by Eugene G.

Created on: October 23, 2008

Is Sarah Palin qualified to be vice president of the United States? This has been a subject of debate since Senator John McCain announced that the Governor of Alaska was going to be his running mate. Based on what I have seen and heard (or not heard) from the Vice Presidential candidate, I would have to vote a resounding no - she is not ready to be Vice President.

When Senator McCain selected Sarah Palin as his running mate, what were his intended motives? Did he select her to win the vote of women across the country upset that Senator Hillary Clinton did not receive the Presidential nomination? Was she selected because of her "down home" looks and charm? Did he really believe this woman could step into a crisis at a moments notice and lead the United States? The selection of Governor Palin has backfired dramatically for the McCain campaign.

Governor Palin has gained admiration and respect for what she has accomplished in her home state of Alaska. One can only assume that if Senator McCain did not feel she was ready, Sarah Palin would not have been selected. However, over the course of the Republican campaign, Sarah Palin has looked unprepared, erratic, and at times, clueless.

First, let's examine Sarah Palin's interviews with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric and ABC World News Tonight anchor Charles Gibson. One would think that if you are going to run for Vice President, you had better be prepared to answer the tough questions from any and all comers. Katie Couric was not harsh in her line of questioning with Governor Palin. She asked fair questions and deserved reasonable answers. The Governor came across as looking inept. Her sentences made no sense and in typical Republican fashion, she never gave direct answers about how she would address issues. She danced around the questions and was not prepared. Even a simple question like what newspapers or magazines she read was "difficult" for Palin. In reference to Couric's question to Palin about providing examples of John McCain's "leading the charge for more oversight of Wall Street" Palin made the statement "I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you." The Governor automatically put herself in the media danger zone.

By the time she was interviewed by ABC World News Tonight anchor Charles Gibson, he was prepared to ask her even tougher questions. The Republican advisors for Governor Palin should have better prepared her for such questioning. However, it was more of the same. Governor Palin never gave

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