From the NY Times:
ST. PAUL — Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska introduced herself to America before a roaring crowd at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night as “just your average hockey mom” who was as qualified as the Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama, to be president of the United States.
Ms. Palin’s appearance electrified a convention that has been consumed by questions of whether she was up to the job, as she launched slashing attacks on Mr. Obama’s claims of experience.
“Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown,” Ms. Palin told the delegates in a speech that sought to eviscerate Mr. Obama, as delegates waved signs that said “I love hockey moms.” “And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a `community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities.”
Unfortunately for Obama and Biden, this looks like it puts energy behind the Republicans.
Unfortunately for the Republicans, they are now tied to the ultra-conservatives, pulling them away from the American Center.
There is more, however, to reflect on in Pallin’s speech last night.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.
For examples, click here.
Steve Clemons’ analysis of the speech proves to be highly accurate:
Palin talked a lot about fiscal responsibility, of sacking her chef, and selling former Senator and Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski’s state-provided luxury plane on EBay and wanting to bring those practices to Washington — but she mentioned nothing of the irresponsibility of waging the second most expensive war in American history with no regard to raising revenue to pay for it.
Like Bush and McCain and Cheney, Sarah Palin embraces war and lowering taxes. Suggesting that that is a fiscally responsible posture is neo-Orwellian.
Ari Helber, in The Nation, also noted that Palin’s speech was built on exaggerations and flat-out lies:
She shared her inspiring story and brave family, while savaging and ridiculing the celebrated life story of Barack Obama, a fellow barrier-breaking candidate, with whithering attacks on his work as a community organizer, senator, and author. She misrepresented his record and simply lied about her own, claiming to oppose earmarks that she supported, and dissembling on her $1.5 billion tax hike and record of raising sales taxes by 25 percent in Wasilla. Reviewing the McCain Campaign’s bullying, “unprofessional” onslaught against anyone who notes Palin’s extreme positions and dishonest claims, Time’s Joe Klein urged reporters to face facts:
I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is “a task from God.”
Finally, I’d like to agree with 5-time Golden Mike winning broadcaster Mary Lyon that Republicans are mean:
I sat through Rudy Giuliani and the debut of Sarah Palin – and I’ve come to only one conclusion. Republicans are mean. No whining here. I’m no Phil Gramm. Just an objective statement of fact based on first-person observation. Nasty. Snarky. Mocking. Sarcastic, Punch you in the nose first and then laugh at you because your face is full of blood and you look kinda funny now. And then kick you while you’re still down – don’t forget that one. Jesus says so. And then holler “USA! USA! USA!” and “Drill, Baby, Drill!” Nice people. And distressingly enough, on the second/third/whatever night of the Republican Convention, the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul was filled with them. And they sure don’t seem interested in winning my vote.
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If Sarah Palin wasn’t belittling the community organizer, Rudy Giuliani before her was literally laughing at the very words “community organizer” every time he uttered them.
I wonder how the community organizers of America will take to this repeated slap-in-the-face – they who toil long hours for far lower pay and benefits (if they’re lucky) than Palin OR Giuliani likely have ever had to try supporting a family with. “Obama has never had to lead people in crisis,” Giuliani smirked. No, he’s merely been in the trenches with his sleeves rolled up, HELPING people in crisis, when he could have been in Manhattan, going for the big bucks like you’ve been doing, Rudy, ever since your time as mayor ran out. Maybe Giuliani and Palin enjoy the luxury of being arrogant and smug like this because they’re fortunate enough never to have needed the help or ideas or energy or efforts of a community organizer.
So the campaign is now underway, gloves off and Mr. Niceguy approach dropped on the floor. We will get at it beginning today. I, for one, no longer have any reticence against attacking Palin or McCain with the truth. We cannot afford to keep the Bush government going (and note, no one last night even uttered George W.’s name) and we cannot afford to ignore the issues which the Republicans are trying to hide with their character assassination attempts and repeated lies.
