Nothing Sarah Palin says tonight ought to have much bearing
on the question of whether she's qualified to be vice president. But as a
political matter she does have the ability at least change the mocking media
dynamic around her selection, which is currently being shaped by bloggers and
TV pundits.
Above all, Palin must seem confident. Life is in many
ways a confidence game. It's like the old rule of getting past an intimidating
doorman--acting like you belong inside is half the battle. One reason Republicans
were so impressed with Palin initially is that she gave a feisty, chin-up, and
cleanly-executed speech when McCain introduced her last Friday. Tonight's
speech will be a test of how the woman handles extreme pressure. If she comes
across as nervous or ill-prepared, it's lights out. (How can Republicans expect
her to stand up to Joe Biden in a debate if she fumbles her teleprompter lines
on the big stage?)
Beyond that, there are three main areas to watch for, and two narrower points:
Experience: Palin needs to tell stories demonstrating
that she has done heavy lifting in government, and been tested under fire
before. This will require some artful dramatization of her career in Alaska politics. The
trick will be making her political fights seem more significant than they were
without resorting to ridiculous hyperbole.
Foreign policy: Can a controversial US Weekly cover
girl speak credibly about America's
role in the world? Again, this is a speechwriting challenge. Palin has to sound
fluent and confident in foreign policy issues without the comedic
overpreparation of, say, Paris Hilton talking energy policy poolside in a
bikini. There may be a temptation to name-check Waziristan
and a list of obscure foreign leaders, but for now she's probably best-off
sticking to broad conservative themes of American leadership and strength. Wait
for the inevitable pop-quizzes that will come when she sits for TV interviews.
Biography + Economy: One good criticism of the GOP
convention to date is how little attention its given to kitchen-table issues.
Palin's speech is an opportunity to change that in a high-profile way. Look for
her to tell a good American story about a woman of humble origins with high
aspirations working hard, playing by the rules, and making something of
herself. The people with whom this story likely resonates most are also the
people feeling the hardest pinch these days. Next Palin can shift to her life
today, as the working mother of a big family with (apparently) little room to
spare in its budget. If I'm her speechwriter I'm looking for any and every bit
of economic sacrifice she's made in the past several years. References to
Hamburger Helper strongly encouraged, for instance. (And this of course has the
added effect of diminishing the McCain estates storyline.)
Go Easy on Obama: Running mates are typically
employed as attack dogs--recall how Joe Biden lit into McCain on the very day
he was chosen. But McCain can't afford to seem nasty right now. She needs to
clean up her own image first. At most, she's got room for a jab or two--but she
should make it humorous.
Girl Power: Work in feminist-y historic-trailblazer
language like she did in Dayton
last week. It excites conservatives who have felt stuck on the losing side of
Obama's historicality, jazzes up the media, and confounds her liberal critics
One speech can't dispel the fundamental
doubts about Palin's qualifications. But a command performance may give the media
pause in going after her as a lightweight, and will encourage Republican
surrogates to climb father out on a limb in their public support of her. At
this point, until it finds out whether any more shoes will drop from her quirky
past, that's the best the McCain campaign can hope for.
--Michael Crowley