palin and Couric. Worst VP candidate interview ever? I’ll get back to ya… September 25, 2008
Posted by WorldbyStorm in US Politics.trackback
And were reason needed as to why the McCain campaign is desperately casting around for a way to minimise exposure of it’s ‘star’ Vice Presidential pick, well look no further than this.
In a way I dislike this because perhaps it descends into a discourse I’m uneasy with. But one has to look, because one has to learn. I’ll reiterate my comments earlier this morning, this individual is the best that the GOP could bring forward? I really don’t think so. That said I have to applaud Katie Couric who managed to draw out the candidate with disarming subtlety.
Or as mudflats puts it… “see if you can watch this without putting your palms on your face”.
I couldn’t. Particularly at 5.27 onwards.
Here’s something a little more cheering, a Palin simulacra who is assured and knows precisely what she’s doing. Hmmm…. never thought I’d write those words.
The Cedar Lounge Revolution 
WBS I’m interested in the comment that this might enter into a discourse you are uncomfortable with – would you talk more about this or have you already?
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Sure thing. Take a look at some – relatively few it has to be said – comments on mudflats and I think they can edge close but not quite to a sexism/and/or discourtesy (and I’m not talking about the general cut and thrust of political language in the latter case. I worry about that permeating and causing problems for other women candidates of left or right. As far as I’m concerned critiquing her preparedness is entirely legitimate, critiquing her presentation likewise (up to a point), but to suggest – for example – that’s she stupid is not. She’s far from stupid but I’d argue that her political experience and/or interest in certain areas appears to be limited – and where it isn’t it’s noxious to our politics. She’s a smart astute politician with breath-takingly worrying views asked to operate on a level way above her current experience. But political attacks on her have to be nuanced because they can encompass some fairly reactionary thinking in turn…Does that make sense? I’m sort of working this out as I write it so sorry if it’s a bit unformed.
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I also appreciate the danger of appearing patronising. But I tend to think progressives should be mindful of how political debate can shape broad societal debates as well as vice versa (and how they should live up to their own rhetoric)…
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Oh I get where you are going – I think for some women at the beginning of Palin’s appearance/nomination there was a huge difficulty on how to respond so as to not get dragged into the sexism debates that the Republicans set up. I’ve been reading Feministe and Feministing to hang on to my thoughts and apply salve to my conscience- some of the male authored/edited left wing blogs have been very close to the bone or completely over the edge and I’m not even going near the comments sections on them!
There are many Palin types (I’m struggling to be polite) in Irish politics for example who have similarly limited political analysis/interest who are far from stupid as they have got themselves elected in difficult multi seat systems, survived many a shafting/heave etc. etc. but I wouldn’t want them balancing the country’s chequebook or in charge of the politics of the healthcare system etc.
However I have to say watching Palin in each interview is getting harder and harder to not cover my face and peep through my fingers and laugh and shout at the computer. But then I did that at McCain last night when he was announcing his suspension etc. It’s campaign crash stuff and I am loving reading it/following it. I do think POTUS or Vice POTUS types have to be well rounded or just able to get out of situations like the above – and that doesn’t mean particularly intelligent.
If her ticket loses (yeah when fingers crossed etc.) I do think the debate to be had will be on what impact her candidacy will have had on the position of women in US politics. Of course many feminists will say it will not change anything but I wonder what other female candidates of whatever hue will have to go through before they can get selected/nominated etc. or even allow themselves to be.
Another thought we have a lot of not so well briefed/allrounder men in politics also but they don’t seem to get the same amount of stuff said about them – or do they? Enough meandering from me for now.
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actually something else in the making me uncomfortable stakes – the commentary on McCain’s health/age/possible dementia on progressive blogs. Even if I too am looking at the side of his face drooping… I don’t know if I want to read about it in such an aggressive/inquiring manner. The way US poltiicians have to release their medical records or have their annual physical announced is really horrendous…
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Entirely agree, but your final paragraph is the one that I think resonates most strongly with me. It is a situation where double standards (and power relationships either actual or implied) exist. Let’s put it this way, on a political level I am happier watching Katie Couric interview Palin than Gibson (or whatever his name is) because it is harder for the GOP to hold up the sexism charge, but that said *I’d* find Gibson (or…) pretty intimidating too so I’m not surprised Palin quailed somewhat, although remaining entirely confident throughout. On a human instinctive level it almost works the opposite way, I’d sort of enjoy see her besting Gibson (despite my having nothing agin him at all)? Does that make any sense? Or does it just show I’m in the same position as those people you mention in your first paragraph?
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It really has to do with what you mean by “stupid.” There are many ways to be both smart and stupid. So from the standpoint of ignorance and narrow mindedness, Sarah Palin is stupid just as Tucker Bounds is stupid. From the standpoint of not even being able to see yourself as others see you… Sarah doesn’t realize that her responses are just completely ridiculous (e.g., she notes “many examples” but can’t even produce one, can’t even anticipate that Katie will ask for one)… Sarah Palin is stupid just as Tucker Bounds is stupid (the fact that he does not seem to understand that his repetition of Barack Obama’s name in tandem with all these untruths just sounds absurd). I use Tucker Bounds as a counterpoint here to underscore that this certainly is not about sexism.
Look. Sarah Palin has a politician’s soul and instincts. That doesn’t make her smart.
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I haven’t really watched a clip of Sarah Palin speaking in an interview like that. I honestly didn’t have a clue what she was talking about in that first clip. Her answers were muddled and unclear. Whatever about her policy stances (which I disagree with of course) one wonders how she can even communicate her message to the base McCain selected her to target.
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pablito, that may be true, but I wonder is she unself-aware. There was a moment when under questioning earlier in the piece where she almost looked as if she were about to smile knowing what a tough sell she was having to make. I do agree that she’s not thinking a couple of moves ahead which is a bit worry, but she’s not the first to be wheeled out to face the press in such a way, just she’s a lot less schooled in her responses – which I think reflects straight back at the McCain team…
Ian, she almost reminds me of Bertie Ahern’s responses in the Dáil. But then he had the top job where as she is still seeking it.
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Palin’s not a fool, she’s just just not qualified.This is a nice post from T-N Coates which, I think, nails the point while still being humane. http://url.ie/qjs
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Fergal, humane, that’s a good word.
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Some interesting and difficult things to think about in the above posts.
Even though both Gibson and Couric are disasters in their own right, watching Palin is like driving past a car accident — you can’t watch, but you can’t turn away.
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As always, to find out the truth about anything, we must turn to The Onion . . .
Point: Gov. Palin Has No Foreign Policy Experience, Refuses To Acknowledge Global Warming, And Supports The War In Iraq – By Roger Hobaugh, Concerned Citizen
v
Counterpoint: Please Keep Your Voice Down, My Poor Retarded Child Is Sleeping – By Gov. Sarah Palin, Republican Vice Presidential Nominee
http://www.theonion.com/content/point/point_counterpoint_gov_palin_has
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