Sarah Palin's convention speech: the reaction

Conservatives are swooning, liberals terrified - that's how I would sum up the media reaction to Sarah Palin's big moment in St Paul last night. Never mind that she told a fair few porkies - both about her own record and Barack Obama's - the young governor of Alaska issued a rallying cry to the conservative Republican base that will go down in the annals of the culture wars as one of the most energising opening salvos of recent times.

But will it win over wavering independents? I personally think not, as thinking moderates will, I believe, look beyond her charismatic delivery to positions that have little resonance with their own. And they may well be turned off by the divisive "It's us right-thinking Americans against those snooty East Coast almost-foreigners" tone of her speech. But I could be wrong. Only time - and perhaps the next round of polling - will tell.

A selection of views from the blogosphere - left and right:

Joe Klein, Swampland, Time:

"She delivered a brilliant speech. It was a classic Republican speech--written by Matthew Scully of the Bush speechwriting shop -- chock full of conservative populism, a cultural "torpedo" as Chris Mathews is saying as I write this, aimed directly at Barack and Michelle Obama. She was far more effective, using fewer words than the over-the-top Rudy Giuliani, in tearing down the Obama candidacy. There was not much substance -- issues don't matter, remember? -- and her description of Obama's policies, particularly his tax policies, was quite inaccurate. ... The speech also very effectively steered Palin away from her extremist views on social issues...and from her differences from McCain on almost every issue -- global warming, tax increases, pork -- except abortion. It will, obviously, be crucial for McCain and Biden to make clear the inaccuracies in her speech -- and her relentless mischaracterizations of Obama's positions, especially taxes."

Walter Shapiro, Salon.com:

"It will take more than a single speech convincingly read off a Teleprompter for the voters to ratify McCain's judgment in choosing the fledgling governor of Alaska as the first woman on a Republican national ticket. ...

"While the selection of the Alaksa governor may not be the gender-gap-closing masterstroke that Republicans initially hoped, it also is not looking like the politically impulsive disaster that the Democrats had envisioned. What Sarah Palin may have underscored on her big night on center stage is that, in the end, vice-presidential candidates are mostly political afterthoughts for the voters."

MyDD:

"We have met someone that we will be doing battle against for a decade or more. Seriously. I've never seen a woman, or a man for that matter, speak that way, prime time, national, convention, live, ever. She blows away Hillary Clinton. …
OK, so my guess. Come November, and Obama's glorious victory, Palin is who they pronounce as the '12 nominee against Obama. Either that, or Palin is Prez after McCain croaks on a pretzel from 2 years of the WH.
Palin captured the GOP's heart and flag tonight. She hit it 456 ft into deep right field, and way friggin outside the park. … Anyone that thinks McCain could have chosen better than Palin, among the GOP ranks, is on drugs.  Talk about a cultural war that's on again!"

Red State:

"Sarah Palin ... gave the speech of a lifetime, perhaps the best nationally broadcast political introduction in the convention history, and a knock out blow to the Obama-Biden campaign and their pals in the media.
"... She proved she's tough, she's a fighter, and yes, she can lead. Governor Sarah Palin could lead on day one. She is ready to be President. ... John McCain chose wisely.
"After tonight, it is clear the media's reaction to Sarah Palin was hyperbolic, false, and filled with the anger of a Democratic opposition just now recognizing what a threat Governor Palin is to their established order. Sarah Palin is the real deal."

The Campaign Spot, National Review Online:

"Tonight, we either saw a watershed in American politics, a tour de force, the most striking and graceful debut in our nation’s political life, and a national introduction that makes Barack Obama’s 2004 convention address look like small potatoes… or we saw what we wanted to see, and the country’s persuadable independents saw something else. I’m afraid to believe. If I’m wrong, I don’t really know what Americans want. I know conservatives are thrilled to pieces, and they ought to be. She knocked it out of the park. I don’t think she could have delivered that speech any better. Even if I hadn’t suggested a line, I would say that the speech hit almost every note just right. (Did the Obama fans feel this way? Is this what their exultation feels like? Wonderful. I’m glad they get to experience it too.)"

Talking Points Memo:

"If you didn't sense last night how deeply Sarah Palin channeled some of the country's deepest, most powerful currents of pent-up indignation and yearning, you don't sense the trouble we Democrats are in.
"Rhetorically, she was the anti-Obama. She was stirring precisely because she was so artless, matter-of fact, and "American" -- with no cadences or grand, historic resonances, but with plenty of mother wit and shrewdness. The two currents she tapped ... were riptides of deeply wounded pride and groping loyalty, a yearning for vindication of something that is not to be disparaged at all."

Comments

[Langx]

She had about 10 lies in her speech.

Once you listened to the words she said nothing that could help America.

Just more hate and name calling from the right.

It's all they got.

To bad we've got 40 million stupid people in this country

[radtop]

It was typical of the liberal media to emphasize that Palin delivered a speech not written by her and read off a teleprompter; as if Obama or Biden ever gave a speech on their own. In fact Biden's speech writers don't even come up with their own stuff.

[Mike, Washington State, USA]

The Dems wanted a Hurricane & they got it. She's called (Sarah) !!!!!

[Jose Abin]

Where's the beef?

I watched Ms. Palin's speech on C-Span to avoid pundit commentary. Afterwards I turned on the pundits at CNN and was amazed at how contrary their reactions were to mine.

Quite frankly Ms. Palin's so called speech was a compilation of snippets from Republican attack talking points. The speech lacked depth and most of all it was shallow without substance. I’m amazed at the lack of discussion about the issues that I feel we need to be addressed. Most of what was heard were unsubstantiated Republican clichés and distortions that after eight years have become nauseating. To see any positive light to Ms. Palin’s s to drown in a sea of ignorance.

As I watched her speech and the camera shots at the audience I could not help a feeling of contempt for such a pathetic and sad spectacle.

My conclusion is that the speech was insipid, trite and most of all petty.

[overnoyed]

To bad we've got 40 million stupid people in this country
Posted by: Langx | 04 September 2008 at 02:00 PM
.
.
.
.Yea - either that - or just one.

[IronJamesFlint]

I wish I could find a woman like her, she's awesome!

[Christie Walsh]

Finally, a female politician who working and stay home moms can relate to. Her anti abortion stance does not bother me because the congress and senate will never change Roe V Wade. Everything else she stands for is most women's struggle every day. She knows and has lived our plight. More importantly she does not look like a man in panty hose! This is something new for female politicians.

Where do I join the real woman's movement? Sign me up!

[LiberalsCaused9.11]

How ironic that the only real "Hope," not another Hussein platitude, is coming from the Right!

She changed hearts last night.
The American press won't report it, but the British press is. We HAVE a young candidate, and not one who is an elitist snob. She's human AND powerful.

[Rose]

I watched her speech last night and I am not swayed by her sarcastic, vicious pitbull attacks on Obama.

All African Americans should run for cover if this McCain-Pailin ticket get in. It just amazes me how people are so easily swayed by dicey rhetoric. There is great danger in putting people with intellectual limitations in positions that they are not ready for. Everyone should be able to figure out that a woman with five children....one just born with special needs can't serve two masters....she will have to make a choice.

[Enlightened]

Her job isn't to provide answers to the problems, that's John McCains as the next President. Her job is to show that she is willing to back him up on the solutions. She is #2 - not #1. She did that quite easily. The problem is that being a woman, the old double standard is being applied and for once, neither side can criticize this VP-in-waiting effectively because she does it ALL! She quite handily can tell them all to go blow because she has done it all and guess what she's NOT a feminista! Go Sarah! Go McCain!

[Davidson]

But she did not promise special government funding for either thin people or laterally-enabled people, or for people with short hair or people with long hair (or no hair), or for people living in towns with fewer than 18,600 people or people living in towns over 24,350, and all the rest. If only she had promised more free things to more people . . . .

[Ashley]

Actually RADTOP, Obama does write his own speeches. Palin did give a good speech. Low on substance, long on folksy. Perfect for the American public really. Chicken Soup for the Voter's Soul. Palin is just about everything that disturbs the rest of the world about America rolled into an attractive package. I used to think McCain was an honorable guy but I really don't think so any more. He's trying to wind up the religious right with this pick, thinking they'll put him into office, the way they did Bush in 2000. I think it will backfire this time. People long for something other than endless red/blue bickering. Aren't you?

[Never a Dem!]

Oh you must be talking about the 40 Mil stupid Democrats. Tree Huggin, loosers who care more for a blade of grass than a person! And obviously you weren't listening or do you have selective hearing. She did talk about helping America.
Republicans have been here since the beginning, when did the Donkey's come in to play? I have strong feeling Democrats are missing religion in their life and have been brain washed by their, so-called, Ivy League Colleges. They are out of touch with everyone but their own wierd following who are filling the pockets of the dumb Dems to get their way. I feel sorry for them, actually.

[Jack]

Woo! The libs are already making excuses for why McCain is going to win in 2 months!!

http://www.conservativeattackdog.com

[mc]

Sarah Palin has star quality, and she delivered the speech written for her by Scully with skill and verve. However, she said nothing about her religious feelings, which include a belief in the Rapture. Also, her sentiments in regard to important issues have yet to be heard.

So much time belittling Obama indicates the G.O.P. fear of the man - fear that is probably justified. For all the Republican cant about omitting comments in regard to family and children, Sarah Palin talked more
about them than any candidate in recent history. Hypocrisy, hypocrisy...but the woman would make an excellent actress!

[Cathy]

I simply don't think us "liberals" are scared
of Sarah Palin. I think the more appropriate
word is we are embarrassed. What hokum!

[MicroCapmaven]

Way to go Sarah! McCain didn't just pick her out of a hat, folks, as you will learn.

[TeePee]

The US treats politics like reality tv. Little wonder recent programmes like 'Palin's Promotion' fill anyone who cares about the future of this planet with cold disinterest.

[Nancy]

The telepromter wasn't working properly last night and she still delivered a great speech. She was working off a crumpled up draft of her speech.
Just shows that it was her speech and beliefs.
YOU GO GIRL!!

[naman]

"The speech lacked depth and most of all it was shallow without substance. I’m amazed at the lack of discussion about the issues that I feel we need to be addressed."

Funny, I can say the same thing about Obama and all of his posturing over the last few years! All he ever spouts is the same regurgitated, quasi-socialist Democrat spiel I've heard over the last two decades!!

I'm an Independent voter and all I can say is that I'm sold. Count my vote for McCain-Palin in November!!

[Unimpressed]

Palin's speech showed just how immature, and inexperienced she is. She delivered a speech that sounded as if she was running for student council president of Wasilla High. She may have fired up the "base" of the convention, but they needed something after 2 days of the most boring convention ever!

[tdub]

I thought it was all sizzle, no steak. With a large dose of bitterness on top. An utterly tasteless remark about Obama's community service was offensive to anyone who actually rolls up their sleeves to help people less fortunate than Ms. Palin. She essentially ignored speaking about the economy, the most important issue right now--could this be a paucity of ideas? She lied about Obama's tax proposal and she, of course, gave a big boost on the ever popular(?) pro-war, pro-rich, pro-big industry, anti-middle class themes.

It was preaching to the choir. When you look at th underside of her politics, it's even more conservative than McCain.

[Wij]

Too many on the left are (purposefully) missing the point. This was an acceptance speech at a political rally. Gov. Palin's speech was entirely on topic and appropriate for it's audience and purpose. It's purpose was to introduce herself to the people who will officially define the issues for her side in the campaign. (Platform committee)
In that context her speech was perfect

[Elena]

I think you underestimate the independents. From what I'm reading and hearing - Sarah has won them over.

[Julie]

After Sarah's speach last night, I decided to vote for the republican party for sure. My whole life I was raised a democrat. She is someone that can make a positive change.