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A Q and A With Nicolle Wallace, Palin's Chaperone
What do you think will happen to Sarah Palin whether or not she winds up in the White House? As a public figure, how do you think she’ll develop?
Obviously I think she’ll be the next vice president.
Of course.
Along with President McCain, she’ll be one of the leaders of our party. I think it’s great for the Republican Party to put a woman front and center. It’s a real tribute to John Sidney McCain.
What do you think people can get to know about her that they haven’t had time to learn yet that will come out with more exposure to her?
She’s just very, very engaging and she’s very normal and down to earth and very quick and smart, and she’s the real deal.
Is she really fun to hang out with? If you sit next to her at a pot luck dinner, would you enjoy hanging out with her?
I spent time with her around her announcement and her convention speech and it was such an intense time. I only traveled with her one week, the one week we traveled to Wasilla. So I haven’t seen a lot of her relaxed moments. She works harder than anyone I’ve known in politics. She’ll go until one or two in the morning and she’s up again at the crack of dawn. She’s very hardworking; her kids are adorable and wonderful. Bristol, for a 17-year-old to be examined and criticized the way she’s been, she’s just graceful and poised and lovely. And Willow, who’s on the campaign trail with her mom, is just the sweetest 14-year-old I’ve ever met in my life. And Piper has more personality than anyone on either side of this entire race. Watch out, Oprah! And Todd Palin is a wonderful, supportive husband and also a very smart political mind.
What are the media lessons people can learn from this election?
I think the networks have reemerged as the arbiters of what story gets through. Of late, we’ve paid so much attention to the impact of blogs and the democratization of media—everyone can be a blogger and you can sit in your home. It’s almost as the cycle got to such a proliferation of information that I think people returned to the morning paper, the evening news as the arbiter of what is the important story. So while I think there’s more information out there, I think that it’s almost overwhelming for, you know, like my mom and dad. They know what’s on the news at the end of the day. Newscasts and the compilation of a front page has reemerged as a place for information to be organized and consumed.
Like filters now that the floodgates have been let loose.
I think 40 years ago they were becoming aware of the filters. Now they’ve made their choices. They’re going to watch it on Fox or CNN. But I think people appreciate the organization and prioritization of information.
What roles do you think feminism and sexism have played in this election?
I haven’t had much time to reflect on my own reactions, but when you meet women at these events and around the campaign, they’re really aware of it and sensitized to it. Whether it’s Hillary or Sarah Palin, there’s been far greater attention paid to what they wear and how they look. I think we have to get to the place where we have proudly arrived when it comes to race. A lot of newsrooms have thought very carefully about how they cover race. I don’t think the same conversations have gone on regarding women.
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smdunne
Note to Wendy Button: this is how a classy woman in politics handles herself. I'm voting Obama/Biden, but good luck in your career Nicolle, you're great at your job and you will go far.
SactoGirl
Nicolle is a rock star, as you can tell from this interview. Her integrity runs deep and will continue to steer her well in what ever she does. McCain/Palin are lucky to have her.
JohnnyOffensive
Gee - I guess it's ok to be seeking the most powerful position in the world (in line to the Republican throne) and not have to face any media questions?
If she gave us just ONE honest to goodness press conference to show how she thinks on her feet, we'd all release a HUGE sigh of relief (or HUGE sigh of agony, depending on how it goes)...her hiding is the biggest reason they are losing this election.
alison75
I almost feel sorry for Nicole Wallace
But the fact that she was/still is an accessory to Sarah Palin possibly getting anywhere near the Federal Gov't overrides any sympathy I feel for her
Up until now seeing Nicole on TV made me cringe - yesterday I saw her on David Gregory and she was sympathetic
Get off the bus Nicole = they're throwing you overboard anyway so help your country and make sure Palin goes back to Alaska --- for good
jiml1956
There were times that I respected Nicolle over the past few months. She shouldn't be blamed for the 150k clothing expense, but after reading this article I respect her LESS. She's just a BS artist.
CartyBoston
Ana, Dear,
Bit of a puff piece, no? You let Ms. Wallace discuss sexism in the race but ask nothing about Governor Palin's fervent desire to remove womens' right to choose.
You ask nothing about Palin's deliberate initiatives to divide the nation into 'real' America and urban areas (read: areas with minorities).
You provided Wallace a platform to humanize Palin - at best a controversial, at worst an outright hateful candidate.
We read about Ms. Wallace's time with her dog, she seems so nice! However her chosen line of work has real consequences for real people, perhaps the 'Beast' is not the right place to come to best understand issues that matter.
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dealbrker
Nicole Wallace is unprofessional, rude and treats her peers and members of the media with contempt and disdain whenever she is given the opportunity to speak on her candidates' behave. He arrogance, sense of entitlement and inability to answer a question makes her an embarrassment to her profession.
I hope this election cycle is Ms. Wallace's last assault on the public.
Tricialea Tobin
LardGreystoke
Comments on just 2 of the whoppers from this spinmeister:
1) that "not any rational person accepts" that Powell's endorsement was a "cold examination of Barack Obama and John McCain": it sounded pretty cold to me.
2) re the "different standard" for Joe Biden and divine Sarah, agree with that: he is held to the standard of talking to reporters, and she is held to the standard of awaiting the "deference" due the rightful Queen of Alaska. Palin has been held to a miserably low standard from the moment she was foisted on an unbelieving country.
Crappola
Mmm... to be perfectly honest (and a little sexist) I would LOVE to go out on a date with Nicolle Wallace. Not only will our debates heat up during dinner at the local McDonalds (I gotta budget myself in these times of crisis) But she's not that bad to look at. Not saying that I don't have any standards because, frankly, I do. (no matter how low you think they may be)
But if Nicolle Wallace is up for a little one-on-one debate about our... stimulus package, then I'd be more than happy to REVEAL my plans to her. Although, I will have to ask for a time limit of 2 minutes for the response and wait for 15 minutes before the other gives a rebuttal. Who says I'm not fair and balanced?
NCbusinesswoman
Are you kidding? Has anyone DARED to ask the Obama/Biden buffoons anything? Do we know anything about them? Their arrogance is astounding! Take the day off for Obama on Tuesday? Unbelievably arrogant...Delay the World Series? This is like Big Brother invading our homes and saturating us with political BS...I hope it backfires!
Meanwhile they poke fun at working-class voters who are the foundation of this country. Michelle Obama spends $500 on room service (not reported but NOTHING is reported!) and Palin is mocked for her clothing (which she is donating after the campaign is over to charity by the way!). Why won't the LA Times release this tape they have of Obama's plan to re-write the Constitution and leave Israel to fend for itself! Amazing! Yet all of Obama's supporters are drinking the kool-aid!
I am a registered Independent and have voted for dems and reps in the past. But this year will vote straight republican. I have never witnessed such a media smear on a very dangerous man whose platform to use Obama's words is "just words, just speeches" and tainted with many holes.
sarahy
This is all shit...to many problems, controversy, and streached out truths
To many unprosesional tricks and unessesararies
UNPROFESSIONAL sarah....
You should stick with doing the right things like morals and problems of ou nation instead of media and you fighting for clothes
Politics is running for president on crack....
Teenagers no about something
14 year old revolusionists!
Kneeb0ne
I would have liked to see a follow up question to Wallace's statement
"The notion that it was a cold examination of Barack Obama and John McCain is not one that any rational person accepts."
What is she implying here? Is she implying that Powell is simply voting for Obama because he hates Bush? Or Powell is voting based on race? What is she saying?
It sounds like an attempt to dismiss Powell's decision as an uniformed endorsement.
livingintherealworld
from the moment that Sarah Pallin walked out on stage and announced herself as an average hockey mom, I saw someone who was not going to be able to control the way that she was " evolve " through this process. It is wrong to blame it on the media. Give us a break. Was it the twinkle of her shiny red shoes, or the saucy lipstick remark?
You cannot take someone and package them like you did her, then hide her like she is something to be protected, then in the end call her a maverickpitbullhockeymom. It won't fly in the real world. And that is what is so depressing and sad about how the people who operate these campaigns see the voters. We are not stupid.
AmiBlue
I'm betting the shopping spree was Cindy's idea.
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