NORTHERN LIGHTS, SOUTHERN CROSS
Well, this is the second week in a row that I have borrowed a title. This one is from a record once produced by "The Band". However, this column isn't about music, at least not overtly. It's about Senator John McCain's pick for Vice-President announced last Friday. I can tell you frankly, as a long-time McCain supporter and volunteer for his campaign, my first thought when the news leaked out around 10:30 Friday morning, had nothing to do with thoughts of the beautiful Aurora Borealis. Indeed, my first reaction lay somewhere between shock, dismay and anger. Yes, anger. I was mad, at first, that the efforts of so many could be put in such jeopardy by John McCain. Sarah Palin of Alaska? Are you kidding me? Is that the cupcake maker? No...that's Sara Lee. Hmm...let me think...have I ever heard of this person?
The short answer was no. I had long-worried that McCain, with his propensity for surprising even his most ardent followers, would at some point implode his own campaign with a remark, an endorsement, a temper flare-up. More than six weeks ago I listened to Dick Morris, famed Clinton-insider and political guru, remarking on all the talk shows that McCain needed to reach way outside the box, to shake-up his campaign. Granted, it became increasingly obvious that Romney could not help the ticket. Two rich white guys. No. Tom Ridge and Joe Lieberman, long-touted as being on the "short list", would have alienated an already disgruntled Republican base, and probably done more damage than good. But still...Sarah Palin?
It was 10:35 a.m. on Friday when my stomach began to hurt. Amazingly, by 1:30, I had made a 180 degree turn. I scanned the talk radio stations for three hours listening to the analysis. Bill Salmon of The Washington Post, former Congressman Jack Kemp, Bill O'Reilly. By 3:00 that afternoon I was wondering where Sarah had been all our lives
It is already being said by many that this was a stroke of genius by McCain. It is also being said that it is the most blatant pandering to the "woman vote" that anyone has seen in history. After much thought, I disagree. As anyone who knows me or reads these columns knows, I have studied John McCain since his run in 2000. I believe, in utter honesty, that McCain would have picked Sarah regardless of any political circumstances within the campaign. Though he met her for the first time only in February of this year, I can understand how he became so politically smitten.
She is the mother of five and currently Governor of Alaska. She began as a city councilwoman, then Mayor, and then Governor. She is a firebrand reformer. One of her first efforts as Governor was to place "ForSale" the private jet bought by her predecessor Governor Murkowski. She put it up on E-Bay and sold it for $2.7 million and returned the money to the taxpayers. She investigated and uncovered a scandal involving deep corruption between the oil companies and some Alaskan politicians. A few went to jail. She embodies the conservative values that the far-right have been waiting for, but in a pragmatic way that is not overbearing or zealous. Most of us, myself included, are moderates. We're pragmatists. We're going to fall in love with her.
Her husband is a Union Steel worker, an oil-rig guy. They also ran a commercial fishing boat together and he is a "Snowmachine-Racing" champion. They hunt and fish together. Middle-America, throw a log on the fire, the Palins are coming over. Here, finally, a family that embodies "regularness" and yet has given-back in that way that all Americans should. They have worked hard and served hard. It is said that she received a phone call only on Thursday and a meeting with McCain was scheduled. She had no idea this was coming, and it reflects McCain's well-known maverick style, that he made the decision at the last possible moment. I can imagine, this was a tough one. McCain wants to serve this country as President. This is his last shot, and choosing Sarah Palin was a huge roll of the dice. I believe, in the end, it will prove to have been a brilliant one.
The Obama camp is already, and will continue to, poke holes in all the obvious soft spots. They are already playing the "inexperience" card, but this will not hold up. She has executive experience. Obama has none. She has been running a state for two years. Obama has been on the road campaigning. She already, in her short tenure, has a record of serious achievement. Obama has not.
If nothing else, it will make this weeks Republican National Convention a history-making event, just as Obama's was last week.
It also removed from the headlines, and all media for that matter, any further gloating about the Democratic Convention and Obama's memorable speech. It also removes any remaining doubt about whether or not this election, and the next sixty days, will be anything short of breathtaking as we approach a remarkable juncture in history. John McCain's life has been marked by death-defying feats. He can add another notch in his belt.
Karl From New Hampshire