The real McCain is either alarmingly cynical or dangerously reckless. (Eugene Robinson)

[kpete]

washingtonpost.com > Columns

The Cynicism Express
By Eugene Robinson

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.

He selected a running mate based on her potential ability to appeal to targeted segments of the electorate rather than for her honestly assessed ability to lead the nation should the occasion arise.

more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090101716.html

[Forkboy]

1. Can I choose both options?

:scared:

[Evergreen Emerald]

2. My guess is that his internal numbers showed a defeat of great proportions

He was not winning over the fundamentalist Christians. He knew that Obama had a weakness with working class and with women.

He found a republican that he felt attracted all of those qualities. The experience/judgment argument was working for Obama--and could work for him.

I think it was a last ditch effort.

[Jennicut]

3. Love Eugene Robinson, he is always the best part of KO's show

I agree, McCain is both cynical and a panderer and reckless and crazy.

[high density]

4. Yeah

It feels like Palin was rolled out to win a news cycle. I think McCain got more than he bargained for.