Reporters covering Barack Obama heard the news aboard Obama 1 (the campaign for the first time chartered a second plane for the swelling press corps), just before takeoff. We were briefly assured by senior Obamas traveling staff that neither Obama nor running mate Joe Biden would have any on-camera comment about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s historic elevation as John McCain’s running mate.
So we dialed up the Obama press shop and found ourselves in the middle of a ripe field of dismissive comments about Palin’s lack of experience, her tenure as mayor of a small town, a row that’s now the subject of state investigation into pressure to fire an ex-brother-in-law, and other choice morsels that sought to portray Palin as something of a political midget.
These various split-second digs took full form in an official campaign statement moments later from spokesman Bill Burton:
“Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin share’s John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies — that’s not the change we need, it’s just more of the same.”
That statement arrived just before takeoff (about 9:30 a.m. MDT). Not 30 minutes later, senior adviser Linda Douglass, reading from her Blackberry, gave the traveling press a very different statement, this one from Sens. Obama and Biden:
“We send our congratulations to Governor Palin and her family on her designation as the Republican nominee for vice president. Her selection is yet another encouraging sign that all barriers are falling in our politics and while we obviously have differences over how to best lead this country forward Governor Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign.”
What happened?
Did the campaign suddenly regret failing to take note of Palin’s unique place in American history as the first woman tabbed by the Republican Party as a vice presidential nominee? Did it regret missing an opportunity to tell women (especially Hillary Clinton loyalists) across the country that Palin deserved at least a cursory compliment before being subjected to the natural rough-and-tumble or presidential politics? Did it regret a swift descent into the negative, back-and-forth politics that Obama has so earnestly railed against?
It would appear so.
Upon arriving in Pennsylvania, Obama went out of his way –in word and deed — to praise Palin as the GOP vice presidential nominee and welcome her to the political big leagues.
“You know, I haven’t met her before. She seems like a compelling person, obviously a terrific story, personal story,” Obama said to the TV pool while touring a bio-diesel plant outside of Pittsburgh. “And you know, I’m sure that she will help make the case for the Republicans. Unfortunately, the case is more of the same. And so, ultimately, John McCain is at the top of the ticket.
As I indicated in my speech last night, I think that he wants to take the country in the wrong direction. I’m assuming Governor Palin agrees with him in his policies. But the fact that she’s been nominated I think, or soon will be nominated, I think is one more indicator of this country moving forward. The fact that you’ve got a woman as the nominee of one of the — (as) the vice presidential nominee of one of the major parties — I think is one more hit against the glass ceiling and I congratulate her and look forward to a vigorous debate. I’m pleased with my choice for vice president, Joe Biden. I think he’s the man who can help me guide this country in a better direction and help working families.”
Asked about the stark difference in tone and substance from his campaign’s statement and his, Obama said the following:
“You know, I think that, you know, campaigns start getting these hair triggers and that statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments.”
At 4:50 p.m. EDT Obama called to congratulate Palin from his campaign bus. According to senior adviser Robert Gibbs, Obama told Palin she would be “a terrific candidate and that he looked forward to seeing her on the campaign trail.” Gibbs also said Obama wished Palin “good luck, but not too much luck.”
The facts speak for themselves.
I will leave to others the judgment as to whether the first day of the Obama-Biden messaging on Palin could not A) Get off the ground properly or B) Found the need to reverse itself before stepping aboard the first day of a three-day bus tour.
When I read that first statement Friday morning I knew the Obama campaign would regret those comments. I just didn't realize how soon they'd realize how badly they'd stepped in it.
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