Results tagged “Independents” from ElectionObsession

The National Review's David Frum is one of the few righties taking a sober approach to the GOP's nomination of Sarah Palin for Vice President. He frets — and with good reason — over the notion of such a foreign policy ingenue having to step in as President.

Last night, Frum highlighted an e-mail from an independent that bodes poorly for the McCain-Palin ticket:

I started the cycle with the idea that if I could at all find a palatable Democrat, I’d vote for him. (Not her, because not a fan of Hillary). I also hoped that the Republicans would nominate McCain because he had an image that was distinct from the Republican party that I felt duty-bound to reject. … What I want to report to you, though, is the deep disappointment I’ve had in McCain. I had thought that this was going to be the happy year where either outcome was pretty good. I no longer feel that way. ... Not only was this choice [of Sarah Palin] irresponsible, I suspect it is also politically tone deaf. Obama’s campaign has been premised on an appeal to voters exactly like me – voters who want a politics that does not so obviously delight in wallowing in the mud. If there are a lot of Independents like me, Palin is a disaster. She’s just performed what it is that is driving us from the Republicans. She’s running against hope and the notion that we need civility in our political life. She’s running against the notion that we ought to hold our fellow Americans in respect whether they come from small towns or big towns.

We will see how this plays out. Pro-life though I am; appalled by the social liberalism of the Democrats as I am; I really, really, really don’t want to live in an America that is capable of preferring that kind of ugly divisiveness to a genuine engagement with the serious issues that confront us all. This is not the time for spitball. It is the time for serious leadership. ... I want to come home to the Republicans. Right now I expect that it’ll be a good long while before that’s possible.

Took me a while to find this, but the Detroit Free Press did a voter panel after Palin's speech. Democrats and Republicans had responses largely along the lines you'd expect, but have a look at what the independents said:

“I was completely underwhelmed. She was a Republican novelty act with a sophomoric script. It was not even a speech I would expect for a someone running for the local PTA, much less for vice president.”
-- George Lentz, 66, Southfield independent

“Who is Sarah Palin? I'm sorry but I still don't know anymore about this young lady tonight than I did last night ... The way it looks to me, she's the Republican vice presidential nominee for one reason: because Hillary wasn't selected.”
-- Mike Kosh, 38, West Bloomfield independent

"Sarah Palin is a self-described ‘pitbull with lipstick.’ She spent little time helping Americans learn who she is. She is a cool, poised speaker, but her speech contained few statements about policy or the party platform. … I am not convinced that Palin's experience as a mayor or governor in Alaska meet the qualifications to be vice president much less one stroke or heart attack away from being commander in chief.”
-- Ilene Beninson, 52, Berkley independent

“Nothing worked for me. I found her barrage of snide remarksand distortions to be a major turn off. She is not a class act. The most important point she made is that she will be an effective attack dog.”
-- Jan Wheelock, 58, Royal Oak independent

“Sarah got as much applause as Hillary did, and had a friendly, appealing appearance. Her delivery style reminded me of a high school valedictorian who also might have been a cheerleader. I thought she would appear more professional, more stateswomanly. She's no match for Joe Biden.”
-- Joellen Gilchrist, 64, Beverly Hills independent