Lie: Palin was picked to appeal to Clinton voters.

[Skwmom]

She was picked to drive out the religious right. Only a couple of commentators pointed out from the beginning that Palin was not picked to appeal to Clinton voters. It's a bonus if they can capture some of the disgruntled Clinton voters, but energizing the base was the major goal. That way they can use the 2000 and 2004 ground game (and of course the good old purge Democratic voters from the voter rolls trick).

On edit: They needed someone to appeal the religious right (including the hardcore fanatical end of times, bring on the Apocalypse now, crowd. BUT, they couldn't have that be obvious to the moderates that they need in order to win in Nov.

[yourout]

1. Bingo.....that and fire up the MSM.

[patrice]

2. That's what I've been saying. It's the only explanation that makes sense of this VP pick.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. Huckabee would have done the same job- but he's not a woman

is he?

[Curtland1015]

5. I would say he's somewhere in between...

...but that would be an insult to the transgendered. He's more... asexual. Like a toad.

[Hugabear]

6. Huckabee is too "moderate" on certain issues

I remember back during the primaries, people like Limbaugh complaining that Huckabee was too "soft" on certain issues, mostly social ones.

[anonymous171]

7. Everyone knows that Huckabee is crazy. So he would turn off independents and moderates.

Most people do not know how fucking crazy Palin is.

[Skwmom]

8. The #1 criteria was to energize the religious right. Sorry but Palin is

more exciting than Huckabee (and more extreme thus appealing to the really hardcore end of times zealots).

Yeah, being a woman helps to appeal to some women voters but that is NOT the main reason she was picked.

[JI7]

9. nope, Huckabee was not liked by the economic conservatives

and Huckabee also wasn't bigoted enough.

anyone remember Huckabee talking about his support from "walmart conservatives" and lack of support from "wall street conservatives".

(i do think Huckabee would have been a tough Presidential candidate for us as it would challenge Obama on the economy which is right now Obama's strength)

[Skwmom]

13. You are right about that. I think Huckabee would have been a tough opponent

b/c of the populist message but that doomed him with the economic conservatives.

With Palin they make the religious right, the Neocons, and the corporate wing of the party happy.

[sandnsea]

10. He would have been fair game though

And attacked as a religious nut. McCain learned how hard it is to attack a woman from watching Hillary's campaign. If they can get women believing the media, or worse Obama, is being unfair to her, who knows what they'll do.

[Skwmom]

12. They needed a religious nut they could package as a non-religious nut.

Though, I think Huckabee is rather normal compared to Palin.

[writes3000]

4. I agree with your analysis. "Lie" is a strong word because we're all guessing re: their motives.

But I agree 100% with your analysis.

Pubs needed to boost their excitement and their ground game.

[Skwmom]

11. No. I don't think LIE is too strong a word because there was a CONCENTRATED EFFORT

to sell the false meme "Palin was picked to appeal to Clinton voters." You think they were going to say we picked someone to energize the religious right?

[DonMeyer]

14. Partially correct

It was mainly intended to get the religious conservatives back, but I also think Palin was picked to get the soccer moms.

And to think McCain was looking closely at Leiberman, I wonder who forced Palin down his throat, Cheney? Or Rove?

[TheKentuckian]

15. It's not a lie

but it's a down the line issue and a Hail Mary type play.

They are cynical bastards, don't believe for a second that they aren't hoping for some peel.
Now, it's insulting that they would even try to mock Hillary in this retarded way and infinately more, her supporters but you know they did. Hence, the rhetoric at roll out. That is how poorly they account of people.
They ALWAYSplay only to the lowest denominator. It also keeps the drama going on our side.

Huckabee is too populist for the money people and won't puppet to the degree they want. Palin may come with similar problems but they know she's not a policy or an administration minded soul, so they think they can just run her.
Given the chance, of course she'd probably screw them over for the theocratic wing. Don't doubt that the money people are not all happy. Some wisely know that the loonies are in it all for themselves and care about nothing that isn't American Taliban and/or ushering the Rapture.