Tucker Bounds' Unpleasant Interview

TUCKER BOUNDS' UNPLEASANT INTERVIEW.... The McCain campaign and leading Republican voices continue to argue that Sarah Palin's position as the putative head of the Alaskan National Guard is evidence of foreign policy experience. We already know that's not true -- Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, told the Associated Press that when it comes to national defense activities, the entire Guard operation is under federal control.

Undeterred by facts, Palin's boosters, including McCain campaign spokesperson Tucker Bounds, keep pushing the line that she has genuine foreign-policy experience. Yesterday, CNN's Campbell Brown pressed him to explain what on earth he's talking about. More specifically, Brown asked, "Can you just tell me one decision that she made as commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard. Just one." Bounds could attack Barack Obama, he could tout John McCain, but he couldn't answer the question. Brown kept asking, and Bounds kept dodging.

As Andrew Sullivan noted, "Tucker Bounds is simply unable to defend this pick. And that's not because he isn't good at what he does. It's because no one can defend it."

What's striking is the McCain campaign would even try to pursue this. There are candidates for national office who don't have foreign policy experience during their campaigns. Names like Clinton and Reagan come to mind. The campaign could very well say, "No, Palin may not have foreign policy experience, but she has sound judgment and a clear vision of America's role in the world."

But, no. They have to peddle nonsense, and hope just enough voters are fooled by their con job. The truth might work, but for the McCain campaign, the instinct to mislead is too strong to resist.