Unsolicited Advice From A Stranger

“Better to remain silent and be thought as a fool than to speak and remove all doubt,” President Lincoln said.

“Speak only when it improves the silence,” wrote Chris Matthews.[i]

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you… ,” is recited to alleged criminals every day by law enforcement personnel throughout the United States.

Unfortunately, Governor Palin cannot remain silent during the Vice Presidential debate. Everything she will say can and will be used against her in the court of public opinion by the pundit class.

Preparing for a debate is not like preparing for midterms in college. You either know the subject, or you don’t. Public policy cannot be learned in all night cram sessions.

Governor Palin is potentially facing the longest ninety minutes of her life if we prejudge her from the interviews with ABC News anchor Charles Gibson and CBS News anchor Katie Couric.

Mr. Gibson asked Ms Palin about her insight into Russia. The governor said you could see Russia from Alaska.

Mr. Gibson wanted to know Mrs. Palin’s opinion of the Bush Doctrine. Governor Palin did not know what the Bush Doctrine was.

In the Couric interview, Governor Palin repeated the argument that Alaska’s proximity to Russia, and Canada gave her foreign policy experience.

Governor Palin’s inexperience, lack of knowledge about foreign and domestic affairs confirm she is unqualified to become the next vice president. A poor performance in the debate will strengthen the perception she is not ready to be vice president.

Governor Palin is facing potential embarrassment. To avoid embarrassment, she needs to remember particular rules.

Governor Palin should resist the temptation to say Alaska’s proximity to Russia’s automatically gives her foreign policy experience. It is a nonsensical argument. The sooner she forgets it, the better off she will be.

Furthermore, Governor Palin should concede Senator Biden is an expert in foreign policy. Senator Biden has more foreign policy experience than Governor Palin. She should avoid engaging Senator Biden over nuances in foreign policy because she will lose the argument.

However, if Governor Palin is forced to talk about foreign policy, then she should talk about it general terms. For example, “Senator McCain and I support democratic movements throughout the world. Hopefully these emerging democracies will share our values. These new democracies will be our allies in the war on terror.” It is the type of answer used in beauty pageants, but it could work with the public.

But Governor Palin should avoid talking about nation building. The war in Iraq has proven the United States cannot democratize a country through military action.

The war in Iraq could be a problem, but Governor Palin is immunized from the issue because Senator Biden voted for the authorization to go to war with Iraq. Mr. Biden could have problems trying to coherently explain his position on the war.

Governor Palin should not mention her opposition to the “Bridge to Nowhere.” Senator Biden or the debate moderator will inform the audience that her claim is not true. She cannot afford to spend the rest of the debate defending a statement that is not true.

Governor Palin should talk about small town values, how those values shaped her life, and how those values will help her lead the country.

She should avoid talking about specific policy initiatives because she is not a policy wonk. Public policy is a difficult subject to fake your way through.

In an interview, Ms Couric asked Mrs. Palin if she disagreed with any other Supreme Court decision besides Roe v Wade.

“Hmm. Well, let’s see. Of course, in the great history of America,” said Governor Palin. “There have been rulings that there’s never going to be absolute consensus by every American. And there are those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade, where I believe our best held on a state level and addressed there. So, you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but…”

“Can you think of any?,” Ms Couric asked.

“I would think of any, again, that could best be dealt with on a more local level, maybe I would take issue with,” said Governor Palin. “But, you know, as a mayor and then as a governor, and even as a vice president, if I’m so privileged to serve, I wouldn’t be in a position of changing those things, but in supporting the law of the land, as it reads today.”[ii]

You find these answers in college essays, with the student hoping the professor did not notice the question was not answered.

Supreme Court decisions are studied in American history at the high school level. If she cannot remember what she studied in high school, then it is improbable she would learn trade policy, immigration policy, or foreign policy on short notice.

But if Mrs. Palin is forced to talk about policy, then she should talk about her opposition to flag burning, and support for the recitation of the “Pledge of Allegiance” in schools.

Governor Palin needs to avoid the constant repetition of the campaign’s talking points. Constant repetition will make her look insipid. She needs to be taken seriously as a candidate, but reciting talking points will undermine her credibility.

In the Couric interview, Governor Palin was asked if she supported the $700 billion bailout plan.

“I’m all about the position that America is in and that we have to look at a $700 billion bailout,” said Governor Palin. “At the same time we know that inaction is not an option and as Senator McCain has said unless this nearly trillion-dollar bailout is what it may end up to be, unless there are amendments in Paulson’s proposal, really I don’t believe that Americans are going to support this and we will not support this. The interesting thing in the last couple of days that I have seen is that Americans are waiting to see what John McCain will do on this proposal. They’re not waiting to see what Barack Obama is going to do. Is he going to do this and see what way the political wind’s blowing? They’re waiting to see if John McCain will be able to see these amendments implemented in Paulson’s proposal.”[iii]

This response was pure gibberish. It was delivered with the intention of “appearing” to be familiar with an issue, but in reality Governor Palin does not understand the current economic crisis. Governor Palin will not be taken seriously as a vice presidential candidate if she talks gibberish for ninety minutes.

Governor Palin should avoid lumping different policies into one answer. The debate moderator will ask the governor about the current economic crisis.

In the presidential debate, Senator McCain avoided answering the question by focusing attention on the budget deficit and earmark spending, unrelated to the current economic crisis. He can get away with avoiding questions because he is a Washington insider.

Governor Palin cannot. Any answer that deviates from the original question will validate the notion that Governor Palin is not qualified to be vice president.

Governor Palin does not need to memorize names of foreign leaders, countries, and important dates in world history. The moderator, Gwen Ifill, is a journalist with integrity. She will not try to embarrass Governor Palin.

Finally, Governor Palin needs to keep her answers brief, and to the point. She needs to avoid long-winded answers. Let Senator Biden pontificate about policy. The more he talks, the greater the possibility he will make a mistake.

If Governor Palin can manage to navigate the debate without major mistakes, and Senator Biden blurts out a gaffe, then Mrs. Palin will be declared the winner of the debate.

The Mainstream Media is Senator McCain’s strongest asset. The media will follow the McCain campaign narrative about the hockey mom from Alaska who defeated the mighty Senator from Delaware.

Hard to believe? Media coverage of Senator Obama was negative 72% of the time after he secured the nomination.[iv]


[i] Christopher Matthews, Hardball (New York, 1988).
[ii] CBS News, October, 2008.
[iii] CBS News, September, 2008.
[iv] “Study Finds Obama Fairing Worse on TV News Than McCain,” Center for Media and Public Affairs 2008 Election News Watch Project, July, 2008.