McCain's "Gee Whiz" Pick

(CBS)  CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield takes a look at the pros and cons of this bold, maybe risky pick of relatively unknown Sarah Palin - one that suggests the McCain camp felt the Democrats pulled off a successful convention that required a "gee whiz" move.

Pro: She's a woman. You probably noticed that. It could be a way to draw disaffected Democrats and independents who felt Clinton was victimized by gender bias.

Con: But if it's seen as an "affirmative action pick" - one made mostly because she is a woman - that might not be the way into those white working-class men.

Pro: A fresh start. As a Republican who's fought her own party's establishment in Alaska, she underlines McCain's "maverick" image, and implies a break with the Republican Party, whose brand is badly tarnished.

Con: That experience issue you heard about may kick up the "age" issue. Can you put someone with no connection with the wider world a "heartbeat away" from the Oval Office with a 72-year-old president?

Pro: She delights the right. The evangelical community sees her as a heroine - she's one herself, and that helps McCain with part of the GOP base who have had a testy relationship with her.

Con: I's her first time in the ring, unlike McCain, Biden, and Obama. Can she handle the frenzy of intense media scrutiny - answer questions about, say, international conflicts.

One other key here: She's the mother of a Down Syndrome child, one of four million American children with disabilities. For millions of parents, and relatives of such children, the idea of someone in the councils of power who really understands their needs could be an "x" factor in this campaign we simply don't know how to measure.

[toolmangler-2009]

I can see him now aw c''mon it is PARTY TIME
Posted by starleo14672 at 08:22 PM : Aug 31, 2008



Thats a good one, can''t top that

[starleo146]

"the idea of someone in the councils of power who really understands their needs could be an "x" factor in this campaign we simply don''''t know how to measure."

She will probably be kept "Barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen" as the saying goes...


Posted by ToolMangler at 07:50 PM : Aug 31, 200

The way Mc Bush was looking at her while she was making her speech she won''t have time to work she will be running around the desk to get away from him. I can see him now aw c''mon it is PARTY TIME

[starleo146]

THESE 18 MILLION HILLARY VOTERS ARE MAD, MAD, MAD..IF ONLY 50% OF THEM VOTE FOR SARAH,..THAT''''''''''''''''S OVER 9 MILLION VOTES THAT GUARANTEES MC CAIN/ PALIN THE ELECTION WIN....PERIOD.

Posted by Philly18765 at 12:13 PM : Aug 31, 2008

They are not mad enough to vote for a right winger I tell you that don''t insult us Hillary was pro choice Palin is backed by the NRA and is against prochoice

[starleo146]

Obama has done nothing...absolutely nothing. He has done nothing since being elected a Senator. He wouldn''''''''t even vote on issues because he doesn''''''''t want to offend anyone. The guys a fraud who has done NOTHING! Not one single accomplishment.


Posted by basichm at 03:27 PM : Aug 30, 2008

Are you trying to convince yourself or what you sound desperate, he inspired almost 8500 or more poeople the other night and man what he said we needed to hear so the day your candidate does that is when the moon will turn to green cheese

[toolmangler-2009]

DO THE MATH...18 MILLION HILLARY VOTERS KNOW HILLARY WAS SCREWED OUT OF BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT NOMINATION BY OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRAT BOSSES.

THESE 18 MILLION HILLARY VOTERS ARE MAD, MAD, MAD..IF ONLY 50% OF THEM VOTE FOR SARAH,..THAT''''''''S OVER 9 MILLION VOTES THAT GUARANTEES MC CAIN/ PALIN THE ELECTION WIN....PERIOD.

Posted by Philly18765 at 12:13 PM : Aug 31, 2008


Hillary was screwed out of the presidency by her husband Bill, his zipper and cruise missles .

[toolmangler-2009]

"the idea of someone in the councils of power who really understands their needs could be an "x" factor in this campaign we simply don''t know how to measure."

She will probably be kept "Barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen" as the saying goes...

[jestith]

The idea that Hillary voters would flock to Sarah Palin is a amazingly insuulting. Many Hillary supporters were drawn to a strong woman who supports freedom and the idea of being a good steward to the Earth, while Palin''s church teaches women should be subservient to men and wish to ban the pill, and Palin herself thinks Creationism should be taught in science class, and doesn''t believe the science behind climate change.

[misha128-2009]

The tale of the tape -- experience

Obama 3 years federal experience, 8 years state level experience, 12 years teaching Constitutional Law, 7 years a Lawyer.

Palin 0 years federal experience, 2 years state level experience, 14 years local experience and a degree in Journalism.

Obama appears to be the clear winner. Factor in the number of Court losses for the Bush Administration including the possible release of Gitmo terrorists into the US and a president that knows the constitution does not sound bad either.

Actions

A governor that resorts to legally questionable actions to protect a single individual is failing to protect all persons in their state by making appropriate changes either administratively or in conjunction with the legislature. I would consider that an example of unsuitable experience because of poor judgment.

A governor that encourages use of an opportune political environment to push an earmark for a bridge to nowhere does not get credit for experience as a reformer later when that governor cancels the project. An experienced reformer blocks the action before the scandal not after the uproar occurs.

It is disappointing that both of these examples are applicable to Gov. Palin.

[philly18765]

DO THE MATH...18 MILLION HILLARY VOTERS KNOW HILLARY WAS SCREWED OUT OF BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT NOMINATION BY OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRAT BOSSES.

THESE 18 MILLION HILLARY VOTERS ARE MAD, MAD, MAD..IF ONLY 50% OF THEM VOTE FOR SARAH,..THAT''''S OVER 9 MILLION VOTES THAT GUARANTEES MC CAIN/ PALIN THE ELECTION WIN....PERIOD.

[meritocrat]

McCainiacs- your posts are very Hannity, very Limbaugh%u2026an EMPTY brain is easy to fill with crud, and the divide and conquer right wing media has filled yours well. My Lincoln to Obama comparison stands%u2026without any substantive rebuttal from you or anyone else%u2026because it is valid%u2026What makes Obama more qualified you ask? How about winning a democratic Primary, over a well-healed and supported Clinton, and earning about 10 million more votes than your feeble candidate%u2026