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So I watched the debate and thought many things throughout it that I've discussed elsewhere but there was one weird moment that I haven't seen brought up yet. I found myself thinking about it after the debate and this morning. It was when the candidates were asked how they felt about their running mate being president if something were to happen to him. Obviously that question was there to address the many things said about Palin.
Here's the transcript.
So he says, "I'm proud of her" and "And I can't tell you how proud I am of her and her family."
It's that particular use of "I'm proud of her/her and her family." It just sounds like how you talk about a child. I can understand using "proud" to talk about your running mate, but I'd expect it more as a "I'm proud to be running with her" way. It may sound like nit-picking but he said it twice the same way...it was just incredibly paternalistic-sounding. I didn't think it was an intended insult at Palin, of course. He's proud of her and her family--iow, her children. And one could maybe take it that he's saying that he's proud of all American families and this is one of them, but that still puts him in a position of responsibility *over* those families as president.
It was just a little troubling to me what that seemed to say about how he viewed her. I couldn't imagine Obama or Biden speaking that way about the other. I just...can you imagine Obama saying how proud he is of how Biden's done as a candidate? Even worse if Biden said it about Obama? Without something that put them on the same level, like "He makes me proud to be a Democrat" or some such? I'm probably not explaining it well, but that phrase and the way it was said just came across as completely but casually setting up a clear inequality between the two.
And that went along with "[Americans] know that she's a role model to women and other[s]..."
Again, that raised my hackles. You don't tell me that she's a role model to women--therefore me (in some ways she's the exact opposite). I know there's probably a very easy response to this, that he's not really saying that, he's just saying that some women, perhaps many women, look up to her as a role model. If you're a woman and running for vice president you're going to be described as a role model at some point. And I get that since Palin's main appeal is as a character--the feisty hockey straight-talking hockey mom who plays with the big boys and wins, she's a "breath of fresh air"--that's the kind of thing he's going to talk about in praising her.
But it just to me felt like it revealed the cynicism in the choice of her, like he has this vague notion of women liking Hilary Clinton because she was a woman so, you know, here's that role model that you wanted. That's part of her job as vice president. He's looking down on her with approval and pride; the man says I should look up at her for what I want to be. That's the hierarchy.
Then he rounds out the thing with the completely bizarre "Her husband's a pretty tough guy, by the way, too."
Um...so? Yeah, I know that it's not unheard of to say something about a candidate's wife with regards to his presidency. But not when you've got 90 seconds to sum up why he'd be a good president. And usually only when the wife in question is understood to be a professional of equal standing who's going to do some specific thing for the job. Otherwise she's just a gracious first lady--which can be a fine thing, but it's not really considered part of the job of president. It's hard to not get the impression that he just didn't have enough of substance to say about the woman in the short time he was given so had to start talking about other members of her family in a way that went beyond just showing how they reflect the way she would govern.
Given the history of women's rights bringing up a woman's husband in her job qualifications has a totally different weight. Men haven't historically had to fight to be taken seriously on their own. To bring up Todd Palin (heh--I always want to call him Todd Packer) in a way that implies that he's part of the deal because Sarah Palin is a family unit...it's hard for me not to see Todd as the de facto head of the family as the "tough" husband. I don't think McCain was throwing him in as a winking implication that it's really Todd who's going to be v.p. or anything, but I was sure reminded of times when that would be a given listening to this answer.
I feel like I still haven't explained this well, but that there are probably people who could zero in on exactly what I'm describing and explain it better!
ETA: THANK YOU JON STEWART: "You're proud of her? What is she, your daughter?"
Here's the transcript.
Well, Americans have gotten to know Sarah Palin (see photo). They know that she's a role model to women and other -- and reformers all over America. She's a reformer. She is -- she took on a governor who was a member of her own party when she ran for governor. When she was the head of their energy and natural resources board, she saw corruption, she resigned and said, "This can't go on."
She's given money back to the taxpayers. She's cut the size of government. She negotiated with the oil companies and faced them down, a $40 billion pipeline of natural gas that's going to relieve the energy needs of the United -- of what they call the lower 48.
She's a reformer through and through. And it's time we had that bresh of freth air (sic) -- breath of fresh air coming into our nation's capital and sweep out the old-boy network and the cronyism that's been so much a part of it that I've fought against for all these years.
She'll be my partner. She understands reform. And, by the way, she also understands special-needs families. She understands that autism is on the rise, that we've got to find out what's causing it, and we've got to reach out to these families, and help them, and give them the help they need as they raise these very special needs children.
She understands that better than almost any American that I know. I'm proud of her.
And she has ignited our party and people all over America that have never been involved in the political process. And I can't tell you how proud I am of her and her family.
Her husband's a pretty tough guy, by the way, too.
So he says, "I'm proud of her" and "And I can't tell you how proud I am of her and her family."
It's that particular use of "I'm proud of her/her and her family." It just sounds like how you talk about a child. I can understand using "proud" to talk about your running mate, but I'd expect it more as a "I'm proud to be running with her" way. It may sound like nit-picking but he said it twice the same way...it was just incredibly paternalistic-sounding. I didn't think it was an intended insult at Palin, of course. He's proud of her and her family--iow, her children. And one could maybe take it that he's saying that he's proud of all American families and this is one of them, but that still puts him in a position of responsibility *over* those families as president.
It was just a little troubling to me what that seemed to say about how he viewed her. I couldn't imagine Obama or Biden speaking that way about the other. I just...can you imagine Obama saying how proud he is of how Biden's done as a candidate? Even worse if Biden said it about Obama? Without something that put them on the same level, like "He makes me proud to be a Democrat" or some such? I'm probably not explaining it well, but that phrase and the way it was said just came across as completely but casually setting up a clear inequality between the two.
And that went along with "[Americans] know that she's a role model to women and other[s]..."
Again, that raised my hackles. You don't tell me that she's a role model to women--therefore me (in some ways she's the exact opposite). I know there's probably a very easy response to this, that he's not really saying that, he's just saying that some women, perhaps many women, look up to her as a role model. If you're a woman and running for vice president you're going to be described as a role model at some point. And I get that since Palin's main appeal is as a character--the feisty hockey straight-talking hockey mom who plays with the big boys and wins, she's a "breath of fresh air"--that's the kind of thing he's going to talk about in praising her.
But it just to me felt like it revealed the cynicism in the choice of her, like he has this vague notion of women liking Hilary Clinton because she was a woman so, you know, here's that role model that you wanted. That's part of her job as vice president. He's looking down on her with approval and pride; the man says I should look up at her for what I want to be. That's the hierarchy.
Then he rounds out the thing with the completely bizarre "Her husband's a pretty tough guy, by the way, too."
Um...so? Yeah, I know that it's not unheard of to say something about a candidate's wife with regards to his presidency. But not when you've got 90 seconds to sum up why he'd be a good president. And usually only when the wife in question is understood to be a professional of equal standing who's going to do some specific thing for the job. Otherwise she's just a gracious first lady--which can be a fine thing, but it's not really considered part of the job of president. It's hard to not get the impression that he just didn't have enough of substance to say about the woman in the short time he was given so had to start talking about other members of her family in a way that went beyond just showing how they reflect the way she would govern.
Given the history of women's rights bringing up a woman's husband in her job qualifications has a totally different weight. Men haven't historically had to fight to be taken seriously on their own. To bring up Todd Palin (heh--I always want to call him Todd Packer) in a way that implies that he's part of the deal because Sarah Palin is a family unit...it's hard for me not to see Todd as the de facto head of the family as the "tough" husband. I don't think McCain was throwing him in as a winking implication that it's really Todd who's going to be v.p. or anything, but I was sure reminded of times when that would be a given listening to this answer.
I feel like I still haven't explained this well, but that there are probably people who could zero in on exactly what I'm describing and explain it better!
ETA: THANK YOU JON STEWART: "You're proud of her? What is she, your daughter?"
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I agree, McCain's tribute to Palin is bizarre and paternalistic. But the Palin phenomenon is bizarre anyway. Palin can make rousing speeches but there is no substance to her whatsoever.
She would be massacred by our media, I can tell you, not treated with kid gloves.
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I am personally offended by the continued reference to her knowledge of autism. What? Is that a buzzword I've missed because things certainly started tearing off in that direction. Palin's baby has Down's syndrome. Did I miss some report somewhere about another of her kids being autistic. I'll give her "she understands what it's like to have a special needs child" but having a child with a problem does NOT make you an expert on the problems of OTHER PEOPLE'S children.
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"she took on a governor who was a member of her own party when she ran for governor."
And you took on a lot of Republicans when you ran for President. That's called an "election". Ever heard of it? We still need to have one before you become President... which isn't likely.
"She's cut the size of government."
Mainly by being so frustrated with TWO sets of laws, federal and state, that she's been trying to turn her state into a country so she can be the President of a country... because she's sure not going to be President of this one.
"And, by the way, she also understands special-needs families."
She asked her parents what it was like to raise her. (Low blow, but he makes it so easy!)
"And she has ignited our party and people all over America that have never been involved in the political process."
Yes... she's made many people even more determined to vote for Obama.
"Her husband's a pretty tough guy, by the way, too."
Why didn't I pick HIM for my running mate?
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I'm surprised he didn't say, "She's got a lot of great experience...she was on the PTA....she's a mom...she's been a babysitter....she helped an old lady across the street once....she was on the PTA....did I mention she's a mom?"
The "her husband is pretty tough" struck me as kind of comical especially coming days after the Troopergate report in Alaska seems to indicate that Todd Palin apparently sticks his nose into places in state business where he shouldn't.
There were a lot of things that bothered me about what McCain said last night. The whole Joe the Plumber thing....the way he dismissed "women's health" as a reason for an abortion (I'm not an abortion rights person but just the way McCain dismissed "women's health" jolted me a bit)....and his weird creepy facial expressions throughout just made me very concerned for him.
I commented to a friend last night that every time Obama spoke, I felt like there should be some cool relaxing jazz music....and every time McCain spoke, I felt like there should be a frenzied violin playing faster and faster.
Overall, I felt like I was watching a debate between William Powell and Grandpa Simpson.
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On the subject of spouses, do anyone else notice how he never refered to Michelle Obama by name?
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It bothers me far more that, if the original questions was how she's fit to be president, he listed absolutely nothing that proves she is in fact ready to step into the Oval Office.
And Todd Palin .... I'm not clear how all those people who hated the idea of Hilary being involved in policy work for Pres. Clinton don't seem worried that Todd's hand is apparently in a whole lot of Gov. Palin's work.
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Although I was even suspicious of this claim since I'm not sure how much her experience will totally be like other families of kids with Down's Syndrome. Not just because her son is so young so there's a lot of things she hasn't dealt with yet but just...since we're talking about stuff like health care I don't know if she'll be fighting the same battles as someone else.
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Where as McCain's "health" statement would probably more appeal to people who assume that that's just a way the other side tries to trick people into giving everybody easy late-term abortions. As if nobody who's right-to-life could believe a woman's health is an important consideration.
LOL! William Powell and Grandpa Simpson--perfect! I think I've seen some references to Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd too.
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But yeah, the biggest thing about the answer is how much it had to dance around how little of substance there was without admitting the shortcoming and then just explaining how it really wasn't bad. You would never ever know from that answer that the question was how qualified she'd be in the very possible situation where she became president.
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"Thank you, Senator McCain, but we just wanted to know about your economic policy."
"Oh..." (hangs head) "Nobody appreciates a good old-fashioned yarn anymore. Which is funny, because before they started calling string yarn, there was this cat..."
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Because, as every parent of a special needs child knows, one weird kid is the same as another. It goes to right along with the rest of that patronizing endorsment, doesn't it?
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The man is senile. It's sad, really.
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Ooon the other hand, it's not like he was going to convince anyone either way at this point, so the only value was to gain insight into how he thinks of her. In many ways I still don't know, 'cause he just talks in such a buzz-word heavy way, it's not as if he's honest. Is he genuinely pleased with her 'performance' and potential, if in a paternalistic way, or is he totally stone-cold calculating? His character doesn't lend itself to that, y'know. Obama's more the 'stone-cold' one, according to people, at least, haha. I think he simultaneously treats her as his own 'breath of fresh air' (for his own campaign-- energizing it, bringing him relevancy, exposure, etc, a 'partner') and tries to back down on that and put her in her place in viewing her as a bit of a showhorse. It must sting that she's almost overtaken him in terms of public/media interest and response; he can't be entirely comfortable with that. I wonder if he really thinks she can overcome the 'old boys network' in any way, shape or form. Somehow I think he's in fact counting on her being inefficient at that, just likely to put on a good show, because the whole paternalistic approach implies he justifies it by thinking she'll be 'under control' and basically harmless. This is a guess though; I just don't think he'd willingly put a serious wild-card into play so close to his own home fire, so to speak. He's reckless but not that stupid, in the sense that he must have justifications or ideas about 'safeguards' in place.
I'm pretty sure Palin doesn't know about any of those, though. I read an article somewhere that compared him to the tragedy of McBeth, and Palin to Lady McBeth, and haha it really is a good comparison. He's huffing and puffing, but it wouldn't be difficult for her to run circles around him 'cause he doesn't take her seriously (I think) and would want to please her to keep his 'edge'.
Really, I didn't even take anything he said personally, though to be honest I didn't quite hear the bit about 'women's health' and/or it didn't fully register. He really just don't 'hear' anything outside his own index card one-dimensional understanding, as I noted in my post; it doesn't matter if it's women's health as a reason or any other contextual implication, 'cause he consistently dismissed all of them. It's really hard to believe this guy has a history of bipartisanship. For real. The only thing I can imagine is that he simply ignores aspects of people and in fact relies on the 'good old boy' vibe (ie, 'I know you, you're a fine fellow, let's shake hands and be honorable men', or whatever, unless he feels threatened or displaced).
Well, I'm sure he's a good guy. I mean, he likes literature, he does seem to have a sense of humor, and he's not dumb. Still, he doesn't listen and projects his own ideas onto people (like Palin or Obama) or complex situations (like abortion), and to me, that's clear with everything he said in the debate.
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Which also seems like how he sees her as v.p. She makes a lot of noise but she's supposed to be a cheerleader in the White House. For all the pitbull stuff this isn't Dick Cheney II. She's just there to be ornamentation. It's not that she isn't her own person, it's just that her own person is just about playing a character, being a mascot. Which is also why his answer about her has to be so empty. Like he's describing the character in a script he's writing about a feisty lady who becomes president rather than really talking about stuff that's going to come in handy. Just as Matt Damon first described her.
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