New School Politics

For Republicans, a rock star is born

Ryan | 5 09 2008

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With the exception of Richard Nixon’s “checkers” speech, I could say of no Vice President or Vice Presidential Candidate’s speech that is of historical note or great political significance.

For that reason, among others, it is very possible that Wednesday night we witnessed a speech that will be of political lore for time to come. Alternatively, Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech at the 2008 RNC could merely be a footnote to one of history’s electoral accidents. Certainly, though, truth will not lie somewhere in between.

Although the final verdict will largely depend on how Palin fares for the next two months–and, with success, the next four years–the convention speech was her first impression on a curious, eager electorate, and the Governor left them enormously impressed.

So lets deal with what we know. Wednesday night’s performance was as expertly executed as it could have possibly been. Not only were Sarah Palin and speechwriter Matthew Scully effective, but they were also so deft as to mute the convention’s mismanagement of time, lack of a transition from Rudy Giuliani’s (also superb, yet overshadowed) speech, and the (exaggerated) teleprompter malfunctions

Oh, if only I could have been on the receiving end

The speech touched on four themes, all successfully. First, Palin introduced herself and her family, sentimentalizing her roll as a working mother, with a son going to Iraq and another with down syndrome. Second, Palin spoke on her record as a direct reformer and nature as a Washington outsider to her core. Third, she chided and prodded Barack Obama in both coy and serious tones. And fourth, she opened and closed her speech by saluting John McCain for his honor and bravery, and speaking to his record of reform.

Perhaps no politician in modern history has been catapulted to such a prominent stage so suddenly. Understandably, a myriad of questions surround the westerner, and Wednesday, Palin replied in as sweeping and thorough a manner as possible. She answered them not just with substance, but with style and tone as well.

Governor Palin was beautiful and put-together. She was composed for a seasoned veteran of national politics, never mind a 44-year-old female mayor of a town of 9,000. She spoke clearly and articulately–slipping up perhaps only once. She spoke to the audience, yielding to their exuberance, rather than trying to speak over them. She berated Obama sarcastically and humorously, reducing him from an icon to a caricature. She demonstrated a record and vision of reform. She had gravitas. She showed graceful toughness, striking a happy medium that Hillary Clinton would kill for. And, perhaps most importantly, Sarah Palin connected with women, family men, and the great silent majority of Americans that often elude Democrats.

In one fowl swoop, she compounded the excitement of conservatives, attracted independents, claimed the mantle of reform, and reduced the other ticket to a punch line. Graceful, indeed.

Palin’s addition to the Republican ticket has lifted McCain. Her speech nearly made him an afterthought. In all his infinite oratorical mediocrity, McCain’s largest applause line the night after, reporters noted, was on mention of his new running mate. In less than 24 hours after Palin’s speech the campaign had raised $10 million in fundraising that could only be called Obama-esque.

In 2004, Barack Obama’s keynote address at the DNC introduced him to America and won him a throngs of loyal followers. Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech was like that on amphetamines. It was different in tone than vintage Obama, but it also played to her strengths and, to borrow a term, carried the “fierce urgency of now” like the Illinois Senator could not imagine. It combined the introductory nature of Obama’s speech with the red meat of traditionally great keynote addresses, and it packed pressure like few speeches in modern campaign history.

Palin’s speech Wednesday night was dripping with one liners. However, for it to be memorable, it must be remembered for a theme. Aside from being the Governor’s first impression on the country, it cast her as a tough Washington outsider on par with millions of everyday Americans and their families. Probably the simplest way to describe it is the way she described herself: a pitbull with lipstick. Not just for that quip, but for the tone of the address, I will remember it as the “hockeymom” speech.

Of course, John McCain needs more than just a hockeymom in the coming sprint to the finish line. In the next two months we will see what the mystery woman from Alaska is really made of. Her first test was passed with flying colors. Her biggest test, will be in St. Louis on October 7th when she faces down a fearsome master of Senate debate. After seeing her son off to Iraq, she will spend the better part of three weeks in policy boot camp and needs to come out a formidably versed wonk.

By all means she seems to have the smarts to do it, expectations–like that before the speech–will also be fairly low. But there will be a lot of chances for the Alaskan mother of five to slip up, and to truly become the Republican hero that she could actually be, it will require more than just clearing the bar.

My own inclination, by virtue Palin’s sweeping success in Alaska, impressive debut, and the awesome fanfare surrounding her, is that she will clear the bar with ease. My greatest hope is that she will be a different breed–a rational reformer who will humble the Republican party and reduce the size of government. My greatest fear is that she will be Bush in stilettos–she’ll keep trying to save the world, keep trying to save people from themselves, and clear the bar in populist fashion.

Regardless, we are witnessing history. For the time being, it appears that a rock star has been born. And its a girl.

UPDATE (October): I was wrong.