It was more like 10 AM than 3 AM. Somewhere, a phone was ringing, to announce the news that John McCain had selected Sarah Palin as his running mate. And the immediate response of Barack Obama's operation was intemperate and inappropriate. Obama found himself apologizing, calling the reaction "hair trigger." He and Biden subsequently made the more gracious kind of comment that should have been offered in the first place. Senators get to "revise and extend" their remarks when they've said something dumb on the floor. That's not always the case for presidents. A "hair trigger" reaction to a real crisis could have disastrous consequences.
Said Obama spokesman Bill Burton snidely when the news broke:
Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same
Compare and contrast with the gracious, statesmanlike ad McCain aired on the day of Obama's acceptance speech. Obama eventually realized that his campaign's intemperate reaction was out of line. According to the AP, Obama "blamed the mixed messages about McCain's choice, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, on campaign aides with a "hair trigger."
What does it say about Barack Obama that he has surrounded himself with these kind of aides? What does it say about Barack Obama that when his operation slips up, he blames his aides? Whatever happened to "the buck stops here?" What would happen if the phone rang in an Obama White House at 3 AM with news potentially much more lethal than the naming of the distinguished lady from Alaska?
In his acceptance speech, Obama cockily claimed:
If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament and judgment to serve as the next commander-in-chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have.
Will the MSM point out that the very next day, the temperament the Obama operation displayed was a hair-trigger one?
Note: this item was originally posted at Free Republic while the NB site was down.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Well we'll all just have
August 30, 2008 - 14:34 ET by BlazerWell we'll all just have to excuse Barack for his "hair trigger" response. He learned that from Mr. Ayres and his Weather Underground chums, ya' know they all had their detonators on hair trigger also.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
i don't buy the "hair trigger"
August 30, 2008 - 14:35 ET by larry on LIthis is not the first time ,nor do i think it will be the last time. it's become "his style".
If the pick of Sarah Palin did nothing else
August 30, 2008 - 14:36 ET by Hack CaffertyOther than shake up the Obama campaign and prevent them from using the canned responses to Romney or Pawlenty, ill be happy. Their knee jerk reaction showed they wern't ready for her.
Yes, indeed... a bonified
August 30, 2008 - 15:12 ET by BuxomAnnieMcGreggorYes, indeed... a bonified knee jerk reaction.... without the knee! ; )
I'm BuxomAnnieMcGreggor ...and I approve this message!
Yes, it certainly shook up
August 30, 2008 - 16:32 ET by HarvestOnVinylYes, it certainly shook up the campaign, but who cares about that really? This is no time to play games, afterall, the future of our country is at stake here. I feel like this is Harriet Myers all over again. Honestly, this is the biggest farce I have ever seen in my short life. I hope she realized she is being used.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure she's a wonderful person and she has a great future politically, but two months is far too brief to get to know this person and her competency. Where are the voices i the Republican party who have the guts to come out and question this obviously dubious choice? I'm very disappointed.
Go ahead. Shoot me down. But I just ask you to step back for a second and examine what is going on here.
The Obama campaign isn't ready
August 30, 2008 - 18:37 ET by IamTinmanfor anything that they haven't scripted in advance. Why do you think he won't do unscripted town meetings?
Do you think Barack would draw the huge crowds without the rock concerts and hollywood provided glitz?
Don't you think it says something frightening about the Democrat party and their platform, that the best candidates they can find are these two clowns? One has no executive experience and a vp choice who the people have already rejected once. Surely they could do better.
And how many times has the
August 30, 2008 - 19:50 ET by HarvestOnVinylAnd how many times has the Republican party denied John McCain? Please.
When Obama drew 75K people in Portland, you tried to credit a free rock concert by the Decemberists. The Decemberists! Really? They usually play for crowds of 500 people. What a joke, man. It's like you refuse to believe that, hey, people might actually like and believe in this guy.
Nice visual
August 30, 2008 - 14:44 ET by BarkerI believe Obama even made the trigger motion with his finger, and then pointed at his hair. Pitiful, just pitiful.
The Obama campaign is firing blanks anyway.
The WaPo provided a handy
August 30, 2008 - 14:45 ET by ThisnThatThe WaPo provided a handy in-your-face article about McCain's temperment last April.
On August 21 (last week), Obama re-launched its attacks on McCain portraying him as "reckless on foreign policy, a hot-head who’s too willing to use force and not willing enough to apprise himself of facts on the ground before urging military action".
But Obama? No way the MSM is going to tough that one. They are too far in the tank.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
remarks
August 30, 2008 - 14:51 ET by sawing battawith respect to his hair trigger remarks a day earlier, Obama later stated soberly,
"that was not the Obama Staff I once knew"
Uh . .and . . uh . . .
August 30, 2008 - 14:54 ET by Mica the MagnificentA . . .uh. . . rapid response to . . . uh . . .an . . . uh . . . situation is . . . uh . . . uh . . . uh . . . above my pay grade.
This is not the first time
August 30, 2008 - 14:55 ET by motherbeltThis is not the first time Obama has blamed his staff. I recall him saying, when confronted about something (paraphrasing) "I don't know what my staff told you, but...."
He should KNOW what his staff is putting out, because he's supposed to be telling them what to put out. And he should take responsibility for what they do. Instead he tries to separate himself from his own staff.
His Presidency would be like Bill Clinton's....I had no input on that...that wasn't my decision....the buck never got here
That's what I was
August 30, 2008 - 15:23 ET by MidAmericaThat's what I was thinking about. When something is good for obama he speaks in the singular and when something goes wrong it's in the plural.
The Bus Fleet
August 30, 2008 - 16:03 ET by KC MulvilleObama has a fleet of buses nearby, because you'll never know when he'll have to throw someone under one.
Excellent framing Mark - this Obama campaign is a fraud
August 30, 2008 - 15:22 ET by Dee Bunkthey are so old school it's not even funny.
Also - not only had McCain just praised Obama's historical accomplishment the previous night, but when Obama announced Biden as his pick, McCain was gracious also.
Here's his response to Couric "Very Wise Selection" He said this despite the fact that Biden ripped into him with lies.
McCain is by far the more principaled one when it comes to attacks and I have been slowly gaining admiration for him in comparison to these Democrat machine hack tactics of Obama and Biden.
And yet, Dee...
August 30, 2008 - 16:11 ET by motherbeltThe Libs are always saying that they need to learn to fight dirty, like the Republicans do.
They are so disgusting MB
August 30, 2008 - 16:20 ET by Dee BunkThey have always been the ones to throw out racism, sexism, homophobia and any other hate mongering label.
I can't say Republicans never stoop to their level, but with both Bush campaigns and with McCain so far - they have been much more above board and attacked issues not the reasons for ascribing to the issues. I'm so sick of how Democrats Demonize and have made this country so polarized.
GOOD NEWS: I have one of
August 30, 2008 - 15:56 ET by mostlymoderateGOOD NEWS: I have one of those annoying college-girl friends that is an avid Obama supporter. Well, she told me yesterday that her and a few of her other Obama supporters are now very afraid Obama is not going to win. :) I just love it.
As for Palin, the woman is a dream come true. Everything about the woman so far is just fantastic. God Bless the McCain camp for making a wonderful decision.
I agree mostly moderate - this pick has them in a frenzy
August 30, 2008 - 16:08 ET by Dee BunkIt was brilliant - it highlights Obama's inexperience, the sexism his party (and him), the attack machine his party (and him), and it completely undercuts his empty "Change" slogan with proven change. Sarah Palin shows the kind of change that he can only dream about! This was a perfect choice. I didn't think he was really considering her and I'm just ecstatic.
I would have liked Romney or Steele also but neither of them highlight all these problems with Obama. Romney could have been demonized pretty easily by them with no backlash.
Yeah, if Obama preaches
August 30, 2008 - 16:18 ET by mostlymoderateYeah, if Obama preaches "change" all the time, what did he choose an old Washington-fossil like Biden for who might have a lot of experience, but BAD-EXPERIENCE! Biden never makes good decisions.
Yeah, because the Violence
August 30, 2008 - 19:55 ET by HarvestOnVinylYeah, because the Violence Against Women Act was a bad idea. I know there's a lot of partisans on this site, but geez, give him some credit, man. Yikes. You need to stop writing in such hyperbole and exaggeration.
A friend of mine...
August 30, 2008 - 21:40 ET by cest moi...old feminist type - very happy with McCain's selection of Palin. She's had it with the cable & alphabet news, now asks me where the trustworthy sites are.
Says I, "Welcome back from the dark side".
Relative worth of the candidates
August 30, 2008 - 16:01 ET by WR JonasTime, experience and good looks have convinced me that I will take a fighter pilot and a hockey mom over a couple of lawyers anytime !
Yeah she's hot. VERY hot.
August 30, 2008 - 16:06 ET by mostlymoderateYeah she's hot. VERY hot. HOT HOT HOT. Just looking at her rather than Biden would be a plus.
Yeah, not that I wish McCain
August 30, 2008 - 17:29 ET by SRPwrdYeah, not that I wish McCain to croak or anything, but if he had to "step down," I would have no problem with our president to be.
Wouldn't that be something?
August 30, 2008 - 19:10 ET by needleOut of the clear blue, IN ANSWER TO MILLIONS OF DEMOCRATS’ PRAYERS, we would suddenly have a woman president. And not only that, we would have a woman leader who leads from conviction – i.e., a real leader – as opposed to a focus group follower – i.e., a faux leader at best.
When and if that day dawns, does anyone expect that a single Democrat will be gracious enough to give thanks to God for answering her prayers?
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Who cares if she's
August 30, 2008 - 19:52 ET by HarvestOnVinylWho cares if she's attractive. It has zero bearing on anything.
Lawyer Jokes
August 30, 2008 - 16:08 ET by hungarianfalconI can just see it at the convention:
SP: JM, what do you call 100 lawyers at the bottom of a lake?
JM: I don't know, SP. What do you call 100 lawyers at the bottom of a lake?
SP: A good start!
JM: SP, that's a good one! Refresh my memory, what are JB and BHO's degrees in?
HF
....as McCain said in his
August 30, 2008 - 16:05 ET by bigtimer....as McCain said in his so-called gracious ad to Obama....
Job well done McCain...job well done.
Like the spider says...come on in to my web....lol.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I believe that McCain's
August 30, 2008 - 16:11 ET by Captain RepusI believe that McCain's selection of Sarah, along with Obammy's selection of Plugs, along with the fact that, like it or not, a very large number of American voters simply will not vote for a black candidate, McCain has a real possibility of running the table in November.
Seeing the sheer panic in the Obammy camp and MSDNC really re-enforces my thoughts. Look for McCain/Sarah to overtake Obammy/Plugs in all the polls by next weekend.
Hair trigger
August 30, 2008 - 16:23 ET by Rev4lawYeah, but it is OK for Obama to attack her since Gov. Palin is one of those gun & religion clinging, xenophobic, small town, bitter people that having been waiting on the feds to bail them out. NOT!
"And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Obama
Go, Sarah, our Iron Lady! A gun-toting, Bible-believing, Eskimo-loving, small town mayor who didn't need the feds and their bridge to nowhere!
Whatever happened to "the
August 30, 2008 - 16:45 ET by Eileen RightWhatever happened to "the buck stops here?" It doesn't apply to post Truman dems. Remember Chuck Schumer's operatives who violated Steele's privacy? What responsibility did Chuckie take for their actions? None that I remember.
Not only was this statement
August 30, 2008 - 17:21 ET by stratmanNot only was this statement a measure of the bile of Obama and his handlers in general, it also represents the extreme arrogance of the Obama campaign. Bill Burton obviously believes he can say anything at any time and get away with it with the ever so amenble MSM.
Too bad his words were published and, to the surprise of Burton and the MSM, created enough flack that His Hopelessness: The Obama had to repair the damage.
RRAM Tough!
Much Ado Over Nothing
August 30, 2008 - 17:45 ET by Agrarian-DecentralistFinkelstein is reaching. Burton's comment was blunt but accurate. And I'll take Obama's usually cool and thoughtful demeanor over McCain's famous temper any day.
AD... You do that...I'll
August 30, 2008 - 17:49 ET by bigtimerAD...
You do that...I'll be laughing when you lose again.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I haven't checked this out BUT....
August 30, 2008 - 17:58 ET by Calypso JonesMcCain's famous temper...exactly who was the recipient of that famous temper? Other Republicans? Not likely democrats since he's been playing patty cake with them for HOW LONG NOW? But that's sorta moot at this point, don't you think? FINALLY republicans are smartening up on how to fight democrats with an eye toward winning. and it's about damm time. She's more qualified than any of them as far as executive experience so i'm not worried one bit.
Amen to that!
August 30, 2008 - 18:59 ET by needle"She's more qualified than any of them as far as executive experience so i'm not worried one bit."
…especially compared to Obama’s executive experience of wasting $100M+.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Given that Obama has no track record of any significance
August 30, 2008 - 18:20 ET by IamTinman(and his VP choice has a long track record of no significance), just about the only way to judge a candidate as light on substance as Barack is by looking at his actions and his associates. Baracks lack of action until after the media responded to Bill Burtons snide attack on Sarah Palin shows both his poor choice of associates and his poor judgement.
I'll take a fighter pilot and a hockey mom over a pair of lawyers any day!!
It gets worse
August 30, 2008 - 19:49 ET by dboEven with this disgusting low blow, Bill Burton seems to be one of the better workers on Obama's staff. Remember the campaign workers that barred two Muslim's from a picture because of their headscarves?
http://afp.google.co...
McCain
August 31, 2008 - 10:16 ET by juspassinthruessentially shut Biden down. Biden can't be seen as beating up on a woman, and frees up McCain to challenge Obama without being called a racist.
This whole 'hair-trigger' thing is a bit kinky to me.