So Many Republican Hypocrites, So Little Time

September 5, 2008 | SEND TO A FRIEND | GET EARLY NOTICE OF THE HOTW

John McCain

Welcome back to the BuzzFlash GOP Hypocrite of the Week.

A lot of people have been giving grief to the pick of Sarah Palin as the Republican Party nominee for vice president. But where is the "love" for the person who made that pick: John McCain?

When you are potentially the oldest serving first-term president in the nation's history, even those who like you want to be sure that the person selected in the #2 chair is qualified to be ready on Day 1.

That person is not Sarah Palin.

There were certainly qualified prospective VP candidates, none that we would agree with politically or philosophically, who have a reasonable amount of experience. Of the four "announced" contenders, only Gov. Tim Pawlenty would have come under some concern. Mitt Romney, Tom Ridge, and (gulp) Joe Lieberman were definitely qualified.

There is a certain amount of trust that the VP selection will be someone who has some proven background. True, George H.W. Bush abused that trust in 1988 with his last-minute selection of Sen. Dan Quayle (R-IN).

But that could have been the inspiration not to make that same mistake. The other Republican VP nominees since 1980 were absolutely qualified for the post: George H.W. Bush, Jack Kemp, and (shudder) Dick Cheney had extensive resumes.

Barack Obama had less than half the time McCain had to make a selection, and from a very talented pool, Obama picked from strength and went with Sen. Joe Biden.

And if Palin's reality truly followed in the footsteps of the McCain image, there could be room for an argument. But Gov. Palin went after earmarks McCain has been blasting on the campaign trail. And the other oddities, some of which are certain (trying to ban books in the library while mayor of Wasilla), and some of which are still speculation, don't speak well to a thorough process.

The speculation that McCain wanted Joe Lieberman, but was overruled by his advisers doesn't speak well of a person who wants to be president. John McCain had 6 months to make the pick, and based on the vetting process, he wasted 5 months and 29 days.

Don't just take our word for it. From The Washington Post:

Prominent conservative columnist Peggy Noonan and former John McCain campaign manager Michael Murphy made disparaging comments Wednesday about the Republican's choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate, after a segment that aired on NBC with Chuck Todd. Thinking that the microphone had been turned off -- or, perhaps, that the video signal had stopped transmitting -- Noonan and Murphy ripped into Palin as someone who would weigh down the GOP ticket.

… Asked if Palin is the most qualified Republican woman to be McCain's running mate, Noonan replied: "The most qualified? No. I think they went for this, excuse me, political bullshit about narratives and [inaudible] the picture."

Later, she continued: "Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at, and they blow it."

Added Murphy: "You know what's really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical."

Yes, John McCain has won this award a lot lately. But the McCain of 2000 has clearly gone out the door, and the pick of Sarah Palin was the latest proof. This new McCain of 2008 is sucking up to the right-wing, so much so, that he is willing to risk the real possibility of having a vice president become president shortly after she discovers "what is it exactly that the VP does every day."

For that arrogance, carelessness, and hypocrisy, we (once again) offer up John McCain as the GOP Hypocrite of the Week.

Remember our motto: So many Republican hypocrites, so little time.

Catch up with you soon.