McCain aide cites 'failure of management'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/14/art.davis.gi.jpg caption="Davis managed McCain's campaign."](CNN) - Rick Davis, the campaign manager for former John McCain's White House bid, came to Sarah Palin's defense in an upcoming interview with the National Review, saying the now-infamous $150,000 clothing tab for the Alaska governor was caused by a "failure of management."
In the interview, set for publication next week, Davis notes Palin's appearance at the Republican convention came only days after she was named to the GOP ticket, and the Alaska governor had few clothes on hand that were appropriate for the event.
“We flew her out from Alaska to Arizona to Ohio to introduce her to the world and take control of her life. She didn’t think ‘dress for the convention’, because it might have just been a nice day trip to Arizona if she didn’t click with John. Very little prep had been done and if it had, we might have gotten picked off by the press. We were under incredible scrutiny."
"We were under incredible scrutiny," he added. "We got her a gal from New York and we thought, ‘Let’s get some clothes for her and the family.’ It was a failure of management not to get better control and track of that. "The right hand didn’t know what the left hand was doing, what it was worth or where it was going. No one knew how much that stuff was worth. It was more our responsibility than hers.”
News of the pricey tab caused a media firestorm days before the presidential election, and McCain aides appeared to blame Palin for the mishap, while the Alaska governor said she was forced to buy the clothes.
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Yawn. I sure hope this is an attempt to make her look better so she can lead the Republican party. The blind leading the blind....100% the best thing they could possibly do for the Democrats.
His explanation tells me that she was not properly vetted and they only chose her for McCain's political gains. Country First? I think not!
They just need to quit talking about the campaign and Palin. The more they talk, the more they sound like bafoons.
Sorry, but I don't think it was just about the clothes. Please, even if they had come from Wal Mart, it does not change the facts and reality that the choice of Sarah Palin was a mistake from the start, and her conduct since her loss – elbowing aside the entire Republican Party – is even further proof of it. The woman simply was not qualified all the way around, and clothes were not going to make any difference. This hoopla about it is just another distraction from the real problem: Sarah Palin, herself, and the McCain people for choosing her. Watch out for this "rogue" "Diva", she is on a mission, and it is all about her. Keep her in the public eye and she will delude herself she is good at what she does.
A lot of people on thes blogs are asking why
Barack Obama is praised before he is actualy
started. Well this is the answer:
Because he has already gave so many, yes millions and
millions of people over the whole world, HOPE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR US ALL!
We never have seen something like that in history.
I live in the Netherlands and so many off us realy love that man, is 'nt
that a miracle?.
Thats why!
The Democrats on this blog and their hypocrisy never fail to amaze!
After all the endless, digusting ageism that was thrown at McCain (senile, doddering, drooling), they have the b*lls to criticize a Republican for saying "gal"!
Look in the mirror, Democrats. You've won a battle, but lost your soul in the process.
There is an E mail out that shows a Tombstone that says USA Julye= 4, 1979, Suicide Nov 4, 2008....the above comments show the ignorance.
Sarah Palin had nothing to do w/the Clothes, or anything except to do the job as she does in Alaska:
81% Approval Rating
PUt crooks from her own party and Oil Compnay people in jail
dropped property taxes
3200.00 check to families because of budget overage
HEY GUYS NO BUDGET DEFICIT.
How dumb can people be? She's a cross between Teddy Roosevelt and Harry Truman.
Joanne Buck
Mn
The scariest part of this articles was "She didn’t think ‘dress for the convention’, because it might have just been a nice day trip to Arizona if she didn’t click with John." Oh, and I thought she was "vetted" extensively.
Argh.
Seems like the one's with the most negative responses are those who claim to have WON! While my candidate wasn't elected I still feel like I've won, I still live in the best country in this world and the way we go about electing our leaders is far better than anywhere else. If I were to take personally all that's said against the GOP, I guess I should be feeling like a loser...I don't and I won't. God Bless America!
John McCain won the Republican nomination 3months before Obama, had close to 6months to choose a VP. That his final choice was made in haste forgoing vetting and "forcing" the campaign to buy new wardrobe for the VP nominee, says much about his leadership skills.
Wonder who from the MCShame camp said this famous quote:
"Wasilla Hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast"?
She saw what was going on and not once said anything to the contrary. PLEAZZZE – if she can't be responsible for something so simple, how can she be trusted with really important decisions – ethical or otherwise? WE SEE THROUGH YOU MS PALIN, and it's not a pretty view. Wink -wink.
I knew we couldn't go one day without something about the Snow Princess. I hope it's almost over. She really is not worth the time.
and the republicans are still lying, you would think that they would have learned their lesson by now. i love our new president.
I hope this shows the GOP that they really do need diversity in their camp. Any sane person who really works hard for a living would have vetoed those clothes. But no, the GOP is driven by money and power and the leader was a man who doesn't know how many homes he owns. No wonder they lost.
A friend of mine told me that the GOP has two elements. Those with money and the Evangelicals (the base). Most of the fat cats with money have made enough, and they just want the White House to make more and keep what they have. In order to do that they need the foot soldiers (the Evangelicals) to do their dirty work and convince others that they are for the people.
This in my opinion is a sick, sick party who thinks nothing of most Americans and hates the government until Wall Street fumbles and they need a bail out. Wake up America, the GOP should be regulated to a small insignificant party, where they belong.
What? She showed up in blue jeans and a second hand blouse to interview for the Vice-Presidency? And there was no one left in Alaska that could bring her clothes down to her? Just another sign that she wasn't prepared to run for national office.
OK, your off the hook, now go away!!!
Sounds like yet another republican excuse. Maybe she needed clothes, but why so many and why so expensive? You can get nice stuff for less than 150K!
Ameicans have lost thier ability to see that there is an enemy now in our midst that we better stop.
No Sarah Palin either – she's quality.
Jack CArlson
Seattle. Wa
Davis just doesn't get it...it wasn't a filure of management...it was a failure of veracity.
On one hand they were selling Palin as the average American, but Republicans don't really believe in average Americans (they only use them by appealing to their fears) so they have to dress her up like a Colorfom Barbie-something their REAL constituents would approve of.
Doesn't he get that no one would have cared about the price tag if they were not constructing yet another lie to sell to the American Public...they are so lost they blame it on management? No wonder they lost in a landslide.
I think the worst part of all of this is not Palin or McCain. It's all of the hateful and nasty so called Americans in this blog and I am a Obama supporter. I do believe he was the best for all of us, but to criticize the woman and man for everything you feel is wrong. What a pity. I have had enough of all of you. Americans my butt.
the choice was so freekin' hap-hazzard they didn't even know if she would make it out of her Arizona meeting with McCain.... thank heavens he was not elected.
The whole Republican campaign including the pick of Palin was "failure of management".
I wonder how the right wing Republicans feel about the McCain/Graham meeting with president elect Obama. Any reconciliation between these two will further marginalize them!!
Dude,
Basically, you just shot your whole campaign in the foot. This just PROVES that you were not prepared to pick her. No plans for that. It was a last minute, lame a*s pick. A hail mary, shot in the dark. No vetting, nothing.
Once again- country first my eye.
Please be fair, Obama spent 3 M for half hour TV time? She had to be ready to be a candidate in one week not 2 years.
Yes, we noticed! And thank McCain for picking Palin who despite denials deserves lots of credit for that as do the Republican wing(s) that urged McCain to retailor himself to fit the "Base." He went in with a great reputation as a national hero, but the base as well as Bush brought him down very low...he really sold himself out and which is almost a tragedy..except he went along with it.
The most interesting part of this "Mea Culpa" by McCain`s top aide is the point that it was all done with very little thought or foresight. It reinforces the notion that picking Palin in the first place was a "fly by the seat of your pants" mentality, that may work very well for a fighter pilot; but is really dumb in politics. It becomes clearer every day what an unmitigated disaster America averted in giving the Republicans the boot!!