Scott Tibbs: McCain, not Palin, was the failed candidate in 2008

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MSNBC is arguably the most openly leftist of the so-called "mainstream" media outlets. In reality, the cable network isn't "mainstream" at all, but rather like a televised version of The Nation or Mother Jones. Little surprise then that MSNBC frequently employs the "failed candidate" meme in its attacks against Sarah Palin. But Scott Tibbs at Hoosier Access points out the obvious -- the 2008 election was not a referendum on Gov. Palin, nor was she at the top of her party's presidential ticket:

It is as if Senator John McCain was not even relevant to the election results.

Of course, that’s not the case.

John McCain was the Republican nominee for President. The 2008 election was a choice between McCain and Barack Obama. A number of people were fed up with President Bush and Democrats were energized at the prospect of electing Obama. McCain served to demoralize the Republican base, which was not at all enthusiastic about a candidate with a weak record on abortion and a horrible record on free speech. Furthermore, McCain opposed tax cuts, supports for amnesty for illegal aliens and supports embryonic stem cell research.

Republicans did what the “moderates” in the party wanted and we nominated a candidate who based his campaign on his willingness to cross the isle. We were rewarded with an embarrassing loss where the Democratic candidate got a majority (as opposed to a plurality) of the popular vote for the first time since Jimmy Carter did so in 1976.

MSNBC can spin the 2008 election as much as they want, but the truth is obvious.

Obvious indeed. Pro-Palin bloggers have been saying this for nearly two years now. It's good to county this Indiana blog among our numbers. And, lest we and Scott Tibbs be beaten up for belaboring the obvious, blame MSNBC for making it necessary.

- JP