Maddow/Olbermann vs. Palin: Wasting Time Chasing Palin's "Pillenwerfers"

The liberal press -- yes, it's time to reclaim "liberal," thank you Bob Herbert -- particularly Olbermann and Maddow, are all over Palin’s bending of the truth, which may explain the governor’s reticence to submit herself to press interviews. However, both of these bright and articulate commentators are being suckered into chasing Republican pillenwerfers. (Pillenwerfers, were devices released by German submarines under attack in WWII that produced large volumes of gas, creating a false sonar target. Allied destroyers would chase the gas while the German sub got away.) Seduced by their delight in exposing Palin’s newsy but fraudulent claims, liberal commentators are wasting valuable air time on essentially inconsequential matters. What does it matter in the greater scheme of things if Palin fired or did not fire the chef? Or sold the jet on E-bay or through a broker? Or was for the bridge before she was against it?

Remember, Republicans are notorious for their disdain of reality and truth. (For a quick video recap of McCain's distorted ads go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0xzsogzAk ) So even if critics point out the falsehoods embedded in Palin's statements, they contain a sufficient kernel of truth to satisfy Republican true-believers who will be seduced by her persona and won’t care about a “little white lie” or two, or three. . . . Hell, if evangelical crusaders like Grover Norquist can be “over the moon” about the outcome of Bristol Palin’s premarital teen-pregnancy they certainly won’t care about Sarah’s truth warps.

It will be interesting to see if ABC’s Charlie Gibson calls her out on these issues tomorrow, in which case, he will be playing into the Republican playbook. Or will he ask her hardball questions such as how she differs in political or economic philosophy from George W. Bush, or, more pointedly, how she can present herself as an agent of change when she is a virtual political and spiritual soul mate of George W. Bush. Given Gibson’s performance during the Obama-Clinton debate, in which half the time was wasted on trivial pursuits, the Republicans may have chosen well. One interview I would love to see, and never will, is Palin on Maddow’s show.

Bottom line on Sarah’s “Palinwerfers:” These are carefully-crafted, arguably-true-but-misleading punch lines shrewdly interjected into the political debate and endlessly repeated, with the object of elevating Palin’s visibility as an iconic culture warrior among the faithful while misdirecting the opposition into a fruitless stern chase depth charging gaseous trivialities. In so doing, the Democrats play in the Republican court of cultural warfare, personality and ideological myths, rather than in their home court of real issues, liberal values and a vision of the results they will produce through needed programs for change and reform.

The undeniable facts about Sarah Palin are that she is a bright, fearless, articulate, captivating personality bringing much-needed energy, interest and money to the Republican campaign, and ideological appeal to rally the Republican base. Accordingly, she should not be underestimated. With the addition of Palin to the ticket, the Republican campaign will do its darnedest to sidestep the issues and make it all about culture wars and likable personalities, where Palin shines. If they pull it off, it will be the greatest feat of political legerdemain since, well . . . George W. Bush, the man the electorate decided eight years it would most like to have a beer with.

To win, the Dems will have to take the initiative, as Obama did this morning in Virginia, sidestep the culture wars and trivial pursuits, preferably with a humorous one-line zinger, and focus the debate on the issues, liberal values and a vision of results to be produced by their reforms and present a cogent, easily understood political catechism countering the Republicans’ simplistic, reality-denying yet effective “lower-taxes, cut-spending, get-the-government-out-of-your-hair, free-markets, family-values, win-in-Iraq-and-Afghanistan-at-all-costs” mantra.