In the annals of political incompetence, there are gaffes, bad ideas, flops, and disasters. And then there is the decision to send Sarah Palin to Philadelphia to drop the first puck at the Flyers’ home opener. Palin, as could have been easily predicted by someone with a positive IQ, was roundly booed by the crowd.
As Tip O’Neill commanded to aspiring politicians: “Never Be Introduced at a Sporting Event.” One might add to this, “Never be introduced at a sporting event in a largely Democratic city in the middle of a national election campaign.”
But you really have to hit sub-zero level when you decide to do this in Philadelphia. The city is infamous for the way it treats its own sports heroes: you’re going to let them loose on Palin? This town has booed Mike Schmidt, Robin Roberts, Julius Erving, Bernie Parent, Donovan McNabb, Dick Allen, and Eric Lindros. (Okay, maybe Dick Allen deserved it.). Giving them Palin is just asking for it.
What in the world could the McCain campaign have been thinking?
Maybe it’s just that they believe their own propaganda. Despite the mountains of evidence that the white working-class regularly supports Democrats, they really think that there is someone called Joe Sixpack who identifies with Sarah Palin. Hockey does not attract legions of minority fans. Perfect! We’ll show them that working people really like us!
Well, whatever Joe Sixpack thinks of the election and of race, he doesn’t like being made into a campaign prop. And in case anyone thought differently, they certainly know now.