Thursday's New York Times lead story by Elisabeth Bumiller and Michael Cooper covered Palin's rapturously received speech at the Republican Convention Wednesday night, "On Center Stage, Palin Electrifies Convention." After describing how she introduced herself to the "roaring crowd" in St. Paul, the Times threw in this dubious assertion:
But the nomination was a sideshow to the evening's main event, the speech by the little-known Ms. Palin, who was seeking to wrest back the narrative of her life and redefine herself to the American public after a rocky start that has put Mr. McCain's closest aides on edge. Ms. Palin's appearance electrified a convention that has been consumed by questions of whether she was up to the job, as she launched slashing attacks on Mr. Obama's claims of experience.
Actually, only the liberal media was consumed by that question -- Palin was a wildly popular pick even before her impressive convention speech.
Bumiller and Cooper brushed against the charges of double standards and media sexism made by Republicans without going into detail, although some quotes made by Times reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg and others would have surely seemed controversial if uttered against a Democratic mother. Here's what Stolberg said on a Times podcast earlier this week:
She herself, Gov. Palin, has a new baby, and so one question that comes up, is this is a woman that has a lot going on in her personal life, she's got a new baby herself, her daughter's about to get married and have a baby, a lot going on there. I do think it's a fair question to ask how she will juggle those responsibilities. Maybe it's a question that wouldn't be asked of a man, as Steve Schmidt said, but it is a question that I think Americans will ask.
Bumiller and Cooper write on Thursday:
The address by Ms. Palin, 44, who stunned the political world last week as Mr. McCain's pick for a running mate, took place before a convention transformed from an orderly coronation into a messy, days-long drama since the McCain campaign's disclosure on Monday that Ms. Palin's 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, was pregnant. Since then there have been a host of other distractions, including Hurricane Gustav, questions about how thoroughly Mr. McCain vetted what people close to his campaign have called the last-minute pick of Ms. Palin, and charges from Mr. McCain's top aides that the news media have launched a sexist smear campaign against his running mate.
The Times characterized the Republican red meat in strong terms while denigrating Palin's record:
Ms. Palin's speech came after Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York launched a withering attack on Mr. Obama as part of a relentless assault by Republicans arguing that Ms. Palin, the former mayor of a town of less than 7,000 people who has been governor of Alaska for 20 months, had a more impressive résumé than Mr. Obama.
To make a comparison the Times won't: Sen. Barack Obama took office in January 2005 and has been running for president since January 2007 -- making him a wholly full-time senator for just 24 months.
—Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Smell that? That's fear
September 4, 2008 - 14:49 ET by soulpileSmell that? That's fear coming from these guys. They just can't handle the truth: Palin is a great VP choice.
Yep
September 4, 2008 - 15:31 ET by Indiana JoeIf you needed proof, look how desperately these folks are trying to bring her down already.
Da-da-da-da-daaaa.....
I'm lovin' it!
Alaska Troopers and Bridges to Nowhere
September 4, 2008 - 17:56 ET by Lame CherryMr. Walters and the Newsbuster's family and lurker kinfolk of liberals, the liberal attacks have been focused on Gov. Palen by the Obama campaign illegally as in federal crimes of an organization in sexism, racism (calling them eskimo), bigotry in her faith which is all covered under RICO.
I realize the McCain camp is leaving the trooper firing and the bridge to nowhere out there for liberals to chew on as they are non issues, but the issue is Barack Obama might be removed from the ticket before the election. So let us clean the slate as other issues will require our attention in the whale in waiting Al Gore being a savior to the messiah.
State employees serve under the employ of the Governor in the law enforcement division. The Governor of any state can fire as the Clintons did anyone. They could if they like appoint Bambi the Bimbo at Hot Springs or if it is Ralph Nader they can appoint a tree.
There is wide latitude designed in to fire or hire anyone.
Just like Barack Obama fired his female staff. Sound familiar?
The MSM has made big deal about Gov. Palin sending out emails pointing out the problems of this trooper who was related to her. This is the strangest of takes in the MSM, because what did they expect Gov. Palin to do write complimentary bunny notes praising someone who was fired?
As for Mark Sheilds and the other liberals whining about the bridge to nowhere that they claim Gov. Palin wanted and then didn't want.
Last time I looked, Sarah Palin or any governor in the United States can not submit one bridge to nowhere bill in Congress. They can not vote on the bills nor make the President sign them.
A Governor since Richard Nixon made it possible for states to be empowered can indeed take the money it sends to the federal government back in state projects.
That is what a Governor does in LOOKING AFTER THEIR STATE INTERESTS FOR THEIR CITIZENS.
Gov. Palin had money show up in Alaska which was Alaskan's in the first place for all oil, gas and income tax those people send to Washington DC.
Gov. Palin though when the money for that bridge showed up looked at the project which her state should naturally build as it will benefit her state in money spent, but instead for the good of the United States said, "No I don't want money spent sanctioned by Congress which is a waste of resources."
That is a most commendable action for an executive of any state to take. My own county currently has a brand new court house, police department and tourist center which cost over a million dollars that it did not need but Congress provided the money, it had to be spent or some other state (not Alaska by Gov. Palin's example) would grab it and spend it.
Gov. Palin also fired the Governor's Chef, but apparently she sent a bunny memo out praising the pudding before she fired that state employee so all is well with liberals.
These are thee most moronic of liberal stances in making issues out of things John McCain has left out there knowing there is nothing to them.
So let us all join together and go onto the real issue of the crimes of Obama and see Al Gore waddle onto the stage again.
Talk about the second coming for Democrats..........gee a messiah and a savior all on one liberal ticket and neither one is going to matter as the Democrats loose baby loose.
agtG
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS