Well, this was an interesting 48 hours in American politics

[sigma7]

The risk when selecting a relative unknown to be your vice-presidential candidate in relative secrecy is that you don't have the opposition and the press doing your grunt work for you. An under-the-radar candidate doesn't receive full-bore weapons-grade scrutiny until the limelight is upon them. And I expected something to come out about Gov. Sarah Palin, something embarrassing yet merely a hurdle to overcome -- like calling Hillary a whiner, slumming it in sports journalism, or just accusations of inexperience.

And then...oh my God.

I'm trying to figure out if this timing is a blessing or a curse for the Republican ticket. Do you want your VP candidate fielding questions about allegedly covering up her daughter's pregnancy as her own before the convention? Does that give you ample time to chat with Barbara Walters, put this story into your own framework? Or, if there is truth to this (and your brain trust missed it), do you get a plan B -- hold an uncomfortable news conference announcing that the family scrutiny is too much and drag Pawlenty or Romney onto the ticket?

Comments

[jateke.livejournal.com]

Wow. It will be very interesting to see what the mainstream media does with this in the next few days, especially in light of the Edwards affair/paternity kerfuffle.

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

The sad thing about this is if she weren't campaigning on a platform of abstinence-only education and family values, I'd be all for her.

I'd be surprised if it doesn't take one news cycle -- maybe two -- for this to start percolating into mainstream news sites. I'm sure the tabloids are scrolling through their freelancer databases for any numbers in the 907 area code.

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

You thank GOD for Hurricane Gustav, which seems to be eating the entire 24 hour news cycle now, buying you time to figure out a plan.

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Well, they have been praying for rain....

[bishop282.livejournal.com]

Who is the Left and Drive-by Media (but I repeat myself) trying to hurt with this story? The only possibility is the teenage daughter's reputation. What a disgusting rumor.

The child in question is named Trig Paxson Van Palin. Sarah must have chosen the song to introduce her in Dayton, Van Halen's "Right Now".

[autobotsrollout.livejournal.com]

The only possibility is the teenage daughter's reputation.

Er, the "Left" doesn't particularly feel that teenage motherhood is bad for one's reputation. Ideal, no. Good idea, not even. But reputation damaging? Sorry, that would be the other side arguing that one.