Wash. Post's Balz wrote that Palin "did not stumble over names of foreign leaders," but not that she misstated name of top U.S. commander in Afghanistan
SUMMARY: In his Washington Post analysis, Dan Balz wrote that, during the vice presidential debate, Gov. Sarah Palin "did not stumble over names of foreign leaders." But Balz did not note that Palin misstated the name of Gen. David McKiernan, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, twice referring to him as "McClellan."
In his October 3 Washington Post analysis, "Palin Delivers, But Doubts Linger," on Gov. Sarah Palin's performance in the October 2 vice presidential debate, chief political reporter Dan Balz wrote: "Republican strategists not directly connected with the campaign, some of whom had low expectations about how she would do, were thrilled by her performance." Later, Balz asserted: "Palin, who struggled with questions in televised interviews, came to Thursday's debate well briefed. She did not stumble over names of foreign leaders." But while crediting her with "not stumbl[ing]" over foreign leaders' names, Balz did not note that Palin misstated the name of Gen. David McKiernan, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, twice referring to him as "McClellan."
During the debate, Sen. Joe Biden stated: "The fact is that our commanding general in Afghanistan said today that a surge -- the surge principles used in Iraq will not -- well, let me say this again now. Our commanding general in Afghanistan said the surge principle in Iraq will not work in Afghanistan -- not Joe Biden, our commanding general in Afghanistan." Palin replied:
PALIN: Well, first, McClellan did not say definitively that the surge principles would not work in Afghanistan. Certainly, accounting for different conditions in that different country and conditions are certainly different. We have NATO allies helping us for one, and even the geographic differences are huge, but the counterinsurgency principles also could work in Afghanistan. McClellan didn't say anything opposite of that.
Media Matters for America has noted that, before the debate, several members of the media asserted that Palin would win if she simply beats (lowered) expectations despite praise of her debate skills by others in the media and by McCain campaign surrogate Mitt Romney.
From Balz' October 3 Washington Post analysis:
For Palin detractors who expected a meltdown onstage at Washington University, the night was a disappointment. Republican strategists not directly connected with the campaign, some of whom had low expectations about how she would do, were thrilled by her performance. And if Biden's detractors hoped he would be windy or overbearing, they, too, were disappointed. He showed off his three decades of Washington experience in a way designed to instill confidence in voters about himself and Obama.
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Palin, who struggled with questions in televised interviews, came to Thursday's debate well briefed. She did not stumble over names of foreign leaders. She had quick comebacks when Biden challenged her or went after McCain.
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Reactions to the debate among political strategists fell almost predictably along partisan lines. But even some Democrats said Palin handled herself well. "The VP is no longer an issue," said Democrat Tad Devine. "Joe did well, too, especially at the end. I think there will no longer be a sideshow for the VP."
Other Democrats said that as well as she may have done, she probably did not sway undecided voters. "For people who were already inclined to vote for John McCain, there was nothing about Sarah Palin's performance to keep them from doing that," Democrat Geoff Garin said. "But McCain's problem is that there aren't enough people who are inclined to vote for him, and nothing about Palin's performance changed that, either."
But Republicans had a positive reaction, as if a weight had been lifted off McCain's shoulders. "She delivered big-time," said Tom Rath, a New Hampshire-based GOP strategist. "It was the best 90 minutes this campaign has had in two weeks. ... Whatever expectations there were, she blew them away."
The vice presidential debate came with high interest and big expectations and certainly delivered, though not as some had predicted. That leaves it to Obama and McCain to argue it out for the next 32 days.
Oh now just when I gave MMFA a little credit, then comes this. How ridiculous. Balz is correct, she did not stumble over foreign leader's names. Just because he didn't name her pronunciation gaffe is not misinformation or anything else.
It's silly nitpicking. There are plenty of things to criticize Palin over, but this is petty nonsense.
I agree, if they need to post misinformation, there's a wonderful piece on C&L talking about how the McCain camp is using an invite list of a formal gathering as a list of all the foreign dignitaries Palin has been meeting with. They got busted when the British embassy called and said they did not attend the ball.
Or how about this from Rich Lowry;
"I'm sure I'm not the only male in America who, when Palin dropped her first wink, sat up a little straighter on the couch and said, "Hey, I think she just winked at me." And her smile. By the end, when she clearly knew she was doing well, it was so sparkling it was almost mesmerizing. It sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the living rooms of America. This is a quality that can't be learned; it's either something you have or you don't, and man, she's got it."
Absolutely stunning, absolutely unbelievable.
I saw it a little different than Lowry. I felt as if some bar girl was trying to get me to buy her a drink. I think it was one of the creepiest political performances i've ever seen.
Supposedly McCain picked her to take a crack at that glass ceiling we've heard so much about. I think she set back the equal rights movement some.
She sort of embraced everything that women have been fighting against for decades. She may have wanted to appear folksy and cute, but I'm not looking for cute in the White House.
To me it will always be remembered as the Palin Creepfest.
Agree. She was robotic and scripted beyond comprehension. I give her props for smarts though, she had it nailed and memorized down to a tee. She was well prepared, but a little too much for me. Everything looked contrived and planned, from her little winks and gosh darnits, to the talking points she had down pat. Gone were her incoherent ramblings from the Couric interview, and replaced with deer in the headlights bullet points.
I still say her campaign is a joke, my mind wasn't changed at all.
I was watching Keith last night and he brought up this statement and mentioned the "ick factor" involved in it. After he read the comment I felt like I needed a bath quickly. Talk about the "ick factor" EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!
I totally agree. Glad that MMFA saved us from not knowing this important nugget of info. Who this frick cares if a name is slightly misprounced? My name is messed up every day. I guess that totally disqualifies someone. Not being able to spell 'potato' is OK, however. Nobody knows that tough word.
And, as I mentioned in another post, Palin called the insurgency in Iraq "Shia." The insurgency is Sunni. Pat Buchanan picked up that mistake in his wrap up.
I'd forgotten one of the highlights;
PALIN:Certainly, accounting for different conditions in that different country and conditions are certainly different.
I think this applies just as well to different countries like U.S. Americans and such as.
Good point Funnyman, i noticed that too last night (and I am not an expert on Iraq or foreign policy). But most people know Saddam was a sunni, the Sunnis hate the occupation and the Sunnis resent losing power.
Stupid Palin.
Ms. Palin did mispronounce Iraq every time.
But who cares? She also mispronounced nuclear, but she winked at me...
Shorter Roger Simon, Politico: Paulin talks the way I have a vague feeling poor normal people talk. She dropped her g's and made me want to drop my pants. Biden noze too minny faks.
Shorter Byron York, National Review: The Obama people are crazy enough to think that the reason Palin did well because she winked!
Shorter Rich Lowry, National Review's "The Corner": OMG, Sarah Palin winked at me! She won because winked! At me! And what I say about it is going to tell you more and me than her! And kind of creep you out!
Shorter John Hinderaker, Powerline: The Sarah Palin I masturbated to at the convention is back. Some people might try to "fact check" her but that doesn't matter. What matters is a poll of Drudge readers.
Shorter Peggy Noonan, WSJ: Terms like "Joe Six Pack" work on me. I just discovered Tina Fey. Palin makes no sense. I make no sense. We're both awesome.
Shorter David Brooks, New York Times: I look at flyover people ("the casual parts of the country") the way a primatologist looks at monkeys. Palin surpassed expections. No one could have predicted this.
Shorter Fred Barnes, Weekly Standard: Sarah Palin said something about Afghanistan. That's enough for me.
When electing someone who could be president, success should be defined as more than merely avoidance of actually coughing up a hairball.
MMFA:But while crediting her with "not stumbl[ing]" over foreign leaders' names, Balz did not note that Palin misstated the name of Gen. David McKiernan, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, twice referring to him as "McClellan."
Getting the name wrong of the American general (twice) leading forces in a foreign country is the equivalent in my view.
BUT, Palin did not know the name of Iran's leader, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. She kept showing off that she could pronounce Ahmadinejad, with the bonus that she could use his "stinking corpse" line. Biden almost imperceptibly chided her by stating correctly that the power is held by a theocracy, not Ahmadinejad, who, the last I heard, the Supreme Leader is not particularly crazy about.