Thursday, September 11, 2008

New Script   [Jonah Goldberg]

It's an old rule that only after the candidate, the professionals, the junkies and the press are sick of hearing a politician say the same thing over and over, has it been said enough to actually trickle down to the average voter. That's why in 1996 Clinton and Gore said they would save Medicare, Medicaid, Education and the Environment in almost every utterance. "Could you pass the salt?" "Yes, if it will help me save Medicare, Medicaid, Education and the Environment."

So, I understand why Sarah Palin just a week after her debut is still on the same script. Message discipline is important. But at the same time, she's being scrutinized more than any VP pick in history (since I figure she's the most scrutinized in the modern scrutiny-obsessed media age, I don't think that's an exaggeration). I've now heard her tell the same jokes from her convention speech and make the same points several times, most recently at her arrival rally in Fairbanks which was broadcast live on cable (an amazing fact in itself). I think it's time she started demonstrating that her comfort zone isn't narrow. Hopefully the ABC interview will help. Regardless, she needs to update the script.

09/11 08:00 AMShare