Remember back during the late presidential campaign when Sen. John McCain stiffed David Letterman, claiming that he was needed in Washington to straighten out the economy, but he was really in another studio at CBS in New York doing an interview with Katie Couric?
Well, apparently lying runs on the ticket. McCain’s veep candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin pulled a McCain-like move last week when she declined to address the Republican congressional delegation at its winter retreat. She claimed that she could give the keynote address because she couldn’t leave Alaska because of pressing state business. Instead, she was in Washington, D.C., for the Alfalfa Dinner on Saturday.
“She lied to us,” said a Republican at the retreat.
Asked why Palin told the Republicans she could not leave Alaska this weekend, Palin spokesman Bill McAllister offered this non-responsive answer:
“My understanding is that the governor has not scheduled any partisan events on her current trip to D.C.,” McAllister told ABC News.
The House Republicans seemed to do just fine without Palin. Their list of speakers included Republican stars Michael Steele, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty and Newt Gingrich.
Asked about Palin’s no-show, House Republican leader John Boehner shrugged.
“Whatever,” Boehner said.
That universally dismissive comment hits about the right note when it comes to how much attention the GOP should give Ms. Palin.
