Experience: Governor Sarah Palin vs Senator Barack Obama
An interesting and very revealing exchange, on the subject of VP candidate Sarah Palin, occurred Tuesday night on the floor of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul Minnesota.
Referring to Sarah Palin, MSNBC’s Ron Allen said to former Speaker Newt Gingrich: “But to be fair, her resume is not something we’re familiar seeing with presidential candidates.”
Gingrich’s response was immediate and very assertive:
“It’s stronger than Barack Obama’s. I don’t know why you guys walk around saying this baloney. She has a stronger resume than Obama. She’s been a real mayor, he hasn’t. She has been a real governor, he hasn’t. She’s been in charge of the Alaskan National Guard, he hasn’t. She was a whistleblower who defeated an incumbent mayor. He has never once shown that kind of courage. She’s a whistleblower who turned in the chairman of her own party and got him fined $12,000. I’ve never seen Obama do one thing like that. She took on the incumbent governor of her own party and beat him, and then she beat a former Democratic governor in the general election. I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write.”
“I’d like you to tell me one thing Sen. Obama’s done.”
At that point, Allen was done:
“Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to leave it there. I’m not going to argue the case. Thanks very much.”
Now I don’t know Governor Palin, but would note that she is running for VP, not President. The press has been very interested in sending “investigative reporters” to look at her daughter’s pregnancy and other issues during her term as mayor and governor. Now I’m not saying whether these activities are legitimate or not, but if the press is going on a witch hunt for dirt on Palin, then why isn’t the national press also vetting the candidate at the top of the Democratic ticket? Why haven’t we heard more about:
- Obama’s relationship with former “Weather Undergound” member William Ayers.
- Obama’s over 20 year relationship with the controversial Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
- Convicted felon Tony Rezko’s assistance to Obama in buying his Chicago mansion, and Rezko’s contribution of nearly $170,000 to Obama’s campaign.
- Allegations of Obama steering millions of taxpayer dollars to his Chicago “slum lord” patrons.
Now I don’t know the depth of these scandals but, in the interest of fairness, why doesn’t the national press send their “investigative reporters” to dig up the truth? Given their lack of press interest, could there be more? Shouldn’t the background of the potential future President of the United States be at least as important as the Vice President? Why are the blogosphere and talk radio the only places where we hear about Obama’s obvious warts?
Could the national media have a favored candidate?
No doubt.
