Flirting her way to victory: Sarah Palin's farcical debate performance lowered the standards for both female candidates and US political discourse

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Sun Oct 5, 2008 7:45 PM EDT

Article Source: Guardian Unlimited

At least three times last night, Sarah Palin, the adorable, preposterous vice-presidential candidate, winked at the audience. Had a male candidate with a similar reputation for attractive vapidity made such a brazen attempt to flirt his way into the good graces of the voting public, it would have universally noted, discussed and mocked. Palin, however, has single-handedly so lowered the standards both for female candidates and American political discourse that, with her newfound ability to speak in more-or-less full sentences, she is now deemed to have performed acceptably last night.

By any normal standard, including the ones applied to male presidential candidates of either party, she did not. Early on, she made the astonishing announcement that she had no intentions of actually answering the queries put to her. "I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record also," she said.

It was an appalling display.

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{"commentId":3326650,"authorDomain":"nearing"}

nearing

What kind of maverick, after all, keeps harping on what a maverick she is? That her performance was considered anything but a farce doesn't show how high Palin has risen, but how low we all have sunk.

Indeed.

Please note: I intend to keep the discussions of this seed on-topic. Political thread-jacking will not be tolerated. Thank you.

{"commentId":3326650,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"nearing"}

7 votes

#1 - Sun Oct 5, 2008 7:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":3326745,"authorDomain":"e-2"}

e-2

I couldn't agree more.

What could John McCain be thinking!? Mind boggling if you ask me.

{"commentId":3326745,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"e-2"}

5 votes

#2 - Sun Oct 5, 2008 7:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":3327603,"authorDomain":"christhecanadian"}

Chris the Canadian

Thanks for seeding this. Yet another example why concerned readers get alternate news and views from decent foreign sources like The Guardian, avoiding a lot of the political propaganda. This is how much of the world sees the USA. America deserves better.

Wink. You betcha, doggone it.

{"commentId":3327603,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"christhecanadian"}

6 votes

#3 - Sun Oct 5, 2008 9:04 PM EDT

{"commentId":3327924,"authorDomain":"wildbutterflies13"}

wildbutterflies13

She has in some ways made me ashamed to be female, thankfully, with three brothers and all their friends, I learned very early on that I had to know more and be smarter than them to get their respect. I couldn't just play the part of a ditzy female and get their respect. I had to think on their level and prove it. I was cute and all, but not beauty queen status and I know that they thought more highly of me than the size of my breasts, (even if their male egos just wanted to squeeze them and make me explode in validation of their perceived self-worth).

{"commentId":3327924,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"wildbutterflies13"}

5 votes

#4 - Sun Oct 5, 2008 9:28 PM EDT

{"commentId":3329547,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

MinnieApolis

I suppose she thinks it is OK to wink in a serious forum like that. I am left wondering, did she also wink at all the foreign dignitaries she was introduced to at the U.N.?? Pardon me while I die of embarrassment.

{"commentId":3329547,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

7 votes

#5 - Sun Oct 5, 2008 10:58 PM EDT

{"commentId":3330759,"authorDomain":"tessatito"}

tessatito

Throughout the debate Palin "pulled a Bush." I thought it extremely condescending to assume that us working class folk aren't cued in on poilcy try to flirt her way through it. For example, using "Joe six pack" references, saying Biden's wife's "reward is in heaven?"Give me a break! I agree with you MinnieAplis..I may die of embarassment as well.

{"commentId":3330759,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"tessatito"}

5 votes

#6 - Mon Oct 6, 2008 12:23 AM EDT

{"commentId":3330984,"authorDomain":"Geminga"}

Geminga

...And for those Joe-six-packs, at home, playin' a drinkin' game..."maverick!"

{"commentId":3330984,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"Geminga"}

4 votes

#7 - Mon Oct 6, 2008 12:40 AM EDT

{"commentId":3331599,"authorDomain":"ludmila"}

Ludmila

I say as I see it, Palin is McCain's political bimbo. (It's pathetic, but she certainly has the right to be whatever.)

Her disrespect for the democratic process, that is, her reactionary mindset is troubling. She also confuses (or pretend to confuse) her ambition and confidence with competence. Bush is confused about these things too, and McCain as well.

Ambition DOES NOT equal competence .
Confidence DOES NOT equal competence .
Ambition plus confidence DOES NOT equal competence .

This country has great potential, but incompetence, especially when coupled with a reactionary mindset, threatens to squander this country greatness irreversibly.

Palin lacks competence. McCain lack it too just lack Bush. And Palin and Cheney seems equals when it comes to disrespect for the democratic process.

I'm pro Obama/Biden ticket because each of these persons have both competence and respect for the democratic process, that is, they have what it takes to lead this country.

- Ludmila

{"commentId":3331599,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"ludmila"}

8 votes

#8 - Mon Oct 6, 2008 1:40 AM EDT

{"commentId":3334108,"authorDomain":"mlangieri"}

Mike/MASS

Well, my philosophy in my business career has always been that "A" people hire "A" people (or suround themselves with the best. OTH, "B" people almost always hire "C" or "D" types, and in this case McCain, who finished a wonderful 895 out of 900 in his class may or may not be qualified to claim the "B" mantel. That being said... Sarah Palin, still under a National Press Corps blackout, looks like a "D" player at best with her cutesy, folksy, Joe 6-Pack interpretation of how to govern our country regardless of what the constitution or law says. For those of you old enough to remember, there was a comedian named Norm Crosby who made a living by butchering all phases of grammar and the English language. I think Sarah Palin has watched old TV show clips of Norm and molded herself in his image.The sad thing is that with 4 weeks to go in one of the most important elections of the past 50-odd years, McCain will not allow Palin to be cross-examined with follow-up questions with anyone worth a grain of salt in the Press... so we'll have to go on the belief that Caribou Barbie is exactly what we've seen and nothing deeper (or smarter).

{"commentId":3334108,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"mlangieri"}

6 votes

#9 - Mon Oct 6, 2008 9:28 AM EDT

{"commentId":3334417,"authorDomain":"ronco104"}

ron c. baker sr.

its sooooo damned galling...i cannot understand why an adult, any adult, would feel good about being taken for an idiot...by anyone, but especially by a son-of-a-@!$%#, or in palin's case, well...who is asking that you vote his, or her, ass into the single-most important, and god damned serious, position on this planet !!! not only feel good about it, but be proud of being a stupid, unquestioning...viodoid!!!

palin has killed off what was left of the 'debate' bit in this countries political realm. we can forget ever having anything remotely resembling meaningful debate of the ISSUES when one of the candidates says up-front and for all to hear, that she has no intention of answering the questions asked. and to date, i have not heard one single talking-head call her, and ultimately mccain and his 'campaign team (karl rove)' on this.

i am sickened by what i have seen of sarah palin, and sick to death of the people of this country who, with such little thought, go to polls and saddle their fellow citizens with a vapid, shallow....opportunist.

luv,

ron

{"commentId":3334417,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"ronco104"}

6 votes

#10 - Mon Oct 6, 2008 9:56 AM EDT

{"commentId":3360113,"authorDomain":"donna-dupree-davis"}

StaunchUndecided

This is essentially what bugged me about the showing she made at the debate. The debate was not a time to address the American public. She has all those campaign stops for that. It was a time to address the issues as they were presented to her and Senator Biden. Intead, she refused to do so after agreeing to attend the debate, I am reminded of a surly, passive-aggressive thirteen year old with her behavior. If she was raised as well as she says, didn't her parents teach her that there is a time and place for everything?

{"commentId":3360113,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"donna-dupree-davis"}

#10.1 - Tue Oct 7, 2008 4:07 PM EDT

{"commentId":3336309,"authorDomain":"dhardy8207"}

Southern Bell

"That her performance was considered anything but a farce doesn't show how high Palin has risen, but how low we all have sunk."

I think this truly says it all!

{"commentId":3336309,"threadId":"379849","contentId":"1957317","authorDomain":"dhardy8207"}

3 votes

#11 - Mon Oct 6, 2008 12:12 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"379849","isPrivate":false}

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Flirting her way to victory: Sarah Palin's farcical debate performance lowered the standards for both female candidates and US political discourse

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