November 6, 2008
The Trashing of Sarah Palin by McCain Staff (Cheri Jacobus)
The anonymous "sources" in the McCain campaign trashing Gov. Sarah Palin is the final disappointing and frustrating misstep of the Republican presidential campaign. To see reporters gleefully reporting this sickening sabotage was yet another reminder that far too often, and with disturbing frequency in this campaign, "breaking news" has been little more than a fig leaf for "breaking gossip."
The term "diva" has been thrown around by the men in the McCain campaign to describe Gov. Palin — a word that is never used to describe men. I suppose if they liked the governor (which, it appears, would only have been possible if they felt they could have "controlled" her) they might refer to her as having "moxie" or various other descriptions reserved only for women.
Just the fact that these sleazy sources prefer to hide under a rock while they attempt to destroy the woman who breathed life into the campaign when their own efforts were failing — who became the most popular governor in the nation and one of the most effective reformers without the benefit of such geniuses as these anonymous sources "guiding" her and "coaching" her — is why the governor has a very bright future in the Republican Party. Gov. Palin draws record crowds, she brought the base home to John McCain, and she will undoubtedly raise millions of dollars for Republican candidates as our party works to rebuild.
Not only does Gov. Palin fare better without the so-called expert advice from the establishment staffers who landed in the McCain campaign as the maverick hero became the Republican nominee, but even John McCain himself seemed to do a whole lot better without the benefit of these mediocre standard GOP operatives — many of whom had experience, but weak or nonexistent records of results.
Gov. Palin initially took their advice and played by their rules as she was suddenly thrown into the spotlight. But when she soon discovered the advice was quite poor, she had no choice but to rely on her own instincts, which, let's face it, had served her quite well in her career.
Sarah Palin wanted to talk to reporters along the campaign trail. She knew it was her strength, and she should have been encouraged to do so. At the first mention of a CBS Katie Couric taped and edited interview, she should have flatly refused. No competent political operative would have a candidate do anything other than a live or live-to-tape interview. Why would you want CBS or any other media outlet to have that level of control to alter reality? It's such a basic Politics 101 rule that it boggles the mind why this was allowed, and leads one to conclude that other advice and preparation assistance offered to (forced on?) Gov. Palin were likely equally as poor.
My politically independent brother is a 17-year resident of Alaska, and over the past several years I've been hearing very impressive reviews of Palin from him. So, prior to John McCain choosing her as his running mate, I had knowledge and awareness of Palin as someone to pay attention to as an up-and-comer. When I saw the CNBC Maria Bartiromo interview with Gov. Palin, conducted prior to her being chosen as the first woman on a Republican presidential ticket and before even she knew she was in consideration, I was blown away at this extremely smart, effective, knowledgeable Republican governor, who was obviously a natural. I barely recognized the person being interviewed by Katie Couric. Perhaps Gov. Palin should have become that "diva" even sooner. Once she did, things improved dramatically for her and McCain.
Lest anyone be confused, the Republican Party and others will want to hear from Sarah Palin a LOT and play a role in seeing just how far this leader can go in the months and years ahead. We saw something in her that ensures she will be around for quite a while. And if we're lucky, the back-stabbers in the McCain campaign, who managed to run a C-minus campaign for an A-plus GOP presidential ticket, will not.
Visit www.CapitalStrategiesPR.com.
Permalink TrackBack
Email This Post
Share this post
What's This 13 Comments
»
The Hill welcomes comment from anyone and will almost always post it whether it is favorable or critical, as long as it is substantive and advances debate.
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Cheri - they keep you around for the comedy, right?
Comment by kbud — November 6, 2008 @ 1:34 pm
Sabotage in the McCain camp. That's what occurs when you ingratiate yourself to liberals.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — November 6, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
RR;
Your boy lost. Get over it. McCain went to the right to please you and people like you and lost badly. Thank you for your support.
Comment by Mike Coleman — November 6, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
Cheri, Palin did this to herself. Accepting the job of V.P, without knowing what a V.P. does. In any other time she could have gotten away with it, but not this time. The Republicans nearly destroyed this country and Tuesday they had to pay the piper. Now she knows what the 'right' thinks of women. Her mistake was she thought that she was exempt. I doubt if anyone is worried about hearing from her, because if she is what the republicans will have to offer, then it will still be more of the same. Except maybe this time she will know where Russia is.
Comment by Yvonne — November 6, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
McCain picked Palin. She was out of her league, and was never vetted. John McCain is to blame, not Palin. She's an Alaskan hillbilly who's managed to become governor. McCain's idea backfired. His judgment is flawed; that's why he wasn't elected.
Comment by Joyce — November 6, 2008 @ 5:29 pm
Mike Coleman: McCain went to the left, and that's why he lost.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — November 6, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
Just got in from a small break from this site…..I had to laugh at this one folks. Ms. Jacobus, you obviously posted this before the Republican machine started eating their young. One can be bright, engaging, energizing, and exciting to a target base. Her background in journalism served her well in the speech department and in her carefully parsed debate style. My eleven year old is the same way. Speech class, the school's Debate Club, and neighborhood sports have served my child well. He also has a multistamped passport, makes "executive decisions" daily with his paper route, and he has aced several PowerPoint projects on our wartime status. I guess a bonus for him is that he DOES know that Africa is a continent, having personally been with me when business travel took me to Cairo and to Johannesburg. My adittedly snarky point is this. Ms. Palin is running out of time and attention to right her resume'. As those surrounding her continue to gleefully throw her off the balcony, she will not be able to take a national stage again, no matter how hard she studies, practices, and crams.
Comment by sherri wong — November 6, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
I'm no fan of Gov. Palin's, but I think the bullying and trashing of her, and 'leaking' personal information which may or may not be true, is small minded and so typically republican 'dirty tricks' mentality. John McCain could have stopped this, but he used Palin and then threw her away. They're actually sending a lawyer to Alaska to get back the clothing she bought. I would keep every single thing I purchased if I were her. President-elect Obama should appoint her as head of special committee on childrens' health issues such as downs syndrome and autism, and how to handle and fit that into the national healthcare program. It would send a message to the nation, and I think she would do a good job.
Comment by Joyce — November 7, 2008 @ 1:06 am
Sherri … let us pray AND Thank God that Palin will not come back to a national stage!
Comment by GParks — November 7, 2008 @ 4:45 am
The McCain staff ran one of the worst campaigns imaginable.
He would have lost by 10 points more without Sarah Palin.
The politics that will be comming from the Right will now have to be " party-line" conservetive…….. and Sarah will be a strong voice for a long time to come.
Comment by NorCal Steve — November 8, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
What the McCain campaign is doing to Palin is just what Republicans always do…it's just that the slime is usually pointed outward at Democrats, not inward at themselves.
And who cares that they called her a Diva…better they should call her an SOB or a Bastard…either way…she was not their idea of a good VP choice…and I couldn't agree more.
Comment by PHM — November 8, 2008 @ 6:53 pm
To Joyce:
Palin should not be allowed to ever leave Alaska again. She would be terrible in any government position…she is ignorant and worse, has no idea how little she knows. She would make Brownie look like great!
Besides…the fact that she has a special needs child does not in any way indicate that she actually has any insight or ability to advocate…she can; however, see Russia from her house!
Comment by PHM — November 8, 2008 @ 6:57 pm
It's puzzling that so many people feel so threatened by a smart,attractive,strong, courageous,charismatic,happy, mother and career woman of faith who has succeeded dispite her working middle class background.We all complain and whine about how much we detest the corrupt Washington insiders running our country but the first time we actually have an opportunity to elect a washington outsider who is smart and has a proven record of getting things done for the people she represents, we want to tear her apart. We listen to the msm gossip reported as facts and everyone jumps in like a pack of wolves. Alright the edited intertviews with Katie and Charlie were not entirely flatering but she has since proven differently. Neither Obama or Biden received anywhere near the scrutiny, questioning or negative press. It seems there is definately a double standard. Would she have received this treatment if she were a man…or a black woman?? We deserve to be bullied and lead around like foolish sheep by the corrupt washington elitists since we cannot seem to consider giving someone outside the pack a chance. Yes the same old "change" battle cry will jockey back and forth every election cycle and we will vote the same old partisans from the same old fraternities. Why does the press keep following Sarah Palin around vying for a moment or a picture with her?!Yet everyone accuses her of being a media hog. Why do so many of her haters still continue to devour every tidbit written about her and continue to post countless blogs about her?! Interesting……
And Sheri Wong your post makes me embarrased to be a fellow Asian American. Quit bragging about your kid and your ability to travel the world! There is no way you have accomplished anything near what Governor Palin has for so many American people.
Comment by Roberta — November 14, 2008 @ 2:39 am