Palin's Speech: How the swing-vote reacted

The true test of any political speech is how independent voters react. With Sarah Palin's speech last night, it's no surprise that Republicans loved it and Democrats hated it, although pretty much everyone agreed that it was well-delivered and exceeded expectations.

Luckily, the Detroit Free Press gathered a panel of voters, including independents, from the all-important swing state of Michigan to weigh in. While noting, of course, that this is far from scientific, the comments from the independents on the panel are nonetheless interesting.

Continue reading below for the mostly critical responses from Detroit's independent voters.

"I was completely underwhelmed. She was a Republican novelty act with a sophomoric script. It was not even a speech I would expect for a someone running for the local PTA, much less for vice president."
        - George Lentz, 66

"Sarah Palin came across as the small town girl who made good. I knew that I disagreed with her on some issues before this evening. After listening to her speech … it appears that once she makes up her mind, that is the end of it. We live in a gray world, not every answer is black and white."
        - Diane Murphy, 42

"Sarah Palin is a self-described ‘pitbull with lipstick.’ She spent little time helping Americans learn who she is. She is a cool, poised speaker, but her speech contained few statements about policy or the party platform. … I am not convinced that Palin's experience as a mayor or governor in Alaska meet the qualifications to be vice president much less one stroke or heart attack away from being commander in chief."
         - Ilene Beninson, 52

"Nothing worked for me. I found her barrage of snide remarksand distortions to be a major turn off. She is not a class act. The most important point she made is that she will be an effective attack dog."
         - Jan Wheelock, 58

"Who is Sarah Palin? I'm sorry but I still don't know anymore about this young lady tonight than I did last night ... The way it looks to me, she's the Republican vice presidential nominee for one reason: because Hillary wasn't selected."
         - Mike Kosh, 38

"Sarah got as much applause as Hillary did, and had a friendly, appealing appearance.
Her delivery style reminded me of a high school valedictorian who also might have been a cheerleader. I thought she would appear more professional, more stateswomanly. She's no match for Joe Biden."
         - Joellen Gilchrist, 64

What were your thoughts? We should see some polling on last night's speech sometime in the next few days.

Comments

[VJ from Ohio]

I wasn't sure what to expect from Sarah Palin but was very disappointed below my even lowest expectations. I am a single mother whose professional job was eliminated and whose home is probably going into foreclosure. I heard nothing at all that applied to me. I assumed she would at least say something about the economy or even how some families
with Downs Syndrome children have no health insurance. Instead she used her poor child like a political prop.

She didn't sound presidential, she didn't even sound professional. Those of us in corporate America would not have considered that a good delivery with all that snarkiness and sarcasm.

[James Schneider]

I just can't stand her voice. It grates. I get the valedictorian comments.

[Tom]

Incredible. Inspiring. Everyone who has posted a negative comment is scared ****less, as well they should be. She is a real leader and could easily be on top of this ticket. You should be scared that Obama has no real-world experience. Sarah Palin is a genuine leader. VJ- How many of us hasn't been through a layoff? Remember Clinton's great recession of 2000? Everyone in my industry was out on the streets, jobs were no where to be found, but I didn't go crying to the government to help me. Do you not have family, friends? Based on your comments, I think you're jealous of her. She has grown up with very little and has made something of herself. Maybe the reason you are no longer in corporate America is because you don't know what a "good delivery" really is.

[Nancy Blakely]

It's about time we have a candidate who is not afraid to challenge the status quo. Women everywhere should hope that Ms. Palin ends up in the White House. Fresh air, finally.

[Bob]

How the libs can even say anything about not having enough experience when the #1 on their ticket has less is beyond me.

[R. Conway, Gladwyne PA]

Many of those who do not like Ms. Palin want the Goverment to take the lead in solving all of their problems. Unfortunately a nanny state is not viable financially and robs the producers, through high tax rates, of the incentive to take risks and thus create jobs.
Those of us who agree with Ms. Palin want the Government to merely keep out of our way so we can be productive and create those jobs that VJ needs.

[Mike In Seattle]

Obviously Matt Spence has made no attempt to be fair or balanced. All he could find was negative responses from independents? Bull. How stupid do you think your readers are? We'll find out what independents really think on 4 November.

[Kathleen H]

Palin came across as polished, intelligent and with a backbone of steel. Finally, finally, a woman will be in the white house.

[Sarah Mills, Greenwich CT]

Yes, Virginia, she read her lines from the Telepromper very, very well. Unfortunately, the main thrusts of her speech (written by party mandarins) were 1) If you 'aint like us - white, rural, sparsely educated, gun-totin' and bible-thumpin' - then you 'aint a real American; and 2) We fully intend to continue the current adminstration's foreign, domestic and energy policies. Of course the party base (see above) loved it. Also, it's good to know I'm not a real American - we educated city folk types get reeeaal confused on that subject!

[Carole]

Give me a break Mr. Spence. You are in the Washington Bureau. There is no such thing as an Independent.

[Daphne Kenward]

The way I see it America is making my standard of living worse than it needs to be, due to globalisation.

And the way I see it, I wish a Earth Quake could get rid of the entire place. Because after that prostitute Palin, I can't see these people taking responsibility. They have bankrupted the globe. America is a nunsence the world could do without.

[sbx24]

Of course most of you were underwhelmed.
You have a strong woman who relies on herself to get ahead in life. She didn't ride on her husbands coattails to get into office and this is foreign to most of you.
You have been taught to rely on government to solve problems...Oh well!

[Heidi]

Michigan is not even close to being a swing state, it is as blue as they come. I think they even voted for Mondale in '84 Back then Ms. Ferrero was hailed a genuine heroine by everyone. Just goes to show, you can be a female running for office as a Democrat. But, If you are a minority or a Female, Lord help you if run as a Republican. The party of "Tolerance" will not stand still for anyone that they think should automatically be a democrat to be anything else. You can be a Gay or Lesbian couple, you can be any creed, color, or nationality, but, you had better be a democrat.

[Matthew FG]

"You should be scared that Obama has no real-world experience."
Come off it - Obama spent years working on the South Side of Chigago doing something useful for all the people who got the bad end of Reagonomics and incompetent bureaucracies. That is the real world for too many Americans.
Read some proper biographies not Republican press releases

[In LA]

Palin is All American. McCain made the right choice for his VP running mate.

McCain~Palin '08

[lawhite]

As an independent, I wholly support Palin. In a time of wanting change, Obama was supposed to do it, but the nation doesn't want the same kind of change he does. I don't want the government to take care of us or slide into socialism. I want to be inspired with the kind of "can do" attitude our nation was founded on. Our capitalism has made America rich, socialism will bankrupt us and send all our jobs overseas. I'm a senior citizen at the official poverty level, but that doesn't blind me to the disaster all Obama's programs will be. Let's take back the greatness we once had - the spirit of self-reliance again, not poor victims who want handouts from the government! She speaks for most of us.

[Mel]

I thought if Hillary had given just one speech that had the impact of Palin's Obama would be a fading headache right now.

Her and Rudy made a very firm statement that resonated with those of us Dems not impressed with Obama's Media Mafia or his basketball skills, there is a big difference between inexperience and lack of action and Obama is the poster boy of both when the media hype is tripped away.

[Niteworkr]

Palin said nothing! Her speech was sarcastic and very unprofessional. I don't feel she clarified herself, her family issues (and YES, they ARE issues), or what she will bring to the White House. The comparisons to Obama are laughable. SHE is not running for President, McCain is. Palin pales in comparison to Biden and the more that comes out about Palin, the less I like or trust her. One major issue I have with her is her flip-flop on the "bridge to no where" and another is her moves regarding "Trooper-gate". Yes I agree that trooper is bad news, but when you hold office you must make sure your moves do not conflict with that office!

Koodos to VJ regarding the comment of using her Downs Syndrome child as a political prop! Yet another reason to like her less! So, if she didn't have a special needs child, the parents of special needs children WON'T have a friend in the White House? That sounds to me like a issue she wants to work for due to the fact the issue effects HER.

To believe the majority of women will vote for her JUST because she is a woman is also laughable...women aren't stupid. Most will see through Palin's act and vote accordingly!

[JD in Weston, CT]

Sorry Sarah.
There is nothing educated about worldwide retreat in the face of aggression.
Halting energy production in the face of rising demand.
And, raising taxes if the economy gets soft.

You 'sophisticated' folks down the road in Greenwich better start sending Obama your 'ill-gotten' money, because my daughter (who has never had an interest in politics in her life!) watched the speech, watched the out-of-control/biased press [see this ridiculous piece as a small example], and realized that the 'smart' people like you want to take even more of her money to give to your favorite victims list --> is now donating to the RNC!
She sees her future as a proud successful woman: like Sarah. Not a cuckcolded doormat like your heroine: Hillary.
Keep on being a victim with the Dems, Ms. MIlls.
At our house, we want to live the American Dream with a system 'biased' to reward merit and efforts. Not made 'fair' to reward the biggest cry babies with political connections; like I assume you and your buddy VJ would prefer...

I've got news for the rest of the readers of this bogus article.
--> Obama is in serious trouble over here....with anybody who has a job, and can read.
The press looks like a caricature, with their bias fully on display to the even the blind or casual observer. The more strident they become, the more votes for McCain they deliver.
Earth to the NYT --> we don't want a press in the service of the govt, or our countries enemies. Your bias is now working against Obama at the grass roots level.
That is why the Dems are starting to look, talk, and act desperate.

[Fred]

Make no mistake, the only reason McCain selected an unknown, inexperienced women as his running mate points directly to a "Hail Mary" move by the Republicans! They know they are going to lose this election. There will possibly be a major Democratic increase in Congress and Senate, also! If so, the Republicans have no one to blame but themselves and George Bush. How can they chant "country first" and "USA, USA", when all their moves for years prove otherwise? I would think a person who believes in America first would worry about whats happening in America and to Americans first! Then again, why should they care? They're not struggling to make ends meet in this faltering economy.

I have some advice for the GOP, concentrate on the I-S-S-U-E-S and only the issues or else get used to saying PRESIDENT OBAMA! Independent voters are NOT going to put up with this BS mud slinging and personality attacks. It seems only Obama and his crew are taking the high road with regards to keeping this election clean and about the issues that are truly plaguing this nation.

Personally, I would rather vote for Obama and his so called "inexperience", then for McBush and the SAME old experience! That is an experience we all could do without...again!

So McCain, Palin and their Republican lap-dogs consider Obama's work as a community organizer a bunch of hooie, huh? Helping people get work, health care, keeping their homes..etc seems pretty decent, honorable and Presidential to me. I think I want to give the man a chance!

McCain + Palin = McPain!

Vote for Change! Vote Obama/Biden 2008!

[Ken]

It was well delivered, but empty.

It's easy to run people down and outright lie about them, it's not so easy to recognize your own failings and admit them to your listeners

No attempt to address the problems facing the nation, but lots of McCain sucking up.

A pretty face, a distraction that will soon fade when reality sets in, the country is in deep do do, we need solutions, not snide remarks.

The Good Old Boys party is still the same under all the phony facade.

[Jroelf, Scandinavia]

Seems like people's mind are already made up about this lady. So much hate and anger stemming from the posts. [it is a bit obvious] This is how little of a chance Americans give to their candidates? One small speech made by a person whom you didn't even know and you already hate her.

How very unforgiving.

As for the speech, I thought she did well for someone who did not have any sort of prior national-wide attention. It wasn't a usual speech, and I especially liked the part where she mentions serving with a 'servant's heart,' [this is very rare in politics] but we will have to see whether or not she was sincere.

[Mary]

Matt Spence, you are just as elitist and cynical as the MSM over here. You don't know what the meaning of a journalist is, do you?
Interesting how it's okay to be Michelle or Hillary who would be nobodies except that they are riding on their husbands' coattails. However, in Sarah we have a truly independent self-made career woman and mother. She is more qualified than the community organizer who fraternizes with the likes of Bill Ayers an anarchist. The MSM over here have blown it this time. They are trying to elect our next president. We'll see whom the American electorate decides upon on November 4- a narcissistic empty suit who has zip to his name with a jaded Washington insider with 30 + years living at the public trough or a war hero who is not afraid to express his patriotism and a real woman with real values and convictions. Yes, they don't share Barry's or the Dem party's platform of infanticide, redistribution of wealth, negotiation and peacenik songs with Vlad, Hugo and the little Iranian, and censorship and a complete repudiation of the First Amendment. Thank God they're not of the same ilk!

[Chris]

If you check Google News on this subject, you will see that many of the "independent" voters were actually members of Code Pink. The Detroit Free Press got gamed.

[Adrian]

Uh, Mr. Spence, at what point were you planning on informing your readers that these so-called "independent voters" were no such thing? One was a Cindy Sheehan supporter, another runs an anti-war group, and yet another is connected to a "social justice" group.

In short, the Detroit newspaper lied to its readers.

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/04/michigan-independent-in-much-linked-palin-focus-group-is-a-cindy-sheehan-supporter/