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HALLI CASSER-JAYNE - bio
RED, WHITE 'N TRUE™
ABOUT CHANGE
Posted, October 3, 2008,  12:01 p.m

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There’s a difference between wanting change and wanting something different. It is this distinction that has caused Barack Obama the most grief during this campaign, and the same is true of America's response to Sarah Palin.

Last night, in the one vice presidential debate of 2008, the electorate watched a smilin’, winkin’, charmin’, you betcha kind a gal debate Joe Biden, a seasoned veteran. The Governor of the Land of the Midnight Sun more than held her own against the senator much to the chagrin of the Democrats who were sure she’d implode, but more to the glee of the Republicans who were also sure she’d implode.

The debate was moderated by Gwen Ifill-Awful who seemed so detached from the discussion she might have just stopped by to leave her questions and then left.

But back to Palin, full of style if not yet substance, a cameraperson’s dream, Palin seduced the audience as well Joe Biden. Unlike most debaters who tend to look busy and write furiously when their opponent has the stage, Biden watched Governor Palin wearing a huge, white, proud for her smile across his face he seeming to enjoy Palin’s stellar performance as much as the audience at home.

Palin, speaking to the folks that she and John McCain hope will stand with their ticket, spoke in a voice these people could understand. She is one of them, a hard-workin’ hockey mom, a straight talkin’ gal, doggone it. It was her style that they could relate to; the substance of the discussion would not be as important to them as the qualities of trust and likability.

It was for the reason that Sarah Palin knows this and expertly knows how to play it that last night she re-won the hearts of the Republican base if not some of those independents she and Obama are vying for.

But is America ready for this different kind of women, the gun totin’, moose huntin’ girl from the north with spunk, with that silly accent and those absurd glasses making me think of Tootsie every time I look at her, to be one step away from the presidency?  

Palin is an odd throwback to the Hollywoodized real-life western frontier women Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane. At times she seems contrived, almost a cartoon of herself. And yet, even knowing this she manages to bring you in, make you smile when she speaks, tickles your dream mechanism conjuring images of easier times. Still too much of America Sarah Palin is “different.”

And in that respect she and Barack Obama, the aloof, cool as a cucumber first African-American seeking the presidency have something in common. They both break the mold of the kind of candidates Americans are used to seeing running for office.

There is no doubt that Americans want change. The eight years of the Bush presidency have proven to be a disaster for the United States. Nothing, absolutely nothing is working in this country. But until the financial crisis sprung upon America, Obama wasn’t able to close the deal with Americans, and it may be because while Obama represents change, he is also different.

Yes, for some, unfortunately, it may be the color of his skin that is off-putting. But it is more his unusual biography that makes people suspicious of him. His early childhood was different than most; he grew up in exotic places and had exotic men in his life. We don’t quite know enough about his mother; he hangs out with unusual characters; there’s a wall between Obama and the voters.

Adding Joe Biden to the Democratic Party's ticket was more than an effort to shore up Barack Obama’s paltry foreign policy credentials. Good old Joe also brought his familiarity to American voters; we know Joe, we’ve watched him for thirty-five years. We have history together. He’ll facilitate change, but safe change.

In this year of it is the Democratic Party’s election to lose, John McCain, the Republican candidate has fared much better than the pundits would have thought. His reputation as the “Straight-talker” and the Senate’s “Maverick” may have something to do with this.

Like Joe Biden, John McCain is familiar, the old soldier, the typical white-haired candidate Americans are used to seeing lead the country. He’s recognizable, he’s known. McCain likes to shake things up, but he’s one of us. He’s not “different.”

This election cycle Americans are clearly saying that they want change. But do they want the change bought to them by an old familiar face, or are they ready to embrace someone different to alter America’s landscape?

Barack Obama’s a lucky fella. His campaign for the presidency has gone on for so long that the unfamiliar Obama is beginning to be recognized as an old friend.

Sarah Palin is new on the scene, and doesn’t have time on her side for people to get to know her. She can shore up McCain’s base, those people out there in the heartland who are much like she. But can she bring new voters onboard for McCain? Unlikely; she may intrigue them but they don’t quite get her. She is different, and, therefore, seems scary.

So who won the debate? Joe Biden won, but only because he wasn’t someone different standing on that stage but simply plain, old, familiar Joe.

And in these scary times, as the polls turn to Obama-Biden's favor what folks are saying is that yes, they want change but change brought to them by their old friend Joe Biden and the now familiar Barack Obama.

Unless, of course, something changes.