No comment. Still not ready.

Saturday, September 6, 2008
Colorado and New Mexico

10:00am Media Interview
10:30am Satellite into AARP Convention
11:30am Media Interview
12:30pm MT “The Road to Victory Rally”
Colorado Springs, CO
1:45pm MT Depart Colorado
2:50pm MT Arrive NM
3:30pm MT Media Interviews
7:00pm MT “The Road to Victory Rally”
Albuquerque Convention Center

“There’s also this issue that on April 18th, she gave birth to a baby with Down’s Syndrome…. Children with Down’s syndrome require an awful lot of attention. The role of Vice President, it seems to me, would take up an awful lot of her time, and it raises the issue of how much time will she have to dedicate to her newborn child?” John Roberts CNN

“How can a woman run a state and bring up five children at the same time?… I think they have every right to ask that…” Liz Trotta, Media Prof at New School

“Is she prepared for the all-consuming nature of the job? She is the mother of five children, one of them a four-month-old with Down Syndrome. Her first priority has to be her children. When the phone rings at three in the morning and one of her children is really sick what choice will she make?” Sally Quinn, Washington Post

“Adding to the brutality of a national campaign, the Palin family also has an infant with special needs. What leads you, the Senator, and the Governor to believe that one won’t affect the other in the next couple of months?” Bill Weir, Good Morning America

” There is another question though which essentially I’ve heard expressed here many times today and from calls elsewhere, and that is the decision made by Sarah Palin herself, when knowing her daughter’s condition, by accepting John McCain’s offer she guaranteed that her daughter would be known globally as the best known 17-year-old unwed teenager in the world, and that decision many people question… The question of how it affected her daughter is not open to question. It has made her daughter a front-page item for the country.” Mark Shields, PBS

“But there’s also, I think the part of it is the particular dynamic of her family, Megan. Her youngest child, down’s syndrome and now her oldest daughter is pregnant. And there are some moms out there that are angry, that are saying she has put her family unfairly into the spotlight.” Meredith Viera, Today

“Congresswoman, what about the argument that, you know, vice president is a tough job, and that having a four month old baby, who has Down’s Syndrome, that will have special needs, requires extra time, that, that she should be focusing on her four month old, that some people have said that, fairly or unfairly. What do you think of that?’ Norah O’Donnell, MSNBC

Originally Posted by trumptman

HotAir

Originally Posted by trumptman

HotAir





Thank goodness all that sexism stuff is just made up.

I think she'll probably agree to the interviews that allow her to wear shoes and don't demand to be shot in her kitchen.

Originally Posted by BRussell

Hmm, I looked at that link, and it says that it's Saturday's schedule for McCain and Palin. It's pretty clear that those interviews were of McCain and not Palin - McCain was on Face the Nation on Sunday, for example. On the other hand, if there had been a Palin interview, not only would it have been big news and we'd all have seen it and it would now be on youtube, it would also contradict the stated position of the McCain campaign that Palin would not be doing interviews or press conferences.

So why did you post that as if Palin was doing media interviews?

Originally Posted by jimmac

What?

So I'm not really clear on what you're saying here. That she is too busy to have an interview because of her duties as a mother of a child with Down's syndrome? In which case if she can't do an interview she doesn't have the time to devote to being VP.

Or is it that because she's a mother with a child with special needs it qualifies her for being VP which I'm sorry but I don't see the connection.

Also I don't see any sexism in that quote and how does this address the question of her readiness other than casting doubt.

Originally Posted by trumptman

I think she'll probably agree to the interviews that allow her to wear shoes and don't demand to be shot in her kitchen.

Originally Posted by groverat

Sarah Palin on "sexism" whining

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Karen Breslau: When you look at the coverage, when you listen to the conversations, what do you see?

Palin: Well, you know, I think fair or unfair, the...and I do think it is a more concentrated criticism that Hillary gets on so many fronts. I think that's unfortunate, but fair or unfair, I think she does herself a disservice to even mention it, really. I mean, you gotta plow through that. You have to know what you're getting into, which...I say this will all due respect to Hillary Clinton and to her experience and to her passion for changing the status quo also. But when I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate with any kind of perceived whine about that excess criticism or maybe a shaper microscope put on her, I think "man, that doesn't do us any good" - women in politics, women in general wanting to progress this country. I don't think it bodes well for her, a statement like that, because again, fair or unfair, it is there. I think that's reality, and I think it's a given. I think people can just accept that she is going to be under that sharper microscope. So be it! I mean, work harder, prove yourself to an even greater degree that you're capable, that you're going to be the best candidate, and that of course is what she wants us to believe at this point. So it bothers me a little bit hearing her bring that attention to herself on that level.

So sexism does exist and Hillary is a victim of it, but if she mentions that fact she's really just whining. She should just work twice as hard to prove herself without ever acknowledging that it is, in fact, unfair. After all, it has never 'done us any good' as women to call out sexism. Just ignore it and it will go away!
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Originally Posted by jimmac

After all I just saw Biden on " Meet The Press ". Good interview also.

Originally Posted by trumptman

I have nothing against the guy but he came across as very flat and tired. It seemed he spent half the time almost mumbling.

Originally Posted by BRussell

It's great that you, after all the "men's rights" threads you've posted over the years, are now so concerned about sexism against women, but perhaps as a time-out from your heartfelt feminist crusade, do you want to address whether your previous post suggesting that Palin was doing media interviews was accurate or not?

Originally Posted by trumptman

The media currently wants to interview her about sexist topics they are pursuing to tear her down in their liberal interests.

Barack Obama has two young children. Has any newscaster EVER suggested he shouldn't run for the office due to their concerns? Saying a woman shouldn't take the job because she needs to stay home and take care of the kids is about the most sexist assertion one could make.

You don't have to take my word on it.

You know, it's early in the process and the voters are going to make judgments about Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, and--but the truth is they're mostly going to make judgments about Barack Obama and John McCain. Vice presidents are useful, but we're not, we're not determinative.

Originally Posted by jimmac

You just cited " Down Syndrome ". That's certainly not a condition every parent faces. It was also used in a question about her ability to do interviews.

I imagine most occupants of the Whitehouse over the years have had children and found a way to deal with both commitments.

So the question remains ( the same questiion Biden was asking this morning on " Meet The Press " ) what are her positions on a number of issues. Practically all we've heard is : We shouldn't vote for Obama because of lack of experience. She's for off shore drilling. She's for staying in Iraq. We should vote for McCain because he's the only on fit to lead.

The rest was a little vague.

Now I'm sorry but rhetoric aside it comes up a little short on the issues.

Hence the need for interviews

Huh? I've never heard anyone say Palin couldn't do interviews because she was attending to her infant.

Originally Posted by trumptman

Exclusive! In his first Sunday morning interview since accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for Vice President, Sen. Joe Biden goes one-on-one with Tom Brokaw live from Wilmington, Delaware. Plus, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman joined us to talk about his new book on climate change and energy, "Hot, Flat, and Crowded."

Gee you mean Biden didn't go on the first weekend after the convention? He must have been ducking the press.

Originally Posted by trumptman

Huh? I've never heard anyone say Palin couldn't do interviews because she was attending to her infant.



Exactly so why all the questions now? Sexism.



Democratic carping is not the same thing as an interview. Palin's views on many things are already known and will be known to a further degree when the interviewer wants to ask her about issues as opposed to asking her if a woman really should become VP when they really ought to be home raising kids.

Palin's views on many things are already known

Originally Posted by trumptman

Exclusive! In his first Sunday morning interview since accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for Vice President, Sen. Joe Biden goes one-on-one with Tom Brokaw live from Wilmington, Delaware. Plus, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman joined us to talk about his new book on climate change and energy, "Hot, Flat, and Crowded."

Gee you mean Biden didn't go on the first weekend after the convention? He must have been ducking the press.

Originally Posted by jimmac

I think he got to it soon enough. At least he got to it and you do know where he stands on a number of issues.

VP are useful and not the main issue. The guy running for the main job is. Which is why I also question this recent idea that Palin is eclipsing McCain. Why because she's a woman? That's kind of sexist! Like Hillary said in her speech. Are you in it for her or the issues?

Where's Palin?

Originally Posted by BRussell

Man, I'm sorry Nick, but this is just dishonest. It was his first "Sunday morning interview?" Yeah, but he was on 60 Minutes last week - you know, Sunday evening. You know him, he'll talk and talk to anyone who will listen.

And it's also dishonest to post a McCain/Palin schedule that includes "media interviews" to suggest that Palin is doing interviews when the McCain campaign has explicitly said she isn't doing interviews.

The point is that Biden did not interview on the Sunday shows in the same time frame as we are discussing for Palin and you and no one else accused him of ducking the press.

We hear talk about Palin's hair, clothes and glasses and none about Biden's hair plugs and spray tan.

It is ridiculous to complain about not knowing issues when the media, in a frenzy doesn't want to inquire about issues but about crap.

It is nonsense.

It wasn't an important issue and Obama was asked several substantive questions before it. However it shows the respect that Obama is accorded that Palin is not.

Originally Posted by trumptman

The claim was that she wasn't doing the Sunday morning talk shows while the other three were. If you don't like the characterization, take it up with MTP. It is quoted verbatim from their website.

Can you quote for me the campaign saying she won't do interviews? Hot Air hit on this meme.

Originally Posted by trumptman

The point is that Biden did not interview on the Sunday shows in the same time frame as we are discussing for Palin and you and no one else accused him of ducking the press. We hear about McCain being a zillion years old when Biden is 6 years younger and is a "seasoned citizen" as well. We hear talk about Palin's hair, clothes and glasses and none about Biden's hair plugs and spray tan.

It is ridiculous to complain about not knowing issues when the media, in a frenzy doesn't want to inquire about issues but about crap. Not even good or interesting crap like did you like the pot when you tried it Mrs. Palin? Instead they want to show their rage about their messiah being challenged, toss their principles to the wind and attack Palin about why she isn't June Cleaver. It is nonsense.

George Ste... screw spelling that was interviewing Obama today and they had a very cute exchange about Palin having lead her basketball team to the state championship and whether she or Obama would win in a game of HORSE or other basketball challenge. It wasn't an important issue and Obama was asked several substantive questions before it. However it shows the respect that Obama is accorded that Palin is not. It was cute, nice and very humanizing. Asking if your son is really your grandson, about kids that are off limits by informal rules and also by the demands of both campaigns, etc. means the media just doesn't get it yet. Perhaps a few have and we will see those interviews. I want to see them too.

I have no doubt that this woman will continue to persuade and will bring more voters to the Republican ticket. She has done so in the past and I have no doubt about the future. The media in their bias forgot the ground rules. When they remember them, the interviews will happen.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Republican vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin is offering her first televised interview to ABC News in the coming week in Alaska.

Palin, the surprise pick of Republican presidential nominee John McCain, has been giving campaign speeches alongside the Arizona senator since the GOP convention but has not sat down for an interview about her views.

A McCain-Palin adviser says an interview was offered to ABC's Charlie Gibson several days ago and that they expect it to happen in the latter part of the week in Alaska. Palin is the governor of Alaska and is expected to return home at midweek after more joint appearances with McCain.

Originally Posted by BRussell

Their characterization was just fine: The first sunday morning talk show interview with him since his selection. We all know that those 4 sunday morning shows compete with each other, and MTP scored the first one with Biden. What was dishonest was your presentation of it: "Gee you mean Biden didn't go on the first weekend after the convention? He must have been ducking the press." He did go on the first weekend, on 60 minutes, and no one believes he doesn't talk to the press because he needs to be briefed on the issues first.

I did above, and the appropriately-named Hot Air, where you got this dishonesty about the McCain/Palin schedule of media interviews, also has a McCain campaign response in it.

It's just one dishonest talking point after another, and when one gets shot down, it's right on to the next one.

The claim was about Sunday morning talk shows so that is what I addressed.

Originally Posted by trumptman

The point is that Biden did not interview on the Sunday shows in the same time frame as we are discussing for Palin and you and no one else accused him of ducking the press. We hear about McCain being a zillion years old when Biden is 6 years younger and is a "seasoned citizen" as well. We hear talk about Palin's hair, clothes and glasses and none about Biden's hair plugs and spray tan.

It is ridiculous to complain about not knowing issues when the media, in a frenzy doesn't want to inquire about issues but about crap. Not even good or interesting crap like did you like the pot when you tried it Mrs. Palin? Instead they want to show their rage about their messiah being challenged, toss their principles to the wind and attack Palin about why she isn't June Cleaver. It is nonsense.

George Ste... screw spelling that was interviewing Obama today and they had a very cute exchange about Palin having lead her basketball team to the state championship and whether she or Obama would win in a game of HORSE or other basketball challenge. It wasn't an important issue and Obama was asked several substantive questions before it. However it shows the respect that Obama is accorded that Palin is not. It was cute, nice and very humanizing. Asking if your son is really your grandson, about kids that are off limits by informal rules and also by the demands of both campaigns, etc. means the media just doesn't get it yet. Perhaps a few have and we will see those interviews. I want to see them too.

I have no doubt that this woman will continue to persuade and will bring more voters to the Republican ticket. She has done so in the past and I have no doubt about the future. The media in their bias forgot the ground rules. When they remember them, the interviews will happen.

Originally Posted by jimmac

That's nice. What about her views?

There could be press releases, speeches, and I'm sure there will be interviews as well when the parties care to discuss positions instead of discussing her pregnant daughter or if Trig is her son.

ABC's Political Punch reports on Sarah Palin's speech today:

"She said she "championed reform of earmark spending by Congress, and I told the Congress thanks but no thanks on that 'Bridge to Nowhere'", she said, ommiting (sic) mention that she'd campaigned for governor supporting the bridge."
I take it most readers of this blog will know that this is a flat-out lie.

When politicians lie -- and here I mean not just putting the best spin on things, but out and out lying -- they might as well walk up to each and every one of us and say: Hello! I have no respect for the value of your time! You might have other things to do -- work, playing with your kids, taking a long hike in the mountains, whatever -- but I don't care. I'm going to put you in a position where you're going to have to research everything I say, or else just give up on your civic duty. You don't get to assume that my words are, if not exactly true, at least somewhere in the general vicinity of the truth, and decide whether or not to vote for me. If you want to be an informed citizen, you'll have to become obsessive, like hilzoy.

They might as well add: I have no respect for democracy. In a democracy, citizens listen to what each side has to say and decide who to vote for. To work, it requires that what each side says bears some resemblance to the truth. If I cared about democracy, I'd respect those limits -- maybe stretching the truth every now and then, but generally maintaining some sort of relationship between what I say and reality. But guess what? I don't care about democracy! If winning requires that I make things up out of whole cloth and hope that I'm successful enough to frustrate the popular will, then that's what I'll do. Don't like it? Think democracy is a good system, one that we should cherish? That's just too bad.

But Palin has gone beyond this. She is not just telling lies; she's telling lies that have been exposed as lies, and that have gotten a lot of attention. Assuming she does not actually want to lose, she must assume that her audience either doesn't know that she's lying, or doesn't care. In either case, it's deeply cynical, and deeply insulting.

I just hope she isn't right.

Originally Posted by trumptman

She can certainly put her views out there with or without the media. There could be press releases, speeches, and I'm sure there will be interviews as well when the parties care to discuss positions instead of discussing her pregnant daughter or if Trig is her son.