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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Donna> The difference is, Obama buys his own clothes with money out of his own pocket. The RNC used donations to buy Sarah's ridiculous wardrobe, an ethical and legal no-no.
This past election was not lost by the Republicans because of this stupid issue. Quit talking about the failures and pointing fingers! Talk about how your going to change the party! I would start with Rick Davis...who the heck wants a Fannie and Freddie guy running their campaign? Oh yeah...that was Johnny MaC. Then it all went downhill from there!
Maybe the only reason for McCain to have picked Palin was that he wanted to be with well-dressed good looking women. What better boost to his male ego to be flanked by Cindy and Sarah both made-up to the hilt and dressed in expensive sophisticated clothes? What other reason could he have picked Palin for???? Can you think of any???
His comments show that McCain only took a day to meet and then determine Sarah as a suitable running mate. God Bless America for not hiring these fools to run our country.
The true "failure of management" was the selection of Alaska's Governor in the first place.
McCain would not have had to spend so much time, money and other resources on a good VP pick. In fact, a better selection could have gotten him the WH. Than again, maybe the conservative, religious right might not have voted for him, and he would have lost anyhow.
Regardless, Davis is right, the entire McCain campaign, from the Bush operatives to the lobbyists, was a "failure of management."
Plz. the whole thing was a circus. run by a bunch of clowns. the republican party needs to take some lessons from the dems on how to run a campaign without the name calling and mud slinging. they are pitiful. sad,sad,sad. better luck next time, but i doubt it.
Who cares, the past is the past... McCain was too liberal anyway. If given the choice between a liberal and a LIBERAL, why not go all the way and get the LIBERAL.
Palin figured out pretty quickly that they didn't have a chance. I credit her for still giving it the ol' college try. In the future, I think she will come back and do things her way and let the liberals run in circles.
"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."
This is an interesting comment I find considering that they claimed that McCain and Palin met several times before and that she was thoroughly vetted before being picked.
Sounds to me like she was a last minute choice not one of several candidates being considered. I somehow doubt she was even considered until Obama picked Biden. I think that Palin was an after thought and not the front runner in McCain's choices for VP.
It was more than just a failure of management – it was an attitude of arrogance and the belief that they were the chosen ones to win the election. The McCain campaign was horrendous.
How gallant. Palin and Todd knew what the value of the clothing was, and she sent out an aide to buy on their cards – adding to the $150,000. What I like a lot is that I don't think we're going to be talking about the Palins much in the future. She brings nothing to the table and never did. She certainly took a lot though. There isn't enough lipstick in Alaska to cover up who she is. The campaign revealed who McCain really is too, and I hope he's going under the radar as well.
The press descended upon her like a pack of starving wolves. The pro-Obama folks were so filled with hatred and fear that they traded viral web gossip about her with fanatical zeal. She and McCain were on the receiving end of the Obama campaign machine armed with a third of a billion dollars. Still, she's in the public eye. They can't keep a good woman down.
Excuses excuses ... they managed to fly Levi in from Alaska but not her clothes? You betcha
Damage control pure and simple. And what about the money spent using the aides' credit cards, what about Todd's silk underwear?
Now that everyone knows that 'She may not go away', they are all ingratiating themselves to her just in case her career moves forward.
She still denies her imbecilic behavior on the Couric interview, she still accuses Obama of infidelities with Ayers. She's still nuts, and a dangerous fundamentalist to boot. She's their celebrity candidate, even after they called Obama that! Palin/DeLay 2012. Frightening.
A "management failure" was the least of McCain's troubles.
A failure of ideas, a failure of performance, a failure of judgment in choosing an airhead as a running mate – those are the real problems.
Even her fellow governors wish Palin would disappear into the background. I'm not a Republican, but Romney, Ridge, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe – I could go on and on naming qualified Republicans on the national scene.
Palin makes you guys look bad. Put her in the back row where she belongs at your earliest opportunity. Better yet, don't give her money to run again – for ANYTHING.
sounds, or smells, like Davis is willing to fall on the sword to deflect the mess from Palin. Sure are a lot of conflicting stories about the clothing debacle, among other blunders committed by that campaign.
Meanwhile, Palin gets another 15 minutes in the spotlight and she couldn't be happier about it. This chick just can't get enough attention. What a narcissist.
McCain's administration would be as clueless about the national economy as his campaign was about their expenditures. Thank God the American people were smart enough to spare us a McCain presidency. We can't afford that.
I've seen plenty of professional, corporate women at work who aren't spending a fortune on clothes and look just as good. You can't claim to be this down to earth, just-like-you, kind of person and pick the most expensive stores to shop at. And by the way, if Republicans are looking for her to lead the party in the future then they are more out of touch than it looks right now.
The election is over... can we move on.... really.
thats the rep. party they dont get it they are history. the rep. party will be seen as a joke look at the governor convention. they appearntly
support palin as there leader funny she seemedto hav e diff. messages, then look at bush, mccain,paulson. this rick davis guy
maybe the gop needs to have a payer meeting! why dont the just go away??????
McCain didn't lose because there was a failure of management in his campaign. And he didn't even lose because he was blamed for eight years of failed policies by the republicans.
McCain lost because he was an inferior candidate. Obama is smarter and has better administrative and interpersonal skills, and he's a more inspiring leader. That's why McCain lost.
Just goes to show a fancy wardrobe and lipstick on this pitbull makes a DOG of a candidate. Can't wait to see if AKC lists Sarah as the most popular dog name this year.
Do you folks have jobs or lives to get on with.......what Sarah did or did not do is old news folks... go watch Obama walk on water.
IN 4 YRS FROM NOW. WHO WOULD WANT TO TRY AND GET IT BACK TO NORMAL. BIN LADDEN , WILL BE HERE WRITTING HIS BOOK, LIKE AYERS THIS MORNING ON ABC. WE ALL KNOW OBAMA WAS ABC'S DARLING , fOR THEY ALL REMOVED THERE LAPEL PINS IN SUPPORT OF OBAMA.
EVERYONE WILL BE TAXED BEYOND ALL THERE MEANS.
NO ONE NOW WANTS TO WORK . THEY ARE CRYING NOW FOR $1500. PACKAGES. THEN THERE ARE MANY TAX PAYERS THAT NEVER GOT THE FIRST ROUND. THE ILLEGALS AND DEMOCRATS CAME FIRST AND FORE MOST .
AND HE IS NOT EVEN SWORN IN , AN FARRAHAKAN IS GOING TO HAVE FRONT ROW SEAT AT THE BALL. I STILL SAY YOU HAVE LIVED THE BEST OF THE AMERICAN ERA .
Might as well have dressed her in Bermuda shorts and an "I'm with Stupid" t-shirt for all the good she did.
"A gal from New York"? Why didn't they get Stacy & Clinton? They could have "made her over" (if such a thing is possible; even S&C aren't miricle workers) for $5,000.00.
Wow..4 days and speech time. What decision making. Not her fault total failure from top down as to decision making. Well thank god..Obama won and we have a hopeful outlook.