Palin doesn’t disappoint the GOP faithful

By: Ken Whitehouse, NashvillePost.com
September 4, 2008

ST. PAUL, Minn. — If Republicans wanted another night of red meat speeches, they got it in spades — with vice president nominee Sarah Palin leading the way.

Between former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, no quarter was given to their Democratic opponents.

Each with their own style, the Republican speakers both praised the candidacy of John McCain and at times mocked the experience of their opponents — as well as using another night at the microphone to slam the media.

Nothing said though could overshadow what was the most anticipated speech of the convention, that from Alaskan Governor Palin. She did not fall short, tearing her way into her Democratic opposition.

“What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?” she asked the charged GOP audience at one point. “Hockey moms wear lipstick,” she replied.

She conjured up pit bull images by going after Sen. Barack Obama on point after point, contrasting McCain’s military service to the Democratic presidential nominee’s community service, and her experience as a mayor and governor versus the careers of the Obama/Biden ticket.

In short, Palin did not disappoint the Republican faithful in the Xcel Energy Center.

She painted herself as a “small-town” girl, adding that she patterned her life after many of the small-town folk she grew up with.

“They’re the ones who do some of the hardest work in America, who grow our food, and run our factories, and fight our wars,” Palin said. “They love their country in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America.”

Like many of Wednesday’s speakers before her, the governor couldn’t resist taking a shot or two at the media as well.

“I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I’ve learned quickly these last few days that, if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone,” she said, then added:

“But, now, here’s a little newsflash for those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this great country.”

After finishing her speech, and as her family joined her on stage, McCain made his first appearance of the convention on the stage of the Xcel Center, causing the crowd to raise their voices even higher.

“Don't you think we made the right choice?” he asked to thunderous applause.

Count Tennessee House Minority Leader Jason Mumpower (R-Bristol) among those impressed.

“Everything that Palin said, showed that the she is the right person for the job,” Mumpower said. “I am terribly excited, and I know that she is the right person to be vice president of the United States.”

Other Tennesseans were equally impressed Wednesday night.

“Like many Tennesseans, the more I see of Sarah Palin, the more I like her,” said Sen. Bob Corker. “She absolutely knocked it out of the park tonight — exceeding all of the very high expectations set for her.”

State Sen. Mark Norris added that Palin “was poetry in motion.”

“And what people heard was the wisdom of the ‘everywoman’,” Norris said.

Tomorrow, on the convention’s final night, McCain will formally accept his party’s nomination before the GOP and Democratic tickets take to the road to garner support, leading up to November’s election.