Less than two months before voters hit the polls, Palin has yet to sit down for or even schedule an issues-oriented interview with any newspaper, magazine or television network.
She's tough, pretty, a good speaker, and she has a handle on the Republican "message." She would make a good showing. (I wouldn't characterize her as a "deep thinker," but she is very telegenic, and the Sunday morning shows aren't really good at evaluating how much depth a person has.)
In the meantime, the media will be thrilled to report on qvetching from issues-oriented reporters:
"We know now that Sarah Palin can give one hell of a speech," Carney said. "She's a natural. And that's no mean feat. We don't know yet and we won't know until you guys allow her to take questions, you know, can she answer tough questions about domestic policy, foreign policy?"
"But I mean, like from who?” Wallace asked. "From you?”
When Carney answered "Yes," Wallace followed up with, "Who cares?
"I think the American people want to see her," Wallace continued. "Who cares if she can talk to Time magazine?"
Later that day, Carney — who last week had a much-buzzed about interview with McCain in which the candidate became testy, and refused to answer some questions — told Politico that the McCain campaign is acting "condescending and smug" toward the press.
Palin is tough, pretty, a good speaker, and she has a handle on the Republican "message." The Republicans should let her speak to reporters. Maybe they don't want to start with Time, since their reporter seems to be particularly ticked off right now. Maybe they start with the Wall St Journal or the Washington Times.
Or maybe they put her back on TV, on the Sunday morning shows. She is a very telegenic candidate, and her depth of experience is much less important in a setting like television.
--SCC
