Paladin

Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Marquis Cook [Click to enlarge]

In political circles, Republican presidential candidate John McCain has been dubbed by many as "the maverick" for his perceived straight talk and stance on many issues, but "the gambler" may be a more apt title.

McCain's pick of little-known Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin was a bold move that surprised me, because I had heard about all of the usual suspects, such as Sen. Joe Lieberman, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who were considered to be his top choices.

If McCain were in fact a true maverick, he would have chosen his obvious top choice, which was Lieberman. He obviously buckled under the pressure induced by the James Dobson and Karl Rove wing of the right, who weren't energized by McCain's move to the center.

Not only were the 38 million Americans who watched Democratic nominee, Illinois Senator Barack Obama's speech from Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver moved by his words, and the earlier Democratic National Convention reconciliation between New York Senator Hillary Clinton supporters and Obama voters, McCain's political brain-trust was paying attention as well.

Facing the threat that Obama would galvanize voters with his speech and steal the headlines, McCain's advisers made a reckless and reactionary decision to randomly pluck someone who could hopefully re-establish the confidence their base had lost in McCain.

This is where Palin came into the picture. By McCain and his circle's estimation, she could be an asset on several fronts. Siphoning disgruntled Clinton supporters and lighting a fire under the GOP's evangelical bloc are the main assets Palin could bring to the table.

The pick paid dividends for a week or so, with McCain taking the lead in some national polls. However, the novelty has worn off and Obama leads in the latest polls as the conversation shifts back to the nation's woeful economy.

With Obama receiving as much as an 8 percent bump after his speech, the Rove and Charlie Black (campaign adviser) faction of the GOP clearly wielded their influence and persuaded McCain to take on a person he had only met twice and had only spoken to briefly.

The pick runs contrary to everything McCain supposedly represents on several fronts. The straight talk idea goes out the window because since naming Palin as his running mate, the McCain campaign has done nothing but shield her from media inquiries and blasted those who would dare ask legitimate questions of a person who was a blip on the nation's political radar screen just three weeks ago.

McCain also likes to pride himself as a different kind of Republican on social issues, but Palin's ideas about teaching only creationism, barring abortion even in cases of incest and rape, and being against sexual education in schools make President George W. Bush look like a liberal.

To be blunt, Palin's a neo-conservative on steroids. Much like McCain, her ideas and policies would be a continuation of the last eight years of tried, and failed, politics.

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