McCain deserves the criticism, not Palin

Albert G. Marquis, Las Vegas

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 | 2:04 a.m.

Democrats, in my opinion, are making a big mistake attacking Sarah Palin by arguing that she is not qualified to be vice president.

The truth is, Palin is capable of being vice president. In fact, anyone can be vice president. There’s really nothing to do (with the exception of Dick Cheney, who seems to have managed to destroy our country’s economy and our worldwide reputation from behind the scenes).

The proper question is whether Palin is qualified to be president. After all, if elected, she’ll be one heartbeat away from that office.

Moreover, it is not Palin’s fault that she is not qualified to be president. She’s been raising five kids and going to hockey games — like millions of other parents in this country.

Some of her supporters say she’s just like us. True. Like us, she hasn’t sought the experience or training to be president. That possibility was probably the furthest thing from her mind until John McCain called.

If someone is to blame, it is McCain. Presidents are expected to make a multitude of decisions, and one of the most important is appointments to key positions. We’ve witnessed, with George Bush, what happens when inexperienced yes-men are appointed to Cabinet positions or to run federal agencies. Disaster.

And now we’ve witnessed McCain’s first, and possibly most important, selection. No one could seriously argue that Sarah Palin is the most experienced, competent person he could find.

Let’s quit criticizing Palin. The blame falls squarely on the shoulders of John McCain, and if we elect him, in light of this decision, then we deserve what we get.