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McCain’s Judgement Superpower — Vetting in 24 Hours or Less

With a due respect to America’s war hero, John McCain’s supporters must believe he’s also some kind of superhero.  His power:  vetting a vice president pick in just one day.  Conservative and gay blogger Andrew Sullivan (I realize that’s an oxymoron) reported today that:

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was not subjected to a lengthy in-person background interview with the head of Sen. John McCain’s vice presidential vetting team until last Wednesday in Arizona, the day before McCain asked her to be his running mate, and she did not disclose the fact that her 17-year-old daughter was pregnant until that meeting, two knowledgeable McCain officials acknowledged Tuesday… McCain had spoken with all of the others on his shortlist over the course of a selection process that went on for several months, but he was least familiar personally with the person he finally chose.

Sullivan, a highly respected blogger for The Atlantic,  wondered (as many have) how this revelation creates confidence in McCain’s executive skills.  Answer:  It doesn’t.  In his post, Sullivan noted another new revelation that was blogged at politico.com: Just days before being tapped for the VP nomination (on August 17), Palin attended a Jews for Jesus sermon.  A speaker at the event said that anti-Israeli terrorism was “God’s Judgment” for the Jews not converting to Christianity.  Palin was in the congregation, according to her pastor, Larry Kroon.  I wonder if her head was nodding.

If this stunning revelation does not receive equal media (and Youtube) attention to that we saw during the assault on Barack Obama caused by his pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, we are in real trouble.  And if this country elects a man who makes knee-jerk decisions on important issues like who should be second in line for the most powerful position on the planet, then America has clearly lost all ability for rational thought.  Republicans, think.  If you truely believe your “country first” slogan, then choose your president based on facts and deliberation, not truthiness.

GLAAD to Watch the Media’s Queer Coverage

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has launched a new Website called “Newsroom ‘08,” to track how media talk about issues affecting to the LGBT community as they pertain to local, state and national elections in November. The site offers video clips of comments by candidates and pundits on queer issues, a blog with analysis of election coverage, and resources for both journalists and media watchers.

“Election years give us increased opportunity to talk about our issues and to hold media accountable for fair, accurate and inclusive coverage,” said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. “Newsroom ‘08 provides a unique analysis and insight on media coverage of the November elections as they pertain to LGBT issues.”

“GLAAD has been hard at work holding media accountable at the national and local levels,” said Rashad Robinson, GLAAD’s senior director of programs. “Newsroom ‘08 gives journalists and community members additional resources to move beyond oversimplification and to promote election coverage that portrays the LGBT community and issues in a fair, accurate and inclusive light.”