Eugene Robinson: So Much for ‘Country First’

[marmar]

via Truthdig:




So Much for ‘Country First’

Posted on Sep 2, 2008
By Eugene Robinson


ST. PAUL, Minn.—Has anyone noticed that Sarah Palin’s central claim to political fame is a fraud? She represents herself as a fiscal conservative who abhors pork-barrel projects and said no thanks to the “bridge to nowhere”—a $398-million span that would have linked Ketchikan, Alaska, to its airport across the Tongass Narrows. But as mayor of Wasilla (pop. 9,780), she hired a Washington lobbyist to bring home the bacon. And just two years ago as a candidate for governor, she supported both the Ketchikan bridge and the congressional earmark that would have paid most of its cost.

I know, we’re not supposed to pay attention to such inconvenient details. We’re supposed to be dazzled by how unaffected she is, how plain-spoken, how “genuine.”

Indeed, if you don’t get hung up on her actual record, Palin simply is who she is. It’s not her fault that she’s a former Miss Wasilla with a campy “Northern Exposure” vibe, doctrinaire social-conservative views and no discernible qualifications for being vice president. It’s undeniable that people in Alaska apparently like her well enough, though they seem to have been even more shocked than the rest of us when she was named to the Republican ticket. In any event, she’s not the one who created this farcical situation.

We learned last week that John McCain is not who he is—not, at least, who he claims to be. The steady, straight-talking, country-first statesman his campaign has been selling is a fictional character. The real McCain is either alarmingly cynical or dangerously reckless.

You will recall that McCain gave the same prime criterion for choosing a running mate that every presidential candidate gives: someone who is ready to step in as president if, heaven forbid, the need arises. Barack Obama echoed those words before picking Joe Biden, who is about as prepared as a vice presidential candidate could ever be.

You will also recall that McCain and his supporters have been lecturing us about the grave and urgent dangers our country faces—Islamic fundamentalism, the resurgence of Russia and other geopolitical threats. In a menacing world, McCain says, he will keep America safe.

So, at 72 and with a history of cancer, how could McCain choose a vice presidential nominee who has, let’s face it, zero experience in foreign affairs? Being the nominal commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard doesn’t count, unless you think Vladimir Putin is about to order an invasion across the Bering Strait. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080901_so_much_for_country_first/

[ejpoeta]

1. straight and to the point.

this should be about mccain, not so much palin. the fact that he would choose a woman who has only been out of the country once.... who probably hasn't been out of alaska. the fact that he would choose his possible successor with no vetting.... having met her once or twice. a woman who, while claiming to be a reformer was on board with stevens until it was not politically expedient to be. a woman who was going after major earmarks. i think the scrubbing of the internet should be a big red flag as well. the media is scrambling, and i think many are doing a poor job at that. but this from eugene robinson is spot on and headed in the right direction.

[jonestonesusa]

2. Wonderful article - thanks for posting it.

Highly recommended.