Plastics

When Mr. McGuire confronted young Benjamin he had one word for him: Plastics. So, it seems that the McCain campaign has settled on one word to describe Sarah Palin’s national security experience. In response to a question today about Governor Palin’s national security experience, John McCain put forward that Sarah Palin was America’s foremost "expert" on energy, and that gave her national security experience. I was reminded of that scene from The Graduate – John McCain pulling Sarah Palin aside and saying, "I just want to say one word to you, just one word… Are you listening? Energy!" McCain may as well have said "Plastics". It would have been just as relevant to the question of Sarah Palin’s national security credentials.

Tonight,  in her first interview since becoming the Republican vice presidential nominee, the McCain campaign allowed Sarah Palin to step out of her teleprompter driven speeches and into a conversation with the mild-manner Charlie Gibson. It was a terrifying interview.

Sarah Palin burnished her national security credentials and took it one step beyond "energy" in this revealing exchange:

GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.

It is worth noting that, even under Sarah Palin’s watchful gaze from her vantage point in Alaska, the Russians proceeded to invade Georgia.

On the very first exchange of the interview Palin showed herself to be unfit to be president. She declared that she did not "blink" when offered the nomination by McCain. She has no doubt that she is ready to be president:

GIBSON: Governor, let me start by asking you a question that I asked John McCain about you, and it is really the central question. Can you look the country in the eye and say "I have the experience and I have the ability to be not just vice president, but perhaps president of the United States of America?"

PALIN: I do, Charlie, and on January 20, when John McCain and I are sworn in, if we are so privileged to be elected to serve this country, will be ready. I’m ready.

GIBSON: And you didn’t say to yourself, "Am I experienced enough? Am I ready? Do I know enough about international affairs? Do I — will I feel comfortable enough on the national stage to do this?"

PALIN: I didn’t hesitate, no.

GIBSON: Didn’t that take some hubris?

PALIN: I — I answered him yes because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can’t blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we’re on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can’t blink.

So I didn’t blink then even when asked to run as his running mate.

Gibson rightly pointed out that it took some hubris to have no doubts about one’s qualifications to be president of the United States. Hubris and inexperience make for a terrifyingly dangerous nominee. The hubris became even more apparent as the rest of the interview unfolded in disastrous fashion.

It soon became clear that she was parroting talking points fed to her by John McCain’s advisors. She appeared like a student who had memorized the lesson by rote. Her responses were forced and did not seem to fit the questions being asked.

In the most revealing moment of the interview, she seemed confused when Gibson asked her if she agreed with the Bush Doctrine. She had clearly never heard of the Bush Doctrine – the doctrine of pre-emption that has been official United States national security strategy since 2002. She was unaware of the Doctrine that led us into the war in Iraq.

In the interview, she even managed to casually respond that the United States would go to war with Russia with a "perhaps".

Her interview was a buffoonish performance by a demonstrably unqualified person thrust upon the national scene by the McCain campaign. Her introduction to the campaign trail has been charecterized by crisp soundbites and bumper sticker slogans. But diplomacy and foreign affairs are not effectively conducted with bumper stickers. Teleprompters cannot substitute for a grasp of national security issues and the depth to make difficult foreign policy decisions. The last 7 years under the bumper sticker presidency of George W Bush has amply demonstrated the danger that John McCain’s vice presidential pick presents.

I would surmise that when the world wakes up to find the Palin interview in their morning papers, half of the world will be laughing and the other half will be terrified. Among those who will be laughing are America’s enemies. They will be laughing that the United States is two months away from possibly putting this buffoon one heartbeat away from the presidency. Among those who will be terrified will be our friends and allies. They will be terrified that the United States is two months away from possibly putting this buffoon one heartbeat away from the presidency.

There are real foreign policy challenges that await the next administration. The choices the American people have to make in this election are serious and will determine the kind of world our children will inherit. But, alas, the McCain campaign has injected a gimmick into this presidential election. They see the presidency and the vice presidency as an American Idol record contract. They want the American people to play along.

Hubris. May as well be Plastics.