Palin Electrifies, Swipes At Obama

Was it a bird? Was it a plane? No, it was Sarah Palin, supermom, who 'electrified' delegates at the Republican convention, taking a swipe at Obama and political elitists on the way. 'Electrify' is being used by many in the media to describe Palin's performance and, as here in the Washington Post, the word fits just right. 

Even the Murdoch-owned Times, with its blatant Obama bias, was forced to use it in a headline. How that must have hurt. 

On prime-time TV across the networks, Palin accepted the nomination and became the first woman to gain a vice-presidential nomination in 24 years.

At a stroke, Palin showed she has managed to survive the lies and smears put about in viral internet comments and so gleefully picked up by the Main Stream media (MSM).

Like our 'political class', she managed a few swipes at Obama and what she called "the Washington" elite. 

"The American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of 'personal discovery.' This world of threats and dangers is not just a community, and it doesn't just need an organiser," Palin said, in a clear reference to Obama's time as a community organiser in Chicago.

And to the political and media class she added: "Here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country."

The McCain campaign took a gamble by picking Palin, a little-known governor with less than two years in office. But she's proved that, for the Republicans, she was just the right choice. 

Her speech and the way it was received, reveals even more about the McCain strategy first explored here. 

Experience? Obama is an Illinois senator, Palin is a state governor. Patriotism? Her son is about to go to Iraq. Small-town girl? 

"And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organiser,' except that you have actual responsibilities." 

That was another swipe at Obama and his time as community organiser in Chicago and his present line of attack, that he has the experience of running a big campaign.

Whatever line of attack the Obama campaign now uses, the McCain campaign can come back with a counter-claim, that is far more damaging to Obama. 

As observed here earlier, Obama's only hope is to keep the MSM on side. But cracks are appearing there too. The McCain campaign is already launching a fierce attack on Obama bias in the media. Murdoch has admitted he's supporting Obama only because he can sell more newspapers. 

McCain's life story, another weapon in the campaign armoury, is starting to be placed in the media spotlight.

It was Palin's day and the last word should go to her. 

On Obama: "In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers." 

On McCain: "And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change." 

Sometimes, even, politicians can talk a lot of sense.