Chief New York Times political reporter Adam Nagourney emphasized the negative in his Sarah Palin-based "Political Memo" on Sunday, "If Presidency Is Goal, Palin Has Chosen A Risky Route," suggesting that the Alaska governor, who ran for the vice presidency in 2008, has few political credentials toward making a possible presidential run in 2012.
By stepping down before finishing her term, she cannot claim to be even a one-term governor. Without a positive record of accomplishment as governor, Ms. Palin may find she has little to run on as she seeks to achieve a critical political goal: expanding her appeal beyond the conservative voters who crowd her rallies and write checks on her behalf.
Let's compare. Barack Obama was a full-time senator for two years: He was sworn into the Senate in January 2005, launched his presidential campaign in January 2007, and resigned his Illinois senate seat after winning the presidency in November 2008 -- two years before his term expired. But somehow Obama not being even a one-term senator never became a campaign issue for the Times, even though the paper constantly portrayed vice presidential candidate Palin as hopelessly green.
GOP-hostile NYT reporter Elisabeth Bumiller wrote this on September 4, 2008, after Palin's well-accepted acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention:
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.
Durnig the campaign, a series of Times reporters were only to eager to claim that Palin had no foreign policy experience, dropping all journalistic niceties to make their disapproval plain. After John McCain picked Palin as his running mate, Nagourney bluntly stated on August 31, 2008 that the Alaska governor "has almost no foreign policy experience and has been governor for just 20 months." Another August 31 story used the phrase "no foreign policy experience" to describe Palin.
Barack Obama, who was running for president, not vice-president, had no foreign policy experience either, but didn't get the same dismissive treatment from the paper. Quite the opposite. Far from probing Obama's inexperience in both legislative politics and foreign policy, Patrick Healy actually called Obama "a man of experience" after his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention, at the end of a story in which one feared Healy would run out of superlatives:
[Hillary] Clinton once said that Mr. McCain had real experience while Mr. Obama's candidacy had been the sum of so many speeches. Mr. Obama's journey over the last 20 months has introduced him to many of the American archetypes -- real people -- that he described in this speech. On Thursday night, the speechmaker showed, in words, that he was also a man of experience, and a man who wanted to give something back to the people who gave it to him.
By that standard -- campaigning equals experience -- shouldn't Palin get credit for her experience of going through the rigors of a vice-presidential race, all while enduring far more negative media attacks that press favorite Obama? Not in the Times, apparently.
—Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Scared liberals
July 7, 2009 - 15:19 ET by webmonkeydcPeople lash out at things that they don't understand and at things that scare them. It's rather clear that liberals don't understand and therefore are scared of Sarah Palin.
http://richardtgarne...
Chi-town
July 7, 2009 - 15:31 ET by jdlybrandShe's moving to Chicago to be a community organizer and get some REAL experience. Sheesh!
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
Oh goodie, now I can claim
July 7, 2009 - 16:05 ET by lsudolemitethat Obama was never really a U. S. senator. Or even a state senator for that matter since getting all your competition disqualified doesn't usually happen.
Paging Bozo....
July 7, 2009 - 16:32 ET by acumenPalin not having enough experience just doesn't dovetail with the facts.
Considering the new US Senator recently chosen by the Minnesota State Supreme Court, it now appears anyone at all has enough experience to govern in DC.
acumen... It was
July 7, 2009 - 18:34 ET by bigtimeracumen...
It was sickening the endless applause he received in the Senate today when he was sworn in....talk about needing a barf-bag.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Glad...
July 7, 2009 - 18:48 ET by jdlybrand... I didn't see it. I've been barfing too much lately.
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
LOL jdl... Well, it was
July 7, 2009 - 19:00 ET by bigtimerLOL jdl...
Well, it was all JACKSON, so I thought I would check in and see what our congress-critters were doing to us today...and lo and behold...Stuart Smalley was the moment.
It was sickening...it's sickening where this country is going.
The applause was so forced, intentionally of course...and you know it was naturally majority dems in the Chamber...still the repubs I saw briefly made me sad...
NONE of them should have showed up...just my opinion of course.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
The main reason...
July 7, 2009 - 19:26 ET by jdlybrand...I could never be a politician, is because I cannot fake sincerity. Were I standing in that chamber while others were applauding I would have been hiding my face in my hands. Much like the "moment of silence" called for in congress relating to Michael Jackson's demise. Disgusting is all I can say.
By the way... I barfed anyhow.
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
NO bama
July 7, 2009 - 16:41 ET by LEWIS IN COLORADOVoting present makes you a world leader !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this sh*t-for-news would be
July 7, 2009 - 17:14 ET by TruthMongerthis sh*t-for-news would be unbelievably hilarious - if the sons-of-bitches didn't always get away with their never-ending free pass
how great we could be with the return of a free press - maybe some day...
Palin/Prejean 2012
There's nothing for
July 7, 2009 - 17:59 ET by motherbeltThere's nothing for experience like being a community organizer in Chicago for most of one's adult life.
Not to mention, as Obama himself often stated, he gained a lot of executive experience by running his campaigns!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
A lot has been made of
July 7, 2009 - 18:09 ET by DJEddleA lot has been made of experience and the lack thereof when it comes to the presidency. Usually, it's only an issue when speaking of the Republican candidates. But what most people ignore is the type of experience relevant to the job. In Obama's case, he had none whatsoever - and it's becoming extremely obvious that he has no clue what to do...only what to screw up (whether purposely or not).
Palin had much more relevant experience than Obama. She was at least in an executive position at more than one level of government. Granted, most of her experience was in a small town and in a far away state, but it was experience nonetheless. However, she was indeed the #2 on the ticket - compared to Obama being the #1. I'd much rather take a less-experienced V.P. than an inexperienced president (or more accurately: an inexperienced presidential usurper).
I don't expect the Times to make the distinction in any case. We already know they're in the tank for the left, no matter who the candidate is. But they can at least not be so obvious about it, especially when the two public records can be compared and contrasted openly.
Obama quit his (somewhat irrelevant) job before he really had a chance to settle into it. Palin at least made important decisions/agreements and signed laws that have made a difference in how her state is run and how it prospers. And both sides of the aisle within the political establishments can't seem to find things to like about her, which means she's not part of the "status quo" that the left so frequently mentions. I'll take that kind of "outsider" over most other options, whether they have a career in politics or not.
We'll just have to wait and see what Palin chooses to do with her time away from the governor's seat. It's too early to write her off or talk about the presidency in 2012. Just give it some time.
Rational Liberty: Where Reason and Government Collide - The best website ever!
On the other hand
July 7, 2009 - 18:28 ET by IamTinmanOn the other hand, you could look at the experience level of Obamas administration. If you built a spreadsheet and judged the administration hires, by experience in the military, educational, business, scientific, legal and political experience, you will find they are virtually all lawyers /politicians with no experience in the real world.
Maybe it's time for a leader that can run a fishing boat in the Bering sea, hunt elk, run a sub 4 hour marathon at 45 years of age, manage a large household, and still find the desire to participate in public service despite the guttersnipes of the democrat party and their equally lowlife allies in the media.
There is much that is honorable about Sarah Palin and little among Barack Obama and his coterie of ethically challanged moral lightweights. Maybe honor will work better than "the audacity of hope"!
30 year old MBA "quitter" to run GENERAL MOTORS Bailout
July 7, 2009 - 20:03 ET by poorsinnerI am sure you know this already but thats the truth. He quit, wouldn't finish his MBA, but sure he's the right man for the job. Appointed by a no-term senator, "community organiser", that hasn't even finished his first-term president.
Of course, in Obama's wake - a major scandal..
July 7, 2009 - 19:25 ET by Gary HallOf course, in the wake of Obama part-timer Senator Obama quitting his stint as a US Senator in Illinois, a major scandal erupted among his friends and associates - Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich comes to mind.
Imagine! If Obama were a Republican - any Republican - in the White House, with all of this scandal swirling around his replacement, the national press would find it very difficult not to hound him and his staff with questions on the scandals and corruption, each and every time they had the chance.
Geez can we get off the facts... PLEASE?
July 7, 2009 - 19:44 ET by poorsinnerIf you conservatives keep using facts to back up your arguments, how can we get any self-respecting trolls to argue without using their tireless ad hominem "blah blah blah... she's stupid AND a quitter" rebuttals?
Come on... please stop!!!!!
Liberal said to me
July 7, 2009 - 19:49 ET by EdhenryLiberal said to me "couldn't vote for Palin, not enough experience." My reply was "she doesnt have a lot, but cetainly more than O."
It then dawned on her that the marketing by the media had worked on her.
You bet ur ass, bias
July 7, 2009 - 21:03 ET by nadadhimmiLook, all you gotta remember is this; Progressive, good; conservative bad. Do you understand the rules of "JOURNALISM" now?. Why do you think they are called PRESSTITUTES??
You bet ur ass, bias
July 7, 2009 - 21:13 ET by nadadhimmiLook, all you gotta remember is this; Progressive, good; conservative bad. Do you understand the rules of "JOURNALISM" now?. Why do you think they are called PRESSTITUTES??
Just thought someone might
July 7, 2009 - 21:40 ET by Clear thinkerJust thought someone might be interested.
I found two bloggers that are hugely responsible for what has happened to Sarah.
Sarah Palins Grim Reapers
http://iamnotaracist.wordpress.com/
Sarah
July 7, 2009 - 22:59 ET by iveseenitallI believe Sarah Palin can do much to deliver the conservative message of less government, lower taxes , family values, national security, etc. I hope this is what she is planning to do. Moreover, in her position as a private citizen she can speak more freely and point to the shorcomings of Barry Soetoro, the most dangerous president in U.S. history. She can tell the truth about him in a way that John McCain was afraid to do. I also believe she should stay away from seeking any other public office for quite awhile, for her own sake and the sake of her family. Damn the American media thugs!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
As they say....
July 7, 2009 - 22:54 ET by owlpelletsToday during her interviews she should have said, "I have all these fish to wrap. Anybody have the NYT?" Even with her $500,000 debt her balance sheet and earning potential is way more solid than them. Makes me smile
Don't blame me....I voted for Palin...
Well, Times, our
July 8, 2009 - 04:23 ET by Andrew H.Well, Times, our predicatble media insult, we hope obama is a one-term Prez.
My God, how much can we stand?
Idolatry of leftist "heros" is speeding your downfall, silly Times.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
But as long as stupid a$$
July 8, 2009 - 04:27 ET by RR GOPBut as long as stupid a$$ Republicans agree then what's the point on getting on the MSM and the Communists about such things?
I can see a President Huckabee or Romney up there talking about how they're going to reduce the current amount of spending, oh, say 20% or so, advocating spending X billions less for Stimulus IV than the Dems would have, and finding other 'government-based solutions' on the economy and health care.
Whereas I suspect President Palin would say that she's going to put a stop to this spending nonsense and if you need a doctor then you better have a job.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Best and Brightest?
July 8, 2009 - 10:48 ET by slickwillie2001The death of Robert McNamara may remind us that the eastern ivy-league intelligentsia does not always have the answers. The ruling elite represented by the Bamster and his administration might do well to consider this as they deign to redesign extremely complex systems like medical care, the energy industry, automotive industry, banking and finance, etc. We need to get past the beltway elitist view that the 'best and brightest' are only those with the ivy-league degrees, many of them awarded undeserved on the basis of Affirmative Action.
Robert McNamara; Back to the Future: http://wizbangblog.com
"The taciturn and unexciting style of the Eisenhower White House gave way, in a revolution of style over substance, to an electoral adrenaline rush of what might be described as the 1960's version of hope and change."
Robert Strange McNamara
July 8, 2009 - 18:26 ET by BlondeHere's a piece about McNamara's passing, written by Joe Galloway (We Were Soldiers Once and Young):
I hope he fails, too.