Palin should step down, conservative commentator says
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/26/art.palin.gi.jpg caption="Palin was in New York City Thursday."](CNN) - Prominent conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is "out of her league" and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party.
The criticism in Parker's Friday column is the latest in a recent string of negative assessments toward the McCain-Palin candidacy from prominent conservatives.
It was fun while it lasted," Parker writes. "Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who is clearly out of her league."
Palin's interview with Couric drew criticism when the Alaska governor was unable to provide an example of when John McCain had pushed for more regulation of Wall Street during his Senate career. Palin also took heat for defending her foreign policy credentials by suggesting Russian leaders enter Alaska airspace when they come to America. Palin was also criticized last week for appearing not to know what the Bush Doctrine is during an interview with Charlie Gibson.
“If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself," Parker also writes. "If Palin were a man, we’d all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she’s a woman — and the first ever on a Republican presidential ticket — we are reluctant to say what is painfully true."
Parker, who praised McCain's "keen judgment" for picking Palin earlier this month and wrote the Alaska governor is a "perfect storm of God, Mom and apple pie," now says Palin should step down from the ticket.
“Only Palin can save McCain, her party, and the country she loves," Parker writes. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first. Do it for your country."
Parker's comments follow those by prominent conservatives David Brooks, George Will, and David Frum who have all publicly questioned Palin's readiness to be vice president.
"Sarah Palin has many virtues," Brooks wrote in a recent column. "If you wanted someone to destroy a corrupt establishment, she'd be your woman. But the constructive act of governance is another matter. She has not been engaged in national issues, does not have a repertoire of historic patterns and, like President Bush, she seems to compensate for her lack of experience with brashness and excessive decisiveness."
Mama always said to watch out for dem pitbulls. They will bite ya.... and leave ya fatally wounded ...like my friend bubba wuz. She said they dem pitbulls belong locked up somewhere.....somewhere cold...like Alaska. She also told me not to let dem pitbulls in the White Hause.....they'll just tear up the new plastic on mama's old sofa. Mama wouldn't like that.
Palin had a month to prepare for this interview and she looked like a jay walker from the Tonight show.
This showed her inabilities as well as the ineptness of the McCain campaign to groom her.
The McCain/Palin ticket is starting to look pathetic.
Oh be quiet, Parker! I like Sarah Palin, her family, her record and I want to see what she can do for our country. We are all just humans here, some are just a little more "real" and honest than others and these are the humans I want to see leading our country–McCain and Palin not Obama and Biden who thankfully I could NEVER identify with in a hundred years.
This is a home run for the "good guys". I would respect her decision and I bet it would help McCain – not that I want to see that happen... but she clearly is in WAYYYYY over her head. Maybe Carly Fiorina wasn't so crazy after all.
DEFINITELY she wasn't.
You have got to be kidding...America, wake up and see what is happening to you – McCain/Pailin are counting on your "stupidity" to get elected – show them you are not falling for there ridiculous stunts. How in Heavens name could McCain have picked someone he knew nothing about except she was a woman and that is what he needed to try to sneak into the White House. He nor She is capable of leading anything no less our great country. Please I beg you – don't let him get away with his ploys. Stop him in his tracks and get someone in there who will help us not HURT us.
As an Obama supporter, I say that Sarah should finish what she started and stay on the ticket......HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!
By the way, when a conservative commentator compares you to Dubya, you know you're screwed. The funny thing is that even if McCain replaces her with someone else, he'll still lose because he's demonstrated how poor his decision-making skills are.
It will take a Republican to tell the truth before it resonates. Finally. The American people are very concerned about Palin being in the white house and possibly being the president. It is a scary thought, just for politcal gain for McCain.
I have been against Palin since day 1 ..... but now reading this story and others I am actually feeling bad for the girl.
BUT not bad enough to keep voting for Obama
President Palin should stay…among so many other countless reasons, at least so that the government can tell women what to do with their bodies after they have been raped.
We love you Sarah! Good Guys/Bad Guys! Hockey Moms! Pit Bulls Guns and Moose Stew!!! Russia from my balcony…or from an island in Alaska..which one is it?
At last....Thank you conservatives.
OK, maybe the plan is to have her deliberately come across like this so that everyone will think she won the VP debate just by showing up.
OR maybe she is saving her brilliance for the debate so that we could all be shocked and amazed.
In either case, it's a sad day for America. What I've learned from Republicans...Smart=Bad.
I don't want McCain to win, but had he at least picked a competent #2 I'd would have felt like all was not lost. Palin has obliterated my mental peace, not b/c of the Hillary factor but b/c I am probably better suited to be #2 than she is. I've actually been outside of the country more than she has (heck so have my kids), and by her definition I have more foreign policy experience than she does.
I think this was all a trick to get more attention on McCain. Now will the real VP candidate come out. I guess we'll have an October surprise after all.
McCain is really, really loosing his mind!! Would you people please, please believe this now!!! I live in AZ and understand what has happened to this OLD man in the last few years. McCain used this women for OLD time politics–show, show and more shows to grab a bit of stage time. This does not work in a global technological world anymore!!! I truely feel sorry for her and she needs to go back to Alaska and take care of her family. I think she is falling apart and McCain does NOT care about anyone but himself and this is just more proof of his aging mind!!
It goes to show that her 15 minutes of fame is "ova!" Clearly, picking Palin was a gimic to pander women voters. The American woman is very smart! It let's you know how sexist the McCain campaign is. They constantly underestimate women and they think that they are easily fooled by someone who looks like them.
Obama/Biden
Oh my goodness!!!!! Everyone is seeing the truth!!!!! It's amazing!!!!! God this election year is like a reality show on drugs!!!!
Even the conservatives think she should resign McCain's campaign!
Tom
Really...Palin step down....We the people think the
MCCAIN/PALIN is the winning ticket come November 4,2008
Why because we need more the common sense of Gov Palin then
the now political games played...Freign..domestic..financial..etc
and all came down run by those so-called experts...Palin is on the
winning ticket.........YES SHE CAN...with McCain in the White House.
Hahahaha! This is hilarious! What happened to the "Palin Factor"? Now, the Republicans don't want her anymore? If they try to ditch her at some pitiful attempt to save McCain's campaign, I bet they're going to lose even more votes. This is laughable! Who would be crazy enough to be McCain's second pick for VP? If McCain does this... it would really show that he does not have the behavior or judgement of a man who anyone should elect to be President of the United States? The top of the ticket should be strong enough...and he's not.
Look, McCain s campaign is tanking so he 's desparete. Newt goes to him and says this is win win, she can inject some energy and maybe help you out if not she gets through the election carrying a big burden, you and then in 4 years she's ready to roll. I don't like Palin, I think she's not smart, but it does in fact take guts by anyone to stand her heels and take on McCain and the RNCs terrible brand right now.
Sarah Palin is a true winner for the Republican VP slot! This nonsensical article was obviously funded by the opposition who is going to lose this election!
Perhaps it should become a prerequsite for any presidential candidate themselves to have at least served as a governor of a state before being allowed to campaign for the presidency of our great country!
The real lesson here is about Sen. McCain... ROTE above said it all: "All gamble, no deliberation."
How can one's jaw not drop when all she has to say about foreign policy experience is commander-in-chief of the Alaska National Guard, son in Iraq, and Alaska's close to Russia?
The worst part of the Cuuric interview was the substance - I don't expect Gov. Palin to have chapter and verse of Sen. McCain's legislative history at her fingertips - it was the deer-in-the-headlights look, the hesitation, the anxious elevated pitch of her voice.
And more importantly, how can McCain's jaw not drop?
Scott L,
Please let it go. It's over for your guy McCain.
Give me a break, like Joe Biden has done such a steller job as the VP candidate for the other side. Let's see in this week alone, he did not know that tvs were not invented back in 1929, FDR was still the governor of NY in 1929, agreed that Obama's ad against McCain lack of use of a computer was wrong. What a week for the so called stronger VP pick.
What Kathleen says, is unfortunately, true. We absolutely cannot chance the possibility that Palin might have to take over as President. This country, during this time in history, needs the best America has to offer.
And I could not believe that she actually defended her statement on the fact that she claims Foreign policy experience based on the proximity of Alaska with Russia...I just couldn't believe that when I heard it on the interview!
So this does not really surprise me.
She isn't any dumber than the President we have now....lol