I thought Sarah Palin presented herself well last night. She did not cry, run off stage, or stutter too much. She also did not answer questions with any substantive answer and contradicted herself multiple times. I found it arrogant to say “I am not going to answer questions you or the moderator would like”.
But I was turned off my her folksy words, eye winking, and little “snazzy” head movements. I thought this was a job interview for the vice presidency?
If it were, then I don’t think saying “You betcha”, “say it ain’t so Joe”, and winking to connect is a good idea. But then again, I’m a young, educated, professional female. I want to be taken seriously. I try to put my best foot forward all the time. I wonder what would happen if I decided to treat people so casually when interviewing? Humility can sometimes be a better quality than arrogance.
Advice don’t do it. Be serious. Answer questions asked of you. Be substantive yet real. Lying and exaggerating your accomplishments is not going to help you get the job.
I wish Sarah Palin were a better role model for young women. Instead looking cute, pretty, winking at the camera is the way to go. I don’t think either Hillary Clinton or Condaleezza Rice would have been up there being cutsey for the camera. They would have talk substance and been serious about informing the public about their positions and why it’s better.
20 responses so far ↓
1 Erin // Oct 3, 2008 at 2:16 pm
You took the thought out of my head and words out of my mouth - I couldn’t agree more.
2 Meg // Oct 3, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I disagree. Whether you like her (and/or her policies) or not I think she’s being herself, and I think that’s refreshing. I’ve listened to enough politician-speak in my life and hearing her is an interesting - and even entertaining - alternative.
Besides, if she tried to be more like the rest of them - diminish the accent and cut out all the coloquialisms and use formal, ivy-league-esque verbage - it wouldn’t work. That’s not her, and I think that’s ok.
3 LivingAlmostLarge // Oct 3, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Meg, I am not commenting on her policies. That is outside the sphere because I don’t and I won’t comment on her contradictions.
But I think she did women a grave disservice. She could have stood there and talked like a normall, average joe without coming across as a “sexy secretary”.
She could have been serious and answered questions asked because people want to know her ticket’s policies!
She could have been normal without selling herself. I wanted her to be real but normal. Would you have stood there Meg and winked and been cutsey? Everyone knows when she can’t answer questions she gets “cutesy”.
I would never have stood there and I can’t think of a single republican woman who would have either. Christine Todd Whitman - No. Kay Baily Hutchkinson - No. Very serious women who smile and look nice too. But I have heard them talk as a Cabinet member and Senator and respect them greatly.
But Sarah Palin? Even Hawaii’s own Linda Lingle doesn’t giggle and laugh and act like that. I don’t agree with any of those woman’s positions but they garner a lot of RESPECT.
They deserve it because they earn it. They don’t act like running for office is a joke. They wouldn’t answer questions they want to answer and act arrogant about it. They actually debate the questions and explain their positions. I really respect that.
Positions aside. You can respect and admire people without agreeing with their positions.
And Sarah Palin did a grave disservice to women.
4 Mary@SimplyForties // Oct 3, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I’m with right with you LAL. She was not too impressive. All that flirting did not become the occasion nor the job for which she is “applying”. I watched to get some answers and went away disappointed.
5 Kristy // Oct 4, 2008 at 7:24 am
I thought she did a great job. I too like her because she was herself and not acting like some arrogant Washington politician. She did exactly what she was supposed to do, be herself and let the American people know what she has done in the past. For being in the VP candicacy position for only 5 weeks, she did great!
6 Fit Wallet // Oct 4, 2008 at 2:03 pm
My feeling is that she’s trying hard to be the “woman next door.” The problem with that is that I don’t WANT the woman next door to be a heartbeat away from a 72 year old cancer survivor president! I don’t want someone who took 6 years and 5 schools (or whatever the right number is) to finish her college degree. I want a highly-educated, well-spoken person to represent and lead my country. I will never understand why people think it’s acceptable to have some average Jane as VP or president. This isn’t a popularity contest, or at least it shouldn’t be.
7 LivingAlmostLarge // Oct 4, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I did not like the winking. I also did not appreciate her passing the buck on “I’ve been at this 5 weeks so I have no promises to break”. I found it stupid and extremely arrogant.
But I’m not talking policies with her. I am just talking about the winks and the exaggerated accent.
I am happy with someone being normal and average. BUT I want someone who is serious, thoughtful, and honest.
I don’t like people who treat running for office as a joke. She’s interviewing for vice-presidency and acts how?
I’m surprised that Kristy you would like a woman who acted like that. If I pulled that at work men would be horrified. If I winked at a man, and treated my job interview so casually I can guarantee I wouldn’t get it.
And it’s not a double standard. If a man acted like a fool and joked and kidded during a serious interview during a very serious period in the world, what are you supposed to think?
But heck look where voting in someone you want to have a beer with got us? YES! Bush. The “Guy” next door who owned a baseball team.
Great job on someone average. Why do we want the best doctor, best pilot, best of everything? But we want the “average” joe leader for president?
Since when do want average? We want the best in everything else.
8 Kristy // Oct 5, 2008 at 5:58 am
I didn’t necessarily like all the winking, however, I do like her. I think she is more herself than any of the candidates running. I thought she was honest with the American people.
9 LivingAlmostLarge // Oct 5, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Why is it okay to have an “okay” politician yet we want the best in everything else? Do you want a doctor who isn’t as knowledgable on your body doing surgery because you connect with him or do you want the guy who knows how to operate?
You hire a competent lawyer, why would you settle for one you like versus one who knows the law in depth?
What about an accountant? You want your buddy and friend or the person who can answer all the IRS questions in an Audit?
Since when is likeability more important than a thoughtful, intelligent, serious person? For a job?
And she is interviewing for a very important job, the vice presidency and selling us on McCain being president?
She should be telling us why we need to vote for him. Real reasons, not “John McCain + Reform+ Maverick! Cheer!” Yeah Governor Palin give us examples of his reform and bucking his party. Explain to us why he deregulated in 1999.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUJ_Qn0AHTU
How can he be for regulation now when he has ALWAYS been a deregulator? Where is the proof? He’s on tape saying it’s helpful to the economy. He’s a deregulator and now he’s going to Washington to regulate wall street?
How is that possible?
10 Kristy // Oct 5, 2008 at 3:51 pm
For pete’s sake. Biden didn’t give us anything more than Palin did, he said nothing, just like the rest of them. I would like to know why I should vote for Obama as President. He has LESS experience than Palin and he thinks he can LEAD this country?
I do want the best person for this country, which is why I am voting for McCain!
11 Nine Circles // Oct 5, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Anyone who thinks Sarah Palin was just being her natural folksy self should take a look at the clips of her debates when she was running for governor. She doesn’t present herself in nearly the same way then that she does now. Although she then had a trace of an accent, it wasn’t nearly as pronounced as it is now. And there weren’t the “you betcha’s”, the “goshdarnit’s”, and certainly no winks. The Sarah Palin of today is a creation of the McCain handlers. She’s a caricature of what McCain thinks women are like.
12 LivingAlmostLarge // Oct 5, 2008 at 5:50 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1-B-OyQ-KI
Here is the Youtube with Palin not having an accent, being serious, and answering questions. Why did she not behave in the same manner?
Actually Biden said he would continue Obama’s policies if he died. He also said that Obama/Biden have proposed a 16 month withdrawal strategy in Iraq. He has also said Obama/Biden has proposed going into Pakistan to get the Al-Queda. He also said that Obama/Biden would like to create a universal healthcare system. He also questioned how the taxes would work on the McCain Healthcare system? Biden also said that taxes will only be raised on people making more than $250k/year. He also said specifically that over 1.5% of small business owners net over $250k and would have a increase in taxes. Also Biden said that they would likely have to cut education because of the bailout. He said they will move forward with energy research but it’s possible that promising teachers more money will be out of the question.
What did Palin say? Nothing.
What debate were you watching Kristy? I know he mentioned and talked about the fundamental differences.
I watched the debate with McCain and Obama. I wanted more details from them both. I hope this next debate the moderator forces them to answer more questions. And without foreign policy maybe we can focus on healthcare and taxes.
I watched the debate and I went back and watched to see if Biden answered questions.
He did about Iraq and taxes and healthcare. Where did Palin answer a single question? No where.
Please put it up where she did. I noticed a lot of Republican spin on what she talked about. A lot of handwaving.
13 Kristy // Oct 5, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I believe she talked about the $5,000 tax credit for healthcare, she discussed putting more emphasis on education and having flexibility in No Child Left Behind, that the lenders are responsible for the economic crisis and that Americans need to “live within their means”. She also talked about lowering the taxes of corporations to make more jobs in this country.
Oh and I watched the same debate as you did. You have a Democratic spin and I have a Republican one. It makes no difference on what any of the candidates say because you and I will not change our minds.
I have seen the You tube video and don’t agree with you. It was a 20 second shot of her…and she still has an accent. How can you see how someone behaves in 20 seconds??
14 LivingAlmostLarge // Oct 5, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Nope, I saw the $5k tax credit but she didn’t explain how it would work with taxing employer benefits. Funny how she didn’t mention that. Nor did she mention how to get insurance if you were uninsurable?
I heard her talk briefly on No Child Left behind, but she didn’t talk about what she would change or reinforce. She said it wasn’t working. That is not addressing what she would do.
She said lenders were responsible then turned it on the US people. Good, but she didn’t say who she blamed? She tried to avoid the question really because she felt it was both the predatory lenders and the irresponsible consumers. So she avoided it.
She said they would withdraw from Iraq when it’s time. When is it time? She said we can’t raise the white flag. How is that an answer?
I notice you have a lot weaker arguments for questions she answered. Her answers lacked detail. She kept saying we’re going to reform. Reform what and how?
She said we need to drill. She lacked details about the rest of it other than we need to drill. Why not give more details if she’s so sure drilling will work tell us how long to build the drilling site, lay pipe, and get refineries up to speed? Governor of Alaska should know it in and out and be able to answer it on a pin. I noticed you ignored the sites I posted on how long it will take, more than your 2 years.
The debate is 10 minutes long. Governor Palin speaks for about 3 minutes. 1:20 she talks about gay marriage. She speaks for 30 seconds. Then she speaks at 2:10 for another 30 seconds. She then speaks again at 4:30 in she talks about abortion and speaks for 15 secs. She then responds 5:45 for 30 seconds. She then speaks at 6:30 for 15 seconds. She speaks again at 9:12 and closes out for the next 30 seconds.
So Kristy are you sure you watched all 10 minutes of the debate? I didn’t know that she only spoke once for 20 seconds?
15 Frugal Babe // Oct 6, 2008 at 1:04 am
LAL - great post, and great defense of your position in the comments. I’m with you 100%. Right after Palin was announced as the candidate for VP, I read that she had tried to get books banned at the library when she was mayor. That told me a lot about her. Then I read about her stance on abortion, global warming, separation of church and state, oil drilling, and aerial hunting, and realized that she is basically the exact opposite of everything I believe in.
Then she started to talk, and it made me sad. Not so much because of her policies - which I obviously dislike - but because of how she presents herself. Everything you described in your post. Talking about being a hockey mom (over and over and over), winking, saying ‘youbetcha’… it bums me out that this is only the second woman we’ve ever had on a ticket, and this is how she’s acting. I agree that she’s not a good role model for women. Condaleezza Rice would be a good example of a woman whose policies I disagree with, but whom I admire anyway. Sarah Palin? Not so much.
16 Kristy // Oct 6, 2008 at 4:36 am
Two can play the same game, Biden did not say anything that I didn’t already know. Yeah, he talked about taxing the rich and giving 95% of Americans tax cuts. But how much is he going to raise taxes? He talked about universal health care but how is going to implement it? He now agrees that drilling is necessary, but why did he change his mind? In DE he has voted against off shore drilling in the past.
Because of the bailout he is going to cut education?? Americans are behind in math and science and you want to cut education programs? How are you going to do that? What are you going to cut?
Biden wants to go into Pakistan, well how are you going to do that? I want specifics. This is what you have been doing and its crazy. My whole point is that NEITHER candidate gave us anything new and it certianly isn’t what the other side wants to hear. I want to know how the hell are the Democrats going to pay for all of their new socialized programs?
I’m going to say this again, you and I had our minds made up before the debates began. You probably had your mind made up before the primary was over and that’s fine. But you don’t need to bash everything that comes out of the other candidates mouth. Why can’t you just say that the Democrats policy lines up with your views?
At least I can admit when I’m wrong, you’re right I watched a shorter clip of the Alaskan debate you are referring and have not yet watched the 10 minute one, so I apolgize. I will have to watch it when I have time.
17 LivingAlmostLarge // Oct 6, 2008 at 9:15 am
I posted the 10 minute clip of the debate. Saying how can I tell from 20 seconds when I posted the clip I watched isn’t a fair statement. If you had checked it out then fine. BUT you basically assumed that I put up a 20 second clip.
And you can’t avoid the fact that Sarah Palin avoided pretty much every single questions. I agree Biden didn’t answer with details but he answered a heck of a lot more than Sarah Palin. Even Republican strategists admitted that. They said she did well in talking about stuff she knew, and yes she did not answer the questions but she stuck to topics she could handle.
Hey Biden was at least trying to answer the questions.
And I ask the question who is the real Sarah Palin? You say she’s acting normal. Why is her accent much lighter in the Governor Debate 2006? Why does she answer questions in that debate? Why does she not wink or do shout outs? Why is she acting in the VP debate?
Why the huge change of style and avoidance of issues? And it shows poor character to suddenly put on a show.
Nope before the primaries I choose Hillary. I did not vote for Obama because his views are not in line with what I want. I wanted someone more liberal!
After the primaries I was not happy with Obama and especially after he didn’t pick Hillary, which could also be she turned him down! I wasn’t sure if I would vote for Obama but do a write in vote.
Then McCain picked Sarah Palin! And the thought of someone so unqualified, liar (bridge to nowhere specifically), into earmarks, hiring lobbyist for her town, and a now obviously a great actress turns my stomach raw.
I could have lived with McCain if he hadn’t sold his soul to the Devil. He decided to pander to the conservatives. But he didn’t do it with someone already vetted and experienced. Mike Huckabee anyone? Or Mitt Romney for his experience with the economy. Oh no McCain goes an picks a woman to try and get woman, and a conservative extremist even more than Huckabee.
18 Kristy // Oct 6, 2008 at 9:57 am
How many times are you going to bring this up? I already apologized for assuming that it was a shorter clip, which I have already seen. Sorry. I at least admit my mistakes.
Sorry I don’t have 10 minutes during this time of year. My guess is that she has a bigger accent because that’s what the Republicans told her to do, big deal.
Biden was not trying to answer the questions. He may have answered a few more than her, but he was not specific whatsoever. Just like the rest of the candidates.
I can’t believe that you are voting for Obama after saying that Sarah Palin is unqualified. She is far more qualified than he is. Not only that but who knows where his campaign money is coming from!
19 LAL // Oct 7, 2008 at 12:12 am
Nope you assume the worse when I post things. I always post things I read on Global Warming, Oil Drilling, and Palin’s record. I am not misquoting like your 2 years till we get oil from drilling. You want to bring it up that’s fine, but you should put down where the research is to back it up.
Watch the debate. It’s not just the accent. She does not wink, joke, or pretend to do shout outs or be cute. She is serious, looks straight at her opponents and the camera AND answers questions posed by the moderator. Funny that she said in the VP debate I won’t answer questions the way you want. AND then never answered the questions at all.
Hey Biden attempted to answer every question and refute her crazy accusations!
Palin started talking about Obama being on the board with a former bombers of the US. Too bad McCain associated for SURE with a known thief and was reprimanded by the Senate Ethics committee. And if he was a Democrat he’d have been ejected out of the Senate, but as a Republican he was only Chastised because it was Republican committee.
Here is an article stating people said if they overdonated the money was returned. It also states that McCain had to return $50k from a donor under investigation. Funny that it’s not a huge deal for McCain.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/06/cbsnews_investigates/main4504955.shtml
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/us/politics/07foreign.html?ref=us
Also funny that McCain is starting the smear ads now when he has nothing else to back himself up on?
Democrats didn’t mention he cheated on his first wife with his second. Democrats didn’t mention the Keating 5 until he did Bill Ayers.
I notice that Republicans use smear tactics when they are losing. This is identical to Kerry’s swift boat ads. That was very sad that the Republicans tried to smear a guy who went to war unlike dodger Bush.
But hey Americans love smut!
20 LivingAlmostLarge // Oct 7, 2008 at 11:52 am
Gordan Libby is a close friend of McCain. He is also someone who went to jail for illegal wiretapping, burglary, and conspiracy. It was related to watergate. He donated $1k to McCain this year for the campaign and McCain has said they are friends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mncswlqo2D0
Here is a rally of a McCain supporter shouting “kill him”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVFWahLTdUo
Leave a Comment