As the Obama endorsements keep piling up (especially in the Republican-leaning papers), I am noticing one complaint in particular that keeps rearing its ugly head in editorial after editorial. See if you can find the common thread...
When picking a running mate, Obama made a solid choice, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware...McCain countered with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who energized the GOP's conservative base and wowed many Americans with her speech at the Republican convention. Since then, though, the Sandpoint native and University of Idaho graduate has not convincingly shown she is ready for the White House.
Of great concern is McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate. Like Obama, she has little experience in governing, but unlike the Illinois senator, she is a candidate of little intellectual curiosity who appears to be hopelessly unready to be president. The fact that people are confused by the difference between Palin and comedian Tina Fey's caustic impersonation is clear evidence that Palin should not be, as they say, a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Most egregiously for a man of advanced age who knew how important this decision could be, he chose the unqualified Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice president.
McCain failed in his most important executive decision. Give him credit for choosing a female running mate--but he passed up any number of supremely qualified Republican women who could have served. Having called Obama not ready to lead, McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. His campaign has tried to stage-manage Palin's exposure to the public. But it's clear she is not prepared to step in at a moment's notice and serve as president. McCain put his campaign before his country.
Perhaps the worst mistake McCain made in his campaign for the White House was the choice of the inexperienced and inflammatory [Sarah] Palin as his vice-presidential running mate.
