Sean Hannity: No Easier with Sarah Palin than Dan Rather was with the Clintons
After catching a portion of the first half of Sean Hannity’s interview with Sarah Palin on Wednesday night, I decided to watch the rest last night.
The first night, I was impressed that she spoke openly of her disagreement with her running mate on drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Sounds like John McCain is open to hearing opposing points of view, even in his own Administration.
I was not as impressed with her answers to foreign policy questions. She sounded a lot like Barack Obama, absent the mellifluous voice, repeating talking points and trotting out campaign cliches.
But, what she lacked in eloquence of expression, she almost made up with in the grace of her self-possession. On the whole, she seemed cheerful and confident, eager to answer questions.
She didn’t seem rattled by all the negative press she has garnered. When Hannity asked her about the “shots” she had taken (did Charlie Gibson ask her about that?), she said she was “fine” with the criticism. The real hits she endured were nothing compared to those that many Americans take every day. Those are the “shots that matter” and help her keep things in perspective.
Meanwhile, Obama whines not about the hits he’s taken, but about the assaults Republicans are certain to launch against him.
She called Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Abraham Lincoln her heroes. Citing Doris Kearns Goodwin’sTeam of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, she showed an understanding of and appreciation for the Great Emancipator’s governing style.
She said she has “no desire to ban a book.”
On the whole, a good performance, but nowhere near that she delivered two weeks ago in St. Paul.
Yeah, Sean Hannity did toss a few softballs to the Republican vice presidential nominee, but he was no easier on her than Dan Rather would have been with a Democrat on the national ticket.
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…or than Charlie Gibson was with Obama, or than frankly anyone in the MSM has been or would be with Obama.
Comment by American Elephant — September 19, 2008 @ 8:19 am - September 19, 2008
I didn’t watch the first half, because it was advertised as being on H&C, and sorry, but I hate talking head shows. When somebody at Hot Air told me it was an interview with Sean Hannity, I TiVO’d the second half.
Comment by rightwingprof — September 19, 2008 @ 8:51 am - September 19, 2008
Shouldn’t Sarah get a chance to sit and just talk to the folks. She could let her guard down a bit and we get a chance to see how she would be without worrying about “GOTCHA”.
Also, I think Sean asked some questions that were more uneasy for himself than Sarah.
Jeb n Tex
Comment by Jeb — September 19, 2008 @ 9:02 am - September 19, 2008
I’d love to see her do a town hall.
Comment by American Elephant — September 19, 2008 @ 9:55 am - September 19, 2008
All in all, pretty good. She did the vice-presidential “thing,” bringing some of her responses back to John McCain and what he can do for the country. Nice choice on the above-the-knee skirt, too.
Comment by Jeremayakovka — September 19, 2008 @ 3:41 pm - September 19, 2008
AE: here is video of a townhall she did in MI
http://www.truveo.com/Raw-Video-McCain-Palin-Town-Hall-In-Michigan/id/3985896679
Comment by Vince P — September 19, 2008 @ 8:26 pm - September 19, 2008