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A Q and A With Nicolle Wallace, Palin's Chaperone
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What do you think would be different? If you go back to CBS, what’s the feedback you would give?
Look, in Sarah Palin’s case, first [the media complained] she didn’t give interviews and then the interviews she did were all wrong. There’s a standard applied to her that I don’t see applied to Joe Biden. First, she’s not available, then she starts talking to her press corps, which I think is great. I think when it’s a woman, there are all sorts of connotations to, you know, attacking, or for being a diva. That attack, first of all is not true. And second, you know, if a man did the same thing, what would he be called, independent? I just think there are words and stories that certainly use gender as a weapon. Again, this is not going to decide the election. I think voters are smart enough to sift through it all, but I do think this warrants a more clinical and objective analysis, maybe after this is over, of what happens in America’s newsrooms.
Is it going to take until after the campaign to figure out what happened with the $150,000 clothing story?
The campaign provided clothes for Sarah Palin and Todd Palin and their five kids to wear at campaign events, and most of it was returned. And the truth of it—as Sarah Palin describes—it's in the belly of her plane and available for ad filming or events. The campaign made no effort to hide it from anyone. It was on our disclosures.
People are looking for an explanation—how do we judge her?
We should judge her by her record. She’s not someone who came off the street.
She has a uniform, she wears skirt suits. She has not changed her appearance. She is in the public eye, it’s all for everyone to examine. I don’t know exactly why she has brought such strong reaction from the press and from supporters and detractors. But it is completely unfair for her to have to deal with any aspect with the story of the clothes.
Who are your role models?
My mom. My sisters—they are younger but they are so wise.
Any non-family members?
I learned a lot working for Michael McCurry at a very formative stage in my career. Between Jeb Bush and George Bush, I worked for Mike McCurry, and every day I would think, “What would Mike McCurry do?”
And there were a lot of strong women in the Bush White House. Karen Hughes and Mary Matalin were there. They’ve always been role models in a professional capacity; I try to pick up something from everywhere I’ve been. Dan Bartlett is someone that I learned from. Karl Rove and Ken Mehlman. Katie Couric, talk about grace under fire.
Everywhere I’ve worked. Again, this campaign may do me in.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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Wonkette emerita, political junkie, self-hating journalist, and author of Dog Days. She has worked for Time, Mother Jones, Suck, and most recently, Radar. Follow her on Twitter.
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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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n--Y--jamesreiddealbrker
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.
Thank you.
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