Missouri women circle the wagons around Sarah

The interesting dynamic at play in Missouri is similar to one being played out throughout the country. Women - most of them conservative women - are coming to the defense of Republican vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin in the wake of what they see as unfair treatment of the Alaska Governor at the hands of Democrats.

A group known as Missouri Women for McCain Coalition is attacking what it calls smears against the Alaska Guv. This follows the launch of what is known as the Palin Truth Squad "to counter recent attacks on Governor Sarah Palin, her family, her friends and her record of accomplishment." Southeast Missouri Congressman Jo Ann Emerson is among the members of this group.

The Plain Truth Squad links to the Wall Street Journal report that pro-Obama Democrats have "airdropped a mini-army of 30 lawyers, investigators and opposition researchers into Anchorage" ... and the Truth Squad says the people are trying "to dig up dirt on our vice presidential nominee."

We don't even have to get into the "lipstick on the pig" controversy in which Republicans seem to be taking advantage of the opportunity to pile on. Like it or not - this is politics.

What's amazing to watch is how Democrats at the national level seem to have gone from confidence to panic mode over Sarah Palin. The issues many think should be defining the election are on the back burner and the whole country is talking about Sarah Palin. Again - like it or not - this is politics.

A year ago when many observers thought Hillary Clinton would simply have to go through the motions to win the Democratic nomination and then be elected President ... suddenly, this junior Senator comes from out of nowhere ... well ... Illinois ... and captures the imagination of the country. Those of us who follow politics were fascinated at what was happening ... many ust couldn't understand how this guy with so little experience could come out of nowhere ... well ... Illinois ... and defeat the mighty Clinton Machine. But he did.

And when issues about his inexperience were raised ... the Obama backers throughout the country banded together to criticize those who dared to say anything negative about the man they embraced as their leader. Now, we're seeing the same thing involving this woman who has come out of nowhere ... well ... Alaska ... and has captured the imagination of the country.

Going after Obama's so-called "pastor problem" really didn't work ... Telling lies about his being a Muslim didn't work ... trying to link him with home grown terrorist William Ayers really hasn't worked. Now, many of the people who denounced those efforts are hoping against hope that the team of 30 lawyers airdropped into Anchorage will find something - anything - that will stick against Sarah Palin.

Maybe the Dems ought to call home the hired guns ... America doesn't seem to have the stomach for this kind of stuff. And ... you can be sure the Missouri Women for McCain Coalition ... as well as Jo Ann Emerson and the Palin Truth Squad ... will be looking for opportunities to highlight what they see as unfair treatment of the person they believe in. Whatever the Dems do ... they seem to have allowed this woman from nowhere ... well ... Alaska ... to throw them right off their game. And Republican women who have circled the wagons are smiling from ear to ear.

- Steve Walsh

Comments

[Allen Palmeri]

Steve,

More good reporting on Palin being a strong woman in the arena with a devastating slap shot ... thanks. Not sure if you can track this down but Biden came to Columbia trying to cut into McCain's lead before a new poll came out, and I've heard that poll news is not good, meaning Obama, logically, is going to pull out of Missouri soon. Why waste energy trying to turn Missouri blue when he has 4-5 other states to defend? Anyway, if this happens I'm sure Jay, Claire and Co. will NOT be thrilled. Problem is, Claire has no answer for Sarah, no clue on how to deal with Caribou Barbie. Anyway, red Missouri would appreciate someone digging for the truth. Clearly 95 percent of the mainstream Missouri media would not even think of chasing a story like this that would "hurt" Dems. Whatever. Look at how Biden was protected for his Graham gaffe vs. the savaging of Quayle for potatoe. If Palin makes the same mistake she's labeled insensitive and asked by the media, "How come you did not know Senator Graham was paralyzed? How can you be so out of touch?" Oh well. Sarah-bama lives.

[jkohut]

It's a figure of speech. A more polite way of saying, "You can't polish a turd." Just ask McCain, who uses the exact same comment in both of the following videos:

May 2nd, Denver: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMHlIfOTS1c&feature=iv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMPYkNQlJMM

McCain supporters, don't take this out of context or forget that it's a phrase that Big Mac himself uses.

[jkohut]

Let's also not forget John McCain's history of less-than-polite jokes about women:

"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno."

Really? Picking on Chelsea Clinton, who was at that time still a very young woman? Calling her 'ugly' and saying the same about the Secretary of State? John McCain needs to hang on to his stones, or it might get shaky in that glass house of his. (Or 7 glass houses.)

[Darren]

Steve, there aren't 30 Dem lawyers in Anchorage digging up dirt on Palin. That's a myth.
However, don't ever overestimate the intelligence of the voting populace...the voters love idiotic rumors and these rumors definitely affect the race.
I read some article today about the furor over Palin's GLASSES and how many votes her glasses might get her. Good grief.

[Jester James]

It's a shame that politics have to be so ugly these days. All this mud-slinging and what not is nonsense. Hopefully the Missouri Women are above it.