It has been one month since McCain's announcement of his VP pick. Sarah Heath Palin. Upon her ascension to the Party Ticket - she was a fresh face, a no nonsense pitbull, a champion for Christian Fundamentalism, and a Woman!
The Republican Party embraced her with hunger and joy. She was their Answer. She galvanized the party - she solidified the base. In full confidence they shouted - the McCain/Palin will win the Oval Office. During the RNC - she spoke with vigor and zeal. Her voice resonated to all the hockey moms and dads. Her beauty encaptivated. Everyone applauded and celebrated their potential new leader. She was one of them. They knew they were going to be victorious! The Democrats were left scratching their heads. And any derogatory comments from the Left were immediately seen and labeled as Sexist.
In the days following the RNC, the Palin onion began to peel, revealing the delicate and vulnerable flesh. As the McCain Camp tried effortlessly to shelter and protect their Lady Maverick Flower, it slowly began to wilt. Signs of mediocrity began to show. The GOP kept insisting her qualifications and experience are highly prized and exceeds far beyond her opponents. They had no doubts.
Then came the first one-on-one News Interview with Charles Gibson. No rehearsals. No advanced knowledge of the questions. All unscripted. She did not come out with flying colors. It was, in a nice way - Mediocre. The McCain Camp and supporters continued to protect her. Instead of evaluating her responses from the interview, they turned and demonized the media. They attacked the ignorance of the interviewer. They exclaimed the biases and the unfair treatment with a liberal agenda were displayed. Their Lady Maverick was tarnished but they did not concede.
On the campaign road, Palin was sequestered from any News Media. She gave strong speeches and re-ignited the base once more. Her supporters were there cheering. They have forgotten the interview; it was already in the past. In many of her speeches, she states she is ready and able to take the office of the Vice Presidency (and the Presidency if the inevitable would occur). She is confident to lead and command the most powerful free-nation on this earth. But then, she took questions from her supporters. From the audience.
It didn't go well. Again her answers were, well - mediocre.
Another one-on-one interview. This time with Katie Couric - a respected journalist and a woman who climbed the ranks of her profession. Someone Palin can relate. Well, I don't need to go into details as to the results of this interview. Lets just say - again, her responses were - mediocre.
Why the candidacy of Sarah Palin is so unnerving is the degree to which she represents. Equally unnerving is how her supporters continue to celebrate her readiness to take command of this country. Sometimes I wonder if they are in absolute denial or just heavily embarrassed to jump ship. The prospects of the Palin Administration is FRIGHTENING!
Palin is the latest beneficiary in the national celebration of mediocrity. She has gained fame because she is "Just Like One Of Us"!
I want to define the word Elitism this way - the belief that certain person or class or group have gained a favored status due to the virtues of their superiority they have achieved.
In America today, elitism is looked down upon. It is mocked. Extraordinary talents and intellectual achievements are denigrated.
If you are on an airplane, don't you want elite pilots to fly that plane?
Your child needs an operation, don't you want an elite surgeon to take that scalpel to your child?
Our country is at war, don't we want elite troops to undertake critical missions?
And yet, when it comes time to select someone with even greater responsibilities, we consider it a virtue to shun any and all standards of Excellence. When it comes to choosing the people whose thoughts and actions will decide the fates of millions, we suddenly want someone just like us, someone fit to have a beer with, someone down-to-earth, someone mediocre.
Not Me!
I want a President who is smarter, wiser and knows more about the world than me.
I want a President who can speak to his people eloquently and coherently.
I want a President who can lead this country and debate with foreign leaders.
I want a President whose finger is on that nuclear button and discern if or not to press it.
I want a President who will swear on the Bible and uphold the Constitution (and never the reverse).
I know I don't want someone like me to be President!
A Vote for John McCain is a Vote to place Sarah Palin one 72yo heartbeat from the Presidency!
