09/03/2008
McCain's 'Thorough' Vetting of Sarah Palin Began Last Wednesday
Yesterday, at a campaign stop at Engine Company 56 of the Philadephia Fire Department, McCain talked up the campaign's research on Sarah Palin: "The vetting process was completely thorough, and I'm grateful for the results."
And WaPo's 'The Trail' adds: "His aides have said nothing has emerged in news reports about Palin that McCain and the campaign did not know before selecting her, including that her 17-year-old daughter Bristol was pregnant."
Which isn't false, however:
Today, the WaPo reports: "Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was not subjected to a lengthy in-person background interview with the head of Sen. John McCain's vice presidential vetting team until last Wednesday in Arizona, the day before McCain asked her to be his running mate, and she did not disclose the fact that her 17-year-old daughter was pregnant until that meeting, two knowledgeable McCain officials acknowledged Tuesday."
Sullivan notes: "If this is how John McCain picks the person who would replace him in an emergency, imagine how stable and rational a decision-maker he'd be in the White House."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 9:50 AM EST by Andy in John McCain, News, Republican Party, Sarah Palin | Permalink
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oh mary please, you fags are making much too much of all this... palin i'm sure would make a wonderful president... tho i can't always agree with her politics and i'm sure if i invited her to tea that my powers of persuasion and gay retorik would convince her to see things our way i've always said that if we ever had a woman president it would be along the lines of a maggie thatcher and la palin seems to fit the bill quite fine... i just don't see all this fuss about a pregnant daughter, etc... what on earth does that have to do with governing a nation anyway, it's private business... and people do change so let's see what happens... this election process is certainly turning out to be quite surprising and i'm sure more fun is on the way--- the american way!
Posted by: the queen | Sep 3, 2008 10:02:46 AM
It has nothing to do with the fact that her daughter is pregnant. It has *everything* to do with the fact that she is against teaching safe sex practices in school, and she slashed funding for teen moms. This whole story is example of the most delicious Schadenfreude. It exposes the ineffectiveness of Republican social thinking.
For some reason, you seem to think that because she's a woman, she might like you. If you want to bet on the chance that maybe she'll change, Queen, you go right ahead. Meanwhile, I'll stick with the candidate who doesn't hate me for who I am.
Posted by: Sami | Sep 3, 2008 10:26:15 AM
I don't understand (slightly off topic): we are against Mitt Romney's magical underwear, polygamy, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but ok with Sarah Palin's (member of a Pentecostal church - or possibly a former member) speaking in tongues, holy rolling, and (if she comes to Kentucky) snake handling??
Posted by: J.P. | Sep 3, 2008 10:35:42 AM
What is it with Republicans and their "vetting" process? You'd think they would have learned after the whole Bernie Kerik debacle. If they don't find all the skeletons some blogger is going to find them in shirt order. It actually makes me kind of happy that they are less able to get away with their nonsense with the entire blogosphere nipping at their heels.
Posted by: MT | Sep 3, 2008 10:47:37 AM
It's funny how the previous commentators all missed the important point of this article:
McCain waited 'til the day before he made up his mind (and subsequently announced it) about a running mate to actually interview her.
That's how much work he puts into each important decision, a few hours or thought and then he just makes up his mind with less than 24 hours of thinking.
"Oh, President McCain, should we attack Iran?"
"Let me get back to you in 5 hours on that. I'll go interview some Iranians."
Posted by: Philip Wester | Sep 3, 2008 10:58:42 AM
See this gem:
McCain did not speak face to face with Palin until Thursday morning, at his retreat in Sedona, Ariz. He also talked to her by telephone the previous Sunday.
Oh yeah, lenghty process, thourough intevestigation. He had less than one day to get to know her!
Posted by: Philip Wester | Sep 3, 2008 11:00:58 AM
Besides showing up the scary, risk-taking decision-making process of McCain, I think it also points out the ineptness of his staff.
When you have a crazy, impulsive boss, the staff really needs to have the facts and arguments all lined up and verified.
Is this how a President McCain would select a cabinet, judges, etc.?
Posted by: Chester | Sep 3, 2008 11:15:54 AM
Coming soon to a Dinner-Theater near you: Sarah Palin in "Moose Murders."
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Sep 3, 2008 11:17:21 AM
When did this blog morph into such an over the top Obama Does gay = auto vote for Obama?? Still have freedom of choice, right?
Posted by: Ellis Williams | Sep 3, 2008 11:28:13 AM
I like Obama, I like Biden, I like McCain. I do not like Palin.
Being the Mayor of 9000 people and an uncontested gubernatorial candidate for 2 years does not, IMHO, qualify her to be 1 heartbeat away from being the leader of the most powerful nation in the free world. It has nothing to do with the fact she has tits and a vajay-jay.
As for her personal life; everything she has done, everything her family is, is what makes Sarah Palin. Look at "The Obama Story" we learned throughout the Democratic convention. It's the thread that makes up the fabric of the person. In the person of Sarah Palin, that's pretty fucked in the head fabric, and as with Obama, her personal life must be taken into consideration in the voting process.
I watched the Democrtatic convention, and was left with a sense that I could trust the two candidates for office. As I mentioned in the start, I really do like McCain, but good Lord... he needed a balance to his Maverick, not another maverick. The GOP ticket is nothing but reckless.
It's not gay support, look at where we are today, regardless of Bush and his christian base, gays are pushing forward. Yes, at times it is turning into a war, but we are gaining ground little by little. Obama does not equal gay rights, I feel he's going to toe the same line Clinton did in 1992. It will just be easier for us under Obama than under McCain.
When Mondale selected Ferraro, it was the female base that actually ripped her to shreds because she was not the right woman. Hillary had a shot at it, and had a good female base of supporters. Palin does not. As everyone has been stating, being female does not immediately make her the darling of the female voters. I look for her to get the same treatment that Ferarro got 20 some years ago.
Posted by: Rad | Sep 3, 2008 11:47:37 AM
I would assume his staff spoke to her/her staff before McCain did his interview... it is a little absurd to suggest that McCain himself do all of the investigation process prior to selecting a candidate.
Though he certainly should have spoken to her a bit more, yep, absolutely.
I'm still waiting to find an aspect about Palin that makes me respect her even a little bit in the position of one of the leaders of this country.
Posted by: lis | Sep 3, 2008 11:50:02 AM
Ellis-
It is starting to look that way (see banner at the top of the page), but this Palin thing is even stirring up oft-conservative news agencies. The phrase "questionable decision making ability" in regard to McCain makes me salivate with delight.
When it comes down to it, this is a blog. Even city newspapers endorse candidates, so I don't think the Obama focus is beyond legit blog reporting.
Posted by: scientitian | Sep 3, 2008 11:53:03 AM
Ellis Williams:
How much of this blog do you read? Do you read the stories about gay-bashing? Do you read the stories about initiatives for and against gay rights? Do you read the posts about religious organizations and persecution or acceptance of homosexuality? Did you read the post about the Republican platform with regards to homosexuality, gay marriage, etc.?
Given the choice between the two candidates and parties, and given this blog's focus and dedication to informing and championing with regards to gay rights, are you really surprised that Andy prefers Obama?
Posted by: JT | Sep 3, 2008 1:07:05 PM
One version of events has it that the McCain camp spent so much time wooing Lieberman that when he said no there wasn't much time left to find a replacement. They had already ruled out Romney and others who might upstage McCain.
AS has such a schoolboy crush in Obama it makes me ill. Why is he foisting his sexual fantasy life on us? This is one case where I would like to think it matters why you support a candidate. Sullivan's habit of post hoc rationalizations for everything is bad enough, but this makes his posts unreadable.
Posted by: anon | Sep 3, 2008 1:11:13 PM
McCain and his staff even LIED about the supposed vetting process. Rick Davis made the claim that the FBI had done background checks....the FBI yesterday that they had done no such thing and would not and never have done it for political campaigns.
It was so hasty and sloppy that they felt they had to blatenly lie to cover up old John's snap decision....
Good luck to us if he is elected with that kind of decision making.
Posted by: Michael | Sep 3, 2008 1:31:41 PM
Just a few points:
1) No matter how anyone tries to argue differently Palin still brings more executive experience than any of the other candidates.
2) Palin, with her governing experience, is candidate for the Republican's #2 position. Biden, who has the experience, outside of Obama's being a community organizer, is only in the Democrat's #2 position.
3) That Obama apparently believes gays aren't for some unexplained reason yet entitled to complete equal marriage rights should be more troubling to readers of this site than it appears to be.
4) Obama has yet to offer a means to raise the funds for his energy plan.
5) While Palin's husband was ticketed for a DWI Obama was using cocaine.
6) Where is this nebulous "change" Obama speaks so eloquently about? He isn't a Washington outsider, he's a product of the Chicago Democratic machine. He certainly isn't running as an Independent is he?
7) He and his organization used common political tactics to smear a well respected, sitting, Black, female opponent from even having the opportunity to run against him in Chicago.
8) If it weren't for Emil Jones,the Illinois senate President, Obama would have even fewer credentials as an effective legislator.
9) Goldman Sachs, Lehmen Bros.,J.P. Morgan, Citigroup are all involved in oil price speculation, all are special interest groups and all heavily funded the Obama campaign. No matter which party affiliation, special interest groups want payback.
10) Obama derided Edwards for accepting the Service Employees International Union donation but then accepted their $1.4 million contribution to his campaign.
11) Obama co-authored a tax credit bill for developers such as his pal Rezko. Who's going to profit from his Affordable Housing Trust Fund, more developers.
...I'm just saying...I've always believed the adage that if something looks too good to be true then it probably is.
Posted by: Morgan | Sep 3, 2008 1:32:42 PM
MORGAN:
This touting of Palin's having more executive experience has got to stop. First, because executive experience is not the be-all and end-all. Second, because executive experience, say, as a mayor of a town of less than 9000 isn't so impressive on a scale, particularly when one leaves the town millions of dollars in the red as a result.
Regarding the rest, As RAD above put it:
*As for her personal life; everything she has done, everything her family is, is what makes Sarah Palin. Look at "The Obama Story" we learned throughout the Democratic convention. It's the thread that makes up the fabric of the person. In the person of Sarah Palin, that's pretty fucked in the head fabric, and as with Obama, her personal life must be taken into consideration in the voting process.
I watched the Democrtatic convention, and was left with a sense that I could trust the two candidates for office. As I mentioned in the start, I really do like McCain, but good Lord... he needed a balance to his Maverick, not another maverick. The GOP ticket is nothing but reckless.
It's not gay support, look at where we are today, regardless of Bush and his christian base, gays are pushing forward. Yes, at times it is turning into a war, but we are gaining ground little by little. Obama does not equal gay rights, I feel he's going to toe the same line Clinton did in 1992. It will just be easier for us under Obama than under McCain.*
Both sides are flawed. Both humans are flawed. The stances against gay rights and for conservatism and religious fundamentalism by one side, however, tips the scales for me. I don't like that, pragmatically, the most I can expect is to have an easier life. But I'll take an easier life over a harder one any day.
Posted by: JT | Sep 3, 2008 1:59:57 PM
Morgan:
Good try, Republican troll. You sghould also mention that Palin doesn't even think we deserve half of what Obama has publically advocated for LGBT. And consider the ethics investigation she is currently embroiled in. I swear, do you bitches really think we'll vote against our interests. Each time one of you trolls posts that Obama doesn't believe in marriage equality you beglect to mention that McCain/Palin don't even believe in our existence period.
Posted by: sugarrhill | Sep 3, 2008 2:02:34 PM
Way to go Sugarhill,
At least he mentioned something supportive about us in his acceptance speech, as did Ted Kennedy and Al Gore.....the Republicans will just bring out the hate again.
And Morgan, anything positive to say about McCain? you know him ? the head of that ticket?
Bottom line is that Palin's selection was rushed and botched. And try for some new anti Obama talking points, those didnt work during the primary campaign, they wont work now either.
Posted by: Michael | Sep 3, 2008 2:14:43 PM
My Oh My! I just love that wonderful pic of Miss Sarah and her daughter sharing a wonderful moment of bonding over the carcass of the elk that Miss Sarah (I assume) just killed. You've just got to love those Republicon Family Values! Yes, teach your children well, Miss Sarah honey! Teach them to kill (animals are OK, of course, because, well, they're animals and Miss Sarah believes that the Bible is the literal WOG and so she's got that dominion-thing going over all creatures great and small). Yes Oh Yes! I want a pistol-packin Mama in the Blair House (the Veep's crib) just one small heartbeat away from the presidency!
Posted by: mike | Sep 3, 2008 2:20:38 PM
My Oh My! I just love that wonderful pic of Miss Sarah and her daughter sharing a wonderful moment of bonding over the carcass of the elk that Miss Sarah (I assume) just killed. You've just got to love those Republicon Family Values! Yes, teach your children well, Miss Sarah honey! Teach them to kill (animals are OK, of course, because, well, they're animals and Miss Sarah believes that the Bible is the literal WOG and so she's got that dominion-thing going over all creatures great and small). Yes Oh Yes! I want a pistol-packin Mama in the Blair House (the Veep's crib) just one small heartbeat away from the presidency!
Posted by: mike | Sep 3, 2008 2:21:17 PM
Why miss Sarah could provide the meat at the NRA hosted shotgun wedding. What are the youngins waiting for?the baby to drop or high school graduation?
Posted by: rocket | Sep 3, 2008 7:01:44 PM
First you kill an elk, then you move up to killing souls.
Posted by: Rocket | Sep 3, 2008 7:04:33 PM
JT, you're the only responder that seems to show more than a simple amount of intelligence. I appreciate that.
But I still see no rebuttal to most of the points I presented. Besides your post I read more of the same knee jerk reaction to anyone gay that seems to look beyond this tunnel vision view of Obama. Does no one on here admit the man, the ticket, the party may have any kind of flaw?
The true die hard supporters of Obama won't be swayed but I hope my post makes a few of the undecided voters to think about a second look at him. That's all.
Again, as far as the Democratic candidate goes,I keep thinking if something seems to good to be true it usually is.
Posted by: Morgan | Sep 3, 2008 8:07:10 PM
Morgan:
No ones is claiming that the Obama/Biden ticket is flawless. However, it's the better ticket for the LGBT community hands down. The McCain/Palin ticket isn't even an option for us because they won't even let us on the train. You continue to use the same old Republican plays that Obama is "too good to be true." If you're waiting for the other show to drop I don't know what to tell you. Obviously, you'd rather be dragged by the McCain/Palin train than jump aboard the Obama/Biden train and that's scary.
Posted by: sugarrhill | Sep 3, 2008 8:55:06 PM
Thanks Morgan. In the defense of others, I think a lot of people here show more than a simple amount intelligence. In the case of Palin, I think many are on the attack, perhaps "knee-jerkedly", as a reaction to the attacks suffered from people like Palin nearly every day, as this blog often catalogues. She has become a figurehead, a poster child, a target. And the information uncovered about her -aside from the more tabloid stuff - speaks to a record that doesn't make me think that she, combined with MCCain, will inspire enlightenment. In so many ways, this was a jaw-dropper of a pick, pandering to the social conservatives, the ones who came to the polls in droves 4 years ago to vote for Bush AND anti-gay marriage initiatives. But don't think that is the sole reason I am against this team and party. In so many ways, the social conservatives are for faith over science, the status quo, the "right" sort of person, and the hegemony. I am way too liberal - not a dirty word but a badge of honor for me - to see her and McCain as people I don't want in power.
Do I think Obama is a saint? Heck no. Do I watch him with the fish eye? You bet. But what he inspires (or what I see him inspiring) is a more generous, inclusive spirit of hope than the opposition ever will as long as it is a party held hostage by the far right. I doubt he will accomplish much (I am way too old to be anything less than cynical about all politicians), but I dare to expect more out of him than I would ever dare expect out of the others.
Posted by: JT | Sep 3, 2008 9:00:46 PM
JT...points very well taken. You may have even gotten me to take another serious look at Obama. Maybe.
I agree and share the opinion that Senator Obama can be very inspiring and I definitely share your cynicism regarding all politicians.
What makes me angry about most of the posts is the one-sided, narrow and often naive viewpoints tolerated and expressed here. I am, JT, a bi-racial male, a product of a solid, middle class family and a Marine that's volunteered and served in the military. I've been and seen others ridiculed here in one way or another for these things. There's as wide a spectrum of gay people that identify with the republican party but hold personal opinions and beliefs that are contrary to it as there are gay democrats that don't fully embrace all the planks of the democratic platform. The intolerance and criticism of one's thinking with a brain that is separate from the "herd" more than disturbs me. It's what led so many Jews to the camps and gas chambers when their numbers were far greater than that of their captors. And please, no for God's sake I'm not comparing Obama to Hitler. It's that similar single-mind, accept what's offered, don't get out of step, don't question specifics too closely group thought process I so often see here that's more than troubling. To me, for me personally then if you must, there's something about that kind of thinking that should make us, particularly as a minority compsed of many shades of that varied spectrum, take a more thoroughly unsentimental, realistic and detailed look at the man that wants our help with our votes to put him in the office of the president of the United States.
Thanks for listening JT.
Posted by: Morgan | Sep 4, 2008 11:31:48 AM
MORGAN:
My favorite quote ever: "How lucky for rulers that men do not think"- Adolf Hitler
You are correct. Lock-step thinking is pretty scary. One can see it on both sides of the aisle. On another thread, I referenced having a conversation with a Republican friend; she's probably better characterized as my best friend, whom I've known for over 30 years. She is not lock-stepping behind McCain, because she thinks. She was also a military brat, a military intelligence officer, the wife of a military officer who just recently retired, and I bet she shares a lot of your values. Most of my friends that are fiscally conservative are also socially liberal or moderate, and I have been chastised before for being too "Democrat good, Republican bad" in my thinking, which reminds me to think. However, I do allow myself some deal-breakers, some litmus tests. Social issues, including those that affect me personally, are those deal-breakers.
Thanks for listening back. I appreciate your replying. Too often, posting on blogs is about talking at and not with others, so I share your frustration and try to avoid getting sucked in. I've posted a lot lately, but only because of having the free time and feeling strongly about the issues.
Posted by: JT | Sep 4, 2008 12:21:32 PM
JT...
Absolutely there are lock-step thinking people on both sides of the aisle. No matter which side of said aisle, each provoke the same feelings I expressed earlier.
It's good to have those friends that make us think. I appreciate mine as well.
Yes fiscally conservative here and socially moderate at least. Yes some of those friends of mine would argue otherwise. Still, I consider their points of view a good thing. As they do most often make me think about what I might have just said out loud or thought to myself.
I'm not new to this site but my recently leaving comments is. This election, no matter which party affiliation one holds, has been and is energizing. And that's great.
I'm actually in my office and spending this time doing what I wouldn't want to see my colleagues doing...so, happy trails to you until perhaps another time, JT.
Posted by: Morgan | Sep 4, 2008 2:03:25 PM
Back at ya, Morgan
Posted by: JT | Sep 4, 2008 4:34:01 PM
Maybe some of Palin's supporters here may be interested in attending this lovely event at Palin's church!
Palin church promotes gay-conversion event:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008163805_palingays07.html
Posted by: Timothy | Sep 7, 2008 10:19:28 AM