McCain Camp Didn't Search Palin's Hometown Paper Archives

The McCain campaign has gone to great lengths to present the selection of Sarah Palin as one made after a careful, meticulous vetting process. But evidence continues to suggest that the Arizona Republican made his VP choice with surprising haste.

On Saturday, a Democrat tasked with opposition research contacted the Huffington Post with this piece of information: as of this weekend, the McCain campaign had not gone through old newspaper articles from the Valley Frontiersman, Palin's hometown newspaper.

How does he know? The paper's (massive) archives are not online. And when he went to research past content, he was told he was the first to inquire.

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If true, the failure of the Arizona Republican to access the newspaper clippings becomes another in a growing list of revelations that calls into question just how and why he made his decision to choose Palin. A rudimentary clip search, such as this, is presidential politics 101 as campaigns not only look for the majority of background information on any high-level appointee, but also try to prepare themselves from future attacks.

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In addition, the former Republican House Speaker of Alaska, Gail Phillips, admitted to reporters that she was shocked by McCain's choice of Palin, as "his advance team didn't come to Alaska to check her out."

Even McCain's own aides seemed unprepared by the choice. After Palin's name was announced, spokeswoman Nancy Pfotenhauer was asked about the governor's relationship with the Senator.

"You're running flat into the wall of my ignorance here," she said. "I truly have no indication whatsoever the extent of a relationship that exists with the Governor of Alaska."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/31/mccain-camp-didnt-search_n_122823.html

Thanks. K&R

Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooop Ass. I want her for my VP.

So does Cindy!!!! hahahahaha

It just fits.

and friends at the Democratic Convention.

To subject to thorough examination or evaluation: vet a manuscript.

"In the United States, a party's presidential nominee must choose a vice-presidential candidate to accompany him or her on the ticket. Prospective vice-presidential candidates must undergo thorough evaluation by a team of advisers acting on behalf of the nominee. In later stages of the vetting process, the team will examine such items as a prospective vice-presidential candidate's finances, personal conduct, and previous coverage in the media."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vetting

What the McCain people did not do, the media will gladly do, with gusto.

I think I have PTSD...Palin Traumatic Selection Disorder.

It's so bizarre, that it's embarrassing.

The whole thing...just denigrates the vice presidency and the office of the president.

A man who would govern by the seat of his saggy pants

That this was just a publicity stunt to blunt the effect of the convention? If that was the goal, then it was a very effective pick. The 24 hr cable news got what they wanted, a new controversy, and the headlines all appear to be about Palin, or speculation on why McCain picked her. I have to give it to the McCain campaign....MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

convention. It isn't because of the hurricane. They're finally vetting her.

It's because the 'grownups' in the McSame camp didn't take her seriously as a valid choice. They saw her as a lightweight (which is what she is). They just threw her into the 'mix' when they chatted with the media in order to make it look like they were considering a more diverse group of vp candidates. This selection was a rash, last minute choice of McCain's in order to try to regain his 'maverick' status and firm up the base. There was little thought or judgement on what form her governance would take, or what kind of person she was, and of course none to the question of "Is she ready to assume the office of the Presidency?". It was an overreaction to Obama's good week. No thought beyond November 4th in McSame's head. It tells you a lot about what kind of President he would make.

No thought whatsoever as to what would happen to the country if Straight Talk Johnny's 72 year old heart stopped beating and Governor Gidget was forced to assume the presidency.

The important thing, after all, is to get the Republican base in line, and maybe catch a few unhappy Hillary supporters who they think will vote for anything with a vagina.

No respect for women, no respect for the country and quite frankly America be damned--I'm going to win this election.