The editorial board at the Wall Street Journal have posted their thoughts about Sen. McCain’s picking Gov. Sarah Palin. The entire editorial is up to their high standards and well worth reading. I want to focus on something that will become clear in the days and weeks ahead.

Here’s the key paragraph in the editorial:

Experience?

For starters, we’d say Governor Palin’s credentials as an agent of reform exceed Barack Obama’s. Mr. Obama rose through the Chicago Democratic machine without a peep of push-back. Alaska’s politics are deeply inbred and backed by energy-industry money. Mr. Obama slid past the kind of forces that Mrs. Palin took head on. This is one reason her selection, despite its campaign risks, seems to have been so well received by Republicans yesterday. They are looking for a new generation of leaders.

Sen. Obama likes talking the talk but his reform accomplishments are thin to nonexistent. In fact, I haven’t seen proof that he’s ever even attempted to spearhead a reform movement. Perhaps it exists but I’m not betting on it. Instead, I’d bet that reform isn’t a priority with any Chicago machine-style politician.

As is often the case, Sen. Obama’s reform words ring hollow. They’re nothing more than platitudes, if that. They’re like a movie set: When you see them on the movie screen, everything looks real. If you take a step behind the front view, though, you realize that it’s all facade.

Let’s compare Obama’s rhetoric with Gov. Palin’s accomplishments. When Gov. Palin was the ethics supervisor with the Alaska Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, she saw corruption with the State Republican Party chairman. It wasn’t long after that that he was history.

Next she saw the corruption of Gov. Frank Murkowski. In her second ran against him, she defeated him 51%-19% in the GOP primary, ending his political career. As I said here, Gov. Palin hasn’t lost sight of her main purposes. She’s just as reform-minded now as she was years ago.

That’s because it’s part of who she is. Reform isn’t just a bullet point on her resume; it’s something that she’s committed to.

Technorati Tags: Reform, Sarah Palin, John McCain, Corruption, Barack Obama, Chicago Politics, Frank Murkowski, Election 2008

Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog

1. I’m amazed at the partisanship that I seen in the news this past 24 hours. Over at Politico.com historians are claiming that Palin is the least experienced candidate in modern history. No mention of Obama. Last night Di Fi was interviewed by KTVU, citing Palin’s lack of experience. Again, no mention of Obama and his lack of experience. One pundit even said that its good to have a woman VP candidate but Palin is not the “right woman.” Goose meet gander.

   Comment by Anneke — August 30, 2008 @ 1:26 pm

2. hey you born again christians out there. i know that your protestant bible - old testament does not have the Book of Judith. but you better get a copy of it and compare it to your new Republican V P pick. if anyone is goint to cut off McCain’s head it’s Palin.
   The Proverbial “jewess” assassin for the energy empire of the planet. Palin is not prolife only pro ‘human’ life. The destruction of the planet for total exploitation of the remaining resources for the few. Don’t allow this to happen, otherwise better kiss the rapture goodbye!!!

   Comment by Wake Up — August 30, 2008 @ 1:30 pm

3. With all due respect Wake Up, you’ve either been watching that old Sophia Loren movie, too much, or you didn’t read all of Judith, because your analogies are just a liiiittle bit off. The general she suduced and killed with his own sword was the Assyrian Holofernes, then she aroused her own people to rebel and drive his army out of Bethunia.

   Now who do think is occupying Capitol Hill today ?

   Comment by T A Gray — August 31, 2008 @ 11:39 am