In theory what Campbell is saying is very correct. I don't think it will happen, however. Palin is not ready to pass muster with much scrutiny. The Palin "Shroud of Secrecy" is just a typical Rovian ploy to push another "Bush" in the White House -- albeit this time with a skirt and lipstick.

Palin is going to set feminist causes back 50 years -- the Republican boys get a win-win with Palin at the helm. Control the White House, and keep women barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.

Thanks Lisa. You may be right, but she should still come out in the open now because there isn't much time and the mess we are in is too deep for games. If the conservatives want that, and enough of them vote, well then we will have had a proper election, albeit with a heartbreaking result for our country.

I used to think/assume Campbell Brown was just some sort of morning show bimbo. What with her pressing that McCain spokesperson a few weeks ago, and now this, she's really gaining my respect. I think we need more of the media (and everyone!) demanding Palin to show herself. Other than that Charlie Gibson interview, all we've gotten is a bunch of propaganda.

I think that as a high profile woman in the media, Campbell Brown knows what she is talking about here. She, as a female reporter isn't relegated to covering tiger birthday parties at the zoo, what she does is anchors a nationally broadcast news program. She isn't coddled, her supervisors don't protect her by only giving her easy people to interview. I think she makes a good point here, and as a woman in the media, she has the cred to back it up. She poses a "hey I'm over here making it in a man's world ,why can't Palin?" kind of question of basic fairness.
I am however very doubtful that the McCain handlers will allow Mrs. Palin (or does she go by Ms.?) off the very short leash and muzzle they've got her pinned down with. Now that they've spent some time with her, I'm sure they know what they've got to work with and are spending all their time on debate prep.

I think they should let her have unscripted her day with the news. I think she's got enough guts to do it, but her handlers are too scared.

Susanne, thanks for this great post. Honestly, I am beside myself with the BS way Palin is being sequestered from the public. It is beyond outrageous. It is insulting to the American public. As Andrew Sullivan, a well known conservative, has said, "Sarah Palin is a farce." Get a microphone in her face...please.

Campbell is so right. It's insulting to women what's happening here. And to add insult to injury she's receiving a lot more protection right now than the polar bear --who really needs it. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in an article today (see Wash Post) says she's "something of a flat-earther"...what an apropos description. I think she's the vice-emperor without any clothes and McCain is the wizard behind the curtain. Problem is with the media not having enough access, we can't be sure of anything. But today I'm wondering--don't these shenanigans help Obama? I'm not sure we want this nonsense from the McCain camp to stop...the polls are turning and it's the economy for sure but it is also fueled not in small part by disillusionment with and outright fear of the McPain ticket.

"And to add insult to injury she's receiving a lot more protection right now than the polar bear --who really needs it."

That was so good I nearly spit coffee into my laptop's keyboard.

Give her her do? Seems to me she should earn it first. I would prefer that the MSM treat her exactly as she treats the MSM - avoid her, ignore her and not cover her. Maybe she will just go away, and take McCain with her. After all, what more do we need to know? Where she stands on the issues is clear. Her depth of knowledge is clear enough. Palin was put on the ticket simply as an instrument of distraction. At the end of the day, she remains a cynical choice by a cynical professional politician.

@lalucas
At this point in time, I tend to think Palin will have no effect on the feminist cause. I am concerned with the performance of Nancy Pelossi and the effect she may have on the feminist cause. Palin is simply not of the same caliber of every other female politician or leader I can think of - she is unremarkable given her experience and accomplishments. Her religious beliefs are extremely conservative which I imagine makes most people very uncomfortable. There is a better chance of her setting back the religious fundamentalist’s cause. A couple of years from now we will probably read a short article about Palin‘s failed bid for a second term as Governor of Alaska.

Campbell Brown is right, but McCainites know Sarah Plain is not ready for prime time and if they “free” her everyone in the USA will know that all she is qualified to do is read a teleprompter.

Don, while you may be correct in some of what you are saying, I think Campbell Brown was saying something really important: "the McCain campaign wears no clothes."

Let's hope you are right about that failed election attempt in 2 years.

I have a little different take on this. They could be sheltering Sarah to keep from embarrassing McCain. Turn her loose and we might soon find out she has more on the ball than he has.

Perhaps Joseph. But that still isn't saying much about either of them!

Suasanne, am I wrong to assume that you also think that the reason the McCain campaign is shielding Palin is because they are chauvinists? That seems to be a bit of a stretch. I had to go reread the definition of chauvinism - “an excessive or prejudiced loyalty to a particular gender, group, or cause.” Where is the chauvinism here?

What I do see here is an effort by Brown to make Palin appear more than she is by describing her as strong, tough and confident within the realms of Alaska. Campbell says “the woman is from Alaska for crying our loud.” What is the importance of that citation? For crying out loud, Alaska ranks 47th in population with less than 700,000 people. If Alaska were a city, it would be ranked 20th in the nation. Maybe I am missing the relevance of being the Governor of Alaska. Even so, she is a first term (less than 2 years) governor.

Brown’s argument is that the McCain camp should stop acting chauvinistic and do her justice by letting her speak for herself. Frankly, I cannot imagine what she could add to the discussion. She certainly has no credibility on the issues, even less knowledge and no experience. Does Brown think she can pick her brain about the War on Terror, relations with Iran, the economy, health care or even race relations in America? Is it possible that Brown is simply angling for an interview?

If Brown gets the interview, I think she will be disappointed. I believe Palin will continue to act as a McCain puppet. This from a September 19th New York Times report: “At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates. McCain advisers said they had been concerned that a loose format could leave Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive.” and “McCain advisers said they were only somewhat concerned about Ms. Palin’s debating skills compared with those of Mr. Biden, who has served six terms in the Senate, or about his chances of tripping her up. Instead, they say, they wanted Ms. Palin to have opportunities to present Mr. McCain’s positions, rather than spending time talking about her experience or playing defense.” In other words, we should not expect to witness a strong, tough and confident Palin appearance under questioning and in front of a national audience.

Don, it is all spin all the time with what any campaign is saying and it is proof of little more than their attempts to spin. Not much of it is honest, but asking for an actual interview is realistic. If the press wants to do their job, let them!

By the way, have you lived through an Alaska winter? The woman is a tough competitor, even if she is inexperienced, even if her positions have all the depth of mud puddle. She ought to be able to take it and to let who she is shine through the spin cycle.

I don't think the problem with Sarah Palin is chauvinism. I think, as they say in Texas, she's all hat and no cattle. Ms. Brown is right in theory. The principle reason one conducts a politcal campaign is to inform the voting populace. Your ideas and your philosophy are on display, and you make the case. All of this, of course, is predicated on an impulse to public service and a good deal of reflective thought. Suffice to say Sarah Palin has not shown a great deal of interest in either of those things. Sending her out to face the press is sort of like wolf hunting....without an airplane or a gun.

Thanks. I agree with you, she is "All hat and no cattle." Having spent a few years growing up on a ranch, I remember that kind of "cowboy." They had longhorns over the entry gate to their property, no cattle on the ranch.