rssThe Myth of Palin’s Debate Victory
Friday, July 10, 2009 at 2:33 pm
- 9 Comments
Two new and apologetic pieces about Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) make a similar claim. The Weekly Standard’s Matt Continetti, who is writing a book about Palin:
In the vice presidential debate, Palin went toe-to-toe with Biden, the paradigmatic Beltway insider, and gave as good as–if not better than–she got.
Carl Cannon of Politics Daily:
Palin cleaned Joe Biden’s clock in their only debate, and nobody in the media could even see it, let alone report it. That was the night that the dual blinders of ideology and elitism prevented us being honest brokers.
This just isn’t true.
Polling on the debate revealed that most voters thought Biden beat Palin. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average on the general election, Obama led McCain 49.0 percent to 43.3 percent on October 2, 2008, the day of the debate. After the debate, Obama’s lead stayed stable or kept on growing. Compare that to the effect that the Dick Cheney-John Edwards debate of Oct. 5, 2004 had on their running mates. Cheney clearly stopped a small downturn in Bush’s numbers after the first lousy debate with John Kerry.
The myth that “Palin won” the 2008 vice presidential debate is predicated on expectations, which were created by journalists, and pure narrative demands, which were also created by journalists. Cannon’s article argues that Biden made some factual slips in the debate and that the media, overcome with Palin obsession, gave him a pass. And Cannon stretches the truth to get there. He sniffs that Biden answered a question about vice presidential power while “dressing down Dick Cheney, who was not present.” But Biden was answering this question that moderator Gwen Ifill posed to Palin.
Governor, you mentioned a moment ago the constitution might give the vice president more power than it has in the past. Do you believe as Vice President Cheney does, that the Executive Branch does not hold complete sway over the office of the vice presidency, that it it is also a member of the Legislative Branch?
The Journalist Defends Palin Against Journalism industry is sad enough without sloppy attacks like this.
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9 Comments
Comment posted July 10, 2009 @ 10:37 pm
I fail to understand why you characterize Cannon as stretching the truth.
Biden answered Ifill's question, and while doing so, he explicitly attacks Cheney:
“The idea (that) he doesn't realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States – that's the executive branch – he works in the executive branch,” Biden said. “He should understand that. Everyone should understand that. And the primary role of the vice president of the United States is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and, as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there's a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit….He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he's part of the legislative branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive, and look where it has gotten us.”
The question as posed asked whether or not it was the respondent's belief that the vice presidency belongs to both the Executive Branch and Legislative Branch, and provided Cheney as an example of a public figure who holds that belief.
Rather than simply stating his disagreement and explaining its grounds, Biden berated Cheney for his “bizarre notion”.
How, then, did Cannon mischaracterize Biden's words in stating that the senator was “dressing down Dick Cheney”?
I would love to hear clarification on this matter.
Pingback posted July 11, 2009 @ 11:06 am
[...] of this, she “held her own,” and thus somehow “won” despite the fact that by almost any measure, public sentiment strongly favored Biden winning the debate. I realize this isn’t an argument [...]
Comment posted July 11, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
What's next, Dave? Claiming the fix was in on the greater number of viewers Biden/Palin pulled
than their bosses?
Let it go.
You're preaching to the choir and even if you could channel de Tocqueville you wouldn't sour a single person on Palin who is in her corner.
This just in: a majority of Americans now believe the media–guys like you–crossed the line
with its lust for Palin's blood–even democrats who were pulling for Obama.
Comment posted July 11, 2009 @ 11:49 pm
You said: “This just in: a majority of Americans now believe the media–guys like you–crossed the line
with its lust for Palin's blood–even democrats who were pulling for Obama.”
Uh no they're not.
A new national survey from Public Policy Polling finds that the American public has a pretty solid verdict on Sarah Palin: A full majority, 55% of voters, say she is not fit to be president, compared to just 37% who say she is fit for it.
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Rele…
The Hill July 9, 2009:
” Vulnerable GOPs want Palin to stay home
By Molly K. Hooper
Posted: 07/09/09 08:00 PM [ET]
Republicans facing tough elections in 2010 don’t want Sarah Palin campaigning with them.
Though the soon-to-be-former Alaska governor is seen as popular with the conservative grass roots, several Republicans said she’d help them by staying home in Wasilla.
Several of these Republicans hail from districts or states carried in 2008 by President Obama, a frequent target of Palin’s criticism. Republicans must keep these districts and win others where Obama is popular if they are to gain seats next year.”
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/vulnerable-…
According to Public Policy Polling against Palin Obama leads 56-35.
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Rele…
Comment posted August 1, 2009 @ 2:19 am
Who do you claim to be speaking for, John the Carpenter?
No majority of Americans thinks any journalist was too hard on the Pitbull With Lipstick.
She didn't do a single press conference. She thinks a constituent asking her whether she agrees with her running mate about attacking terrorists in Pakistan is “gotcha journalism.”
She cannot name a newspaper she reads or a Supreme Court opinion besides Roe v. Wade (She couldn't even think of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker case and that happened in freakin' Alaska!).
She mocked community organizers but quit her job. She said Hillary Clinton shouldn't whine about sexism or double-standards because it was just expected that you have to be a better candidate and the whining hurts other women. But look who hides behind sexism when she wants to start a feud with David Letterman. Look who whines about a double standard when she gets called out for quitting.
She tried to compare her situation with Janet Napolitano, Jon Huntsman, and others who “quit” their jobs. But those people were each PROMOTED to other, more difficult and prestigious jobs. None of them quit on their constituents so they could go collect political chits by giving speeches to flannel-clad gun-concealing hicks while wearing tight skirts and spouting gibberish about socialism.
She doubled the amount of cash paid per voter, I mean resident, under the Permanent Fund Trust to more than $3,200. Yet she ran around the country whining about how increasing the progressive tax rate's top tier by less than the amount Clinton raised it would be “socialism.”
She has no concept of anything but mocks others who do. And let's not get started on the “pro America parts of the country” nonsense. 9/11 happened in NYC, which I guess is the heart of liberal Fake America.
John, you are the one who should let it go.
I welcome all such articles by Mr. Weigel or otherwise. God knows the right keeps trying to reinvent Sarah Palin and save her from herself. They should not be allowed to get away with it.
Comment posted August 1, 2009 @ 2:26 am
Rather than seek clarification, try re-reading the article.
Weigel states nowhere that Cannon “mischaracterized” Biden's words.
No one disputes that Biden dressed down Cheney. The issue is that Weigel found Cannon's problem with Biden's focus on Cheney to be silly (Cannon “sniffed that” etc…). So do I.
Cheney was the focus of the moderator's question. This is grown-up politics. You know that and I know that. Palin ducked the whole question because the words confused her. THAT is the story. The fact that Biden knew the right answer, as well as the right way to deliver it, is unsurprising.
Comment posted August 2, 2009 @ 1:29 am
No, Stephen, Weigel makes no explicit use of the word “mischaracterize”. He states that Cannon “stretches the truth”.
My sincerest apologies; it was most ignorant of me to assume that other readers would not dismiss my comment on so petty of grounds.
Thank you for the clarification — oh, wait, you provided none.
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