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Political Cartoons
Sarah Palin Unscripted
By Cartoon: RJ Matson, Roll Call
Project: Cynthia Kirkeby, ClassBrain
Oct 15, 2008, 19:50 PST

© RJ Matson, Roll Call 2008


Sarah Palin Unscripted

Since the two Vice President candidates declared their candidacies, there has been a marked difference between how accessible they have been to the press. According to a recent piece on NPR, Joseph Biden has done well over 70 interviews, whereas, Sarah Palin has done just three. According to Nancy Gibbs (Time 9/27/08), "...she has been in lockdown, either lashed to McCain's side to boost the size of his crowds, or hunkered down in debate prep and remedial candidate school. No press conferences, few interviews, no questions allowed from the reporters traveling with her..."

Recent interviews have had disastrous moments, such as Charles Gibson needing to explain what the Bush Doctrine was, in order for Palin to be able to answer the question. Some conservative columnists have begun to ask for her to step aside as the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate. Palin's next hurdle will be the Vice Presidential Debates at the beginning of October.


Questions to Ponder

  • Why do you think the press has been kept at arms length when it comes to Sarah Palin?

  • Do you think the disparity between the number of interviews that have been done by the two candidates tells anything about how the two candidates will do in the debates?

  • Should a candidate be allowed to make a scripted appearance without any sort of follow-up question, or should the questions be a requirement of covering the event?br>
  • How much access should be required of a vice-residential candidate?

  • Should Palin have known what the Bush Doctrine was, or was it and understandable gap in knowledge?


Video of Charles Gibson's Bush Doctrine Question for Sarah Palin


Learning Links for Sarah Palin

Palin gets media savaging after faltering interview
Source: AFP

Conservative columnist: Palin should Step Aside
A conservative columnist who welcomed Sarah Palin's entry in national politics says she's proven to be a dud and should step aside as John McCain's running mate.
Source: Associated Press

In Search of Sarah Palin
Source: Time (online edition)

Next up: Biden and Palin debate in St. Louis
Source: CNN Politics.com



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