Sarah Palin and the End of the Line

Last night, Alaska Governor and McCain VP choice Sarah Palin took to the stage in St. Paul. It was a historic moment. For the very first time, a non-white/non-male had been nominated to a national ticket by the Republican Party. Her speech was the main event of the evening, and any reminiscence of the tepid applause given to Joe Lieberman the night before was gone. The room erupted for Sarah Palin.

The moment was historic for another reason as well. It marked the end of my interest in the 2008 Republican National Convention. The shameful parading of the Palin family, of the baby, of the pregnant daughter, of the "fiance", of the husband, was the final straw. You cannot cry that your family should be off limits and then parade them on national television for the world to see.

The picture last night spoke the thousand words that McCain's people had hoped it would. For all the talk of Sarah Palin's conservative credentials, what she brings most to this ticket is an illusion of victimhood. Any bit of skepticism is labeled as an attack, and the attacked must be sympathized with and defended.

Poor Sarah Palin. Why is the big bad eastern media establishment so mean to her? Why are they asking questions about her ties to radical Alaskan separatists? Why are they drudging up these stories of trooper firings and accusations of abuses of power? It must be sexism. Or maybe it is elitism.

No. It is journalism. The press these last few days has dug up Palin's past because that is their responsibility, just as it was John McCain's responsibility to know these skeletons before making his selection.

In a normal election year, these stories would have been enough to scare off any selection committee. But this is not a normal election year, and the great lesson of the Hillary Clinton campaign is that victimhood can be a great asset. John McCain has his victim, and the GOP has their unity.

For me, the image from last night that will always remain is that of the baby, Trig, being passed down the line of family and friends like a hot potato.

Here, hold Trig long enough for the camera to see and then pass him along. Make sure everybody gets a turn.

It was the very worst, and most blatant, display of cynical politics I have ever witnessed, and for me it marks the end of the line with this year's RNC. They do not deserve my attention, and tonight they will not have it.