# McCain Supporters -- a question about Palin **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 29, 2008, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697 "2008-09-29T13:01:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crocodiles_And_Boulevards)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/101 "2008-09-30T03:20:55Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > original question: > > **Here’s my question – we’re about five weeks out from the election. Both presidential candidates are campaigning pretty actively, as are their wives. The Democratic VP candidate, Joe Biden, is also making a lot of public appearances before large crowds. All of these people have the press following them pretty closely.** > > my response in post 64 > The Op asked why she was hiding in general and suggested she was playing to small crowds. I’ve pointed out that the opposite is the case. She is very active on the campaign and drawing good crowds. She is as available for interview as are any of the other candidates. Actually, your quote has everything in it **but** the original question: [QUOTE=OP] What does this say to you as a McCain supporter? Does it have an effect on your support for the Republican nominees? [/QUOTE] I mean, even ignoring the assumption that she’s “hiding” or not “hiding,” there’s nothing preventing anyone here from giving a straight answer. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/102 "2008-09-30T03:22:16Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Take it up with CNN. I didn’t make it up, it’s a cite. That’s fine I’m just pointing out that 3 sit-down interviews are not the same as a question posed by traveling media. To say that Palin is not answering questions on the trail is nonsense. This whole thread started as a strawwoman that Palin wasn’t drawing crowds or even on the trail. I pointed out, repeatedly that she draws crowds better than Biden and was at a rally when the question was raised. ---
**Author:** ![Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crocodiles_And_Boulevards)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/103 "2008-09-30T03:27:53Z")
bah, delete this. double post. ---
**Author:** ![Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crocodiles_And_Boulevards)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/104 "2008-09-30T03:31:08Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > That’s fine I’m just pointing out that 3 sit-down interviews are not the same as a question posed by traveling media. To say that Palin is not answering questions on the trail is nonsense. > > This whole thread started as a strawwoman that Palin wasn’t drawing crowds or even on the trail. I pointed out, repeatedly that she draws crowds better than Biden and was at a rally when the question was raised. Then why keep going in circles instead of just saying: “I feel that the appearances and speeches Sarah Palin has made thus far are quite satisfactory. It’s smart not to cave in to the demands of the mainstream media, and she has my full-fledged support.” Because there is _at least_ the appearance that Palin is avoiding the national spotlight. Regardless of whether that is true or simply a machination of the MSM, the spirit of the question is still quite valid. On a side note: Has anyone else felt like Republicans aren’t really supporting Palin? Because I often get the feeling that they aren’t supporting her as a person or as a candidate as much as they are simply defending her from criticism. And all too often that defense doesn’t really sound complimentary to the candidate herself. That’s something for another thread, though. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/105 "2008-09-30T03:42:05Z")
> [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](#): > > Actually, your quote has everything in it **but** the original question: > > I mean, even ignoring the assumption that she’s “hiding” or not “hiding,” there’s nothing preventing anyone here from giving a straight answer. Lets see, I posted a quote from the original op that started with the words “here’s my question” followed by a statement I showed to be completely wrong. If the original premise is wrong then what do you want me to answer exactly? Do you need me to say: “since the premise is wrong it doesn’t affect my support for Republican nominees”. There ya go. Live long and prosper. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/106 "2008-09-30T03:44:42Z")
> [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](#): > > On a side note: Has anyone else felt like Republicans aren’t really supporting Palin? Because I often get the feeling that they aren’t supporting her as a person or as a candidate as much as they are simply defending her from criticism. And all too often that defense doesn’t really sound complimentary to the candidate herself. That’s something for another thread, though. I’ve pointed out that she’s drawn a crowd of 60,000 against Biden’s small numbers of 200-600. That implies that she’s getting better support. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/107 "2008-09-30T04:04:40Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I’m sure that will be a hard-hitting session on the issues. > > Get real. Three interviews. One of them with Hannity. Twenty seconds of photo ops at the UN, with no questions allowed. > > She hasn’t been accessible even by the most liberal standards. Not to mention the other portion of the question dealing with her abysmal performance when she has been interviewed. > If you don’t want to answer the questions then just say so. If you don’t understand the answer then just say so. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/108 "2008-09-30T04:16:42Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’ve pointed out that she’s drawn a crowd of 60,000 against Biden’s small numbers of 200-600. That implies that she’s getting better support. 60,000 people\* out of a **planned community** of ready-made-consistently-Republican-voting military people. Being impressed by Palin being able to draw a substantial number of people out of that crowd is like being shocked that synagogues will be filled with Jews tomorrow. \*A figure I don’t even remotely believe. Their campaign has a reputation for overstating the size of their crowds. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/109 "2008-09-30T05:40:11Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Palin is probably keeping a low profile in Philadelphia because when she raises her profile, she draws protestors, and even when she meets with small groups in public, people scream obscenities at her. I take this as a sign that Democrats don’t like her. Boo Fricken Hoo. People don’t like her and yell obscenities at her and protest her. She’s a politician. It goes with the territory. If she can’t handle it, she really has no business running for any kind of political position, let along vice president. I would really hope she’s not so emotionally fragile that the idea that people don’t like her is going to prevent her from appearing in public. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/110 "2008-09-30T06:16:14Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’ve pointed out that she’s drawn a crowd of 60,000 against Biden’s small numbers of 200-600. That implies that she’s getting better support. Palin makes a few appearances in locations already predisposed to favor republicans and gets extremely high turnout. Biden visits many different locations and gets smaller numbers of supporters. From this, you draw the conclusion that Palin is the more popular and effective VP candidate, correct? How much of Palin’s turnout was due to the location and rarity of her appearance, though? The question in my mind is which is more effective: a few high profile appearances or many small-time personal meetings? I, for one, expect that in the aggregate, Biden’s grassrooting efforts will yield more than Palin’s flybys. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/111 "2008-09-30T06:30:44Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Palin makes a few appearances in locations already predisposed to favor republicans and gets extremely high turnout. Biden visits many different locations and gets smaller numbers of supporters. From this, you draw the conclusion that Palin is the more popular and effective VP candidate, correct? How much of Palin’s turnout was due to the location and rarity of her appearance, though? The question in my mind is which is more effective: a few high profile appearances or many small-time personal meetings? I, for one, expect that in the aggregate, Biden’s grassrooting efforts will yield more than Palin’s flybys. Or you could conclude that Biden is deliberately sent to small locations to keep him off the front page lest he try to heal the crippled again. He’s got a serious Yogi Berra streak in him. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/112 "2008-09-30T12:00:10Z")
> [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](#): > > I mean, even ignoring the assumption that she’s “hiding” or not “hiding,” there’s nothing preventing anyone here from giving a straight answer. People have been giving straight answers all along. It’s just that actual McCain supporters saying what they actually think is being called a hijack. Perhaps the title of the thread should be changed to “McCain Supporters - Shut Up While the Democrats Tell You What to Think”. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/113 "2008-09-30T12:13:39Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > People have been giving straight answers all along. It’s just that actual McCain supporters saying what they actually think is being called a hijack. > > Perhaps the title of the thread should be changed to “McCain Supporters - Shut Up While the Democrats Tell You What to Think”. > > Regards, > Shodan Democrats do’t need to tell you what to think. Republicans and Conservatives are expressing their concern over Palin’s candidacy right now. > [@](#): > > an increasing number of Republicans and conservatives are expressing reservations about both her candidacy and the way in which she is being used (or not used) by John McCain’s campaign. [cite](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/09/palins_conservative_problem.html?nav=rss_blog). If that’s not indicative of the **real Palin Problem** then I don’t know when people will believe her candidacy is harming the republican ticket. Of course as an Obama supporter I couldn’t be more happy for the republican ticket. However, I am not happy about it in terms of the damage it may permanently do to her personally. She took a great risk telling the lion she’d play ball with it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/114 "2008-09-30T13:35:15Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Perhaps the title of the thread should be changed to “McCain Supporters - Shut Up While the Democrats Tell You What to Think”. As the OP, I’ve gotta say this really pisses me off. Go back and read it again – my intent was not to pick a fight with y’all, but to ask “Palin is keeping a very low profile. If she were my candidate (or, more accurately – and reflected in the thread title – if she were my candidate’s hand-selected running mate), the fact that her profile is so low at this point in the campaign would give me pause. I would be concerned that the people running the campaign thought that sending her out might not be in the best interests of getting McCain elected. Does it bother you that she spent four days in the fifth-largest city in the country and was seen by no more than 100 people or so?” I also tried to make it clear that that was the _only_ question I was asking. I resent being called out as a trouble-maker in asking the question, and resent having my OP mischaracterized as insulting to Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/115 "2008-09-30T13:40:51Z")
I suppose what is also clear, from all of **Shodan’s** and **Magiver’s** indignation, is that they don’t think she has been low-profile at all, so I think this is a stalemate. It seems that Low Profile = ‘3 or 4 Interviews in a month’ is not good enough, but that High Profile = ‘Look at all the people showing up to political rallies’ is precisely the issue. I vote we all stand in front of each other bang our foreheads together for the next five weeks. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/116 "2008-09-30T14:15:33Z")
Not a stalemate at all. She is being hidden and trained like Pavlovian dog. She will hit all the right notes to twang the evangelical tuning fork. Her job is to keep them on board. She will be infuriating to most people Thursday .but the anti abortion, religion should run the government types will get all moist. She does not have to win to keep them. She has to just make it clear she is one of them. She is. The rest of us will have great sound bites and more evidence of how unqualified she is. Everybody wins. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/117 "2008-09-30T14:31:09Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > As the OP, I’ve gotta say this really pisses me off. Go back and read it again – my intent was not to pick a fight with y’all, but to ask “Palin is keeping a very low profile. If she were my candidate (or, more accurately – and reflected in the thread title – if she were my candidate’s hand-selected running mate), the fact that her profile is so low at this point in the campaign would give me pause. I would be concerned that the people running the campaign thought that sending her out might not be in the best interests of getting McCain elected. Does it bother you that she spent four days in the fifth-largest city in the country and was seen by no more than 100 people or so?” > > I also tried to make it clear that that was the _only_ question I was asking. > > I resent being called out as a trouble-maker in asking the question, and resent having my OP mischaracterized as insulting to Republicans. It not an insult to ask the question. The problem is that instead of saying “Yes I’m concerned” or “No, I’m not concerned” people bring up “Well some people saw her where was Biden?” blah blah blah. Biden was not in the OP, he has nothing to do with it. Its not a big secret why she hasn’t been seen anyway. She’s got to prepare for the debate. (by prepare I mean learn how to say parrot the phrases shes being coached in) ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/118 "2008-09-30T14:34:31Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Not a stalemate at all. She is being hidden and trained like Pavlovian dog. She will hit all the right notes to twang the evangelical tuning fork… I know that. You know that. Pretty much everybody knows that. However it seem that there are others who are resistant - and good luck getting them to admit it. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/119 "2008-09-30T14:40:50Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > I don’t regularly talk with you in GD, but is this one of your usual techniques? To sidetrack the conversation by making people defend themselves against spurious accusations? Pretty much. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697/120 "2008-09-30T14:53:37Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Yay. She can attract a partisan crowd. Who does she think she is, some sort of celebrity? Ultimately, this is the key to it, IMO. The Republicans believed their own propaganda about Obama being a “celebrity” who gets by on pure charisma without any need for substance, decided “We gotta get us one of those!”, and voila! Unfortunately, the strategy is based on a flawed premise, and thus isn’t working out for them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-supporters-a-question-about-palin/465697.md?page=7)