2008
Michigan Independent Voters Responses to Palin
The Detroit Free Press hosted a panel of voters to view Palin’s speech last night.
This is what the independent voters had to say:
“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, Southfield independent
“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, West Bloomfield independent
“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, Berkley independent
“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, Royal Oak independent
“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, Beverly Hills independent
Michigan is an absolutely critical swing State for 2008.
Comments (27)
I live in Kansas City, and today a self-professed independent (who happened to be a middle-aged white guy) told me that he was "blown away" by Palin's speech, that she's a "breath of fresh air", AND that he thinks she's even better suited to the job than John McCain. Um, okay? It was depressing, but I think he was just attracted to her MILF/sexy librarian look, not that it makes me feel any better.
Posted by V.Plundermuff | September 4, 2008 3:21 PMExactly! - The 1st comments (Georg Lentz) - that is what I've been saying. I just don't get why the press is letting itself to be spun so hard by the right wing spin-meisters over a lack luster pedestrian speech that reuses the bullshit fear card that the Republican have trotted out for every election.
Posted by Sad Comment | September 4, 2008 3:28 PMUnfortunately, there are more comments from that panel and some of them are positive. I think you should clarify that in your post so that we're not leading ourselves down the primrose path here...
Posted by leek | September 4, 2008 3:42 PMOH! Phew, ok, sorry. I didn't realize that not ALL the people quoted were independents. The ones who liked her approach were Rs (and that one very polite Democrat).
Posted by leek | September 4, 2008 3:43 PM@1 - key word being "he".
Posted by Will in Seattle | September 4, 2008 3:47 PMAs someone stated earlier, this speech was about the best thing that could have happened to the Democrats. They need something to keep them on their toes as this race progresses. If the dems were handed another empty suit as VP, they'd virtually expect to win.
Posted by John | September 4, 2008 3:47 PMShe's getting lots of attention because she's shiny and new and, um, "feisty". The good news is that the novelty will wear off fast. All she did was throw out a lot of right-wing red meat from a Teleprompter.
Posted by tsm | September 4, 2008 4:01 PMPeople are forgetting her nomination is pandering two levels. There's also the matter of their Religious Right constituency to appease.
Posted by Dougsf | September 4, 2008 4:03 PMEnglish majors out there: was her speech
dismissively sarcastic or sarcastically dismissive? Meryl Streep could not have
'acted' this thrust-upon-her-role any better
Sarah made it sound like all of the wrongs that need to be righted were caused by the Dems. She's conveniently forgotten that most everything wrong with us occurred during the past eight years on the watch of Bush-II; someone whose embarrassing record as president can only be surpassed if you combine the dreadful records of Grant, Harding and Hoover together.
Posted by RHETT ORACLE | September 4, 2008 4:26 PM@1:
Posted by max solomon | September 4, 2008 4:30 PMany middle aged white guy in kansas city who says he's an "independent" is a republican who's ashamed to say it out loud.
Let's put it this way: After years of campaigning, two books, a long primary season and innumerable speeches, most people really don't know or feel at home with Barack Obama. He has a look but don't touch standoffishness that will not play with Joe Cup of Coffee. Also, his "story" is concocted to woo low income voters (single mother, gimme a break) whereas he's obviously an upper middle class academic brat.
Meanwhile, Sarah Palin went from an unknown to the love of America's hearth place in less than one week! In > 7 days, we suddenly know everything about her and every member of her family and -- it's all true and real...because you can't make stuff like that up!
Posted by John Bailo | September 4, 2008 4:53 PM#11, don't you mean
Posted by w7ngman | September 4, 2008 5:07 PMOh snap.
Posted by w7ngman | September 4, 2008 5:09 PM#11, don't you mean
Posted by w7ngman | September 4, 2008 5:11 PMI give up. Damn preview changed my < to a <.
I fail.
Posted by w7ngman | September 4, 2008 5:15 PMBUSTED
Oh, so hilariously busted. Code Pink members posed as Independents.
In related buffoonery, a local (P-I) piece on the 8th District congressional race identified Democratic activist/candidate Keri Andrews as one of those independent women leaning to Burner.
Posted by RonK, Seattle | September 5, 2008 9:29 AMWhy does Palin keep comparing herself to Obama? Is she the Republican Potus candidate or McCain? I seems to be that McCAin has turned his candiacy over to Palin. Many Republicans are actually saying they are voting for Palin - not McCain so it appears the Republicans do not have faith in McCain's ability to be POTUS. Once again, he is relying on a skirt to pull his career up. Most importantly, I do not want either McCain or Palin representing me with people like Putin and Chavez.
Posted by Beverly Jackson | September 7, 2008 4:43 PMWhy does Palin keep comparing herself to Obama? Is she the Republican Potus candidate or McCain? I seems to be that McCAin has turned his candiacy over to Palin. Many Republicans are actually saying they are voting for Palin - not McCain so it appears the Republicans do not have faith in McCain's ability to be POTUS. Once again, he is relying on a skirt to pull his career up. Most importantly, I do not want either McCain or Palin representing me with people like Putin and Chavez.
Posted by Beverly Jackson | September 7, 2008 4:46 PMWhy does Palin keep comparing herself to Obama? Is she the Republican Potus candidate or McCain? I seems to be that McCAin has turned his candiacy over to Palin. Many Republicans are actually saying they are voting for Palin - not McCain so it appears the Republicans do not have faith in McCain's ability to be POTUS. Once again, he is relying on a skirt to pull his career up. Most importantly, I do not want either McCain or Palin representing me with people like Putin and Chavez.
Posted by Beverly Jackson | September 7, 2008 4:46 PMWhy does Palin keep comparing herself to Obama? Is she the Republican Potus candidate or McCain? I seems to be that McCAin has turned his candiacy over to Palin. Many Republicans are actually saying they are voting for Palin - not McCain so it appears the Republicans do not have faith in McCain's ability to be POTUS. Once again, he is relying on a skirt to pull his career up. Most importantly, I do not want either McCain or Palin representing me with people like Putin and Chavez.
Posted by Beverly Jackson | September 7, 2008 4:46 PMWhy does Palin keep comparing herself to Obama? Is she the Republican Potus candidate or McCain? I seems to be that McCAin has turned his candiacy over to Palin. Many Republicans are actually saying they are voting for Palin - not McCain so it appears the Republicans do not have faith in McCain's ability to be POTUS. Once again, he is relying on a skirt to pull his career up. Most importantly, I do not want either McCain or Palin representing me with people like Putin and Chavez.
Posted by Beverly Jackson | September 7, 2008 4:46 PMWhy does Palin keep comparing herself to Obama? Is she the Republican Potus candidate or McCain? I seems to be that McCAin has turned his candiacy over to Palin. Many Republicans are actually saying they are voting for Palin - not McCain so it appears the Republicans do not have faith in McCain's ability to be POTUS. Once again, he is relying on a skirt to pull his career up. Most importantly, I do not want either McCain or Palin representing me with people like Putin and Chavez.
Posted by Beverly Jackson | September 7, 2008 4:46 PMWhy does Palin keep comparing herself to Obama? Is she the Republican Potus candidate or McCain? I seems to be that McCAin has turned his candiacy over to Palin. Many Republicans are actually saying they are voting for Palin - not McCain so it appears the Republicans do not have faith in McCain's ability to be POTUS. Once again, he is relying on a skirt to pull his career up. Most importantly, I do not want either McCain or Palin representing me with people like Putin and Chavez.
Posted by Beverly Jackson | September 7, 2008 4:46 PMWhy does Palin keep comparing herself to Obama? Is she the Republican Potus candidate or McCain? I seems to be that McCAin has turned his candiacy over to Palin. Many Republicans are actually saying they are voting for Palin - not McCain so it appears the Republicans do not have faith in McCain's ability to be POTUS. Once again, he is relying on a skirt to pull his career up. Most importantly, I do not want either McCain or Palin representing me with people like Putin and Chavez.
Posted by Beverly Jackson | September 7, 2008 4:46 PMWhy does Palin keep comparing herself to Obama? Is she the Republican Potus candidate or McCain? I seems to be that McCAin has turned his candiacy over to Palin. Many Republicans are actually saying they are voting for Palin - not McCain so it appears the Republicans do not have faith in McCain's ability to be POTUS. Once again, he is relying on a skirt to pull his career up. Most importantly, I do not want either McCain or Palin representing me with people like Putin and Chavez.
Posted by Beverly Jackson | September 7, 2008 4:46 PMWhy does Palin keep comparing herself to Obama? Is she the Republican Potus candidate or McCain? I seems to be that McCAin has turned his candiacy over to Palin. Many Republicans are actually saying they are voting for Palin - not McCain so it appears the Republicans do not have faith in McCain's ability to be POTUS. Once again, he is relying on a skirt to pull his career up. Most importantly, I do not want either McCain or Palin representing me with people like Putin and Chavez.
Posted by Beverly Jackson | September 7, 2008 4:46 PMPlease see www.TheGenuineSarahPalin.com for what Alaskans say about this scary person and sptread the word,
Posted by john browne | September 9, 2008 9:14 PMShe could become our president!
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