My Take on the Vice Presidential Debate
by On Thursday night, millions of Americans tuned in to watch the first-ever vice presidential debate featuring a Republican woman discussing the most important issues of the day with her Democratic opponent. It was a historic event, and as the Co-chair of the Republican National Committee and someone who champions the involvement of women in our party and our political system, I was extraordinarily proud of Gov.
Sarah Palin. Not only did she show the country what a dynamic and intelligent candidate she is; she also showed her tremendous energy for, and commitment to, bringing reform to Washington — something that John McCain has championed throughout his career, and the major objective of the McCain-Palin ticket.
Her desire for reform coupled with that of John McCain is a recipe for turning Washington on its head and bringing real change on behalf of the American people. That’s because Gov. Palin has a lot of experience in bringing much needed reform to government. In Alaska, not only has she stood up to members of her own party and taken on corruption within it, but also signed into law a comprehensive, landmark ethics bill. In just two budgets, she has cut nearly $500 million (no small sum) in wasteful spending. Yet rather than focusing overly on past achievements, on Thursday night, Gov. Palin clearly focused on the future, while Joe Biden appeared more interested in re-litigating past debates. I was glad to see her deftly point out inaccurate statements he made with regard to Barack Obama’s foreign policy positions, and call him out for dubious claims, such as his assertion that paying higher taxes is “patriotic.” She handled herself well, and showed herself to be smart, and prepared.
The bottom line regarding Gov. Palin’s performance, however, is that she is ready and eager to shake things up, just like John McCain, whose track record as someone devoted to changing the way business is done in Washington is well-known. Gov. Palin didn’t just win it Thursday night, she nailed it — and in the process proved herself to be a real breath of fresh air in American politics.
My hat is off to her.
Jo Ann Davidson is the Co-chair of the Republican National Committee and a former Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives.
Posted In
XML Feed Recent Comments
Good work! on post 10 Cheap Tricks
I think the
secret is on post Winter Skin Tips
secret is on post Winter Skin Tips
BlogHer Conferences
- Home
- About Us
- BlogHer Community
- Conferences
- BlogHer Network
- Special Offers
- Contact Us
Follow us on Twitter:
@blogher @bloghersupport @blogherdeals
Become a Facebook Fan
© Copyright 2009 BlogHer | Terms of Service
Comments
With all due respect . . .
Governor Palin most certainly did not "nail it" in the debate. She didn't respond to the questions, which is what debaters are implicitly supposed to do. Instead she delivered a series of short campaign speeches, well rehearsed and delivered in a cutesy style which may appeal to some, but entirely unsuited and inappropriate responses for the possible future president of the United States.
As a woman, I felt embarrassed and chagrined that she would resort to such tactics. Certainly a man would have been soundly criticized for responding to serious questions about the future of our country in the manner in which she did.
Can you even possibly imagine that Joe Biden would have said "Can I call you Sarah" and then used the permission to chide her saying "Gee, there you go again Sarah" without people considering it overly familiar and disrespectful? Sarah Palin may have shown she's a quick study when working with a debate coach, but she also showed she is not prepared to be Vice President of the United States by her lack of respect for the debate and lack of answers to serious questions.
Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen
Dumbing down America?
I agreed with your reflections on Governor Palin's tactics during the debate. I was also appalled that so few people seem to find it singularly inappropriate for someone aspiring to one of the highest offices in the country to constantly use such poor grammer and pronunciation. I spent 25 years in Alaska, and raised three children there. I am mystified on where or how her speech patterns and accent have evolved from; I don't know anyone from Wasilla who sounds like that.
No
I don't think she nailed down a great victory. She talked fast without stumbling around the way she had on previous occasions. As long as you didn't think about what she actually said, it sounded as if she knew what was she was talking about. If you look word for word at what was asked and what she answered, she didn't shine.
Virginia DeBolt
BlogHer Technology Contributing Editor
Web Teacher
First 50 Words
Proud of successfully stepping over a low
bar?
The soft sexism of low expectations, indeed...
Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Energetic and Prepared? Yes. Nailed it?
Uhhh, no.
I'd say they definitely "prepared" her. Yes, she looked like she'd been prepared. Too bad it was a short-term cram-type preparation, instead of long-term experience preparation.
I was so disappointed that she did not actually answer the questions. They were important questions, and I wanted answers, not fluff and dodging.
If you were honest Mrs. Davidson, then you'd be here correcting her many inaccurate statements, not pointing fingers at Biden. And you wouldn't be spinning Biden's statement about patriotism. This is just another example of why I, previously a fan of McCain, am so disappointed in him and his campaign.
Watch scrapbooking video tutorials at http://www.paperclipping.com
Amazing
I dont know that I would go so far as to say that Governor Palin nailed it, but I think she did quite well. She showed that she is down to earth and ready to fight for the average Joe. She was well rehearsed, as was Senator Biden. To fault her for trying to bring things down to a more personal level is rediculous! The fact that Governor Palin is willing to put herself out there and get personal is one of the things that makes her an ideal canidate.
I think she did dance around a few of the questions rather than give a direct answer but no more than Senator Biden did. Senator Biden was far more concerned with bashing the current administration and insinuating that the McCain/Palin ticket is no more than a continuance of the current administration, than he was in debating the questions at hand. If you are going to find fault in the way she answered be sure to look at both sides: Senator Biden was vague and elusive when responding to the questions he was asked.
It is amazing that so many people are going out of their way to find fault in Governor Palin for being who she is, but are not willing to see the many faults and flaws in Senator Obama, or Senator Biden. Obama and Biden may talk a good game, but they will send this country to hell in a hand basket.
Not so...
Not so--I loved her energetic and down-to-earth personality. It was such a breath of fresh air for me. What I didn't like is the lack of real substance to what she was saying. And while, yes, they all dodge questions and give vague answers, to our detriment, she dodged like no one I've ever seen before. That is what she nailed--she nailed the dodge.
Watch scrapbooking video tutorials at http://www.paperclipping.com
And....
This is not a concern with Obama??
Great point you make.
It is amazing that so many people are going out of their way to find
fault in Governor Palin for being who she is, but are not willing to
see the many faults and flaws in Senator Obama, or Senator Biden. Obama
and Biden may talk a good game, but they will send this country to hell
in a hand basket.
as a woman
Watching the debate was painful. To my observation, Governor Palin appeared highly coached- not surprising, due to her lack of experience in handling complex national and international issues.
What bothered me the most- as one of the ordinary "mothers around the kitchen table" she spoke about- was her dogged refusal to talk straight and answer so many of the questions asked of her. Instead, she hammered home her party's talking points and campaign buzz words- often to an almost comic effect. These pet buzz words did not address the questions or the meaty underlying issues in any meaningful way. These rehearsed phrases left me scratching my head, asking, Huh?
There was not one glimmer of understanding, thoughtfulness, or compassion in her plucky demeanor, her pride in being a Washington "outsider", her dodging and weaving. Her winking! (Winking? Can you imagine a more girly "aren't I adorable" gesture?)
I came away thinking, Well, there's an ex-beauty contestant with brass balls of ambition. But does she embody the intelligence, depth and thoughtfullness necessary for leadership? Does she comprehend the complicated and often contradictory issues and problems we face? Does she see the world in black and white, "us vs. them"? Does she have the capacity to listen- to really listen- and learn from an alternative viewpoint? And most importantly, is she able to sustain holding the delicate tension of opposites in a world that requires this skill? She's "so darn" sure she's right that she brags she "doesn't blink!"
In this new century we need leaders- women and men- who aren't afraid to take a breath, "to blink", to gather all possible resources and information before taking a leap, jumping to a conclusion, pushing a button.
Ms. Palin truly, deeply scares me.
k a r i n a
Karina's Kitchen: Recipes from a gluten-free goddess
Karina Allrich- Contemporary Abstracts
the cliche and trite buzz words made me
change the
channel..the Canadians were better LOL.
If I heard one more time 'maverick' or 'average mom' and blah de blah blah...
puhlease.
Look for me at http://crunchycarpets.com or check out the ladies at www.wetcoastwomen.com
I Have a Different Take
It's interesting to see how different people see the same thing. I think that Sarah Palin did a decent job in the debates. She didn't do as awful as I had predicted (based on the few past interviews that she has given).
Personally, I don't love either of the presidential candidates, but Palin's performance overall to date has definitely pushed me to vote for the Obama/Biden ticket. The possibility that she could be one step away from the presidency literally scares me. Personality-wise, I think that she's great. She's my "type" of woman. However, I have strong doubts that she is ready to lead our nation if necessary. (A cute smile and a wink won't cut it in dealings with other heads of nations!) That's just my take...
Kimberly/Mom in the City
A cute smile and a wink...
That sorta reminds me of Obama too. I cannot agree with you more, this election we don't have much to choose from.
I saw this on AOL's "How to Catch a Liar" feature last evening:
"There's a difference between fluid speech and language punctuated with
modifiers such as ums, ahs and eers," says Brown. This kind of hedging
is compatible with being deceptive. Still, an 'um' here or an 'ah'
there are also perfectly normal space fillers. They are best used as
deception detectors when they come at you fast and furiously.
Lol, remind you guys of anyone?
I thoight she was great! My
I thoight she was great! My reaction was totally unexpected.
I thought she sliced and diced Biden and it took a while to realize he was bleeding. All Palin did was use Biden's own positions against him.
If anyone in this campaign hasn't answered questions, I'd say it was Obama. Long on appearances, short on substance. Thing with him is, if you don't like his position on an issue, wait 15 minutes, and it will be the exact oppositie. I have to assume that's what he means by "change", because he cetainly hasn't said how or what he would change.
.
I AGREE WITH THE AUTHOR and NOT some of these
commenters
I think that Gov Palin did better at the debate than someone who has been in the Senate for 26 years - and had 22 erroneous comments even to the restaurant that he goes so frequently to eat - (they have not been on Main Street for the last ten years) - I only wish that Gov Palin would have attacked Obama more in respect to Ayers, Rezko, Acorn, Berg lawsuit whether or not he is a legal citizen, caucus fraud - you name it - she could have gone out swinging and can only hope and pray that Sen McCain will do this in the next debate - its about time that people start to know about Chicago and the backrooms - did anyone ever wonder how Sen Obama got into all the colleges and then buy a 1.6 million dollar home - was it all on college scholarships - only once the information comes out will I be satisified - and I think Gov Palin was starting to bring it out ---
GOOD GOING GOVERNOR. By the way I was a Democrat for CLinton - now for McCain and Palin in case anyone did not notice.
Anyone, and I mean anyone,
Anyone, and I mean anyone, who could support Clinton and what she stood for would never, ever support McCain or Palin.
If you want to support a desperate man who cares little about the country and a women who, frankly, has only shown ambition and little else, including intelligence and ethics, go for it. But do not insult Clinton and the rest of us by saying that you're a "Clinton Democrat" and can easily switch to people who are unlike her in every way.
By the way I was a Democrat
By the way I was a Democrat for CLinton - now for McCain and Palin in case anyone did not notice.
--------------------
Interesting. I'm an undecided Democrat.
I thought the NY Times cleared up the relationship between Ayers and Obama?
And, what's the "Berg Lawsuit"??
And, what's the "Berg Lawsuit"??
Some former Atty. general in PA. filed a lawsuit against Obama - charging that he is unqualified to run for President because he is not really a citizen . I mean , c'mon , don't you think the media would have picked up on that if it were true ?
C'mon, the Media is Biased
...or haven't you noticed that they are in the bag for BO?? The media has given BO a pass on everything....he's teflon..nothing sticks...Do your research there is a lot there about BO that people need to know...Ayers, Rezko, Wright, birth certificate...it goes on and on...C'mon don't be so naive!! We don't want another Bush in the White House...puppet on a string...like BO!!! He owes a lot to many people who funded his campaign..many who he will not identify!! http://www.suitablyflip.com/suitably_flip/2008/10/rcn-filing-fec.html
I started to write another
I started to write another comment when I realized that you and other "Gosh, that Palin is great!" commenters only signed up in order to comment in this thread. You're most likely paid, or were asked to comment here by the Republican party campaign. You certainly don't read Blogher, to not have responded previously.
This is what the Republican party has to do now, because it knows it has the worst candidate in recent history running for President. It knows that if we all had a better chance to know Palin, underneath the winks and the smile, she's as vapid as she came across in the Couric interviews, with little or no ethics. That she would most likely run this country into the ground if President. And that McCain cared for this country so little that he would appoint someone like her as his VP candidate.
So you have to play these games, rather than have a honest dialog on issues, because then people will realize that it is the Republican way that led to our current financial crises, to 1 in five people not having health insurance, to a ten trillion dollar debt. Frankly, I think the only people who would vote Republican now are the pro-guns, anti-abortion crowd, who exist in a permanently oxymoronic state.
Wasting no more time responding to anyone who has been a member of Blogher less than a year.
Berg Lawsuit
Go to http://www.obamacrimes.com and you will see that a lawyer from Penna - Phil Berg has brought up a lot of questions regarding citizenship in a suit that he has filed against DNC, Dean, and Sen Obama - it is still pending in court
Listen to what Gov Pallin has to say on the news about Ayers - doesn't seem cleared up to me ---
Popularity Contest
the cliche and trite buzz words made me
change the
channel..the Canadians were better LOL.
--
Of course we were better, we aren't making our election into a popularity contest. Obama is with his FREE rock concerts, his Euro tour, his fancy ego-building jet. But then again, we aren't facing Fannie and Freddie either. Wonder how many Americans know the real truth about that. More importantly though, I wonder how many care to know the real truth, seems many have gotten Obama fever and can't see through the lies.
I really don't thin the majority even want
the truth
when people don't get nailed to walls for lying about wmd's and so on.....when people don't question things like Paulson previously working for a company that was OWED money by AIG...it goes on and on
Look for me at http://crunchycarpets.com or check out the ladies at www.wetcoastwomen.com
Just found More Information on the web about
Ayers
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/10/05/questions-for-barack-about-bill-...
Palin vs Obama, Biden vs McCain
As I see it Palin has more experience as a Governor than Obama has as a Senator who has spent more time campaigning for President than he has spent in the Senate and he is at the top of the ticket. Biden has as much experience as McCain and he is at the bottom of the ticket. If I am not mistaken this talk about being afraid that Palin is not ready to President is like saying that Obama is not as well. I am more afraid of Obama as President and not being ready. He has learned the "game" along the campaign trail and knows the right things to say...but his record has not convinced me he is ready for the job!! As debaters I see that Obama and Palin have some similarities, personality, charisma, and they both because of lack of experience use taliking points. As far as executive experience I feel more comfortable with Palin. She adds balance to the ticket. Obama and Biden are both Senators and in my estimation are too similar and unbalanced. Bottom line is Obama does not have the experience necessary to be President in these most difficult times. He can talk the talk but has not yet walked the walk...look past the facade!!!!
Miss Confused
You don't have anything more substantial than a left wing blog ? Isn't No Quarter a biased blog ? Don't you have something a little more credible ?
She was brilliant
Palin was a straight talker, she uses common language easy to understand by a common man who is not into hifalutin words. I'm a simple man, I don't care for cerebral languages, fancy words has tendency to deliver fancy filth. Joe Biden is so out of touch with mainstreet, the man didn't even know Katie's Restaurant has closed its door years ago. There was nothing new with Joe Biden's rhetoric, recycled mantra from other politicians who made US Congress their home.
We need fresh VP, coming from mainstreet, know what we regular people face every day, we have enough of career politicians. Biden fibbed not less than 20 times in that debate, how much more lying we need before we open our eyes and ears? Sarah Palin is one of us, Biden, Obama belong to another planet. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
This comment section is under an organized
hit by PUMA
PUMA - blog.pumapac.org - it attempting to orchestrate it's members to go to Blogher blogs with any mention of Presidential politics and spam it with the PUMA meme. This is one of their "action alerts" or "prowls" as they call them.
PaddyCake, Miss Confused (most definately not a "Miss"), Barb P and tuggles at minimum here are from PUMA pac blog.
I wrote my comment earlier
I wrote my comment earlier before reading this comment.
Thanks for heads up. Unfortunate that this is a game for folks. That the Republicans would consort with an organization such as this, because they have a lousy ticket this year.
Oh, that explains things
Thanks, gimmeabreak! LOL! I was going to suggest that these posters check out http://www.fightthesmears.com/ to get the real stories behind the nonsense that they are spouting. But assuming what you say is true, that would probably be a waste of time.
Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast