
As I advised in an earlier post which I wrote, I managed to stay up and watch the Vice Presidential debate last Thursday (0400 hours Friday, Riyadh time) when it aired. I wanted to see the entire debate, uninterrupted and without any commentary as can happen when segments are re-aired later.
Was it only me or did anyone else have an uneasy, sick-like feeling when at the very beginning as the two candidates enter, Governor Sarah Palin is clearly heard as she is greeting Senator Joe Biden to say “And may I call you Joe?” Am I the only one to see that as an inappropriate remark and both a political and cultural gaffe? Can you imagine her coming to Saudi Arabia and meeting King Abdullah and in her sweet girlish voice she has mastered so well and with that little wink, leaning in close to King Abdullah and saying “And may I call you Abdullah?”
I know that as a candidate she is trying hard to relate to the American people and as such uses her phrases of “gotchas,” “darn,” “you guys,” “Joe six-pack,” “soccer mom” etc., but is that the right image to portray for the second most highest position in the United States of America? Was I in the minority as an American citizen upon hearing those phrases felt I was being talked down too? What is her expectation of an average
American citizen? Does she think we live in mobile homes or apartments with our feet up on a plastic couch swigging beer from a bottle as we wonder…”golly gee, what’s on tv tonight that does not tax my poor lil ole brain?”
Can you picture her coming to Saudi Arabia and in discussions at the highest level with “Abdullah” making a remark like “well darn, you guys are just too much. Maybe we should settle this over a six pack. Or better yet, since you boys like wild game, come on to my big state in Alaska and we’ll go out together and shoot some caribou.”
She is no doubt a maverick and one who has probably been very lucky to date to not land herself in hot water yet. But I think she is floundering in political quicksand and sincerely hope that such a candidate will never make it to Saudi Arabia and represent the voices and views of America.
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