Palin Choice Clever, Irresponsible

As a political move, John McCain’s VP choice makes sense: Sarah Palin’s social conservatism should appease the party base, while her “maverick status” and gender may help the ticket win centrist voters and working-class women. But as “bold” and “shrewd” as the choice may be, it’s less “clear that she is a responsible pick, or a wise one,” argues David Frum, the former speech writer for George W. Bush, in the National Post.

When it comes to experience, Palin “makes Barack Obama look like George C. Marshall,” Frum writes, calling it unfortunate given McCain’s age and medical history. Joe Conason is less charitable in making the same argument on Salon: "The GOP will have to mothball all those 'Country First' banners along with the experience meme, because no candidate who puts the security of the nation above politics would ever contemplate this maneuver." (More John McCain stories.)