Palin Hand Notes Are Alarming, Embarrassing

Reader Comments

Back to blog

As someone who has made fun of the president for a number of things, including the use of the teleprompter, Palin makes herself fair game for any resulting criticism. While deriding his use of the teleprompter, as she had notes on her hand, she made a total and complete fool of herself. She has made fun of his intellect, while she proudly parades her ignorance about a variety of subjects both national and international. I, for one, am glad that the vast majority of Americans are not taken in by her nonsense. I hate to think of the sideshows we would have been subjected to had McCain won. We would have heard and read endless stories about her family dramas, and been subjected to the distasteful spectacle of foreign leaders and diplomats deriding us to no end for our choice. Her hand notes, and her propensity to denigrate the president every chance she gets, are NOT "much ado about nothing." This is one of the many things that showcase both her lack of character as well as her lack of intellectual depth, and it should serve as a constant reminder of why she should NEVER be anywhere near the White House or in any other political office.

Anne of DC 10:57AM April 16, 2010

Alarming?

This is much-ado about nothing.

You guys don't have anything else to report on?

What a snooze. Who cares?

Mallory of MS 2:18AM March 19, 2010

The problem with talking smack is that people are going to look at you and see what YOU are made of. Every time Palin opens her mouth, especially to dis the president, something always surfaces that shows she has said or done something many times more egregious than what she is criticizing. She said in 2008 that he was palling around with terrorists, and her husband had been a member of the secessionist Alaska Independence Party. She brings up Reverend Wright, but she had a Kenyan minister preach over her who has a reputation for persecuting women he considers witches. Last summer, she talked about Death Panels in connection with the proposed health care reform. It turns out that during the time she was Alaska's governor, the Medicare/Medicaid program was so badly run that the federal government forbade further enrollments while auditing the programs. More than 200 people died awaiting enrollment. One would think by now that she would learn the value of thinking before she speaks. After seeing her refer to hand notes on national TV, and then try to defend it by saying it's a poor man's teleprompter (when she gets $100k per speech), she has absolutely no room to talk about teleprompters again. And if she does, she needs to be reminded of this debacle every time she mocks Obama for using them.

Anne of DC 11:17PM February 28, 2010

At 46, given the fact that she has been a governor among other things, one would think that she would not be so sloppily unprepared that she had to write notes on her hand. While she mocks the President for using teleprompters (something that presidents and other politicians regularly do), here she is reading from her hand like a grade school kid. Her latest defense--that hand notes are the poor man's version of teleprompters--makes her look even siller than ever. Yet she wants to be taken seriously.

It's yet another example of how she throws rocks from a glass house. When I look at everything she has mocked Obama for, she has done something that dwarfs in foolishness whatever it is she is mocking. She is too old to be making such a fool of herself. And it's not just liberals who feel that way.

Anne of DC 6:32PM February 26, 2010

Palin is anything but a patriot with the courage to speak out. Honestly, exactly what fundamental aspects of America have changed since Obama was elected?

"why America is having economic and infrastuctural problems and the loss of respect of the American people since his becoming president."

America is having economic and infrastructural problems because since Reaganomics came about, the market has been deregulated, and banks and companies are allowed to do whatever they want. Our economic problems did not start with the election of Obama. If you believe that then you must have a very narrow view/short-term view of how national and international economics works.

As for the supposed "loss of respect," are you talking about the other countries' loss of respect for Americans, or that Americans have lost respect for their own country? If it's the former, I have to point out that international statistics show that respect for America actually went up after the election of Obama. If it's the latter, then I'm not quite sure what you mean. The people who disrespect Obama are the people who never respected him to begin with i.e. Republicans, right-leaning libertarians, and other conservative folks (including those who watch nothing but FOX).

"The only true interests that Obama has in mind is to destroy what Americans past and present have strived for in the last 233 years and that is to convert the United States the only TRUE FREE COUNTRY on this planet, into a country where everyone is equal (A Communist regime)."

This also makes no sense. The part of our country that makes it free is that we do offer equal protection under the law. I think maybe you were refering to economic equality, which does not necessarily mean communism. Economic equality under our system would only mean that everyone has the same opportunities to lead an economically stable life i.e. education, work opportunities (for those qualified). It is sad that in an age where the economic disparity is larger than in the gilded age, the people who would benefit most from a more left-leaning government are also the least likely to be educated enough to appreciate it. Therefore the super-rich are able to do whatever they want by operating within the Republican party. If you think Palin would be any different than think again. She's the one who spoke at the Tea Party Convention (a "grassroots" organization) while at the same time collecting on a $100,000 speaking fee.

A of TX 3:28PM February 26, 2010

But make no mistake, the only reason this gal is on stage now is a pretty face. There is nothing there behind the lipstick and gloss of celebrity. Its great she is getting rich from her infamy of being the one of worst VP picks ever. Spare us the delusions beyond that. Most recognize including Palin herself that she is not competent enough to even govern her own state for a full term.

We can expect to see this bimbo around for awhile and I'm all for it. It fits to elevate a total incompetent like this if not just to prove Will Rogers right saying "the Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it."

Frank of IN 11:11PM February 20, 2010

Mary Kate,

You are making yourself appear to be an inferior woman to Sarah Palin. Why are you going off on Palin and not Obama?

He uses all kinds of electronics and he still lies.

Don Ingle of NC 8:34PM February 18, 2010

If Sarah Palin needed to write notes on her hand to help her with her speech, which everyone has to admit is not a common practice, why didn't she just say, "I wrote on my hand to help me remember some key points?" By not admitting that she wrote on her hand seems troubling to me. The only time I ever saw anyone write on their hand they were cheating on a chemistry test in college. I think people might associate writing on your hand and not admitting to doing so, with being dishonest.

Other have said that they have written on their hand, but what were the circumstances? Did you use your hand in place of note cards or a list, or did want to hide that you had the notes.

CS of PA of PA 3:42AM February 18, 2010

I think everyone is taking this far too seriously. I agree it doesn't make her look "good," but it isn't the egregious offense everyone is making it out to be. If anyone should take issue with this, it is the people who paid to see her - not the general public.

And the person posting as "Stop Making Excuses," you wrote that you both have a B.A. degree yet you called Palin "uneducated." She has the same level of education as you by your own admission, so does that make you uneducated as well?

I'm not a Palin fan either, but I think people fail to realize there are many daughters of high profile politicians who have had abortions and that is the only reason they don't have a "big belly." Their actions are no different, it is just that Palin's daughter chose life. And I'm sure her choice hasn't been an easy one, considering it is work to raise a child.

Stick with issues and avoid attacks, if possible. Attacks serves no real purpose in the end and really makes the attackers look desperate and not very "educated" themselves.

Real Issues Only, Please of FL 8:26PM February 17, 2010

I believe that I am because I have common sense, and I have, I believe, the values that are reflective of so many American values. And I believe that what Americans are seeking is not the elitism, the, um, the, ah -- kind of spineless -- a spinelessness that perhaps is made up for that with elite Ivy League education and -- fact resume that's based on anything but hard work and private-sector, free-enterprise principles. Americans could be seeking something like that in positive change in their leadership. I'm not saying that that has to be me.

Does this mean that President Obama had an elite up bringing and didn't work hard?

How in the world would anyone that didn't see President Obama on a regular basis since he was a very young man know if he worked hard or didn't work hard. I think you have to work pretty hard at Harvard.

Don Brown of MD 7:50PM February 17, 2010

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

Back to blog

Mary Kate Cary

Mary Kate Cary

Mary Kate Cary is a former White House speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush. She currently writes speeches for political and business leaders.

advertisement

Robert Schlesinger

Obama's Mixed-Bag Week

The Obama camp can celebrate Dick Lugar defeat, but should worry about the Scott Walker recall.

Mary Kate Cary

Obama Attacks as Economic Cliff Looms

The president can't afford to talk about the economy, but with a 2013 fiscal time bomb approaching, the rest of us can't afford not to.

Latest Video

advertisement