Last updated on July 18th, 2023 at 11:16 am
Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden was on Meet the Press this morning talking about a variety of issues, but most interesting were his thoughts on debating Sarah Palin, and her silence on the issues.
Biden said that he thought Palin would be judged the same way that voters judge other candidates, “She’s going to be judged, I assume, the same way I’m going to be judged. What does she know, what does she think, what’s her record, what’s she going to do? And as I look down the road, that’s how I’ve always debated whoever I’ve debated, including the really tough women I work with, smart women, in the Senate. So I, I, I really don’t view this any differently.”
He also said that he has no idea where she stands on the issues, “I may be surprised here down the road. But, but, you know, I’m just looking forward to debating her. I mean, why–look, she had a great speech. But what was–her silence on the issues was deafening. She didn’t mention a word about healthcare, a word about the environment, a word about the middle class. They never parted her lips. I mean, so I don’t know where she is on those things.”
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Democrats have found the weakness in the Sarah Palin selection, and it is on the issues. I think the McCain campaign is making a big mistake here by not letting her face the media. Palin will be sitting down with ABC and Charlie Gibson for an interview this week, but the campaign really needs to get her on the Sunday talk shows to discuss the issues. If she is so weak on issues, that she can’t answer serious questions, then she should not be on the ticket.
They can’t hide her from serious questions for the entire campaign. They should have had her doing national media on the first weekend that she was added to the ticket. The fact that she wasn’t makes me think that there is a serious problem here.
They can’t expect to keep her tucked away safely on the stump until the VP debate. If they do this, Biden will tear her apart in front of the entire nation. If Palin can’t discuss the issues, then she will look out matched against a true expert like BIden. If McCain gets burnt on his Palin gamble, it will likely happen at the VP debate.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
