A Whole Lot of McCain-Palin “Little” Impressions—Not Good Ones

We all know, and probably agree with, the saying that “first impressions matter.”

I also believe that a lot of little impressions can matter a lot.

We now have had three debates, two presidential ones and one vice-presidential, and most will agree that none of the candidates have made a single particular big or lasting impression on all Americans in any of those three debates.

Yes, I am aware of the big impression that Governor Sarah Palin has made on Conservatives with her great scripted acceptance speech at the Republican convention; with her well-rehearsed stump speeches; with her crammed-for, question-avoidance, go-right-to-the-people performance during her debate; with her folksy, hockey mom, pitbull-with-lipstick, wink-wink, doggone, you betcha looks and comments; and of course with her inflammatory “radical,” “terrorist,” “traitor” insinuations and ad hominem attacks and allegations against Senator Barack Obama.

But that is not what I am talking about.

I am thinking of:

The fact that John McCain did not have the common decency to look at his campaign opponent, his fellow Senator, his fellow American not even once during the entire 90-minute, first presidential debate.

The fact that his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin, during her one and only vice-presidential debate did not miss a (heart)beat getting back to idolizing John McCain’s “maverickness,” without a single word or gesture of sympathy, after Joe Biden choked recalling the loss of his wife and child in a horrible car accident.

The fact that, during the same debate, Sarah Palin unnecessarily and unjustifiably said to Senator Biden, “Your plan is a white flag of surrender in Iraq.” She probably knew darn well that the very next morning, Senator Biden, at a ceremony at Dover, Delaware, would bid farewell to his son, Joseph “Beau” Robinette Biden, and to his fellow 261st Signal Brigade soldiers, who were heading off to combat in Iraq. Joe Biden has never waved the white flag of surrender, nor have those who oppose this disastrous war. Beau Biden will be proudly waving the American flag in Iraq.

The fact that last night, during his second presidential debate, McCain disdainfully and condescendingly referred to his opponent as “That One” when McCain was discussing his opposition to the 2005 Bush energy legislation. McCain, gesticulating towards Senator Obama, said, “You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one.”

You betcha, a lot of little impressions make a big and lasting one. In the case of the McCain-Palin ticket, it certainly is not a good one.