Former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift was diplomatic, but her message was clear: because Sarah Palin remains doubtful of getting a fair shake from the MSM, she wants to take her message directly to the American people. Swift, speaking on behalf of the McCain-Palin campaign, made the remark in response to a question from this NewsBuster during the course of a conference call this afternoon.
Swift took the question after making opening remarks in which she said that Governor Palin won last night's debate in part because she was able to connect with Americans as "a person from the middle class who [expressed] the real anxieties that families have about our economy right now." After suggesting that Senator Biden didn't connect as well, Swift added that Biden made a significant number of incorrect statements "that kept the fact-checkers busy."
It was then that NewsBusters had the opportunity to pose its question. Listen to audio here.
NEWSBUSTERS: Governor Swift, it was just a month ago tomorrow that you were interviewed by Brian Williams [screencap from interview] and he asked you a question that was much in vogue at the time, along the lines: should Gov. Palin be doing this given that she has several children? And I think you responded to that. And then we saw the wave of questions as to whether the Governor was sufficiently conversant with the issues, and presumably last night's performance has put those questions behind her. Is it possible to anticipate the next wave of mainstream media attacks or lines against the governor, and are you already anticipating the response to that?JANE SWIFT: I think it's pretty clear that Governor Palin demonstrated that she's ready to be John McCain's vice-president. In last night's debate she had a clear command of the issues and I think she actually, in a very appropriate way, expressed her desire to talk directly to the American people, not through the filter of the mainstream media who can edit her comments. And perhaps she doesn't have confidence that they're going to convey what she truly believes in her heart nor will they accurately convey her experience.
You know, I would hope as the mother of three daughters [Swift was the first person to give birth while serving as a governor] that we have put many of the gender issues to rest. I'm skeptical that we have because some of those stereotypes seem so resistant to being handled. But I think what she did do is that she talked about issues, and her experience, and how she would take her experience both as a mother as well as a governor and use it to improve the lives of families across the country. So I'm very hopeful, although I wouldn't place good money on it, that we can stick to a debate about the issues, because I do think Governor Palin answers strongly all of those who questioned her ability to do this job.
As for putting money on the MSM giving Sarah Palin a fair shot, I'd say the odds are approximately equal to those of the Brady-less New England Patriots winning the Super Bowl.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Patriots??
October 3, 2008 - 14:52 ET by Pha PhaEasy on the Patriots kiddo.
Not saying they can't win
October 3, 2008 - 14:58 ET by Mark FinkelsteinNot saying they can't win 6-7 games. After all, they only have to play Miami one more time ;-)
I clicked the link to the
October 3, 2008 - 15:04 ET by bigtimerI clicked the link to the audio before reading on down to your last lines...
..that is what jumped out at me too...the putting money on it issue...lol!
You already got it covered Mark...great job.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Good On Ya, Gov. Swift
October 3, 2008 - 15:11 ET by KimberlyImagine the horror...a woman! With children! With a baby, no less! That means she was pregnant while en a position of power! Why...why...that's insane! She can't run a city/state/country! She should just give up her dreams and stay home and raise kids.
Only not. Good on ya, Gov. Swift, for reminding us of how far the MSM will go to both destroy a (conservative) woman's competence in a career and her ability to multitask (which, for Obamaniacs, means that she can do more than one thing at one time) and be both a great mother and a great career woman.
I heartily endorse the view
October 3, 2008 - 15:22 ET by BDI heartily endorse the view that Governor Plain should give the MSM a pass. After the shabby treatment she and her family received in the days immediately post the announcement of her selection, she cannot expect anything butvile treatment from the press and thus should abstain from meeting with them.
She should take her case directly to the people using internet, talk radio, and personal appearances where possible. The key is to film everything and be prepared to return fire with overwhelming support on the press who will find fault with every single move.
Someone remarked that political journalism as an honorable profession in the MSM died in 2008, and I gotta back that statement.
I fell for it
October 3, 2008 - 15:23 ET by KC MulvilleI've read several commentators (David Brooks, for example) say, where was this Sara Palin in those interviews? Or, why couldn't she have been this commanding with Couric or Gibson? It was like she was a totally different person!
Examine yourself. Did you take it for granted (as, to my shame, I did) that the view of Sara Palin that Katie Couric presented was an accurate view? Given the difference between the picture we saw with our own eyes, compared to the edited picture Couric gave us, did you automatically assume that Palin performed poorly? Maybe, Couric gave us a poor picture of the real Palin. Maybe it was Couric who "performed poorly" as an objective journalist.
I admit. Until I saw such a different person live, with my own eyes, I had fallen for it. I took the interviews to be "photographs" of Palin's conversations, as if they happened exactly as the anchors had taped them. Instead, I realized I was looking at portraits that these media hacks wanted to paint for me.
Don't fall for the spin that the Debate Palin was just a creation of grooming and cramming, but that the Interview Palin revealed her true (inept) self. She surely crammed for the interviews as much as for the debate. So, why such a different picture? The difference is not likely to be explained simply by Palin.
Michelle Obama: MIA
October 3, 2008 - 16:06 ET by krendlerAnybody know what happened to Michelle Obama? She was stumping for Barack 24/7 during the Dem primary and since July (and since the nomination was sealed) I think I've seen her speak exactly once - at the Dem convention.
Hysterical. They've decided she's not such a great asset in the general election. Just stuff her away in a box and let her out in November. Guess she's going to appear on Larry King soon, though. I'm sure he'll be asking some tough questions.
Maybe Sarah will talk to Mark now!
October 3, 2008 - 16:33 ET by Dee Bunkwouldn't that be cool.
She needs to insist on live interviews unless the interviewer is friendly. That's what Ann Coulter does - that is what all conservatives should do. Only liberals benefit from edited interviews. If they say something stupid, it's edited out. If a conservative calls a liberal reporter out and makes the reporter look stupid, it's edited out. No more taped interviews!
dee =- it's just a waste of
October 3, 2008 - 18:05 ET by Jack Bauerdee =- it's just a waste of Palin's time doing those recorded "set-piece" sit down, studio interviews with the huge empty vessels of nothingness posing as "journalists."
They do her no good as they will always be edited to her disadvantage.
LIVE interviews only, on the hoof, on the campaign plane.
The most-watched VP
October 3, 2008 - 17:14 ET by ckc1227The most-watched VP debate in history, also beat the McCain-Obama debate.
http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/10/vp-debate-ratin.html
Most watched show in Fox News history.
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/fnc_tops_cablers_with_most_viewers_in_network_history_96525.asp
I'm sure they tuned in to see Biden though.
Obama's Economic plan: more taxes, more spending, more regulation. Prosperity here we come.
ckc... Sure they tuned in
October 3, 2008 - 17:53 ET by Clear thinkerckc...
Sure they tuned in to see Biden, I hear he's going to be the next Bond, James Bond! You know, 007 and all that. Crap..... I'm sorry. I got this all mixed up while looking at his IQ number. Never mind!
Insane Results From Palin/Biden Debate covers the great eyelash controversy!
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
Little Green Footballs has
October 3, 2008 - 17:42 ET by Jack BauerLittle Green Footballs has a fairly definitive list of all the Biden Lies.
I guess when you have 35 years in the Senate, you lose the ability to feel any shame. Or charity That's for the little people.
It's obvious that Governor Palin has some smarts.
October 3, 2008 - 18:00 ET by JimcinscNamely, she took a play out of the Ronald Reagan playbook. She's talking to the people, not to the media. Reagan did it, and Palin is doing it as well. It's a good play, and I think it's working.
Jim... Watcha thinkin,
October 3, 2008 - 18:05 ET by Clear thinkerJim...
Watcha thinkin, maybe a Palin/McCain ticket instead? I vote yes.
Insane Results From Palin/Biden Debate covers the great eyelash controversy!
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
JOE BIDEN'S GAFFES
October 3, 2008 - 19:01 ET by paulejbpaulejb
BOSNIAKS FOR OBAMA-BIDEN
After the outrage of Ifill
October 3, 2008 - 22:45 ET by robert108After the outrage of Ifill as a "moderator", Sarah should never deal with the MSM again.
how about Avoid ABC Assasination like 2nite Friday night ABC
October 3, 2008 - 22:52 ET by JayTeeSo ABC Is running around in Elite DC lookin for people who Knew Sarah 5 weeks ago or more . . .
As if she never EXISTED prior to the MSM coverage.
I made what's her name change the channel.
EXIT Abc
.
another one bites the dust !
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
And Another thing -- I did not watch VP debates.. . But
October 3, 2008 - 23:05 ET by JayTeeI asked people . . I bloged. . . Who Won ? (zero MSM INPUT)
I found the Answer on Drudge. . . forever to be Labled Conservative from now on . . Comments were OVERWHELMING Palin Won.
Ya know. . . you just can't trust the MSM ANYMORE . . YA know ?
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
Who Won
October 3, 2008 - 23:15 ET by CANCON1cancon1
Mrs.Palin won the debate. Mr. Biden was also articulate. These are pro's. They proved it. At the end of the day minimal impact, except, she's is as smart as they come and I would not recommend an underestimation of the brains that she packs.
My expectation is that the last 2 weeks, she has learned the ropes. I would unleash her as a main attack machine immediately, Take on all. A very, very impresive person. As I a Canadian, we see that , and man oh man, perfection, or close to it.
Its a start
October 4, 2008 - 04:26 ET by spartanrmdAt this point the question is - Whats the downside? Why not declare war on the MSM. Why are the gloves still on? As long as McCains camp uses the truth and makes it clear to the public just how much the liberal media are in the bag for Obama Hossein O I dont see a downside. I think the American People are smart enough to understand whats going on if they are presented with the facts. If McCain and Palin both did nothing but unscripted townhall meetings from now until Nov I would not have a problem with that
Odd
October 4, 2008 - 07:59 ET by Red JeepWhat I found odd about MSM coverage of this debate was that every major network, every PBS and cable news network TV station carried this as compared to the one network that carried the first presidential debate. Maybe they wanted to make sure that if Mrs. Palin failed as many as possible would see.
Nah -- just ratings. On
October 4, 2008 - 08:04 ET by Jack BauerNah -- just ratings. On that level that's all the network heads are interested in.
Only one netwrok carrried the first POTUS debate. Seriously, that's a fact?
Exposing the financial crisis
October 4, 2008 - 09:03 ET by rrobinHere's a video about this "financial crisis" I suggest we get out to every voter possible, all over the country, and I also understand that Sean Hannity's America on Sunday night on Fox is going to focus on this in a very specific, hard-hitting way.
Especially before this next debate, the exposure of this may wind up being the issue that actually sinks the Obama campaign.
http://tinyurl.com/3ud4qt