Palin Slams the Media

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright September 5, 2008
All Rights Reserved.                    

               Whipping up her base, GOP vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin went after the media for daring to say unkind things, something akin to shooting herself in the foot.  Last night’s tour de force acceptance speech showed she’s no shrinking violet, blasting Washington elites and the liberal media.  Throwing the GOP audience red meat, Palin blamed the media for spreading falsehoods, despite her lengthy speech, serving up disinformation about Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.), accusing him of the country’s economic and foreign policy mess.  “I’ve learned quickly, these past few days, that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone,” Palin told frenzied delegates.  While she delivered her lines well, blaming the media opens up an ugly can of worms.

            Palin surely knows that she no longer enjoys the anonymity of the Alaska wilderness, having taken the role of McCain’s attack dog.  Lashing out at Barack is one thing but biting the hand that feeds approval ratings is still another.  “But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators:  I’m not going the Washington to seek their good opinion—I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country,” Palin slammed the media, figuring they wouldn’t give her a fair shake.  Palin’s smiling scorn for the media translates well to her conservative base, whose battles with the “liberal” media are well-chronicled by Rush Limbaugh and a slew of right-wing radio talk show hosts.  She delivered her speech was with such sarcasm and smugness, not the best way to win friends and influence people in the media.  If she only plans to appear on Fox News Network, she’ll be OK.

            Blasting the media for “misinformation and outright lies,” Palin didn’t hesitate to take the offense.  Palin said nothing in her acceptance speech about seeking constitutional amendments banning abortion and gay marriage.  Nor did she express her desire to legislate creationism in public schools, where the bible appears along side Darwin’s theory of evolution.  She talked about Barack raising everyone’s taxes, after he promised to cut taxes for 90% of wage-earners.  Appealing directly in writing to GOP fund raisers, Palin, promised the “misinformation and flat-out lies must be corrected,” pitting the liberal media against the GOP.  Palin’s campaign hasn’t specified exactly all the “misinformation and flat-out lies,” other that suggesting she’s served as Alaska governor less than two years and mayor of Wasilla another six.  Stories about her four-month-year-old or firing controversy swirl on the Internet.

            Palin should get used to the media fishbowl, whose job it is to flesh out her real views on key issues.  While she talked about shattering 18 million cracks in women’s glass ceiling, referring to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s !8 million votes, they’d like to know Sarah’s views on abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, prayer in public schools, vouchers, national health care, the Iraq War, Afghanistan, Iran, and more recently the former Soviet state of Georgia.  Her speech conspicuously omitted any details about her controversial views, leaving the “liberal” media a big job of getting out the truth.  Palin feels baited and challenged by the press for daring to ask real questions about her political views.  Bashing Obama is far easier than admitting you’d like to reverse Roe v. Wade.  McCain must stomach his pick of one of the most conservative voices in recent memory.

            Palin proved she can deliver a punch with a smiling face.  It remains to be seen whether she can take the scrutiny and criticism that follows from someone throwing down the gauntlet.  “The only flat-out lie in this ridiculous claim, and it proves that John McCain wasted no time in teaching Sarah Palin the ways of Washington he’s inhabited for 26 years,” said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.  Unlike the Kerry campaign four years ago, Barack has decided to push back when the other side throws mud.  Palin’s attacks on the media could come back to bite her, when they become more relentless in getting questions answered.  Delivering a bruising, no-punches-pulled acceptance speech opens Palin up to the same scrutiny, covering any and all details in her personal and professional life.  Blasting the media plays well to her conservative base but doesn’t  answer any questions.

            Palin won’t be able to hide out on Fox News or duck the “liberal” media indefinitely.  There’s nothing that tricky about answering basic questions on key campaign issues, especially exposing her conservative side in plain view.  Her acceptance speech won’t stop reporters from seeking clarification on national security, abortion, gay marriage, creationism, prayer in public schools and bible study at the White House.  McCain married himself to a female copy of George W. Bush, closely wed to the causes of evangelicals.  Palin won’t stop the press from asking her what she intends to do about Iran, Georgia and what happens when the Russians bomb U.S. missle installations in Poland and the Czech Republic.  All are fair game when she leaves the podium and must answer tough questions.  More clichés about lower taxes and shrinking government won’t get it done.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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