By David Terhune

Two recent slips during speeches by Republican presidential candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin can be seen as more than just the innocent tongue-tripping that occurs with people who engage in frequent public speaking. At a campaign speech in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Governor Palin referred to how small businesses will prosper under the "Palin and McCain administration." The day before, Senator McCain tried to bolster Palin's national security experience by touting her command of the Alaska National Guard and her son's recent deployment to Iraq.

 

 

Unfortunately, McCain identified Palin's son as a part of the National Guard, when he is actually a member of the Army.

In addition, the governor of Alaska has no authority over her National Guard when it is deployed overseas.

If Sarah Palin was not significantly eclipsing her running-mate in popularity, her inversion of the names on the Republican ballot could be seen as merely careless.

However, I fear the governor may actually believe the hardcore fans who are saying that she's the one who should be on top of the ticket. There is no doubt that the charisma and vitality that Palin demonstrates are not traits that are shared by McCain. I hear that crowds dwindle once Palin's speeches end and McCain's begin. This must have some effect on the governor's ego. Palin has said that she is ready to take over the presidency if necessary. She may be a little too ready.
 
 
 
McCain's mistake is no less revealing. One fear expressed over his decision to add Palin to the ticket was that their non-existent relationship prior to his invitation demonstrated that the move was more political than it was responsible. Critics charge that she was chosen for her back-story, her appearance, her gender, and her evangelical appeal and not for her ability to be a trusted confidante and worthy successor to McCain. In short, she's a ready-made campaign commercial. McCain's attempt to reinforce Palin's credentials by exploiting her son's deployment and switching his affiliation from the Army to the National Guard signifies that McCain sees his running-mate as a convenience and a tool for his campaign. I have a hard time believing that a man who has spent as much time in the military as McCain has would actually confuse the two.
 
 

So we have a presidential candidate who will twist and distort facts to reach his political ends, and we have a vice-presidential candidate who is chomping at the bit to take over his job. Their slogan may be "Country First," but their behavior seems to say "Me First" instead.